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Highlights of China:...
 

Highlights of China: Beijing to Shanghai

12 days |  15 days with Hong Kong extension
12 days |  15 days with Hong Kong extension
Group size1535 travelers
Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

3
Bronze lion in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing China
great wall of china
chinese tea ceremony
night life on the streets of shanghai china
OverviewItineraryDates & pricesReviewsHotels, flights & FAQ

Currently, COVID-19 vaccination is required to participate in this tour.

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Explore a Far East nation that honors its storied traditions.

The influence of China’s ancient, powerful dynasties is still present today. Long-standing culinary traditions thrive, and architectural wonders stand amidst the hustle and bustle of big city life. Visiting the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and Terracotta Army will introduce you to China’s rich history. Marveling at the scenery in Reed Flute Cave and along the Yulong River will open your eyes to a new side of this age-old country.

Your tour package includes

  • 10 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 10 breakfasts
  • 4 lunches
  • 5 dinners with beer
  • 1 tasting
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Included highlights

  • Forbidden City
  • Great Wall
  • Temple of Heaven
  • Xi’an city walls
  • Terracotta Army
Read more
Start planning today

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Talk to a Tour Consultant

Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Beijing today.

Beijing3 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Beijing

Welcome to China! Settle in to your hotel this evening.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Beijing
Included meals: Breakfast, Welcome lunch

Delve into more than 2,000 years of Beijing’s history with a local guide.

  • Stroll across the expanse of Tiananmen Square
  • Wander through the Imperial Palace, also referred to as “The Forbidden City”
  • Walk through Meridian Gate and see the Palace of Heavenly Purity, where the  Ming dynasty emperors lived
  • Admire the Imperial Garden’s traditional design features
  • Exit through the Gate of Divine Prowess
  • Get to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a family-style welcome lunch

Spend a free evening in Beijing or add an excursion.

Hutong Rickshaw Ride Family Visit & Dinner

From $99 per person

Day 4: The Great Wall
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Head outside of Beijing to marvel at one of the world’s most impressive structures: the Great Wall.

  • Stop at a Jade Factory on the way to watch a demonstration of how the gemstone is carved to create impressive sculptures
  • Tour the Great Wall at the Juyong Pass
  • Enjoy free time to explore the many ramparts and towers, admiring panoramic views as you go
  • Sit down for an included family-style lunch before traveling back to Beijing

Please note: The Juyong Pass cannot be reached by cable car or elevator. Walking  is required to reach this less crowded, more scenic section of the Great Wall.

Enjoy a free evening in Beijing or add an excursion.

Kung Fu Show

From $89 per person

Xi'an2 nights
Day 5: Tai Chi lesson, sightseeing tour of the Temple of Heaven & flight to Xi’an
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Discover Beijing’s modern and ancient traditions on today’s tour.

  • Participate in a Tai Chi lesson alongside locals in Temple of Heaven Park
  • Discover the health benefits of this traditional form of exercise, which combines easy, flowing arm and leg movements
  • Enter the Temple of Heaven for a guided tour
  • Walk down the Long Corridor to enter the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
  • Learn about the history of the Ming Dynasty at the Imperial Vault of Heaven

Fly to Xi’an this afternoon and sit down for an included family-style dinner.

Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Xi’an & Terracotta Army
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take a panoramic tour of Xi’an, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China  and the starting point of the Silk Road.

  • Pass the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower, which marks what was once the center of the city
  • Walk along the 14th-century city walls to see watchtowers and ramparts that were built by the Ming Dynasty

Head outside of the city this afternoon to visit one of the country’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the Terracotta Army.

  • Visit a local workshop to learn how the clay statues were made
  • See some of the 8,000 life-size pottery soldiers that represent the expansive army of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang
  • Watch a noodle-making demonstration and enjoy an included family-style lunch
  • See Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum
  • Visit the Exhibition Hall to see two sets of bronze chariots and horses that were excavated from the archaeological site in 1980

Please note: Depending on flight times on day 5, you may visit the Xi’an City walls  on the afternoon of day 5.

Spend a free evening in Xi’an or add an excursion.

Tang Dynasty Evening

From $125 per person

Guilin1 night
Day 7: Flight to Guilin & Reed Flute Cave
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Fly to Guilin this morning. Then, meet up with a local guide to explore the stunning Reed Flute Cave.

  • Walk along the pathways as colorful lights illuminate the stalactites and stalagmites
  • Learn about the cave’s unique geological features and see some of the markings on the walls that date back to the Tang Dynasty

Next, pay a visit to a tea plantation located on the foothills of Yao Mountain. You'll pick tea leaves and learn about the tea-making process. Then, enjoy an included family-style dinner.

Yangshuo2 nights
Day 8: Yangshuo via Fuli & rice paddy visit
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

As you travel to Yangshuo, stop in the ancient town of Fuli for a guided tour.

