Travel from Shanghai’s skyline to Beijing’s imperial landmarks, with classical gardens and Buddhist heritage along the way. Explore Zhouzhuang’s canals and Suzhou’s gardens before continuing to Luoyang for the Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple and old city streets. In Beijing, visit the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, walk through hutong lanes and head out to Mutianyu Great Wall. This nine-day route combines major sights with a closer look at historic towns and everyday city life.
What makes this route special
See Shanghai from the Oriental Pearl Tower and walk the Bund and Nanjing Road.
Explore Zhouzhuang's Twin Bridges, Zhang Mansion and Shen Mansion.
Explore Suzhou's Lingering Garden and Panmen Gate, with an optional visit to Huqiu Hill if the rail schedule allows.
Discover Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Guanlin Temple and Luoyi Ancient City.
Tour Beijing's Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beihai Park and hutong lanes.
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and discuss cable car options when planning your visit.
Your day-by-day itinerary
Arrive in Shanghai
Meet your driver at Shanghai airport for the transfer to Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping. The rest of the day is yours to recover from the journey, settle in and adjust to the time difference. There is no sightseeing guide on arrival day. The hotel is planned for two nights with breakfast, giving you a gentle start before the first full day in the city. Please provide your flight details when enquiring so the pickup can be arranged around your arrival.
- Transport
- Airport pickup and hotel transfer by driver.
- Guide
- Driver pickup only.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; two nights with breakfast.
Shanghai from Above and Along the Bund
Take in Shanghai from the Oriental Pearl Tower’s main observation deck and 360-degree glass viewing platform, then explore the Shanghai History Museum. In the afternoon, step into Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town before walking the Bund and Nanjing Road. The route moves from skyline views to a Ming-era garden and then the lively riverfront, where historic façades face the modern city across the Huangpu. An English-speaking guide and private sightseeing transport are included today.
- Transport
- Private transport for sightseeing.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; second night with breakfast.
Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou
Leave Shanghai for Zhouzhuang, where canals and stone bridges set the pace for the day. Walk across the Twin Bridges, visit Zhang Mansion and explore Shen Mansion, associated with the merchant Shen Wansan. The former residences offer a glimpse of domestic life and commerce in Jiangnan across different periods. Continue to Suzhou in the evening and check in at Suzhou Changjiang Holiday Inn Express for one night with breakfast. The day is planned around the town visit and transfer, leaving time to enjoy the water-town atmosphere on foot.
- Transport
- Chartered transfer from Shanghai via Zhouzhuang to Suzhou.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Suzhou Changjiang Holiday Inn Express; one night with breakfast.
Suzhou Gardens and Rail to Luoyang
Explore Suzhou's Lingering Garden and Panmen Gate before continuing to Luoyang by high-speed rail. Huqiu Hill is an optional stop if time allows. Your final itinerary will set out the visits and rail departure for your travel date. On arrival in Luoyang, transfer from the station to your hotel. Leave time for station checks and walking at the historic sites.
- Transport
- High-speed rail from Suzhou to Luoyang, with local station transfers. Departure time and sightseeing order will be confirmed in your travel proposal.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Luoyang Longmen Holiday Inn Express; first night of two with breakfast.
Luoyang's Grottoes, Temples and Old City
Discover Luoyang’s cultural heritage at the Longmen Grottoes, where Buddhist figures are carved into the cliffs, and White Horse Temple, an important early Buddhist site. In the afternoon, visit Guanlin Temple, associated with Lord Guan, then walk through Luoyi Ancient City and its traditional streets. An electric cart is specified at Longmen Grottoes. Return to Luoyang Longmen Holiday Inn Express for the second night with breakfast. The day brings together religious art, temple architecture and old-city life, with time on foot at multiple locations.
- Transport
- Private transport in Luoyang; electric cart at Longmen Grottoes is planned.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Luoyang Longmen Holiday Inn Express; second night of two with breakfast.
Travel to Beijing and Visit the Temple of Heaven
Travel from Luoyang station to Beijing by high-speed rail, then meet your driver at the Beijing station. The afternoon visit is to the Temple of Heaven, whose circular halls and open courtyards reflect traditional ideas of heaven and earth. Continue to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the first of three nights with breakfast. The train time is not set here, so the sightseeing order will follow the confirmed rail schedule. This day combines a station transfer, intercity travel and a substantial visit; keep essentials close for the journey.
