2-Day Beijing Highlights Tour from Shanghai by Airplane/Train

This tour is designed for people who are keen to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City but have very limited time.

In this tour, you will have the chance to hike on the most beautiful section of the Great Wall, explore the Forbidden City, and visit the royal traditional garden — the Summer Palace.

We arrange round-trip flights between Shanghai and Beijing. If you prefer, taking a bullet train would also work well.

Highlights

Admire a less crowded part of the Great Wall by combining effort-saving cable car rides and moderate hiking.
Listen to interesting stories about the Forbidden City that you will never find in any guidebook.
Leisurely walk through the beautiful garden of the Summer Palace.

Trip Advisor

938+ Excellent Reviews

Susie, our Beijing tour guide, was friendly, resourceful, and spoke good English. Our comfort was always her priority. When faced with a very long line at the chairlift on a hot day at Mutianyu, she was able to organize places for our elderly parent to sit in the shade while waiting. She was very willing to lend a hand when needed and her restaurant recommendation was appropriate. Touring with Susie took out all the guesswork!
— 7Makarios, from US

Day 1Shanghai to Beijing, the Great Wall at Mutianyu

Lunch

You will start the tour with an early flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Beijing. Upon arrival, meet your tour guide and begin your Beijing exploration!

Drive for 1½ hours from the airport to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Your guide will introduce you to the history and cultural background of Beijing and the Great Wall.

The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is the less crowded section with beautiful scenery, and you will take a round-trip cable car ride to save time and energy. Have a relaxing walk on the wall and enjoy the beautiful afternoon sunshine.

Hotel options:
pentahotel Beijing
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town

Enjoy your time at the Great Wall

Day 2The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Back to Shanghai

Breakfast and lunch

Visit two of the most important attractions in the city of Beijing: the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.

First, arrive at the biggest public square in the world — Tian'anmen Square. Your tour guide will tell you about the nearby buildings, such as the National Grand Theater and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and leave time for you to take photos.

Walk across the road and you will arrive at the Forbidden City. Have a 2½-hour stroll and explore the royal palace where 24 Chinese emperors worked and lived. You will learn a lot of history and hear some interesting stories about Chinese emperors.

Explore the Forbidden City

In the afternoon, have a walk around the royal garden — the Summer Palace. This is the place where emperors lived in the summertime to escape from the heat. Walk through the world's longest corridor and take a boat trip on the lake. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

After the Summer Palace, your driver and guide will escort you to Beijing Capital International Airport and check you onto the flight back to Shanghai.

Enjoy peaceful Summer Palace

Trip Notes

1. Customizing the Tour — According to Your Needs

This tour is very flexible. We are happy to alter the itinerary with you, to extend or shorten it to suit your schedule. For example, you can extend your tour for 1 day to explore more of Beijing, such as the hutong area and the Temple of Heaven.

2. Train Alternatives

We arrange round-trip flights for this tour, but if you prefer to take a bullet train we can arrange it for you. A bullet train journey between Shanghai and Beijing takes about 6 hours. If your time permits, a train journey would be a great experience.

Inquire about this tour by filling in the form on the right

From USD729 p/p

based on 2 persons and 4-star hotel

Service Includes

1-1 consultancy from an experienced travel expert
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