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8 Days Small Group Tour of Beijing – Xi’an – Shanghai
$1600
per person
This 8-day tour of popular Chinese cities covers three of China’s most popular tourist destinations and five world heritage sites, making it an ideal choice for first-time visitors to China.
Here is a reference for your customized travel itinerary. Please let us know your preferences, and our travel experts will customize your trip according to your interests and preferences.
Recommended 8-day itinerary
1-3 days Beijing – Explore Royal History, Traditional Local Cuisine, and Appreciate Scenic Gardens
3-6 day Xi’an – Exciting with military and horse statues, strolling through the ancient city walls, and exploring the bustling market.
7-8 day Shanghai Tour – Stroll along the Bund, enjoy the panoramic view of the city, and customize your exclusive journey
Travel highlights
The Forbidden City in Beijing, where several generations of Chinese emperors lived, houses many precious cultural relics. Tour guides will explain the stories behind each cultural relic to you.
Stepping onto the Great Wall and climbing up the spine of the giant dragon, one can see towering mountains on both sides, and a sense of excitement arises.
The combination of royal luxury and Jiangnan poetry is gathered in the Summer Palace, which is the royal backyard and can be enjoyed for an entire day.
Enjoy the seventh wonder of the world, the tomb of the first emperor of Qin – the Terra Cotta Warriors, and we will lead you to explore the heyday of this powerful empire.
Playing Tai Chi with local residents in Shanghai City Wall Park is a health exercise that has been passed down for thousands of years, and you can feel the airflow flowing in your body.
Through the Moon Cave Gate of Yu Garden, each angle is a different picture. The unique garden buildings in Shanghai have a unique charm.
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Destination
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DepartureBeijing
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Departure TimeApproximately 18:30 pm.
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Return TimePM.9:15 AM ——at 9:30 AM.
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Dress CodeCasual and comfortable sportswear, hiking shoes, hats, and lightweight jackets corresponding to the season.
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Included8 Days Small Group Tour of Beijing – Xi’an – ShanghaiSurprise little giftChina’s Smooth NetworkMeals specified in the itineraryFive star hotelFree admission to all attractionsAll round-trip transportationPrivate English tour guideone-on-one travel consultation and planning services
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Not IncludedOther additional expensesInternational travel insurance
1
Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
The prelude to your 8 days China tour starts when you meet your professional local guide at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. The driver will convey you in a comfortable vehicle to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is left for you to have a good rest or to become familiar with this capital city on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong
2
Day 2: Beijing
Today your best China tour officially kicks off! Meet your group members in the hotel lobby at 08:00, and your guide will conduct a 15-minute pre-trip meeting to make a self-introduction, welcome everyone, present a brief introduction to the trip, and explain the guidelines for the following tour.
Then we will head to the first stop, the large Tiananmen Square. Many constructions of great historical importance have been built on and around it, and it is an important venue for most national ceremonies. From there, let's stroll all the way to the Forbidden City, the office and home of emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD). Here, we will spend 2 to 3 hours covering the most worthwhile sites.
At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch, valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price, will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the world-renowned Peking Roast Duck.
In the afternoon, we will head to the Temple of Heaven, the majestic sacrificial building complex where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the heaven in hope of good harvest.To round out a memorable start to your travel, we will arrange a lively and dramatic Chinese Acrobatic Show at the Red Theater.
Let’s call it a day now. We will escort you back to your hotel after the performance.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong
3
Day 3 Beijing
This morning we will escort you to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall of China at its Mutianyu section. A round-trip cable car ride will be arranged to allow enough time on the Great Wall. Standing on the wall and looking at it as it winds up and down into the boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you with a life-long memory.
Let’s drink to this exciting moment
To celebrate and commemorate your visit to the engineering feat of humanity, we will specially provide red wine for a group-toasting after you finish your hiking on the Wall.
On the way back to Beijing this afternoon, we will drive by the Bird’s Nest, or the National Stadium, for you to take pictures of this award-winningly beautiful steel construction, originally built for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, from close by.
Then we will arrange for you to take a rickshaw ride through Hutongs to experience Beijing’s local life. Hutongs are alleys that are lined with Chinese traditional courtyard houses, or “Siheyuan”, a quadrangular compound with houses on four sides. The rickshaw, a main vehicle for transportation in Beijing’s past, will escort you for a Hutong tour for around 40 minutes, until you stop to step into a Siheyuan to visit a local family.
Then it’s time for us to escort you back to your hotel. Have a good rest and prepare for tomorrow’s trip.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong
4
Day 4 Beijing to Xi'an by High-speed Train
The first stop of today's itinerary is the Summer Palace, the largest existing imperial garden with graceful landscape and magnificent historical constructions. If you travel in early July, summertime, lovely lotus scenery will be a delight.
