Adventure AsiaAI-assisted
beijing
  • Forbidden City
  • Forbidden City wall
  • Forbidden City wall
  • Jinshan Park
  • Mutianyu
  • Mutianyu
China7 days

China in Seven Days: Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai

The Great Wall, West Lake, and urban culture across three cities — 7 days with local guides

This seven-day route moves through three defining nodes of contemporary China: Beijing, where imperial architecture and modern streets converge; Hangzhou, centered on West Lake and the forested slopes of Mt. Shibaoshan; and Shanghai, where colonial-era finance buildings stand alongside traditional gardens and temple districts. The itinerary pairs guided sightseeing—the Forbidden City and its surroundings, the restored Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, temple complexes and lakeside walks—with unstructured time to navigate neighborhoods, markets, and restaurants on your own terms. An overnight sleeper train connects Beijing to Hangzhou; a fast train carries you onward to Shanghai. Two breakfasts are included; all other meals are your own choice.

Highlights

  • Walk the restored Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, two hours northeast of Beijing
  • Stroll the Forbidden City, the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and listed as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
  • Visit Hutong alleys—narrow lanes lined with traditional courtyard compounds—for direct sight of Beijing residential life
  • Hike Mt. Shibaoshan for an overhead view of West Lake, regarded in Chinese culture as a primary symbol of Hangzhou
  • Visit Yuyuan Garden, an extensive Ming and Qing-era compound with traditional architectural detail
  • Walk the Bund, the harborfront streetscape of Art Deco commercial buildings.
  • Tour the City God's Temple and the surrounding pedestrian district, with its shops, restaurants, and annual temple fair
  • Visit Shanghai Museum, designed according to Feng Shui principles, housing over 120,000 artifacts

Day by day

1Arrival in Beijinghotel lobby · area surrounding Campanile Hotel Guanganmen
Welcome to Beijing. You'll meet your local guide at 6pm in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing, where they'll walk through trip details and introduce you to the structure of your journey across cities. Following this, your guide will take you on an orientation walk to familiarize yourself with the area surrounding your accommodation at the Campanile Hotel Guanganmen. No meals are included today.
2Mutianyu Section of the Great WallMutianyu · Beijing
Travel approximately two hours northeast of Beijing to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and most restored sections of the Great Wall. The restoration work has made the climb accessible while maintaining clear views of the structure's scale and construction difficulty. A picnic lunch is provided on the Wall. Return to Beijing in the late afternoon, leaving the remainder of the day free to rest or visit local markets.
3Free Day in BeijingJinshan Park · Temple of Heaven · Lama Temple · a street market
The day is unscheduled. You can climb Jinshan Park for a panoramic view of three major complexes—the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace—as well as Tiananmen Square. Alternatively, visit the Temple of Heaven or the Lama Temple. A street market offers the chance to practice negotiation in a live trading environment. All choices are yours.
4Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs, and Overnight Train to HangzhouTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · Hutongs · a local restaurant · overnight hard-sleeper train
The day begins at Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares and home to the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From there, enter the Forbidden City, built between 1406 and 1420 as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese imperial government for more than five centuries. UNESCO recognizes it as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world and designated it a World Heritage Site in 1987. After lunch of authentic Chinese dumplings in a local restaurant, spend the afternoon walking through Hutongs—the narrow alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard compounds that comprise Beijing's residential fabric. These passages offer the clearest view into local daily life. In the evening, board an overnight hard-sleeper train bound for Hangzhou.
5West Lake, Mt. Shibaoshan, and Train to ShanghaiWest Lake · Mt. Shibaoshan · Lotus Park · Flower Harbor · Su Causeway · train station
Begin the day at West Lake, regarded in Chinese tradition as a symbol of Hangzhou and counted among the country's most valued natural sights. Walk the lakeshore, visiting Lotus Park, Flower Harbor, and Su Causeway, learning local history and folklore from your guide. In the mid-morning, hike Mt. Shibaoshan for a birds-eye view of the entire lake and its surrounding landscape. Mid-afternoon, depart for the train station and board a fast train to Shanghai, approximately 1.5 hours away.
6City God's Temple, Yuyuan Garden, Old Shanghai, Shanghai Museum, and the BundYuyuan Garden · Old Shanghai · Shanghai Museum · the Bund · City God's Temple area
A walking tour traces several layers of Shanghai's urban and cultural history. Begin at the City God's Temple area, originally dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan (Gold Mountain), an island off the coast, converted to a City God's Temple in 1403. The surrounding district has evolved into a large pedestrian zone hosting shops, restaurants, teahouses, and annual temple fair events. Adjacent is Yuyuan Garden, an extensive ancient compound displaying Ming and Qing architectural styles. Continue into the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of Old Shanghai to observe residents' daily life in close quarters. Shanghai Museum, designed according to Feng Shui principles, houses a permanent collection of over 120,000 pieces and regularly hosts special exhibitions. In the evening, walk the Bund, the harborfront avenue lined with Art Deco commercial buildings from Shanghai's era as Asia's leading financial center.
7Shanghai DepartureShanghai · airport
Your final morning in Shanghai is unscheduled. Depending on your flight time, you have the flexibility to wander more of the city's neighborhoods or spend time sampling the many cuisines available throughout Shanghai before making your way to the airport.

Where you go

Map: China in Seven Days: Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai route
Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
  1. 1Mutianyu
  2. 2Beijing
  3. 3Temple of Heaven
  4. 4Tiananmen Square
  5. 5Forbidden City
  6. 6hutongs
  7. 7Yuyuan Garden
  8. 8Shanghai Museum
  9. 9the Bund
  10. 10Shanghai

Included

  • Included:
  • · 5 nights' hotel accommodation based on twin share
  • · Local English speaking guide service in each city for FIT booking of 2-5 pax
  • · National English speaking guide throughout for group booking of 6 pax or up
  • · Private/Public transportation in each city as specified
  • · Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
  • · 2 breakfasts only
  • · Overnight hard-sleeper train Beijing-Hangzhou ( 1 night)
  • · Regular class fast train from Hangzhou to Shanghai

Not included

  • Excluded:
  • · International flights
  • · Travel insurance
  • · Lunch and dinner
  • · Chinese visa
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