Great Wall to Modern Marvels: Beijing & Shanghai Tour

/5 935 Latest reviews

Tour Code: ODY-CN-2471

Destination:Beijing, Shanghai

Duration

8 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Embark on a cultural expedition to experience the rich heritage and modern transformation of China's historic north and bustling commercial south. Start in Beijing, explore its iconic sites like the Forbidden City and Great Wall, and gain a glimpse into Chinese culture by practicing Tai chi at the grounds of the Temple of Heaven and partaking in the mortise and tenon courses. Then, fly to Shanghai for a taste of contemporary flair. Uncover the past along the Bund and marvel at its fast development at the Lujiazui Financial District. Through various landmarks and activities, this tailored student tour balances history lessons with modern sightseeing - a memorable journey bridging traditions with tomorrow.

Itinerary Summary

DAY PLACE HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 4 Beijing Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tai Chi Experience at Temple of Heaven, Mortise and Tenon Courses, Peking Duck, Haidilao Smart Restaurant Hotpot
5 - 8 Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise, The Bund, Dim Sum, Yu Garden, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Lujiazui Financial District
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Itinerary

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Day 1: Beijing, Arrival

Upon arriving in Beijing, your group will be warmly welcomed at the airport and transferred to the hotel. With the help of your dedicated guide, settle into comfortable rooms and unwind from the journey.

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Beijing

Day 2: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City

Your tour of the historic city begins at Tiananmen Square, a symbolic site with significant historical events and architectural landmarks. Explore the majestic Forbidden City - a vast enclave of ornate halls and marble courtyards arrayed with graceful pavilions and roofs. Within its walls, your guide shares legends as you wander in awe of nearly 500 years of imperial heritage.

After having a traditional snack Zhajiangmian (fried sauce noodles) as your lunch, take a climb up the scenic Jingshan Park, and feast your eyes on jaw-dropping views overlooking the glimmering rooftops below. For tonight's meal, you're in for a real treat - the Peking duck is so succulent and flavorful that its crispy skin and tender meat will have your taste buds singing with joy.

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Beijing

Day 3: Great Wall

Travel to Jinshanling, a more tranquil slice of the Great Wall winding through peaks. Inhale fresh air and take epic snapshots as you hike along the wall. Gaze over vistas of misty mountains for as far as the eye can see. Besides the beautiful scenery surrounding it, this less-visited section of the Great Wall is a testament to ancient Chinese engineering and military prowess.

This evening, pamper yourself with Beijing's most authentic mutton-shabu-shabu, meticulously cooked within a gleaming copper vessel.

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Beijing

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Confucian Temple

Begin your cultural day in Beijing by marveling at the Temple of Heaven, renowned for its elegant blending of symbolic circular designs and ingenious construction devoid of nails. Then, a special treat - you'll have the chance to learn flowing tai chi movements right at the temple grounds.

Have a leisurely walk through the city's ancient alleyways, taking in the local life that flows through Hutong lanes. There, the highlight awaits - an artisan from a woodworking workshop will teach traditional mortise and tenon joint techniques. Under experienced guidance, craft your piece to take back with you.

Continue to visit the Confucius Temple and Guozijian, two pivotal sites in spreading Confucianism. Confucius Temple pays homage to Confucius where Ruism's ideals began. Adjoining, Guozijian served for centuries as China's premier academy, developing scholars.

For dinner, enjoy a culinary adventure at Haidilao Smart Restaurant, where dining becomes an interactive and memorable experience that blends traditional hotpot with cutting-edge technology.

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Beijing

Day 5: Beijing - Shanghai, Huangpu River Cruise

It's time to explore a new city! Your guide and driver will take you to Beijing airport for a flight to bustling Shanghai. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted to the hotel for checking in.

In the evening, take a scenic cruise down the Huangpu River. As the sun sets over the bustling city, landmarks along the shore - like the historic Bund and towering skyscrapers - begin to sparkle with colorful lights.

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Shanghai

Day 6: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Bund

Commence the day at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and uncover ambitious plans spurring the port city's growth.

Next, immerse in some of the architectural landmarks around the Bund, including an elegant Art Deco masterpiece Park Hotel Shanghai, the Shanghai Grand Theatre with striking glass facades, the Shanghai General Post Office Building, the Shanghai Bank of China Tower, and another Art Deco gem Fairmont Peace Hotel.

Savor a dim sum lunch, then proceed to Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden renowned for its exquisite landscaping, pavilions, and tranquil ponds. Adjacent to the garden, wander through Yuyuan Market bustling with traditional Chinese architecture, offering local snacks, crafts, and souvenirs.

Conclude your tour at the City God Temple, a historic Taoist temple dedicated to the deified city gods of Shanghai. Experience its spiritual ambiance and observe local religious practices.

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Shanghai

Day 7: Lujiazui Financial District, Shanghai Tower

The captivating tour today highlights Shanghai's contemporary development. Begin at Shanghai Jiuguang Center, a prominent shopping and office complex in the city's heart. Then head to Hongkou SOHO, an innovative mixed-use development known for its contemporary design and cultural vibrancy. Explore the galleries and shops that enrich the area.

Continue your cultural journey at the Shanghai Jade Museum, where you can admire exquisite jade artifacts and learn about the history and craftsmanship behind this revered gemstone.

After lunch at a restaurant near Andaz Shanghai, a luxury hotel known for its stylish ambiance, you will venture to Lujiazui Financial District, Shanghai's bustling financial hub adorned with futuristic architecture and iconic skyscrapers, like the well-known Shanghai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world.

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Shanghai

Day 8: Shanghai, Departure

As your tour of Shanghai draws to an end, your transport whisks you away to the airport for your flight home. Farewell for now, China - until next time!

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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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