Palaces, Lakes & the Bund The 10-Day Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai Tour
The 10-Day Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai Tour
Embark on an immersive [10-day multi-city tour] through three of China’s great cities: Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Walk through the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, climb the Mutianyu Great Wall and explore Beijing’s hutongs by rickshaw. Ride the high-speed train south to Hangzhou to cruise West Lake, visit the ancient Lingyin Temple and cross Gongchen Bridge on the Grand Canal, then end in Shanghai with the water town of Zhujiajiao, the Bund and an evening cruise on the Huangpu River, all with [no shopping stops or optional tours.]
ItineraryMap
Itineraryat a Glance
Imperial Beijing
Your journey begins as you arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport, where you’ll be warmly welcomed and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Over the next three days, walk through the heart of imperial China, from the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors to the Great Wall and the hutongs of old Beijing.
Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City
Start at Tiananmen Square, one of China’s most iconic landmarks and the site of many important events in the nation’s history. Then walk through the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City, once home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden palace complex in the world.
Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
A short distance east of the Forbidden City, Wangfujing is one of Beijing’s most famous shopping streets, bringing together large department stores, international brands and long-established Chinese shops, along with snack stalls offering a taste of local street food.
Mutianyu Great Wall
About 73 km northeast of central Beijing, Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall and quieter than other popular sections near the city. Winding along forested ridges, it is known for its closely spaced watchtowers, and a round-trip cable car takes you up to the wall and back down with ease.
Summer Palace & the Olympic Park
Built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill and inspired by Hangzhou’s West Lake, the Summer Palace is the best-preserved imperial garden in China. End the day outside the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, built for the 2008 Olympics and especially striking when lit up in the evening.
Temple of Heaven & Qianmen Street
Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven is where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests, famous for its round, triple-eaved blue-tiled hall and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Qianmen Street, a pedestrian street with more than 570 years of history and time-honored brands such as Quanjude roast duck.
Shichahai, Yandai Xiejie & Hutongs by Rickshaw
Stroll the willow-lined shores of Shichahai’s three lakes and Yandai Xiejie, one of Beijing’s oldest hutongs. In the evening, take a rickshaw ride through narrow alleyways and courtyard neighbourhoods, and enjoy jasmine tea in a traditional courtyard house.
Poetic Hangzhou
On Day 5, board the high-speed train south to Hangzhou, the city of West Lake and the southern end of the Grand Canal. After two days among lakes, temples and canal-side lanes, take the high-speed train to Shanghai in the late afternoon of Day 7 and enjoy dinner on arrival.
City Balcony & Sasseur Outlet
After the high-speed train from Beijing, visit Sasseur (Hangzhou) Outlet, known for combining shopping with artistic design. Then stroll the City Balcony on the Qiantang River in Qianjiang New City, with views across the river to the “Big Lotus” and “Small Lotus,” the main venues of the Hangzhou Asian Games.
West Lake Cruise
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, West Lake has inspired Chinese poets and painters for over a thousand years. Glide past willow-lined causeways, pagodas and small islands, and look out for Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the scene on the back of China’s one-yuan note.
Chenghuang Pavilion & Qinghefang
Climb the seven-story Chenghuang Pavilion on Wushan Hill for panoramic views over West Lake and Leifeng Pagoda, try a traditional blessing rubbing and taste West Lake lotus root starch. Below the hill, Qinghefang Historic Street has been one of Hangzhou’s main commercial streets since the Southern Song Dynasty.
Lingyin Temple
Founded in the 4th century by an Indian monk, Lingyin Temple is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in China. It faces Feilai Peak, whose cliffs and caves are carved with hundreds of ancient Buddhist sculptures, and its main hall holds a seated Buddha nearly 20 meters tall, carved from camphor wood and covered in gold.
Xixi National Wetland Park
China’s first national wetland park, Xixi feels like a world of its own, with quiet waterways winding past reeds, willows and old waterside villages. Explore it by electric cart and boat, as poets and painters once did.
The Grand Canal: Gongchen Bridge & Xiaohe Street
Learn how the world’s oldest and longest canal shaped trade and daily life at the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum, then cross Gongchen Bridge, the three-arched stone bridge built in 1631 that marks the canal’s southern end. Finish on Xiaohe Street, whose white-walled riverside homes preserve canal life of the late Qing Dynasty.