  • Walk along the cobblestone streets to explore the town, which sits on the banks  of the Li River
  • Visit a local shop to learn about the town’s artistic roots and how local shopkeepers design traditional fans and scroll paintings

Next, a guided tour takes you through the Chinese countryside and introduces you  to the people who call this area home.

  • Stop at a local farmer’s house to meet the family and find out how they tend to their rice paddy
  • Learn about what the family’s daily life is like

Continue on to Yangshuo and sit down for an included family-style dinner. Then, explore the bustling markets that line West Street with your Tour Director.

Day 9: Yulong River bamboo raft ride
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, board a bamboo raft and leisurely float down the scenic Yulong River. Pass by towering limestone peaks, grassy rice paddies, and grazing water buffaloes  as you go. Then, enjoy an included family-style lunch 

Spend a free evening in Yangshuo or add an excursion.

Yangshuo Market Visit & Cooking Class

From $79 per person

Shanghai2 nights
Day 10: Flight to Shanghai & Maglev train ride
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Fly to Shanghai this morning. Then, ride the Shanghai Maglev train—a magnetic levitation train that’s distinguished as one of the fastest trains in the world— on your way to your hotel. 

Sit down for an included family-style dinner. Then, enjoy a free evening in Shanghai or add an excursion.

Acrobatic Show

From $59 per person

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Shanghai
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Farewell dinner

Meet up with a local guide to learn about Shanghai’s culture on today’s tour.

  • Enter the Jade Buddha Temple to see the white jade statues of sitting Buddha  and reclining Buddha
  • Visit a silk factory to learn how the fabric is produced
  • Stroll through the Yuyuan Garden, the “Garden of Happiness”
  • Enjoy free time to shop at the Yuyuan Bazaar before taking part in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony
  • Walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s historic waterfront promenade

Celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner in Shanghai’s French Concession neighborhood this evening.

Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to explore Hong Kong.

Extension to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a place of complexity and contrast, where skyscrapers of glass and steel mingle with views of green mountains and tranquil bays. Fly to the city to uncover its ancient culture on a guided tour, and then look to your Tour Director for more expert suggestions.
Hong Kong3 nights
Day 12: Flight to Hong Kong
Included meal: Breakfast

This morning, fly to Hong Kong, a former British colony known for its striking skyline and range of global influences, and enjoy a free day in the city.

Day 13: Sightseeing tour of Hong Kong
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Uncover Hong Kong on a guided tour.

  • Take a bus ride up to Victoria Peak and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s world-famous skyline
  • Visit the Aberdeen Fishing Village before enjoying an included family-style lunch
  • Pass Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay on your way to visit Stanley Market

Later, enjoy a free evening in Hong Kong or add an excursion.

Hong Kong by Night

From $219 per person

Day 14: Free day in Hong Kong
Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Hong Kong or add an excursion. 

Tonight, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers.

New Lantau Island Tour

From $219 per person

Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating 5 out of 5

Based on 3 authentic traveler reviews
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    5 out of 5 stars

    Enjoying sites and food around China.
    10/17/19 by 6th-time traveler Michael

    We traveled in October of 2019 from Beijing to Hong Kong we were treated to great sites, experiences and wonderful foods. Our guides were great, Li Jun-aka/ John was wonderful, spoke English very well and made sure all of us were safe, happy and informed every step of the way. David who took over...

    Read more +
    EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 12/7/21

    Dear Michael, Thank you for your review! We are s...

    Read more +

    5 out of 5 stars

    Around the World tour October 2019
    10/17/19 by 6th-time traveler Diana

    Please see comments from the Greece Convention that we tied this trip to. Thank you to Alex and Josh so very much.

    5 out of 5 stars

    A most magnificent trip!
    10/17/19 by 1st-time traveler Helen

    The trip to China was much more than I expected! From start to finish, I mentally processed each new adventure and am still working on my China journal at home. Sometimes the excursion would be over before I realized the impact of what I just did! Oh my goodness, I just walked on the Great Wall of...

    Read more +
    Show more reviews

    Hotels, flights & FAQ

    Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

    Hotels

    We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
    Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel
    Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel

    This modern hotel is located in the city center at Wangfujingjing. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and a spa. Nearby, you’ll find the Forbid...

    Read more +
    Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel Xian
    Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel Xian

    This comfortable hotel is located in the Lianhu District of Xi'an. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and room service. Nearby, you'll find Lin...

    Read more +
    Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Puxi
    Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Puxi

    This comfortable hotel is located in the Jiangning Road Residential District. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll...

    Read more +
    Harbour Grand Kowloon
    Harbour Grand Kowloon

    This elegant hotel is located in the Kowloon City District of Hong Kong overlooking Victoria Harbor. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, fitness center and...

    Read more +

    Flights

    Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
    Add our airfare package and you'll get:
    • Round-trip flight for your tour
    • Airport transfers at your destination
    • A great price locked in today
    • 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
    • Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
    • Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
    • Find out more about flights

    FAQ

    Print FAQ

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