- Transport
- Transfer to Luoyang station, high-speed rail to Beijing, station pickup and local transfer. Rail details will be confirmed for your travel dates.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; first night of three with breakfast.
Beijing's Imperial Center and Hutongs
Explore the Forbidden City in the morning, then climb Jingshan Hill for a broad view over the palace roofs and central axis. In the afternoon, visit Tiananmen Square and Beihai Park before a walk through Beijing’s hutong lanes, where courtyard homes reveal a more intimate side of city life. Several central sites are included, so expect a good amount of walking through courtyards, park paths and streets. Return to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the second night with breakfast.
- Transport
- Private transport for sightseeing.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; second night of three with breakfast.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Head to Mutianyu for a visit to one of the Great Wall’s mountain sections. Cable car and ropeway services are planned, while the exact ascent and descent arrangement can be confirmed for your travel date. Walk along the ramparts for views over ridges and forested slopes; steps and uneven stone surfaces are part of the experience. After the excursion, return to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the final night with breakfast. Tell us in advance if you need current access information or a gentler walking plan.
- Transport
- Private transport to and from Mutianyu; cable car and ropeway are planned.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide arrangement to be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; third night of three with breakfast.
Depart from Beijing
A driver will transfer you to Beijing Capital Airport for departure. There is no sightseeing or guide service scheduled today. Pickup timing depends on your flight, so share the airline and departure time when confirming the trip. Breakfast is planned as part of the hotel stay, although an early departure may fall before the hotel’s breakfast service begins. This is the end of the nine-day journey through Shanghai, Zhouzhuang, Suzhou, Luoyang and Beijing.
- Transport
- Driver departure transfer to Beijing Capital Airport.
- Guide
- Driver airport transfer only.
- Accommodation
- No overnight accommodation; departure day.
What your proposal covers
- Private group transport and the station and airport transfers planned for this journey.
- Eight breakfasts.
- Entrance fees for the planned attractions; Longmen electric cart and Mutianyu cable car and ropeway services are included.
- English-speaking guiding on seven days; arrival and departure transfers are driver-only.
- Eight nights in twin-share rooms at Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping, Suzhou Changjiang Holiday Inn Express, Luoyang Longmen Holiday Inn Express and Beijing Xiyuan Hotel.
- Lunches and dinners.
- International flights.
- Personal expenses.
Payment & cancellation
| Payment due | Share of trip price |
|---|---|
| On trip confirmation | 30% deposit |
| One month before the trip | 70% balance |
| Time before arrival | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| More than 45 days | Only costs incurred for flights, cruises and other exceptional services. |
| 45–30 days | 25% |
| 29–16 days | 50% |
| 15–7 days | 80% |
| Less than 7 days | 100% |
| Percentage fees are based on the total trip price. | |
Questions and answers
VISAS
For the latest information on visa procedures, processing times and requirements, please kindly refer to website https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
INSURANCE
We will arrange essential insurance coverage for your trip to Mainland China. Meanwhile, we strongly recommend you purchase separate comprehensive travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, medical expenses, luggage loss, repatriation and other associated additional costs. As a minimum requirement, the insurance policy must include medical coverage, which including medical evacuation and repatriation. For this part, you are free to select your preferred insurance provider.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
If you are traveling during a Chinese public holiday, please note that while tourist attractions remain open, they may be crowded with domestic visitors. Festivities often span several days, during which some businesses may close, and coach, air, and train services could be impacted. The major Golden Week holidays occur annually around 1 to 5 May and 1 to 7 October.
ACCOMMODATION
Your accommodation is chosen for its convenience, comfort, or character. Hotels are generally of a four-star standard in major cities. Please note, there is no international classification system, so facilities and quality may differ from those in your home country.
LUGGAGE
Each traveller is permitted a maximum of two pieces of luggage: one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 5kg. This requirement applies to domestic trains and flights. We recommend packing only what you can carry independently, as you will be responsible for handling your luggage on and off trains or air-checked. Please note: If your luggage exceed the limits, kindly inform your travel designer in advance, and we will arrange a suitable vehicle for you.
TRAVEL MONEY IN CHINA
We recommend having access to multiple sources of money while traveling. A combination of payment methods, including mobile payment apps, cash, and cards, will offer the most security and flexibility. Mobile payment apps like WeChat and Alipay are often more widely accepted than international cards or cash in China. You will need an internet connection when in China to use the apps.