After a lunch of local flavors to conclude your memorable tour in Beijing, your guide will see you off at the railway station for the high-speed train to Xi'an. The duration is around 4.5 to 5.5 hours. It is a good opportunity to experience China's fast-growing high-speed rail. On your arrival, your Xi'an local guide will meet you at the railway station and escort you to the downtown area to check in at your hotel for a two-night stay.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an
5
Day 5 Xi'an
Kick off your today’s tour with a visit to the man-made miracle Terracotta Army! Discovered decades ago, the army turned out to be the funeral objects for the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC), founder of the Qin Empire (211 – 206 BC) and China’s imperial history. The reappearance of the hidden wonder once shocked the world. But just as the earth caged it, the long history has drowned numerous facts about the empire or even the emperor himself (for example, as a figure full of masculinity and charm, why he seemed to be in lack of an empress remains a mystery!). Aside from having panoramas of countless warriors in pits forming a battle array, we will also show you the newly-set hall where the essence of all the archaeological discoveries is exhibited in glass, meaning you can observe the real deal up close and in details! Through 230 collections, many of which are their first time to show up, your guide will lead you to delve deep into the heyday of the fearsome empire. Marvel at meticulously sculptured animals like Chinese cane and camel, as well as the coloring on pottery or bronze!
Privileges of Our Guests:
1. Family Visit to Home of the First Discoverer of the Terracotta Army
Not only the Terracotta Army but its discovery has been an intriguing mystery to most people, even to the former US president Bill Clinton, who, during his visit to the museum in 1998, invited the discoverer to recount how he unearthed the first terracotta warrior in 1974. After visiting the museum, let's visit the home of the discoverer, whose name is Yang Zhifa, to hear what President Clinton once heard and interact with his family. Inside the house, you can see the hoe he used to dig out the first warrior, the wooden cart used to transport it, and its 1:1 replica. Also, you may take photos with Mr. Yang personally if he's there.
2. Make a Mini Terracotta Warrior by Yourself
Then a visit is followed to a terracotta warrior making workshop. An artisan will explain the procedure and show you how to craft it step by step with the help of molds. Spend around 40 minutes to make your own mini warrior, which, of course, you can take home as a memento.
Put your little warrior in a safe place, and continue to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from ancient India. In addition to the strong Buddhist atmosphere, the fascinating royal stories of Da Ci’en Temple where the pagoda sits, are also waiting for you to explore. It is said that Tang Emperor Li Zhi, who built the temple in order to thank his father for electing him as the crown prince and to express his deep missing to his late mother. Then a splendid evening is in store, highlighted by the famous Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. After the show, we will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling Dinner
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an
6
Day 6 Xi'an to Shanghai by Flight
The day begins with a refreshing visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of locals in the morning. You may see them singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and playing chess. Join them if you want! A traditional Tai Chi class will also be arranged for you here. Tai Chi, a form of traditional Chinese martial arts that strengthens both body and mind through slow gentle moves, is considered a quintessential Chinese culture, which you might want to experience yourself.
After that, let's pay a visit to the City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China that dates back to 1300s. Cycling on the ancient wall is a recommended experience that many people find it unforgettable. Please note that bike rental fee is at your own expense.
Today we provide you with a special lunch at the Muslim Quarter, to taste local foods, like Chinese Burger, Biang Biang Noodles, Fried Beef Dumplings, and Cold Noodles with Sesame Paste. We particularly recommend you to try the Chinese Burger. The succulent shredded beef sandwiched into two halves of flatbread will make your day.
It’s time for you to say goodbye to Xi’an now, as we will escort you to the airport to board the flight to Shanghai. Your local guide will pick you up at the airport and escort you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local flavor lunch
Accommodation: The Sunrise on the Bund
7
Day 7 Shanghai
A day trip will show you the essence of Shanghai. This morning, your guide will accompany you to visit one of the four largest museums in China, Shanghai Museum, which specializes in exhibiting art works from ancient times. After that, explore Yu Garden. Symbols of the Garden - the Nine Zigzag Bridge, built of granite and grass-white jade, and the mid-lake pavilion - will mesmerize you with their quaint elegancy. Search for some souvenirs at its nearby historical bazaar if you like.
In the afternoon, follow your guide to wander along the prosperous Bund area and then take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River, during which you could appreciate the city's historical buildings on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other side, such as Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower – two landmarks of Shanghai. Finally, upon returning to the hotel your guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: The Sunrise on the Bund
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Day 8 Departure from Shanghai
Check out from the hotel any time before 12:00 pm, and then head to the airport for your homeward flight. Your 8 days China tour package is waning to its close with wonderful memories. We suggest you reserve a taxi at the hotel reception beforehand to avoid having to wait for a taxi outside. The trip to Pudong Airport (PVG) will take about 1.5 hours and cost around CNY200. Ensure you have at least an hour drive if your flight leaves from Hongqiao Airport (SHA). The cost for the taxi there is about CNY100. You can also take Metro Line 2 at the metro station just outside your hotel to reach both airports. Please check carefully from which airport your flight will depart. We wish you a smooth journey home.
