7 days Beijing Shanghai Tour by High-speed Train

Welcome to Beijing! Your private driver will meet you at the airport or train station and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore at your own pace. Overnight in Beijing.

Note: Pickup is included from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or any Beijing train station. Pickup from Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is available at an additional cost.

Begin at Tiananmen Square before walking into the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Explore its grand halls and courtyards as your guide shares stories of imperial life and Chinese history.

Continue to Jingshan Park for a short climb to the hilltop pavilion, where you can enjoy panoramic views over the Forbidden City and central Beijing.

In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, the Qing dynasty’s imperial retreat. Walk through its landscaped gardens, pavilions and lakeside paths, including the famous Long Corridor beside Kunming Lake.

In the evening, you may choose to enjoy Beijing Roast Duck or watch a Peking Opera or Kung Fu performance (optional, at additional cost).

Drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved and most scenic sections of the Great Wall near Beijing. Take a cable car or hike up, then walk between historic watchtowers while enjoying panoramic mountain views. Cable car, chairlift and toboggan options are available at an additional cost.

After lunch, visit Changling, the largest of the Ming Tombs and the burial place of the Yongle Emperor. Explore Ling’en Hall and learn about imperial burial traditions during the Ming dynasty.

On the way back to Beijing, stop at the Olympic Green for exterior views of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

In the evening, if your visit falls on a market night, you may explore Panjiayuan Night Market for antiques, handicrafts, collectibles and local snacks (optional). Otherwise, enjoy the evening at your own pace.

Start at the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors once prayed for good harvests. The surrounding park is also a lively place to see local residents practicing tai chi, dancing and enjoying their morning activities.

Continue to the Shichahai Hutongs for a rickshaw ride through the historic lanes and a visit to a traditional courtyard home. Stroll along Yandai Xiejie and explore the neighborhood around the Drum Tower.

Next, visit Prince Gong’s Mansion, one of Beijing’s best-preserved Qing dynasty residences, with elegant halls, courtyards and gardens.

Later, transfer to the train station and take a high-speed train to Shanghai (about 4.5 hours). Upon arrival, your private driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Shanghai.

Begin at Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden dating from the Ming dynasty, with traditional pavilions, rockeries, ponds and courtyards. Continue through the surrounding Old City area before heading to Xintiandi, known for its restored shikumen architecture, cafés, shops and restaurants.

After lunch, cross to Pudong and visit the Oriental Pearl Tower for panoramic views across Shanghai and the Huangpu River.

Later, return to the waterfront for a walk along the Bund, where historic architecture faces Shanghai’s modern Pudong skyline, followed by time around Nanjing Road.

In the evening, you may choose to take a Huangpu River cruise or watch an acrobatic show (optional, at additional cost). Overnight in Shanghai.

After breakfast, drive to Zhouzhuang Water Town, a historic Jiangnan water town known for its canals, stone bridges and traditional Ming and Qing dynasty architecture.

Stroll through the narrow lanes and along the waterways to see the famous Twin Bridges and other historic stone bridges. You may also take a boat ride along the canals (optional, fee at extra) for a different view of the old riverside houses and life along the water.

Visit Shen’s Residence, built in 1742 by a descendant of the wealthy merchant Shen Wansan. Explore its interconnected courtyards, halls and traditional architecture for a glimpse into the life of a prosperous merchant family during the Qing dynasty.

Enjoy some free time to explore the town before returning to Shanghai in the afternoon. Overnight in Shanghai.

Enjoy some free time before your private driver transfers you to the airport or train station for your onward journey.

Your Beijing and Shanghai tour concludes here, or we can help customize an extension to Xi’an, Guilin, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie or other destinations in China.