China Family Classic Tour
9-Day Beijing ,Xian and Shanghai Tour
Explore China with your family. Let your kids embrace the history of China while looking into the future. Experience different cultures and enjoy unusual sights and sounds. Family-friendly activities are included, making this classic China tour a perfect choice for a family vacation.
Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai Tour Map

Highlights
- Walk or hike on the Great Wall of China
- Learn to apply facial makeup for the Beijing Opera
- Taste the delicious Beijing Roast Duck for dinner
- Visit the Terra cotta Warriors and make one of your own
- Be welcomed by a local family and learn how to make dumplings with them
- Test your courage at the glass sky deck on top of the highest building in Shanghai
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Magical Adventure
Wow this tour was honestly the best tourI have ever taken! Our guide Simon Yao was simply superb! His English was excellent and he was very easy to talk to. He was personable and friendly but not overpowering or overbearing. Very knowledgeable about history. Thankfully the weather was good so we were not super hot !Finally at the wall we were amazed by it's beauty and grandeur. It really is something and pictures don't do it justice. more
Nov 2023,
Annika M
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Excellent two day visit to Great Wall
Our guide ‘Mark’ was incredible. So friendly, knowledgable and funny. The itinerary was perfect, we got to see two different parts of the Great Wall (one of which at night which was magical) and our hotel stay in Gubei was wonderful. Highly recommend to anybody visiting Beijing more
Nov 2023,
James_Wolstenholme
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Great day out with Mark, thanks China Highlights!
We did a 1 day private tour with China Highlights to see Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Communication was great throughout - from trip planning/booking with Roger and from our guide Mark who contacted us the day before to confirm meet up time/location. Avoided a lot of the queues and definitely learned quite a bit of history from our guide Mark…thanks again! No language barriers/issues…highly recommended. more
Nov 2023,
ykeezy
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China Three (3) Cities Tours
To the tour guides, Ethan, Jason and Tony, you guys have made my visit an awesome and memorable experience. All the tour guides spoke english and communicated very effectively. They are knowledgeable about all the sites visited including, Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, Panda Breeding and Research Center, Leshan Giant Buddha, Hallelujah Mountains, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge, and Tianmen Mountain. The tour guides ensured I got the most out of my time I stayed in the various cities Beijing, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie. more
Nov 2023,
Kadar
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13 days in China
We booked a 13 day’s tour of China with China Highlights. Our travel advisor, Ms Leah Zhou organised an itinerary that suited what we wanted. She was really helpful and patient will all our needs. Leah helped us organised our 30th Wedding Anniversary Dinner and my 60th Birthday celebration?? in Beijing. For this to be possible, she had to liaise with our guide in Beijing. The flowers and cake were a real surprise. My husband and I, were really touched at the good service provided by China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou. Thank you China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou for your constant care of your customers. I will certainly recommend China Highlights to my friends. more
Nov 2023,
Eda Adams
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Perfect Beijing experience
Covering all major sights our exploration of Beijing and surroundings was flawless guided by Lily, along with her knowledgeable and balanced information on Chinas culture and history. In particular, Lily was able to adjust the tour according to personal preferences, e.g. focus on photography, as well as suggesting additional activities like an impressive authentic artistic show. I highly recommend China Highlights as China tour operator and Lily Liu as excellent guide regarding the Beijing area. more
Nov 2023,
Perfect Beijing experience
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Anne and Bob’s tour of Beijing
We did the China Highlights tour of Beijing with our excellent guide Mark and his driver. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Beijing highlights including the Lama Temple, the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Lama Temple. The Summer Palace with the boat ride and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony were memorable also and the Mutianyu Great Wall was a highlight. We were impressed with Mark as a guide. He knew his history and he was kind and thoughtful. He took us to some excellent restaurants and we were introduced to some beautiful food. We enjoyed his company and will always remember him. more
Nov 2023,
BendigoBob
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Amazing Beijing Tour with Risa!
Risa gave us a wonderful tour of the city! She thoroughly explained the cultuaral importance of each exhibit while also educating us on the Chinese culture. Appreciated having this wonderful Beijing trip with Risa:) more
Nov 2023,
Angelica M.
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Amazing Beijing Tour With Risa!
We were very kindly received in Beijing by our tour guide Risa. She gave us a very thorough tour of the city and showed us wonderful places, while also explaining the important history/culture of China! Very beautiful city filled with many things to do and full of culture! This was very well planned and made it very easy for us to visit the city and foreigners:) Thank you Risa! more