Alternatively, should you wish to stay on rather than return home right away, we would be glad to assist you for an extension trip0!
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Comments:
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Necessary documents:
- Passport (including Chinese visa)+copy of visa (recommended to be opened separately from the original)
- PS: Carry the original passport with you, the police may randomly inspect it
Clothing and equipment:
- Sunscreen hat+sunglasses+sunscreen, cool towel, comfortable walking shoes (on steep slopes), windproof jacket in winter, shawl or thin jacket (strong air conditioning in shopping malls and subways), folding umbrella to cope with showers
Mobile App:
- WeChat:Contact merchants/tour guides and scan QR codes that can be seen everywhere
- Alipay: China's most basic payment software, which can be bound to Visa/Mastercard to purchase gifts
- Translation: Google Translate, Baidu Translate
- Popular review: Ranking of all nearby food reviews
- Meituan: Deliver the necessary daily necessities to your hotel doorstep within half an hour
Electronic devices and networks：
- Network Solutions：
- Must install VPN, local SIM card, and portable Wi Fi
- Electrical adaptation：
- The voltage in China is 220V, and the socket is a two pin flat type (compatible with American standards). The three pin socket requires a conversion plug
- It is recommended to carry a power bank (boarding is allowed within 20000mA), and Alipay scanning code is required to rent the power bank shared on the street
Emergency response
- General alarm: 110 (English service can be requested, some police provide third-party translation)
- Medical emergency: 120
- Fire alarm: 119
- Consular Protection:+86-10-12308 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Global Consular Protection 24-hour Hotline, English service)
Anthony
We booked this private tour from Beijing to Shanghai as we couldn’t find a group tour that travelled in this direction on our required dates. I was slightly sceptical when we booked as we were encouraged to pay by bank transfer, this is due to the high credit card fees that are charged in China. I was also a little apprehensive that we didn’t get much communication after booking. When sending an email all questions were responded to quickly. Train and flight times are not confirmed until very close to the trip. Everything however, was perfect! Our guides in each city met and departed us at airports/stations. All spoke good English. We were given guides mobile numbers prior to departure. All drivers were in polite and cars were clean and well maintained. We saw everything that we expected to see and there were no hidden extras. The hotels were of a really good standard and well located in the cities. I would highly recommend.
Ava
our tour guide was great. She spoke fluent English and had extensive knowledge about Xian, Qi Dynasty and the Terracotta Warriors. She answered all of our questions.
The minibus ride was clean and bottle water was provided. There was also no pressure from anyone to buy any souvenir. I highly recommend.
Sophia
Our trip to China was absolutely amazing! This is the second time we’ve used this agency, and everything was perfect—just as it was on our first trip. The local guides were exceptional: knowledgeable, friendly, fluent in English, and always in tune with exactly what we wanted to see and do. The hotels were very comfortable and centrally located, making each day’s logistics smooth and efficient.
All of our transportation—whether by van or plane—was extremely well organized, and we never encountered a single issue. The food was delicious everywhere we went, and the country itself is truly stunning, from its landscapes to its culture and history.
We had such a fantastic experience, and we genuinely can’t wait to come back and explore even more!
Amanda
The entire journey is absolutely amazing! The locations are unbelievable, and the entire travel organization is perfect. Our communication from the initial inquiry, booking, message delivery, answering our questions, and responding to emails was excellent and always timely. The service of the tour guide and driver is excellent. This trip exceeded our expectations and we strongly recommend it
Isabella
We are truly fortunate to have a 7-day travel consultant. According to our wishes, she arranged everything for our team of 7 adults, including must visit destinations, tickets, hotels, suitable guides, bullet train tickets, etc. Her strong diligence, responsiveness, knowledge, advice, and enjoyable service directly contributed to our successful tourism planning. The perfect arrangement with local tour guides, who are knowledgeable and helpful, has improved the quality of our travel experience.
Ashley
At first, I had doubts about the entire booking process – the online payment process was not as one click as on American websites, requiring confirmation of bank transfer details via email, and the itinerary details were not fully finalized until two weeks before departure. But after truly embarking on the journey, all worries vanished into thin air. From the enthusiastic historical explanation at the foot of the Great Wall in Beijing, to the professional archaeological tour in front of the Terra Cotta Warriors pit in Xi’an, to the cultural interpretation of the Bund at night in Shanghai, each tour guide has demonstrated amazing professionalism. What was particularly touching was that in Xi’an, the tour guide noticed my knee discomfort and coordinated the electric scooter in the park in advance and adjusted the walking route. Although the pace of communication is different from Western habits, everything is arranged in a silky smooth manner in the end