Essence of Shanghai and Beijing

/5 935 Latest reviews

Tour Code: ODY-CN-2550

Destination:Shanghai, Beijing

Duration

7 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

This one-week China tour is the perfect choice for first-time visitors. From Shanghai to Beijing, see both the modern and traditional sides of China in a single trip. Visit the Bund and the Shanghai Tower, landmarks of the city. Travel to Fengjing Water Town to discover a unique lifestyle. Marvel at the glory and grandeur of Beijing's Forbidden City. Ascend to the top of the Great Wall for a stunning panorama. China and its myriad of discoveries await!

Itinerary Summary

DAY PLACE HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 3 Shanghai The Bund, Yu Garden, Former French Concession Walking Tour with Dim Sum Tasting, Fengjing Water Town, Peasant Painting and Rice Wine Experience
4 - 7 Beijing Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Afternoon Tea With A View, Hutong Alleyways
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Itinerary

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Day 1: Hello, Shanghai

Welcome to Shanghai!

When you land in this bustling metropolis, your private guide and driver will be waiting to meet you at the airport. Head to the hotel by comfortable private car and after settling down, the rest of the day is for you to recover from jet lag or explore the city on your own.

Shanghai

Day 2: Shanghai Discovery incl. Former French Concession

Kickstart your Shanghai tour from the Bund, a waterfront promenade offering a glimpse of the city's past. Step into the Yu Garden, a four-hundred-year-old Chinese landscape garden with beautifully designed pavilions, halls, plants, rockeries, and water features. Learn about the delicate procedures of silk making at a workshop, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Later, go on a walking tour of the Former French Concession to delve into the area's past and present. Admire the well-preserved shikumen old houses built using red brick and indulge in the peaceful vibe. You'll also visit a traditional market and taste some specialty dim sum during the walk. At the end of a wonderful day, ascend the Shanghai Tower for a gorgeous view of Shanghai's cityscape.

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Shanghai

Day 3: Fengjing Water Town With Peasant Painting and Rice Wine Experience

Leave the hustle and bustle of Shanghai today for the peaceful water town of Fengjing. Featuring ancient stone bridges flying over zigzagging waterways and traditional residences lining the riverbanks, Fengjing has retained its old-town vibe and provides a lovely setting for you to enjoy a stroll here and get to know the local lifestyle.

Later, proceed to the Jinshan Peasant Painting Village to appreciate this unique form of colorful folk art, try your hands at crafting a piece of painting on your own, and bring back a slice of Shanghai with you as a meaningful souvenir! At a local factory, gain insight into the traditions of making huangjiu, a type of rice wine that has been enjoyed in the area for hundreds of years. Return to your hotel after a day immersing in local culture.

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Shanghai

Day 4: Highspeed Train to Beijing

Your China exploration takes you to Beijing, the country's cultural and political capital! At the appointed time, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to the train station.

Traveling at a speed of around 300km per hour, this high-speed train takes you to Beijing within six hours. Your local guide will greet you with a smile when you arrive. After check-in, have the rest of the day at leisure or venture out for your own discoveries!

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Beijing

Day 5: Forbidden City & Afternoon Tea With Views of the Temple of Heaven

Take a deep dive into Beijing's culture and history today! Start the day from Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest city squares. You'll then visit the Forbidden City, the power seat of the Ming and Qing dynasties for five hundred years. With your guide providing insightful commentary, you'll step into the grand palaces and halls that once witnessed numerous important events, admire the grandeur of the architecture, and gain a deeper appreciation of China's culture.

At the Temple of Heaven, learn about the meaning behind the design and take a closer look at ancient Chinese religious rituals and beliefs. The spacious park grounds also make a great place for a relaxing stroll. Later, treat your stomach to delicious afternoon tea at a restaurant boasting excellent vistas of the Temple of Heaven.

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Beijing

Day 6: The Great Wall Excursion incl. the Hutongs

Venture outside of downtown Beijing to witness an architectural wonder, the Great Wall! Built across the northern borders by ancient Chinese dynasties to defend against the invasion of nomadic tribes, the Great Wall spans a stunning 20,000 km from the eastern coast to the inland deserts in western China.

