Itinerary Details (Code: SG01)
China's First & Only: Guaranteed No-Shopping Tours!
There is a long-standing oddity in the tourism market: that is, 90% of China tour operators worldwide always incorporate shopping stops into their so-called low-price tours to compensate for the travel cost or even to make higher profits. However, with us, you’ll be guaranteed to engage in shopping-free tours with just pure sightseeing experiences, at a competitive or even lower price.
Typically, a shopping tour will take you to one or two shopping stops per day, each wasting at least one hour of your time, where salespeople will lure you into buying overpriced goods. For the benefit of those travel agencies, about USD 30 kickback from each customer brought in will be obtained. To put it more intuitively, you would be 'cheated' out of a whopping USD 300 at least in a 10 days’ tour. Also, some tour companies will be vague about shopping in their itineraries, substituting it for attending a jade factory or a tea ceremony, while others may even not mention it at all. Thus it is essential to ask clearly whether any shopping stops are included when booking a trip. Even though, from 2025, China has implemented the Instant Tax Refund policy, allowing foreign tourists to directly enjoy cheaper ‘Made in China’ goods, you’ll benefit nothing from this policy if you are buying in such shops because of travel agencies’ commission charges.
Your 8-day China small group tour starts the moment you land at the airport in Beijing. You will meet your professional guide outside Customs and then enjoy a comfortable car ride heading to the hotel. Take the rest time of the day to relax and recover from jet lag.
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong
Today your Beijing Xi'an Shanghai tour begins! You will meet the other group members in the hotel lobby at 08:30am and have a 30-minute pre-trip meeting hosted by your guide. Some travel guidelines and tips will be shared so that everyone in the group can prepare for the trip. Afterwards, your guide and driver will take you to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest urban square. It lies in the heart of Beijing and has witnessed many important ceremonies and assemblies. Then walk through the Tiananmen Tower accompanied by your guide to visit the Forbidden City, which was the royal palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911). It is the largest and most complete existing ancient architectural complex in China. In 1988, it was listed as a "World Cultural Heritage" site by UNESCO.
At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be arranged at an elegant restaurant, where you will have an opportunity to taste authentic Peking Roast Duck.
After a short break, you will be escorted to the Yonghe Temple, then we will head to the Temple of Heaven where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the heaven in hope of good harvest. Today will be ended with a visit to a theater to appreciate Peking Opera.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch
This morning, we will arrange a visit to the Mutianyu Great Wall. A round-trip cable car is included. Connecting Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou Great Wall in the east, Mutianyu has been regarded as an important military area in Beijing since ancient times. Afterwards, to celebrate the conquest of the Great Wall, we will specially provide red wine for a group toast. It will be a memorable hour with the beauty of the Wall in view, wine in hand.
Today’s lunch is excluded, as restaurants near the Great Wall are not up to our service standard. You should have a big breakfast before setting off and have some fast food around the scenic area. Your guide will offer you more advice.
Later, we will return to the downtown area. Your afternoon will begin with a short stay before the Bird’s Nest originally built for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Then we will take a rickshaw ride through Hutongs to experience Beijing's local life for 40 minutes.
Meal: Western buffet breakfast
After a challenging trip yesterday, this morning we will arrange a leisurely visit to the Panda Hall, Beijing Zoo, a rare chance for you to get close to the precious giant pandas. Then head to the Summer Palace, which was the royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. Here you can admire richly ornamented halls and temples, tranquil Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.
At noon, we will provide you with an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy restaurant.
Later, you will be escorted to the airport for your onward flight to Xi'an. Upon your arrival, the local guide in Xi’an will pick you up at the airport and accompany you to the hotel for check-in.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an
Your memorable Xi'an tour starts today. After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to visit the Terracotta Army. As one of the eight wonders of the ancient world, the Terracotta Army, symbolically guards the entrance to the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC) with over 8,000 pottery soldiers and chariots in battle array to protect this great ruler in his afterlife.
After visiting the museum, we will take you to visit the home of the discoverer, whose name is Yang Zhifa, to hear what President Clinton once heard and interact with his family. Then a visit followed to a terracotta warrior making workshop, you will spend around 40 minutes to make your own mini warrior, which, of course, you can take home as a memento.
After lunch, your guide will take you to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will highlight this evening and you will be served a traditional Dumpling Dinner at the same time.
Friendly Tips: Since the theater is usually not open in Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec, we will not arrange the show and dumpling dinner for tours starting during these periods. Clients will enjoy a free evening to relax.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling Dinner
In the morning, you will take a short ride to the City Wall Park. While strolling in the park, you will see local people doing their morning exercises. It is the best place for you to get to know more about the local life and feel the cultural differences between East and West. You will also join in a Tai Chi class to practice with a professional Tai Chi master. Then accompanied by the guide, you will ascend the City Wall, which has guarded the old city of Xi'an for over 600 years. If you are interested, you can go cycling on the wall. The bike rental fare is at your own cost. Electric cart is also available.
After an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) at the Muslim Quarter, your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai and help you with the boarding procedure.
Upon your landing in Shanghai, the local guide will meet you at the airport exit and escort you to the hotel in comfort.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World
Playing Tai Chi at the City Wall Park
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to your first destination, the Shanghai Museum. This museum houses over 120,000 precious items from different dynasties. Bronze wares of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 771 BC) as well as paintings and calligraphy works of the Tang Dynasty are the most noteworthy.
You will then be taken to Yu Garden. Although not very large in scale, it resembles an elaborate bonsai with pavilions, bridges, pools, and rockeries set off by verdant plants. Your guide will leave you some time to explore the traditional bazaar nearby.
After lunch, you will take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. Enjoy leisurely time on the Bund to get a glimpse of Shanghai's historical buildings on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other side, such as Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower. Then we will drive to the Tianzifang in the Former French Concession to appreciate the exquisite western-style garden houses and learn about the history and stories there.
Your guide will accompany you back to the hotel at the end of the day and say bon voyage.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch
Pudong Area Seen from the Bund
This one-week China small group tour will come to an end today. Be sure to take all your belongings when you check out of the hotel. You will get to the airport for your homeward flight on your own. In order to save time, we kindly suggest you take a taxi to the airport. It is around CNY200 per cab to Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and CNY100 to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA). Please make sure you go to the right airport. If your departure flight leaves from Pudong airport, you could also choose to take the maglev train from the Longyang Road station. We wish you a nice journey home!
If you wish to extend your tour from Shanghai to other neighboring cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Huangshan and others, please feel free to contact our travel consultant. We will be happy to arrange it for you!
Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Prices are per person in US Dollars; departures are guaranteed even with two persons!
Inclusions
- Domestic airfares
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
- Professional English-speaking guides
- Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
- Tips or gratuities for hotel porters
Exclusions
- International airfares
- Entry Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
