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




98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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Great tours!
I had an amazing two trips on the Great Wall and the Forbidden City with the guide Ivy during my stay in China. She was very helpful and answered all of our questions with an enthusiastic approach. I have nothing to say but to highly recommend the trips they offer on the Great Wall hiking/camping and also the in-depth Forbidden City tour! Thank you Ivy and China Highlights. more
May 2023,
Serhat Altay
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Amazing First Time to Beijing with China Highlights
Tom, my private tour guide was there when I landed and accompanied me all the way through to sending me off at the airport after check-in at the end of my trip. Zhao the driver, who also did all the driving during my trip, was calm, confident and knowledgeable in taking us around. Both Tom and Zhao were punctual too. The Great Wall of China Hike I wanted to do started in a very remote, unrestored part of the wall. This would not had been possible without Tom problem solving many issues we had on the way up and I could not have done this on my own a a foreigner. It was well worth the effort and probably the highlight of my trip.The remainder of the tour around Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Kingdom and The Temple of Heaven was paired with a detailed commentary by Tom of which I learnt a lot. more
May 2023,
Munsie
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Beijing - city of surprises
A fantastic guide was waiting for us - Jack, who told all the stories with passion and commitment. He also fulfilled those wishes that were not in the plan. I highly recommend visiting Beijing with this guide. more
May 2023,
Joanna i Piotr Kuzebscy
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Liu Yuan was a superb guide and a lot…
Liu Yuan was a superb guide and a lot of fun to spend time with during my first visit to Beijing. It was a wonderful intensive three days. more
May 2023,
Pam S.
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Great weather and a good trip out with Lily!
Many thanks to my guide Lily for customising the trip to make it as efficient and enjoyable as possible. She arranged to start an hour earlier to beat the crowd and I got to enjoy the Great Wall before the crowd streamed in and while the weather was cool. I requested to switch the next attraction to visit from Temple of Heaven to Ming Tomb and she not only accommodated the prompt request, but made all the necessary arrangements even before the trip coordinator managed to reply! Kudos! Our driver was jovial and friendly, always on top of traffic conditions and took detours to beat slow moving traffic. Hassle free day and I wouldn’t have been able to cover the two attractions so easily and comfortably without them! more
May 2023,
Meibao
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This was our first time traveling to Beijing
This was our first time traveling to China, so we really wanted to experience some of the major historical sights of Beijing together with a tour guide. Our itinerary was very carefully planned out according to our interests and tailored to our needs. First, we went camping on the Great Wall and hiked from Jiankou to Mutianyu, and the next day we got an in-depth tour of the Forbidden City as well as a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a taiji experience in the gardens. Our tour guide, Ivy, was truly wonderful in preparing and organizing our personalized itinerary. She is very friendly and knowledgeable, and she was always able and willing to answer all of our questions. Ivy provided us with a truly amazing first visit to China and I would warmly recommend China Highlights for everyone who wishes to travel to China and I would especially recommend Ivy as a tour guide for your trips! more
May 2023,
Annalina Wheeler
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Tom is the BEST tour guide EVER!
Just had the most AMAZING tour with Tom. He was beyond knowledgeable, so generous with his time and made me feel so at ease which was super important as I am travelling by myself. Thank you Tom for the best day-you have totally made my China trip a fabulous experience, one I will never forget! more
May 2023,
SHARRYN HINCHLIFFFE
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Superb service and wonderful time in Beijing
Superb service from Jack who were with us for 4 wonderful days in Beijing. Jack was clearly knowledgeable about the history and able to deliver insight information to us about places. He was also kind and accommodating to my mother who has bad knees. Both China Highlights and Jack were flexible about the itinerary to ensure that we enjoy the best of Beijing. We'll definitely use China Highlights' services again for our next trip to China. more
May 2023,
Chani
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Amazing Trip
First time booking a trip with China Highlights and was fortunate to have Sunny as my private tour guide. We went to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, then arrived and walked around Gubei Water Town, and then visited the Simatai portion of the Great Wall at night. Was a very enjoyable trip as we were able to see a night time drone show in the sky, ride a private boat through the canals of the Gubei Water Town, and eat a delicious lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Sunny is super knowledgeable when it comes to the history of the Great Wall and took the time to explain various interesting facts and stories which made the trip very meaningful. The driver we had was also a very nice man who was always on time and eager to help. Was an unforgettable experience and would highly recommend Sunny and China Highlights :) more
May 2023,
Allen C
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Tour to the great wall from the airport
My guide Tom was ver kind and knowlegable, he explained everything to me about the great wall and even went out of his way to help me the next day at Bejings downtown! amazing service!!! thank you so much Tom! more
May 2023,
Fer Villasefior
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Great tour, fantastic guide!
