Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!
Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
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Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
10-Day China Golden Route Tour: 6 Iconic Cities
Embark on a 10-day China golden route adventure spanning 6 iconic cities—from Shanghai’s skyline and Suzhou’s classical gardens to Guilin’s karst peaks and Beijing’s Great Wall.
- Make sure everyone bring passport with
- Full names and passport numbers are required to book tickets for attractions.
Itinerary Quick Look
Day 1 Shanghai | A Blend of Eastern Elegance & Western Charm
Meet your tour guide at the agreed point. Hop on a private air-conditioned vehicle. Start your customized city tour. Discuss interests with your guide to tailor the itinerary.
Your journey typically begins at Shanghai Museum. This cultural gem has 11 galleries and 3 exhibition halls. It houses 120,000 precious relics across 21 categories. Bronze ware, ceramics and calligraphy are its star collections.
Next, head to Jade Buddha Temple. It holds two white jade Buddhas from 19th-century Burma. Stroll its tranquil halls and courtyards. Learn about the temple’s history and Chinese Buddhism. Watch locals burn incense and worship.
Enjoy a flavorful lunch at a local restaurant. Explore Yu Garden, Shanghai’s largest ancient Ming-Qing garden. Follow your guide to uncover its exquisite design secrets. Wander the nearby Old City God Temple area, packed with snack shops and busy streets.
Continue to the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront. Marvel at colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers like the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Snap photos of the Huangpu River views.
Then, wander the Former French Concession. It has narrow alleyways, cozy cafes, art galleries and restaurants (meals at your own cost). Soak in the district’s old-world charm.
End your day at Xintiandi, a lively nightlife hub. Historic Shikumen houses are converted into upscale eateries, boutiques and bars. Explore with your guide, or swap spots for alternatives like the Pearl TV Tower. After the tour, your driver will drop you off in Shanghai.
Day 2 Shanghai → Suzhou | Classical Gardens & Ancient Water Towns
Meet your guide and board a private vehicle. Start your Suzhou adventure.
Your first stop is Humble Administrator’s Garden. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Suzhou’s largest classical garden. Admire grand halls, delicate pavilions, zigzag bridges and lotus ponds. Your guide shares its 600-year history as a literati retreat.
If the garden is crowded in peak season, swap it for Lingering Garden. It is another UNESCO gem and one of China’s four famous gardens. It has a 400-year history of renovations by successive owners.
Follow your guide to explore the garden’s scenic corners. Head to Pingjiang Road, a Song Dynasty (960–1279) flagstone street. It is lined with well-preserved traditional houses, teahouses and local shops. Immerse yourself in Suzhou’s old-town vibe.
Grab lunch at a local eatery. Choose between two iconic water towns for the afternoon:
- Tongli: Known as the “Oriental Venice”, this 1,000-year-old town has 7 islands connected by 49 bridges. Take a sculling boat ride (at your own cost) past ancient canals.
- Zhouzhuang: China’s most famous water town, with imperial-era stone bridges and cobblestone lanes. Browse craft shops and soak in timeless canal views.
Your guide will share fascinating stories about the town’s culture and history. After the tour, you will be dropped off in Suzhou.
Day 3 Suzhou → Hangzhou | West Lake & Tea Village Delights
Meet your guide in Hangzhou and board a private vehicle. Customize the itinerary or follow our sample route.
Kick off at West Lake, a UNESCO site and Hangzhou’s iconic scenic spot. It is celebrated in ancient poems and paintings. Take a 30-minute boat ride past pagodas and arched bridges. Soak in the lake’s tranquil beauty.
Next, visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak. It is China’s oldest and largest Buddhist temple. It is a key center for Buddhist culture research. Explore its grand halls. Walk along a cobblestone path to Amanfayun Village, a peaceful hamlet surrounded by tea fields.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Pick your afternoon activity with your guide:
- Hefang Street: A bustling Southern Song Dynasty commercial street. Sample local snacks, browse handicrafts and shop for souvenirs. Your guide will help you bargain for the best prices.
- Meijiawu Tea Village: Nestled in West Lake’s foothills. Learn about Xihu Longjing green tea production. Sip a cup amid the scenic tea fields.
After the tour, you will be dropped off in Hangzhou.
Day 4 Hangzhou → Guilin | Longji Rice Terraces & Yao Ethnic Culture
Meet your guide in Guilin. Take a 2-hour private drive to Longji Rice Terraces. These stunning fields were built from Yuan to early Qing Dynasty. They are hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful terraced landscapes.
First, stop at Huangluo Long Hair Village. This Yao ethnic village holds a Guinness World Record for women’s incredibly long hair, a symbol of auspiciousness. Watch a fascinating long hair show. Learn about Yao traditions. Enjoy lunch at a local village restaurant.
After lunch, choose your terrace exploration route with your guide:
- Option 1: Dazhai (Jinkeng) Rice Terrace: Drive 40 minutes to this Hongyao ethnic area. Take a 20-minute cable car to Golden Buddha Peak for sweeping views. Hike three popular viewpoints to snap unforgettable photos. Descend by cable car, then return to Guilin or stay in Longsheng.