Old & New Shanghai
Your final chapter unfolds in Shanghai, where a water town with 1,700 years of history, restored shikumen lanes and the Bund face the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui. After breakfast on Day 10, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your departure.
Zhujiajiao Water Town
On the outskirts of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is a peaceful water town with more than 1,700 years of history, where canals wind past whitewashed houses, old shops and stone bridges. Don’t miss the five-arch Fangsheng Bridge, built in 1571 and the largest of its kind in Shanghai.
Zhangyuan
Just off Nanjing Road West, Zhangyuan is Shanghai’s largest and best-preserved shikumen compound, a neighborhood of “stone-gate” lane houses that blend Chinese and Western styles. Opened in 1885 as China’s first modern public garden, it has reopened after careful restoration with boutiques, cafés and art spaces.
Nanjing Road, the Bund & Huangpu River Cruise
Stroll the pedestrian section of Nanjing Road all the way to the Bund, where early-20th-century buildings face the skyline of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River. End the day with a cruise on the river, with the illuminated Bund on one side and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai Tower on the other.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Rising 468 meters above the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been one of Shanghai’s most iconic landmarks since 1994. Ride up to the observation deck for views of the Bund and the city’s skyscrapers, then explore the Shanghai Urban History and Development Exhibition Hall at its base.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery, The Louis & Wukang Road
Visit the Shanghai Starbucks Reserve Roastery, opened in 2017 as the brand’s first Roastery outside the United States, and see “The Louis,” Louis Vuitton’s ship-shaped building, from outside. Then stroll tree-lined Wukang Road in the former French Concession, ending at the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion.
City God Temple Bazaar
In the heart of Old Shanghai, the City God Temple Bazaar is a lively maze of upturned eaves, red lanterns and Ming and Qing-style buildings, a bustling marketplace for generations. Browse traditional crafts and souvenirs and taste famous Shanghai snacks, such as xiaolongbao soup dumplings.
10-Day Multi-City:Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai
10-Day Multi-City: Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai
10 days · Beijing · Hangzhou · Shanghai
10-Day Multi-City: Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai
10 days · Beijing · Hangzhou · Shanghai
10-Day Multi-City: Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai
10 days · Beijing · Hangzhou · Shanghai
Transparent Pricing& Inclusions
We believe in complete pricing transparency tailored for international travelers. No hidden fees, no optional up-sells, no mandatory shopping traps.
What is Included
- Accommodation9 nights of stay at selected high-value hotels.
- MealsA total of 9 breakfasts and 16 curated meals.
- TransportationA dedicated, certified tour coach provided throughout the duration of the trip, plus second-class high-speed rail tickets (Beijing–Hangzhou and Hangzhou–Shanghai).
- Expert GuidanceServices of a professional English-speaking tour guide.
- SightseeingAdmission fees for all major scenic spots listed in your itinerary.
- ConnectivityA complimentary e-SIM with an integrated VPN, allowing you to access the internet and your favorite apps worry-free.
- Extra1 bottle of water per person per day.
What is Not Included
- AirfareInternational or domestic flights and associated airport taxes.
- Personal ProtectionTravel and aviation accident insurance (highly recommended).
- Personal ExtrasItems such as laundry, snacks, beverages, phone calls, gratuities, and excess luggage fees.
- FlexibilitySingle room supplements or self-funded attractions not specified in the plan.
FAQ
The two long journeys, Beijing–Hangzhou and Hangzhou–Shanghai, are by high-speed train, with second-class tickets included in the tour price. A dedicated, certified tour coach covers all other transfers throughout the trip.
No. There are no shopping stops and no optional tours throughout the trip.
Yes. Every traveler receives a complimentary e-SIM with an integrated VPN, so you can access the internet and your favorite apps worry-free.
You’ll stay 9 nights at selected high-value hotels: 4 nights in Beijing, 2 nights in Hangzhou and 3 nights in Shanghai.
A total of 9 breakfasts and 16 curated meals, as indicated on the itinerary. There are no included meals on arrival day (Day 1), lunch on Day 5 is served on board the high-speed train, and Day 10 includes breakfast only.
The tour guide reserves the right to adjust the sequence of the itinerary. No refunds are given for any services guests voluntarily skip.
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