Nov 2023,
Angelica M
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Do Beijing like a local
They organised my trip very quickly and efficiently. On the day, Anna was very friendly to me, my mum and my baby. Very accommodating to our needs. The car was immaculately clean and very comfortable. We visited everything we initially wanted and more. Also, Anna took us to the best meal we had in China. It makes a difference to have a local choosing the dishes! more
Nov 2023,
Natali A
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Must-see Beijing sights in two days
Going on the guided tour gave me the opportunity to visit the main 'must-see' Beijing attractions in two days' time. Although I prefer to travel on my own, it simply would not have been possible for me to arrange tickets and figure out logistics to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall with such a compressed schedule and short notice. My guide, Lucy, was very knowledgeable about Chinese history and cheerfully accompanied me through two grueling days. Traffic in and around Beijing is bad, and the sights are notnin walking distance from one another. Our driver, Li Li Mon, patiently fought the traffic allowing me to snooze in between the long more
Nov 2023,
Marcis J
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China Highlights - Great Wall Mutianyu
I arranged a private tour with China Highlights to see the Great Wall, as I had a few hours to spare near Beijing. I was promptly collected, taken to the wall via comfortable car and escorted all the way by my allocated tour guide Jack. The day was highly memorable and thoroughly enjoyable, we walked 20 watchtowers across the Wall and then took the luge back down. The knowledge and history of the Great Wall was shared and Jack’s English was great. Fantastic day, thanks for your great hospitality, Jack! more
Nov 2023,
Daniel White
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Great Day in China!
The experience was great! Amazing learning about history and culture.Thanks for everything Lucy! more
Nov 2023,
Evandro S
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Unforgetable experience
It was the best experience foi my whole life. Thanks a thousand to Lucy for all her assistente and knowledge regarding China. If you are planing to know China as native perspective do not think twice Luci is the best. more
Nov 2023,
Evandro F
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Amazing experience in Beijing
Spent 3 days in Beijing under China Highlights! Our tour guide Jennifer spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable in Chinese history. Not only was she friendly, she was always on hand to help me with my heavy luggage. She also recommended us very good chinese restaurants for lunch and dinner. She went beyond her call of duties to make sure we had a enjoyable time in Beijing. China highlights also surprised me with a birthday cake on my birthday. Kimi Huang who was my consultant was ever ready to answer all my queries promptly. Thank you for making our trip a memorable one. more
Nov 2023,
Delltravellor
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Great Experience on Beijing Day Visit with tour guide Lucy Yubo
She took me on a side excursion to see the next door park where locals exercise and she took me yo some shops also to get hat and gloves for the cold. Our last stop was 978 Art Center which was super interesting. My day was relaxing, fun, and very special as I feel I learned something much about both China’s past and present. I highly recommend booking a tour to see Beijing in this way. more
Nov 2023,
Nancy H
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Memorable Beijing & Gubei with China Highlights
Jack as the tour guide is a good story teller. He is inquisitive. He knows when to leave us alone exploring the sights and pick out interest again with the historical facts and stories.Then, we explored Jinshanling that provides a balanced view between reconstructed and ruined walls. Finally, we explored the Forbidden City and The Summer Palace. In between, we enjoyed authentic Chinese cuisines which were delicious. more
Nov 2023,
Dian W
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Beijing 2 day tour
Spent 2 days in Beijing with Ethan as my guide and had a fantastic experience. Ethan is very knowledgeable, easy company and takes excellent photographs. The organisation was excellent as well including the driver for the tour as well the airport pick up. more
Nov 2023,
Tam
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My very first trip to Beijing
My guide Jack was excellent- very knowledgeable, organised, kind, helpful, and great English speaker. So I learned a lot about the fascinating history of China while enjoying breathtaking sceneries and monuments. more
Nov 2023,
Amanda Barbosa
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Thank you Mark and China Highlights for an amazing trip!!
Mark was the first sight that we had after getting off the plane and what a beautiful site he was! We felt very safe having him as our first tour guide! We sure appreciate having him guide us through Beijing wouldn’t replace him with anyone!! Thanks Mark for all of your hard work and preparation! more
Nov 2023,
adyn h
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Suggested Itinerary
Your personal guide and driver will meet you and your family at the airport, and transfer you to the hotel in a non-smoking private van, making sure your holiday gets off to a smooth start. Your guide will help you check-in.
Hotel Recommendations
The itinerary price includes 4-star hotels for your reference.