You'll visit the lesser-traveled Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall and by taking the cable car, you'll ascend to the top of the walls for a breathtaking panorama. Consider doing a soft hike here to see the watchtowers and take in the scenic views.

Upon returning, pay a visit to the hutongs. The maze-like narrow alleyways here are flanked by traditional courtyard residences called siheyuan, many of which are still inhabited today. Go on a walking tour in the hutongs to observe this unique lifestyle and interact with the locals living here if lucky enough.

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Beijing

Day 7: Farewell, Beijing

Say goodbye to Beijing today.

Meet your local guide and driver for a smooth transfer to the airport and board your home-bound flight with sweet memories.

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What Our Clients Say

"Great Customized Service", "Trip of A Lifetime", "Exceed All Expectations"

Richee Family Adventures

05 Aug 2025

Second Honeymoon My wife and I celebrated our 20th anniversary by spending a few weeks touring around Asia. We loved how Odynovo worked with us to craft a tour of what we wanted to see and how we wanted to see it. This was our first time traveling with a private tour guide, and it was truly amazing. they took care of all transportation, tickets, and everywhere we went we had someone who not only spoke our language, but was also very well-versed in the places we were visiting. We saw Beijing and then took a bullet train to Xi'an. In both cities we had tour guides who had done this "a thousand times," and as a result knew all the tricks on where to take the best pictures, what lines to stand in, where to eat, and what not to waste your time seeing. At one point our guide pulled out ponchos from her backpack when it started to rain, while another helped us haggle for a good price on a new suitcase. We were surprised by how much we loved China, and it is safe to say that is because of the quality of service we got from Odynovo. Oh, and the hotels were great, too! In our first hotel my wife fell in love with her breakfast soup that she had to have every morning, while in Xi'an we were right around the corner from the Muslim Night Market and were able to get to it in less than 5 minutes of walking.We are already looking to see what tours we will be doing next through Odynovo, as the service was amazing, the quality was remarkable, and the cost was very worth it for what we received.
Shannon V

05 Aug 2025

Fabulous! We had a fabulous experience with our guide and Odynovo walking the Great Wall of China, and all other sites in Beijing. We loved our Peking duck dinner. It was fabulous. Thank you, Sammie/Jing for a great experience.
domotic d

05 Aug 2025

Beijing Beauty It started off with a friendly face at the airport, with Roy, our tour guide.The week has been such a pleasure and a treat. From adventures to The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, to local markets, delicious Beijing food and roof top tea houses.Roy and our driver, Mr. Zhou, were prompt in picking us up and driving us around safely.The knowledge and fact about history and Beijing that Roy knows and explains is amazing and the fact he could answer my weird and inquisitive history questionsnwoth ease was a treat.He made it so easy to enjoy ourselves and absorb all that was around us, he even takes great photos too! 😊Polite, kind and thoughtful and ever patient in letting us take our time with things that interested us.I would highly recommend this tour and Roy again and again.
Zarah B

05 Aug 2025

Amazing travel experience My name is Zarah M. Babangida a Nigerian and i visited Beijing with my colleagues from the office. During our 5 day stay in Beijing, Ms. Eva Ma, was our Tour guide and from the minute we came through the Arrival Gate of the Airport, we were embraced by her alluring smile and warm welcome. She remained consistent with her warmth, a kind and intelligent professional who exuded unique passion not just for her job as a tour guide but, even more so as a proud Chinese woman. Her outstanding insight and knowledge of the sweet Chinese history and heritage left us in awe. I couldn't be more proud and thankful that she was assigned to our group and she made our stay exciting, fun-filled effortless and knowledge packed. I absolutely commend her dedication to work which she depicted throughout our stay. I recommend her to every visiting tourist because to know Eva, is to love her. If it were up to me, i will increase her bonuses or upgrade her salary as i am sure most tourists would want or revisit for her sake first and then perhaps other reasons.Thank you Eva and keep the passion up🙌.

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