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Following the Flavour Stories Along China's Southern Shores

A slow culinary pilgrimage across coastal food cities

  • Destinations Shanghai · Ningbo · Xiamen · Guangzhou
  • Duration 10 days
  • Travel style Private
Guangzhou's skyline and Canton Tower lit up at night

Ten days down the coast, eating your way from Shanghai's dumpling counters to Guangzhou's morning tea. Between meals there are harbours, old quarters and wet markets — and enough open evenings to go back to a place you liked. Any city here can be shortened, or dropped.

The journey

Overview

1 Shanghai 2 Ningbo 3 Xiamen 4 Guangzhou
Shanghai → Ningbo → Xiamen → Guangzhou
Route sketch — sequence, not distance

What you'll remember

  • Shanghai's soup dumplings

    Xiaolongbao at a century-old shop, the Bund's food streets, and a market morning before the train south.

  • Ningbo's seafood

    Fish so fresh it was swimming an hour ago, the old wharf, and a bowl of tangyuan.

  • Xiamen's island pace

    Gulangyu's lanes, Fujian seafood and shacha noodles, and the slow coastal light.

  • Guangzhou's dim sum

    Har gow and siu mai at Sunday scale, Qingping market's herbs, and Cantonese roast.

Route

  • Shanghai

    2 nights

    Soup dumplings and the Bund's food streets; a market morning before the train south.

  • Ningbo

    2 nights

    Seafood at its freshest, the old wharf, and a bowl of Ningbo tangyuan.

  • Xiamen

    3 nights

    Gulangyu's lanes, Fujian seafood and shacha noodles, and the slow island pace.

  • Guangzhou

    2 nights

    Dim 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

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★★★★★
Four cities, four completely different kitchens — Ningbo's seafood alone was worth the trip. Our guide ordered things we never would have dared to.
Sofia L. · Canada · Southern Shores
★★★★★
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.
Rachel M. · United Kingdom · Southern Shores
★★★★★
The market mornings were my favourite part. Our guide translated everything, and we never once got overcharged or lost.
Kenji & Aiko · Japan · Southern Shores
★★★★★
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.
Lucas B. · Brazil · Southern Shores
★★★★★
The dim sum morning in Guangzhou and the slow pace of Xiamen were the highlights. Everything else was just very good food.
Anna K. · Germany · Southern Shores

Frequently asked questions

Can I customize this itinerary?
Yes — every trip we run is built for the people taking it. Change the cities, the pace, the hotels or the number of days, and we re-quote. Nothing is locked until you approve it.
How much does this tour cost?
Because it is tailor-made, the quote depends on your dates, party size, hotel tier and the experiences you add. Send us a rough plan and you will have a written quote — no obligation.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities now travel visa-free or with a simplified e-visa, and the rules change often — we check the current position for you before you book flights.
What's included in the tour?
Private transport and guide, hotels, first-gate entrance tickets and the meals listed. International flights, visa fees and personal spending sit outside the quote; In / Exclusions has the full list.
How do I book and make payment?
Once you approve the itinerary we send written confirmation and a secure payment link. We accept PayPal, credit cards and bank transfer, with the balance due before departure.
I'm vegetarian — can this trip work for me?
Yes, and better than you might expect. Tell us in advance: we brief every restaurant and can swap the meat-led meals for tofu, mushroom and vegetable dishes.

Tell us what you have in mind

Share your travel plans. A coordinator will craft a clear, no-obligation itinerary within 24 hours.

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