This tour was fantastic! I loved hearing about the history of the Forbidden City and admiring the views at the Great Wall. William was a fantastic tour guide. We were a group of families with several young children, and he was very accommodating and flexible with timing and arrangements. I totally recommend this tour and William as a guide! more
May 2023,
Ryan Corless
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Four excellent sightseeing days in Beijing
We had wonderful four days in Beijing. The entire trip was tailored exactly to our wishes. From experiencing local food, to exploring the major sites of the city up to hiking the great wall of China. Additionally, we had two amazing guides Ina and Fan taking care of all the tickets and coordination required. Also, they could not only tell us everything about the sights we visited and give us an insight to local customs and traditions, but they did so in perfect German. The chauffeur service from Mr Chang was also excellent, getting us from A to B without any hazzle. The past couple of days were one of the most carefree trips we have had so far. more
May 2023,
Katha
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Great tour from William
Great tour organized by China highlights, our tour guide was William - his knowledge was impressive, his English was great and he was always on time. We did the four day tour including the wall and forbidden city - would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an English tour guide. more
Apr 2023,
Lawrence
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Beijing 2 day private tour
The tour itself was great, private driver to and from, my guide Ivy was great English speaking guide. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about her country. Was a great time exploring the Great Wall of china and then my second day did a city tour (forbidden city, hutong tour, summer palace). Felt extremely safe, and was confident having an English guide. Thank you china highlights. (Provide them what you want and they’ll make it happen). Prices are reasonable as I looked at a few places but for private tour, my own schedule, and confidence of getting around safely you can’t go wrong. more
Apr 2023,
Mark
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Very enjoyable
Everything was to the vest standard, the history all very well explained by the Tour Guide in Beijing, Ivy. Really enjoyed it, and appreciated the time. more
Apr 2023,
Jonathan
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Amazing Beijing Experience
I had an amazing time in Beijing and glad Tom was my tour guide. He went above and beyond and I’m truly grateful. Tom did all that he could to ensure my stay in Beijing for two days was pleasant and thanks to him, I say that it was. The driver was also nice and courteous, I called him Jon. The company is blessed to have a good tour guide like Tom on their team so if you are planning to come down to Beijing, make sure you ask for Tom. Thank you Christy and Kimmy for replying all my emails with questions that I had. more
Apr 2023,
Pedro V
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Great experience
We had a great experience with China Highlights and Roger was highly efficient and helpful planning our itinerary exactly how we needed. more
Apr 2023,
Brenda Sarmanho
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Excellent service and tour guide!!
Excellent service and communication from the travel agent Roger Li and amazing tour and experience of Great Wall of China from our tour guide Amber. Highly recommended! more
Apr 2023,
Evangelos Athanasopoulos
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Maggie was such a tremendous help for…
Maggie was such a tremendous help for our recent Beijing trip. Very prompt and helpful in helping us plan and adjust/amend to our requests. more
Apr 2023,
Hi
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HK-Beijing-Wuhan-Guilin-HK
We travelled first to Beijing for a few days before moving on to Wuhan for the wedding and then for a few days in Guilin along with my son and daughter in law. It was a great trip and all went smothly with the help of the guides we had along the way. William in Beijing and Jenny in Guilin were excellent. Chas in HK was also very helpful in getting us to the right place and the right time to fly home. more
Apr 2023,
Alan Harris
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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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