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.
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




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 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:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.