4-Day China Tour: Pandas, Great Wall & Urban Charms

Meet at your hotel lobby. Board a private car for a customized Shanghai tour.

First stop: Shanghai Museum. It has 11 galleries and 120,000 precious relics. Its star collections include bronze ware and calligraphy. It’s a top spot to explore ancient Chinese art.

Next, visit Jade Buddha Temple. The temple houses two white jade Buddhas from Burma. You can learn about its history and local worship traditions.

Enjoy a local lunch at your own cost. Head to Yu Garden, Shanghai’s largest ancient garden with Ming and Qing styles.

Afterward, explore the nearby Old City God Temple area. Grab snacks or souvenirs at local shops.

Visit the Bund along the Huangpu River. Snap photos of colonial buildings and the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Then go to the Former French Concession. Wander narrow alleys, visit art galleries or grab coffee (cost at your own expense).

Head to Xintiandi, a vibrant hub with restaurants and boutiques. It blends old and new styles perfectly.

If you’ve visited some spots, you can swap them for the Oriental Pearl Tower or Jinmao Tower. Transfer back to your hotel afterward.

Take a 1-hour private drive to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. It’s a 1,700-year-old water town with old bridges and quiet scenery.

Visit Kezhi Garden—a mix of Chinese and Western architecture. Its five-story rooftop pavilion is the town’s tallest spot.

Visit Chenghuangmiao Temple to see the Mercy statue. Explore the Qing Dynasty Post Office for antique postcards.

Take a relaxing canal boat ride. Glide on the water and soak up the peaceful town views.

Meet at your hotel lobby. Head to Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square. Take photos of the iconic Tiananmen Gate.

Cross the square to the Forbidden City. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 500 years of history. Enter via the Meridian Gate. Explore grand palaces and ancient art treasures.

Walk 15 minutes to Jingshan Park. Get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City and modern Beijing.

Visit the Summer Palace, known as the “Museum of Royal Gardens”. Its gardens and lakes look like a traditional Chinese painting. Take your time to wander and relax.

Dinner option: Try Peking Roast Duck at Quanjude (cost at your own expense).

Take a private drive to Mutianyu Great Wall. It’s a well-preserved section with 23 Ming-era watchtowers.

Take a cable car to the 14th watchtower. Hike the western route to the 20th watchtower for a challenge. Snap photos of the wall and surrounding greenery.

Head downtown to snap photos of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube—iconic Olympic venues.

Transfer back to your hotel for a rest.