- Option 2: Ping’an Rice Terrace: Drive 30 minutes to this Zhuang ethnic village. Hike two iconic viewpoints to admire the undulating “dragon’s spine” scenery. After the tour, you will be transferred to Guilin.
Day 5 Guilin → Yangshuo | Li River Cruise & Ten-Mile Gallery
Your private guide and driver will pick you up at 8:00 am. Transfer you to Zhujiang Pier to board a Li River Cruise—the highlight of any Guilin trip.
Sail down the river for 3.5–4 hours (duration depends on water levels). Feast your eyes on karst peaks, clear waters and pastoral villages. Your guide will share mystical fairy tales and love legends about the landmarks. Enjoy a simple lunch on board.
Don’t miss Xingping Fishing Village. Its stunning scenery is printed on the back of the 20 RMB note. Every angle offers postcard-perfect shots.
Arrive in Yangshuo around 1:30 pm. Stroll West Street, a vibrant pedestrian street lined with shops and cafes. Your guide will help you bargain for souvenirs.
In the afternoon, explore Ten-Mile Gallery, a picturesque road stretching to Moon Hill. It is framed by rolling hills, fields and rivers that look like a living Chinese painting. Stop at Butterfly Spring Park to admire peaks and waterfalls. Head to Moon Hill for photo ops. After the tour, stay in Yangshuo or return to Guilin.
Day 6 Yangshuo → Guilin → Xi’an | Terracotta Warriors & Xi’an City Wall
Your guide will greet you at your Xi’an hotel, railway station or airport. Customize a 2-day Xi’an itinerary for you. You get 6–8 hours of sightseeing daily and set your own pace.
Typically, start with the Terracotta Warriors Museum, hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It was discovered by farmers drilling a well in 1974. Explore three pits filled with life-sized, unique terracotta soldiers. Your guide shares vivid historical stories.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Xi’an City Wall, a 600-year-old, 14-kilometer-long structure. It is China’s best-preserved ancient city wall. Climb to the top for panoramic city views.
End the day at Muslim Quarter, a bustling hub of the local Muslim community. Stroll its food and souvenir markets. Sample snacks and browse handicrafts. After the tour, you will be dropped off in Xi’an.
Day 7 Xi’an | City Highlights & Historic Landmarks
Meet your guide and follow your prearranged itinerary. Choose 2–3 top attractions based on your flight schedule:
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Built in the Tang Dynasty to store Buddhist scriptures from India.
- Xi’an Great Mosque: China’s oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosque.
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi’an Museum: Learn how Buddhism spread to China and integrated with Han culture.
- Shaanxi History Museum: Home to 370,000 relics spanning prehistoric times to Qing Dynasty.
- Huaqing Palace: A Tang Dynasty imperial residence linked to Emperor Xuanzong and Concubine Yang Yuhuan.
- Bell Tower & Drum Tower: Stroll the surrounding squares and soak in Xi’an’s historic atmosphere.
- Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling): A Western Han mausoleum with 5,000 terracotta figures.
After the tour, you will be transferred to your preferred location in Xi’an, railway station or airport.
Day 8 Xi’an → Beijing | Forbidden City & Hutong Adventures
Your guide will pick you up from your downtown Beijing location. Skip the lines and enter Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square. Admire landmarks like Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. Your guide shares their histories.
Pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and Duanmen Gate. Enter the Forbidden City, a 600-year-old imperial palace. It was the political center of Ming and Qing dynasties for 500 years. Spend 1.5 hours exploring its grand halls and gardens with your guide.
Enjoy a delicious Peking duck lunch at a local restaurant. Head to the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. Stroll its sacred temples and lush grounds.
Next, visit the Drum and Bell Towers. Learn about their history as ancient timekeeping centers. Take a relaxing walk through traditional hutong alleys. Browse the shops along Nanluoguxiang Alley. The tour ends with a drop-off in Beijing.
Day 9 Beijing | Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace
Meet your guide at your downtown Beijing location. Set off for Mutianyu Great Wall, a less-crowded, well-preserved section of this ancient wonder. Take a cable car or ski lift to the top. Listen to your guide’s stories about the wall’s 2,000-year history. Explore watchtowers and beacon towers at your own pace. Descend via fun toboggan, ski lift or cable car (your choice).
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Summer Palace, a UNESCO site and one of China’s most beautiful royal gardens. Wander its lakes, bridges and pavilions. Your guide shares stories of Qing Dynasty royals who retreated here to escape summer heat. After the tour, you will be dropped off in Beijing.
Day 10 Beijing Departure | Airport Transfer
Your 10-day China adventure comes to an end. Your guide will escort you directly to the airport. They will accompany you until the security check. Wave goodbye to China with unforgettable memories!
There are discounts in the off-season, please call us!
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before your travel date and get a full refund
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IncludedBottled waterBreakfast, Lunch (Breakfast=B, Lunch=L)Professional guidePrivate tourTransport by private vehicleEntrance fee
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Not IncludedGratuities
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