Beijing and Shanghai Shenzhen 8-Day Tour

• Tiananmen Square -- Forbidden City -- Summer Palace

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast

Your exploration begins at Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public plaza, where you’ll witness the monumental scale of Chinese history. Proceed to the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 980 buildings and 8,700 rooms reveal 500 years of imperial power. Highlights include the Hall of Supreme Harmony’s dragon-carved throne and the intricate court life exhibits at the Palace Museum.

After a traditional Peking duck lunch at Quanjude Restaurant, visit the Summer Palace. This masterpiece of imperial gardening features Kunming Lake’s 3,000-meter-long corridor adorned with 14,000 Suzhou-style paintings, the Marble Boat’s Baroque-Chinese fusion architecture, and the 17-Arch Bridge connecting islands representing mythical penglai. The day concludes with a rickshaw ride through Shichahai’s Hutongs, where you’ll pass courtyard homes, local crafts shops, and tea houses offering jasmine tea ceremonies. Nearby Qianmen Street provides opportunities to sample Beijing snacks like douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and buy lacquerware souvenirs.

• Mutianyu Great Wall--Bird Nest

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast

Rise early for the 90-minute drive to Mutianyu Great Wall, a UNESCO-listed section renowned for its 23 watchtowers and stunning autumn foliage. Unlike more crowded sections, this segment offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the opportunity to walk on original Ming Dynasty bricks. After a picnic lunch featuring local specialties like roasted chestnuts and steamed buns, descend to the valley for cable car rides and toboggan adventures.

In the afternoon, visit the Bird’s Nest Stadium, designed by Herzog & de Meuron for the 2008 Olympics. The steel structure’s 110,000 tons of recycled steel create a lattice that mimics bird nests, while the Water Cube’s ETFE membrane panels shimmer in blue hues. The Olympic Park tour includes the Linglong Pagoda, a modern pagoda-shaped observation tower offering 360-degree views of Beijing’s skyline. As dusk falls, the park’s illuminated fountains and laser shows create a mesmerizing spectacle.

• Arrive in Shanghai and Transfer to the Hotel --  Free Time

• 4+ stars hotels

• Breakfast

Morning: Depart Beijing on the high-speed train, cruising at 350km/h through ever-changing landscapes. Arrive in Shanghai by midday, ready for a self-directed adventure.

Afternoon Recommendations:
M50 Creative Park: Wander through repurposed industrial warehouses now hosting graffiti murals, avant-garde galleries, and artist studios. Catch live street art demonstrations.
Fuxing Park & Hengshan Road: Stroll under plane trees where locals practice tai chi, then explore French Concession lanes lined with boutique cafes and vintage shops.
Shanghai Postal Museum: Climb its rooftop for panoramic views merging historic Suzhou River with modern skyscrapers.
Evening: Use Metro Line 2/10 for seamless transit. Dine at local haunts like Yang’s Fry-Dumplings for crispy shengjianbao.

• Yuyuan Garden -- Tianzifang -- Nanjing Road -- the Bund

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast

After breakfast, we will head to Yuyuan Garden. It has a typical Jiangnan garden style, reflecting the artistic style of the southern gardens of the Ming and Qing dynasties, which is "quiet and beautiful, delicate and exquisite". The nearby Yuyuan Bazaar is a great place to sample local cuisine and explore traditional Chinese handicrafts.

Nearby Tianzifang’s labyrinthine lanes house art galleries, boutique shops selling hand-painted silk scarves, and cafés serving lattes with latte art depicting Shanghai’s skyline.

In the afternoon, we will take you on a stroll along Nanjing Road, a shopping paradise that is not only perfect for shopping but also for experiencing the modern atmosphere of Shanghai. 

Afterwards, we'll head to the Bund, a former cargo transportation route that has been transformed into a bustling trade area. Here you will witness a perfect blend of Chinese and Western cultures while taking in the breathtaking skyline of Shanghai. 

• Zhujiajiao Ancient Town -- Jade Buddha Temple -- Fly to Shenzhen
• 4+ star hotels
• Breakfast

Begin at Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Shanghai’s "Venice of the East" with 1,700 years of history. Wander through canals lined with Ming-Qing architecture, crossing the 268-meter-long Fangsheng Bridge adorned with stone lions. Explore Kezhi Garden, a Ming Dynasty scholar’s retreat featuring rockeries, pavilions, and a 500-year-old ginkgo tree. The Dazhong Street Market offers traditional snacks like crab soup dumplings and osmanthus-infused rice cakes. Then, visit Jade Buddha Temple in downtown Shanghai, a serene oasis contrasting with urban bustle. Marvel at the 1.95-meter jade Buddha carved from a single Myanmar jade stone, seated in meditation posture with gemstone-encrusted robes. The temple’s Song Dynasty-style architecture includes a two-story Jade Buddha Hall with intricate dragon carvings. Learn about the temple’s origins: in 1882, monk Huigen brought five jade Buddhas from Burma, leaving two in Shanghai.

In the afternoon, fly to Shenzhen (2-hour flight). Transfer to a hotel near Futian CBD, where modern skyscrapers illuminate the night sky.

• Nantou Ancient Town -- Jiaochongwei Beach -- Ping An Finance Center

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast

Start at Nantou Ancient Town, Shenzhen’s 1,700-year-old birthplace. Walk through preserved Dongguan Guild Hall and Baishuiyu Village, where ancient wells and ancestral halls reveal Cantonese merchant culture. Visit Jiaochongwei Beach for turquoise waters and golden sands—try paddleboarding or fresh seafood like grilled oysters at beachside stalls. After lunch, ascend Ping An Finance Center’s 116th-floor Cloud Intercontemporal Observatory. At 547.6 meters high, the 360° panoramic view includes skyline, Shenzhen Bay shipping lanes, and the Qianhai Zone’s futuristic architecture. Interactive exhibits include a VR simulator of flying between skyscrapers and a glass-bottom skywalk suspended 547 meters above ground.

Recommended Activities

For dinner, savor Cantonese dim sum at Hai Di Lao in the financial center’s base, renowned for its hand-pulled noodle dance. Conclude with a stroll through Shenzhen Bay Park, where joggers and kite-flyers enjoy sunset views over the harbor. 

• Shenzhen Departure

• Breakfast

Free morning for last-minute shopping at Luohu Commercial City or relaxing at the hotel. As you prepare for departure, our team will assist with luggage handling and provide a shuttle to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. The airport transfer is timed to ensure a stress-free check-in, with your guide available for last-minute questions.