Following the Flavour Stories Along China's Southern Shores
A slow culinary pilgrimage across coastal food cities
This classic route across China is a starting point, not a fixed script. It balances imperial history, natural wonders and the energy of its cities — and every part of it can be reshaped around you. Extend a stay, swap a city, slow a morning: your itinerary is built from your interests, pace and dates, and only confirmed when it fits.
The journey
Overview
What you'll remember
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Shanghai's soup dumplings
Xiaolongbao at a century-old shop, the Bund's food streets, and a market morning before the train south.
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Ningbo's seafood
Fish so fresh it was swimming an hour ago, the old wharf, and a bowl of tangyuan.
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Xiamen's island pace
Gulangyu's lanes, Fujian seafood and shacha noodles, and the slow coastal light.
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Guangzhou's dim sum
Har gow and siu mai at Sunday scale, Qingping market's herbs, and Cantonese roast.
What it looks like
Route
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Shanghai
2 nightsSoup dumplings and the Bund's food streets; a market morning before the train south.
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Ningbo
2 nightsSeafood at its freshest, the old wharf, and a bowl of Ningbo tangyuan.
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Xiamen
3 nightsGulangyu's lanes, Fujian seafood and shacha noodles, and the slow island pace.
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Guangzhou
2 nightsDim sum at Sunday scale, Qingping market's herbs, and Cantonese roast.
In / Exclusions
Inclusions
- Costs for a private, air-conditioned business vehicle throughout the tour.
- Services of a private English-speaking tour guide.
- Hotels, entrance fees to scenic spots (first gate tickets), and meals as listed in the itinerary.
- Travel insurance coverage during the tour (details available on the Insurance Policy page).
- Inter-city flights or high-speed train travel.
- 24-hour customer service support during the trip.
- Service fees, covering tour planning, handling, operation, and communication costs.
Exclusions
- Chinese Visa fees.
- Round-trip ticket. (We offer Air Ticket Booking Service, if you need it, please let us know.)
- Personal expenses.
- Meals, transportation transfers, and tourist attraction fees not listed in the itinerary.
- Optional activities recommended at scenic spots or other commercial establishments.
- Luggage overweight charges.
- Optional activities provided by the driver or guide.
- Personal Accident Insurance during Travel.
What travellers say
Scroll ›Four cities, four completely different kitchens — Ningbo's seafood alone was worth the trip. Our guide ordered things we never would have dared to.
My husband is a picky eater and even he tried everything. Ningbo seafood was the stand-out — we ate things we can't even name.
The market mornings were my favourite part. Our guide translated everything, and we never once got overcharged or lost.
Ten days, four cities, and I came home heavier. The dim sum in Guangzhou was better than anything I've had in London or New York.
The dim sum morning in Guangzhou and the slow pace of Xiamen were the highlights. Everything else was just very good food.
Frequently asked questions
Can I customize this itinerary?
How much does this tour cost?
Do I need a visa to visit China?
What's included in the tour?
How do I book and make payment?
I'm vegetarian — can this trip work for me?
More journeys to consider
Scroll ›A Westward Odyssey Across China, Over Three Weeks
From bustling coastal shores to the roof of the world
Stories Woven Into the Streets of Shanghai
An intimate journey through old lanes and modern skylines
Living Tales from the Mountain Villages of Southwest China
Encounter ethnic traditions preserved in Guizhou's highlands
Footsteps Through China's Imperial Past
Tracing dynasties across ancient capitals
Brushstroke Landscapes of Jiangnan
Canal villages and cloud-wreathed mountain peaks
Tell us what you have in mind
Share your travel plans. A coordinator will craft a clear, no-obligation itinerary within 24 hours.