Beijing to Shanghai Express - 10 days
Beijing to Shanghai Express - 10 days
Beijing to Shanghai Express - 10 days
10 Days Starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai
Visiting: Beijing, Great Wall of China, Hangzhou, Shanghai
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2076/BBTS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 20
Age range:
Minimum age 18 years / maximum age 55 years
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
SEMI INDEPENDENT: See the best of Eastern China on this 9-day group tour. Admire the Great Wall at sunrise and walk along a less-visited section of this legendary wonder. Enjoy a mix of guided sightseeing and free time in Beijing and Shanghai, and enjoy a boat cruise on West Lake in Hangzhou. Hike to the summit of Jiuyao Mountain, learn to speak Mandarin and join optional activities including a Chinese acrobatic show and a visit to the iconic Forbidden City.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Beijing
Location: Beijing
Beijing - The Great Wall. Welcome to China! Our big adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 10am. Then it's time to drop our bags and get to know your fellow travellers before we head for the Great Wall.
First, we enjoy a quick mandarin lesson and gather in teams for a competition around Beijing's ancient streets.
On to the legendary Great Wall! We’ll stop at a local farming village for lunch (at your own expense) and to gain access to the ‘locals only’ section of the wall; deserted sections where we’ll have the place to ourselves to set up camp. Walk along the wall as the sun sets before returning to camp.
(Due to cold weather we stay at a local guesthouse near the Wall on departures at the end of April and after September).
Please note: The pre-departure meeting is at 10am on day 1, so please ensure you arrive in Beijing the night before your tour or in plenty of time before the trip starts. We can arrange pre-tour accommodation for you.
Day 2-3: Beijing
Location: Great Wall of China, Beijing
The Great Wall - Beijing. We wake early on day 2 in order to watch the sunrise over the Great Wall. There is a strong possibility this will be the highlight of your trip! Take in your surroundings and appreciate the early morning silence.
At around 9am we transfer back to Beijing. Opt to take a walk-through Tiananmen Square and visit the Forbidden city, the once imperial palace of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. There's also an optional Chinese acrobatics show and a group dinner for those who would like to sample traditional Peking duck, a meal fit for an emperor!
Day 3 is free. You can visit the fake goods markets or the Temple of Heaven, used by emperors for sacrifices to appease the heavens. There is also an optional visit to Nanluo district, one of the best-preserved historical areas in Beijing, famous for its hutongs and siheyan courtyards as well as an array of bars and cafes.
Day 4: Beijing
Location: Hangzhou, Beijing
Beijing - Hangzhou. Our final day in Beijing is free for you to tick off any last sights or experiences. Make sure you have enjoyed a rickshaw ride, or you could head to the imperial Summer Palace. This evening at around 18:00 we head to the train station and board an overnight train to Hangzhou (approx. 13 hours).
Day 5: Hangzhou
Location: Hangzhou
Arrive early into scenic Hangzhou, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal and an important centre for silk, tea and paper-making. After settling into our accommodation, we embark on a scenic boat trip to Lesser Yingzhou Isle on the West Lake which is dotted with various islands and causeways, whilst the shoreline offers wonderful vistas of green trees, hills, flowers, pavilions, pagodas and boats. We take some time to walk around the island and see the three pools mirroring the moon. Return to dry land for some free time to relax or perhaps visit the National Tea Museum or National Silk Museum.
This afternoon we hike up Jiuyao Mountain to soak up the views of the sunset descending over the lake – a truly breath-taking sight. Return to the city for a group meal and an evening at leisure (not included). Walk along the beautifully lit waterfront or wander through the streets of the Old Town.
Day 6: Hangzhou
Location: Hangzhou, Shanghai
Hangzhou - Shanghai. This morning we venture out of the city and head to the luscious Misty Forest to hike along the Nine Creeks trail, passing verdant valleys and undulating hills. We return to the hostel for some time to freshen up before making our way to the station for our onward train to Shanghai. On arrival jump on the metro to our accommodation and have the rest of the evening free to explore this futuristic city. On Saturday nights there is an optional Shanghai bar crawl.
Day 7-8: Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
On day 7 we enjoy another Mandarin lesson, this time with professional teachers from the Mandarin Garden Chinese Language School. The rest of the day is at leisure. A highlight for many travellers is a trip to the iconic Disneyland theme park. You may also wish to visit the Shanghai Museum, Moganshan Art Street or the ZhuJiaJiao Water Town.
Day 8 is also free for you to explore Shanghai indepedently. Opt to visit the Yu Gardens, the lavish former home of a Chinese dignitary. Take in People's Square and perhaps head to the top of a skyscraper to enjoy panoramic views over the city with a drink.
Day 9: Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
This morning, you could stroll through the former French Concession to learn about Shanghai’s international history, visit a secretive propaganda history museum, or take in the sights of the ultra-modern Shanghai financial district. For the daredevils, you can head up to the top of Jinmao Tower and brave the Skywalk! Or, go up just for the stunning panoramic views.
In the evening, you’ll take in the city lights from the water with a cruise down the Huangpu River. The optional activities will finish at around 7pm, at which point you’ll say goodbye to your group. We can arrange post-tour accommodation for you.
Day 9: Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
Today there's the option to stroll through the former French Concession to learn about Shanghai’s international history, visit a secretive propaganda history museum, or take in the sights of the ultra-modern Shanghai financial district. For the daredevils, you can head up to the top of Jinmao Tower and brave the Skywalk! Or, go up just for the stunning panoramic views.
This evening take in the city lights from the water on an optional cruise down the Huangpu River.
Day 10: Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
Today marks the end of our amazing tour of China. Make your own way to the airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Simple accommodation and Camping -
6 nights hostel accommodation, 1-night camping and 1-night sleeper train (6-berth sleeper cabin)
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Basic Mandarin lessons with your tour leader and lesson at Mandarin Garden Chinese School
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All relevant transfers and transportation using public transport
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Train ticket: Denqing – Shanghai
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Local guides for scheduled sightseeing in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Unescorted travel between cities
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Hiking along unrestored parts of The Great Wall of China!
What's Not Included
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International flights and visa.
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Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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Airport transfers
Check out our Q&As
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
On The Go Tours allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform on the go tours, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.