Ancient China Heritage Trip
9-Day Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou Tour
A trip to heritage sights in two ancient capitals of China: Beijing and Xi'an, enjoy unique beauty of Jiangnan gardens and water town in Suzhou and Shanghai. Get insight of China's history and ancient life.
Tour Highlights
- Deeply discover of the royal Forbidden City
- Stand up on the Mutianyu Great Wall
- Surprised by the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
- Appreciate exquisite Humble Administrator's Garden
- Leisure cruise in Tongli Water Town
About China Highlights
Since 1998 we've guided everyone ranging from US presidents, Australian Geographic and retired backpackers. Our goal is to create unique trips that take you off-the-beaten path, helping you discover China in a more authentic way. Our motto: "Discovery Your Way!"
A great tour
Our trip to Beijing was brilliantly organised and stress free. As usual with China Highlights our guide Ivy was really well prepared, knowledgeable and dealt with all the security, covid checks and tests etc. It made the trip really easy. more
Suggested Itinerary
Your private guide and driver will be waiting for your arrival in the airport. Enjoy a trouble-free transfer with a comfortable and non-smoking car. Your guide will assist you with hotel check-in. Have a good rest, get ready for your exciting journey next day.
A comfortable car will transfer you and your guide to historic Tian'anmen Square where the famous chairman mao's portrait is hang on the wall of the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Like the Times Square in New York, Red Square in Moscow and St. Peter's Square, Tiananmen Square is a must-visit place for traveler to Beijing and is the largest public square in the world. Your guide will provide you commentary to the history, architecture, and anecdotes of the square, you will have around 20 minutes there for taking photos.
Walk north, and after going through the middle gate of Tian'anmen rostrum, there will be a huge red gate awaiting you. Start to enjoy the highlight of the day - the Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace with 9,999½ forbidden imperial chambers, home to 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420–1911). You'll be marvelled by the gorgeous Chinese ancient style architectures and interesting history and lives of those Chinese emperors.
Visit Hutong by rickshaw, explore Beijing unique local charming lanes. Visit a local family who is still live in the Hutong after generations. Listen to their stories and know more about the local.
Good to know:To ensure the quality of half-day presentation, David Yang only does it once a day. All China Highlights customers who have arrangement to the Forbidden City on the same day will take the presentation together. The maximum number of customers is 10 people. Our audio equipment will ensure you hear clearly.
The Mutianyu section of Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven are on your list. After a western breakfast in the hotel, you will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall, the number 1 attraction to see on the trip advisor. This section is travelled by less people but with beautiful scenery. Plus there are cable cars to offer you maximum time on the Great Wall. Have your lunch at the foot of the wall.
View the magnificent Temple of Heaven, one of the best places to feel ancient China. Along the long corridor, you will see local people playing cards, chess, Jianzi(a traditional game), or some traditional Chinese music.
See royal Summer Place with a beautiful lake and corridors, take a peaceful stroll along the Kunming Lake, admire its lovely scenery, walk through the long corridors with many beautiful Chinese paintings. A great place to experience the opulence of the Chinese empire, glance at the royal life of the Qing Dynasty. On the way to/out of the Summer place, you can exteriorly visit of Beijing Olympic Stadiums(Bird's Nest and Water Cube). Take some photos of the new international sites from the outside. Take a flight in the afternoon to Xi'an. Your guide and driver will take you to the airport with enough time, see you going through the security check.
Good to know:The Summer Palace is a year round place to visit. Summer is a good time to see numerous lotus flowers opening on the lake
Start an amazing exploration after a western breakfast in the hotel, appreciate the magnificent and miraculous historic site. With the help of your guide, learn more about archeological discovery and culture about the Qin Dynasty. Enjoy the study of the wonder of the world. Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses is one of the most representative pictures of ancient China. It's a must see on anyone's bucket list. A large scale of well-preserved workmanship stand for thousands years.
Experience Chinese Buddhism culture by visiting Big Wild Goose Pagoda. A great view of the pagoda sticking up into the skyline. Some temples are not allowed to photograph, however, you can take photos in this temple.
Get a splash of history through a lot of exquisite ancient pottery and metals in the Shaanxi History Museum. As a culture dripping in history of the Tang Dynasty, you will be amazed by the collection of artifacts on display. Get fascinating insights on Chinese scripts at Forest of Stone Steles Museum(Beilin Museum). You will see a huge collection of stones with inscriptions. Understand more Chinese history with these calligraphy arts with your guide's help
Later, ride a bike along the ancient City Wall, get a much different perspective of the city, and stop at any places to take photos or enjoy its surroundings. After the tour, you will take a flight to Shanghai.
Get an overall idea of Shanghai's development at Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. You will get en detailed introduction of this city including its history, present and future. After you have an idea about Shanghai, you will start an exploration at the Yuyuan Garden. An exquisite ancient Chinese garden that full of marvelous rocks, various window patterns and doorways.
Stroll along the Bund to see numerous exotic and modern architecture clusters along the Huangpu River. Stand on the 100 floor of Shanghai World Financial Center to overlook at the city. An interesting and exciting experience during your trip of China. You will be surprised by Shanghai's modernization
Take a morning train to Suzhou, a place famous for its gardens and water towns. You will visit the most famous Suzhou garden-Humble Administrator's Garden. The garden is an exquisite and typical private garden in the center of old Suzhou. A garden with a good mix of pavilions, water ponds and rocks. Understand more about the garden and its owners with the help of your guide. Take a boat along the Grand Canal(a section between Humble Administrator's Garden and Pingjiang Road). Take a rickshaw ride to explore city, know more about the locals
Have a western breakfast with no hurry, Visit one of China's top 6 water towns, Tongli Water Town. Walk along the paths through the ancient town with old houses, Take a gondola ride along the water to enjoy a leisure trip. Chinese water towns are reputed as the Venice of China. Tongli is a charming canal town in the Yangtze Delta. A good place to get insight of ancient China.
After the water town tour, you guide will take you to the airport with enough time. Have a trouble free transfer to catch your flight.
Trip Note
1. What's the unique of in Suzhou?
Suzhou Garden- listed in UNESCO World Heritage site. A peaceful and unique place to see traditional ancient Chinese houses with poetry ambience. Humble Administrator's garden , Lingering Garden and the Master-of-Nets Garden are popular gardens on everyone's must visit list.
China Water Towns stand for the local life of Jiangnan (the south region of the Yangtze River). Taking a gondola along the ancient canal town should not to miss. Wuzhen, Tongli, Zhouzhuang, Xitang, Luzhi and Nanxun water towns are top 6 water towns of China.
Tour Price
Price includes:
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