Novotel Beijing Peace
- Very central location, 15 minutes walk to the Forbidden City
- Member of Accor Group, ensuring standard Western service

Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town
- Wins Certificate of Excellence of Tripadvisor
- Near Sanlitun, in the new CBD area, surrounded by touring conveniences
- Member of Intercontinental Group, ensuring great breakfasts and services

Hotel Eclat Beijing
- Ranked 3/6561 of Beijing hotels on TripAdvisor
- Near Sanlitun, about 5 km (3 mi) from the Forbidden City
- Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with a unique artistic atmosphere
Your guide will show you the classic and iconic sites in Beijing, such as Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City, which are the masterpieces of Chinese architecture. For lunch, enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine surrounded by traditional Chinese decor. Your guide will help you to order dishes you like.
In the afternoon, ride a rickshaw and visit a local family to get a more personal experience of the hutongs, a maze of historic alleyways and single story traditional courtyard houses. Learning to apply facial makeup for the Beijing Opera is a fun way to experience the local culture. After the tour, your guide will escort you back to your hotel for a good rest.
Good to know
- As well as applying Beijing Opera facial makeup, many other interactive activities can be arranged in the hutongs area to enrich your day: learn traditional crafts like Chinese knot-tying and decorative paper-cutting, see a remarkable acrobatic display by a Chinese yo-yo master, and learn to make dumplings with a local family.
- Night shows, such as the Kung fu Show at the Red Theater and the Acrobatic Show at Chaoyang Theater, are recommended to enrich your night. It is recommended to book with your guide a day before, or on the day, to allow flexibility.


See the Great Wall section at Mutianyu, a much less-crowded section, where a cable car takes you up to avoid a very steep climb. Peek through the watchtowers and imagine you are on the lookout. You can return by cable car, walk down, or walk along the wall for about an hour before taking a toboggan to slide down, which is an exciting option when the weather is nice. Lunch is of a countryside style, and the specialties include rainbow trout, sturgeon, and salmon.
Visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon, where the emperors of old prayed for a good harvest and where local people now practice tai chi; it is an impressive complex surrounded by a beautiful park. The famous Beijing Roast Duck awaits you for dinner, and your guide will show you how to savor it according to Chinese customs.
Flexible Choice
Want to spend more time on the Great Wall and make the most of your time? No problem! We can arrange a picnic lunch including sandwiches, bread, cake, fruit, and coffee or milk for you to enjoy on the Great Wall.


Spend the morning relaxing in the Summer Palace, which consists of gardens and lakes. Take a boat ride across a lake and explore the Garden of Virtue and Harmony to take you further into China's history. At lunchtime you will get to taste the very popular cuisine of the Hakka minority group.
Later in the day we will take you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an, escorting you all the way to the gate. Upon arrival, you will be collected at the arrival hall by your tour guide, and transferred to your hotel by a private van and driver.
Flexible Choice
1. If you are arriving in summer, the Water Magic Cube Amusement Park is highly recommended to escape the heat. The Water Cube was used during the Beijing Olympics for aquatics and is now designed to be the biggest water amusement park in China. Remember to take a swimsuit, slippers, sunscreen lotion, shower gel, shampoo, and a towel.
2. Getting tired of flying? The high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an is a great option to experience the most advanced train journey in China and enjoy the scenery along the trail. It is more economical and takes approximately five hours.
Hotel Recommendations
The itinerary price includes 4-star hotels for your reference.

Grand Noble Hotel
- Ranked 11/2652 of Xi'an hotels on TripAdvisor
- Very central location, about 1.5 km (1 mi) to the Bell Tower
- Managed by Grand Noble Hotels and Resorts, ensuring standard Western service

Wyndham Grand Xian South
- Ranked 1/2652 of Xi'an hotels on TripAdvisor
- About 2 km (1 mi) from the Wild Big Goose Pagoda, surrounded by touring conveniences
- Spacious rooms of 50 square meters (500+ sq ft), attentive service and great breakfasts

Tang Dynasty Art Garden Hotel
- About 800 meters (½ mile) from the Wild Big Goose Pagoda, surrounded by touring conveniences
- The first hotel with a Tang Dynasty culture theme
Show your children how archeology comes to life in the form of the Terra cotta Army and the underground pits where they were found. An interesting museum and film deepens the experience. Did you know that each soldier has a unique face and was painted in vivid colors? Our guides are on hand to unravel the mysteries and stories surrounding them and to bring history alive. You will have the opportunity to learn how to make a terra cotta figurine with your own hands, and take it back home as a memorable souvenir.
After enjoying some Hunan and Sichuan cuisine for lunch, get some exercise during the day with a bike ride on the Xi'an City Wall, one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. There are also ramparts, gates, and watchtowers in abundance. If the weather is not good, we will substitute this with a visit to the Bell Tower.
Good to know
Bike-riding on the ancient city wall is only allowed for children above 10 years old or taller than 1.4 meters (4.6 feet). If your child is too young to ride a bike, you can have a relaxing walk instead or take a golf cart.


Dumplings are very popular all over China. Your family will learn how to make these mouth-wateringly good little morsels at a local family's home, and then you can eat your creations for lunch.
The elegant Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the main attractions in the Xi'an city center, and it makes a truly wonderful silhouette against the sky.
Our guide and driver will take you to the airport for a late afternoon flight to Shanghai. After landing in Shanghai, you will meet your local guide at the airport's arrival hall, and be transferred to the hotel by a private van and driver.
Good to know
Shaanxi History Museum is one of the best in China; even the buildings themselves are beautiful. If your children are fond of the history of ancient China, this one cannot be missed. Your guide will make sure you get the most out of the experience. Please note it closes on Monday.
Hotel Recommendations
The itinerary price includes 4-star hotels for your reference.

SSAW Hotel Shanghai
- About 10 minutes walk to the Bund
- High value at a southeast asian style and good service

Les Suites Orient Bund Shanghai
- Wins Certificate of Excellence of Tripadvisor
- About 3 minutes' walk from the Bund
- Nice window views of the Bund, great breakfast and service

The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai
- Wins Certificate of Excellence of Tripadvisor
- About 2 km (1 mi) from the Bund
- Unique rooms with a 1920s/30s Shanghai flavor, nice service


Shanghai is a collision of new and old . Visit the new part of Shanghai in the morning and go to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to have a fascinating insight into Shanghai's future and the Shanghai World Financial Center which has the tallest glass observation deck in China. Lunch is a meal of Cantonese food in beautiful surroundings with a nice view over the Bund.
In the afternoon, travel back in time to the old part of Shanghai: the famous Yuyuan Garden that was built during the Ming Dynasty. A market street near Yuyuan Garden is an exciting experience where crowds of people buy local snacks, handicrafts, antiques, and souvenirs.


According to former clients' experiences, they highly recommend having a free day in Shanghai to shop in Nanjing Road or wander around the Bund, where the spectacular skyline is said to rival that of New York.
The following options are recommended to fill your free day:
Scenic Options
Water town day tour: Dozens of picturesque water towns around Shanghai have inimitable scenery with their black-awning boats, arched bridges, tilted eaves, and their interesting local dialects. Zhujiajiao (40 minutes away) and Xitang (one hour away) are recommended. Choose one and escape into the tranquility of ancient China.
Day tour to Suzhou or Hangzhou: Hangzhou is one hour away via a high-speed train. It was considered to be like heaven on Earth in ancient China. It is famous for its picturesque view of West Lake. If you are interested in ancient Chinese gardens, Suzhou is only about 30 minutes away via a high-speed train or 90 minutes by private transfer. The ancient gardens in Suzhou represent the highest art and architecture of ancient China and you can also take a boat across the ancient Grand Canal.
Local Interactive Options
Three-hour in-depth visit to Shanghai's old alleys: Experience the real lifestyle of the Shanghainese. Enjoy lunch and chat with some locals in their home. Visit the local market and even learn how to speak Shanghainese.
Two-hour Shanghai sidecar experience tour: In this fabulous and unique tour, you will discover Shanghai in a different and exciting way. The sidecar driver and guide will be a Westerner who has lived in China for years and can introduce you to Shanghai from different angles.


After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will make sure you get to the airport on time and without any stress. Say goodbye to China and take the lovely memories home.
Trip Notes
Tailoring your tour
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest and schedule. Feel free to tell us your requirements, and we are happy to help you arrange with our professional knowledge and experience.
Hotel
- Hotels with a convenient location and swimming pool are recommended. Please note that a swimsuit/trunks and swimming cap are required to enter the swimming pool.
- If you prefer other hotel options: economical choices, Chinese-style hotels, home stay, apartment, or would like to book the hotels on your own, please feel free to inform us and we will be happy to adjust the details.
- Most hotels in China allow at most three people in one room. If there are more than three people in your group, we will check if there is family room available or do our best to arrange interconnecting rooms or adjoin rooms.
Food
Lunches at popular local restaurants are included for you in order to taste authentic Chinese food. Your guide will assist you with ordering dishes loved by both adults and children. Most families enjoy eating local Chinese food as there is plenty of variety and different flavors, and the food is so much better and different from the Chinese food served back home. Some children may prefer Western food or have some special requirements for meals. Please inform us and we will do our best to cater to your needs
Car Seats, Stroller, and Baby Crib
To maximize the safety of your children, we can arrange for car seats to be fitted at your request during the private transfers in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. A baby stroller can be provided in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. For a baby under two years old, we will inform the hotel to arrange a crib for you. No extra cost is needed. The number of car seats, strollers, and cribs are limited. Please inquire and confirm early to reserve them.
Tour Price
Price includes:
Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.