8-Day Small-Group China Tour to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai

5.0
(267 reviews)

8 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

8-Day China small group tour to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. This is the most popular and all-inclusive escorted China tour package. You will see the three most iconic Chinese cities, with sweeping views of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and many other highlights. The maximum number of travelers is 18 and there are no tourist shopping stops or factories to take up your travel time.

What's Included

Professional English-speaking tour guide
Lunch (Optional[4])
Lunch
Dinner
Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
Breakfast (Optional[7])
Breakfast
Entrance fees to tourist sites
Hotel accommodation based on twin-sharing room
Two bottled water per person per day
One way Economy-class airfare from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Shanghai.
Gratuities to guides and drivers (recommended)
China visa fees
International airfare
Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
Airport drop-off service in Shanghai on Day 8.
Personal expenses
Not suitable for: People over 80 years old, Wheelchair users.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

On the first day when you arrive in Beijing, your guide will pick up you at the Beijing airport. During the tour your guide will pick up you at the hotel each morning (except the last day).

Itinerary

Duration: 8 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Beijing Airport Pick-up

    1 stop
  • 1

    Your local tour guide will meet you at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. The driver will transport 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 our capital city on your own.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 2

    Tiananmen, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven

    4 stops
  • 2
    Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

    This morning, your tour guide will pick up you at the hotel and take you to visit Tiananmen Square. You will see what the biggest urban city square in the world looks like.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Forbidden City-The Palace Museum

    From Tiananmen Square, you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives, but appreciate numerous ancient art treasures. 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 most famous Peking Roast Duck.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • 4
    Temple of Heaven

    At last, you will see the Temple of Heaven, with its unique architecture, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 5

    Tonight, we will arrange for you to enjoy the wonderful acrobatic show in the Red Theater.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • Day 3

    China Great Wall Tour

    3 stops
  • 6
    Mutianyu Great Wall

    This morning, you will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it, stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave a life-long memory. To celebrate and commemorate this moment, we specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • 7

    Drive back to down and have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium (Bird's Nest), you will see its splendid appearance at a distance.

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 8
    Hutong Tour

    Afterwards, you will take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys and have a chance to visit a local family.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • Day 4

    Summer Palace, Fly from Beijing to Xi'an

    2 stops
  • 9
    Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

    After seeing pandas in the morning, you will visit the Summer Palace - the largest existing imperial garden with a graceful landscape and magnificent constructions.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • 10

    After that, transfer you to the airport and you will fly to Xi'an. Upon your arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel downtown. Attention: For 2026 & 2027 tours, we will arrange the high-speed train from Beijing to Xian instead of flight. The duration is around 4.5 to 5.5 hours. It is a good opportunity to experience China's fast-growing high-speed rail.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 5

    Terracotta Army, Ancient Pagoda & Tang Dynasty Dancing Show

    3 stops
  • 11
    The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

    The visit to the Terracotta Army will begin your day's journey. In the museum, there are three excavated pits displaying amazing warrior figures and Chinese ancient weapons. Afterwards, take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army. And then make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan.

    4 hours Admission ticket included
  • 12
    Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)

    In the afternoon, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from ancient India.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 13
    Tang Dynasty Show

    A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while partaking in the famous Dumpling Dinner. Since the theater is not open in January, February, March, and December, the tour prices do not include the show and dumpling dinner for tours that start during those months.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • Day 6

    Xi'an City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Fly to Shanghai

    3 stops
  • 14
    Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)

    The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals. You may also practice Tai Chi with the master. Tai Chi, a soft form of Chinese martial arts, is considered the quintessential Chinese culture. After that, you will pay a visit to the City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China. Cycling on the ancient wall is an exciting experience that many people like to try (bike rental fee is not included).

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 15
    Muslim Quarter

    Then you will have a special lunch at the lively Muslim Quarter and try some local food.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 16
    Shanghai

    In the afternoon, you will board the flight to Shanghai. Your local guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

    2 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 7

    Shanghai City Tour

    4 stops
  • 17
    Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)

    This morning, Your local tour guide will pick you up at your hotel. You will visit one of the four largest museums in China, the Shanghai Museum, which specializes in exhibiting artworks from ancient times.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 18
    Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

    After that, explore Yu Garden and its nearby traditional bazaar. The symbol of the Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion. Around noon, a farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at an elegant restaurant.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 19
    The Bund (Wai Tan)

    After that, enjoy a panorama of the city at Duo Yun Bookstore on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower. And then go to the thriving Bund area.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 20
    Huangpu River

    Take a one-hour cruise along the Huangpu River - the mother river of Shanghai. As the symbol and a microcosm of the city, the river has witnessed the glory, humiliation, despair, and prosperity of Shanghai. Enjoy some free time on the Bund. Upon returning to the hotel, your guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 8

    Leave Shanghai by yourself

    1 stop
  • 21

    After breakfast at the hotel, please find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included. However, we would be happy to assist you if needed.

    1 hour Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • NO shopping detours, no factory stores, no tea ceremony, no shopping site restaurant. Avoid wasting time at any shopping motive stop.
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Supplied by Travel China Guide

Show 2 more

Tags

Hiking Tours
Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Trolley Tours
Cable Car Tours

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Show more

Rating

5.0 Based on 267 267 reviews
5 stars
258
4 stars
9
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
from per person
Was {{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount }}