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9-Day China Family Classic Tour

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

Beijing Xian 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

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Suggested Itinerary

Day 1Beijing Arrival

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

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

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

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
Day 2Beijing: Classic Sites and Hutongs Rickshaw Ride

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.
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City
Applying Beijing Opera Facial Makeup
Applying Beijing Opera Facial Makeup
Day 3Beijing: Family Day Tour to the Great Wall
Breakfast & Lunch

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.

Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven
Day 4Beijing: Family Day at the Summer Palace and Fly to Xi'an
Breakfast & Lunch

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

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

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

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
Day 5Xi'an: The Terra cotta Army and Bike Ride on the City Wall
Breakfast & Lunch

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.

learn how to make a terra cotta figurine
learn how to make a terra cotta figurine
Bike Ride on the Xi'an City Wall
Bike Ride on the Xi'an City Wall
Day 6Xi'an: Dumpling Making Class and History; Flight to Shanghai
Breakfast & Lunch

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.

The Bund Hotel Shanghai

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

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

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
Learn to Make Dumplings
Learn to Make Dumplings
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Day 7Shanghai: Panoramic View Over the City and Bustling Market Street
Breakfast & Lunch

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.

Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden
The Bund
The Bund
Day 8Shanghai: Free Day for Your Own Exploration
Breakfast & lunch

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.

Xitang Water Town
Xitang Water Town
Shanghai sidecar experience
Shanghai sidecar experience
Day 9Shanghai Departure
Breakfast

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.

Flexible Choice

To experience the development of modern China, the Maglev Train is recommended as it is the fastest train in China. The average speed is 300 km/h (186 mi/h) and it takes only 10 minutes to reach Pudong Airport. The service runs between 6:45am and 9:40pm.

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

FromUS1,839 p/p Based on a private tour for 2 people. Price varies depending on program, travel date, number of people and chosen hotel

Price includes:

  • Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
  • English speaking local guide
  • Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
  • 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling

Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

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