Beijing, Guilin and Shanghai Luxury 10-Day Tour
- Tour Code: LT-BGS-10
- Travel Route: Beijing - Guilin - Shanghai
- Tour Type: compact journey takes you from modern Shanghai to the
- Guide & Driver:
- Accommodation::
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to the hotel
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Upon your arrival in Beijing, our professional guide will be waiting for you at the airport. You will be transferred comfortably by private vehicle to your hotel in the city center. After check-in, take some time to rest and adjust to the time difference. If you're eager to explore your surroundings, our guide will provide practical suggestions.
As an international aviation hub, Beijing has direct flights connecting to many cities around the world. In addition, you can also choose to take the high-speed rail to reach downtown Beijing. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the city by taking the Airport Express, and the cost is about RMB 35-50 per person. The airport bus takes about 60-90 minutes and costs 40 yuan per person; taxis or online car-hailing take about 60-90 minutes and cost about 300 yuan (depending on the type of car).
At the same time, Beijing Airport is adjacent to various cities in China. For example, it only takes about 2.5 hours from Daxing Airport to major cities such as Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
Tian'anmen Square--Forbidden City(In-depth tour)--Beijing Night Tour
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast & afternoon tea & dinner
Morning: Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Deep Dive
Begin at Tian’anmen Square, China’s symbolic heart, where Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic. Marvel at the 38-meter-high Monument to the People’s Heroes and the iconic red gates leading to the Forbidden City.
Step into the Forbidden City (10:30 AM), a UNESCO site and the world’s largest imperial palace complex. Your 6-hour guided tour unravels 500 years of Ming/Qing dynasty history. Highlights include:
Afternoon: Royal Tea & Cultural Souvenirs
At 1:00 PM, indulge in a Forbidden City-themed Afternoon Tea at Angelo’s Pavilion, where imperial recipes meet modern twists—think peony-shaped pastries and pu’er tea served in porcelain cups. Pair this with a seal-collection experience: Use traditional ink pads to stamp 20+ royal seals (e.g., “Imperial Document” or “Dragon Throne”) onto a custom scroll, creating a unique keepsake.
Evening: Imperial Banquet & Night Tour
From 5:00 PM, savor a royal banquet at Xu Yan Restaurant, housed in a Qing-dynasty mansion. Feast on Peking duck, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup, and lotus-seed dessert while watching a live performance of Tang Dynasty Poetry Dance and Peking Opera.
After dinner, embark on a night tour of Beijing’s illuminated landmarks. Stroll through Qianmen Hutong’s lantern-lit alleys, where courtyard homes now host craft shops and tea houses. End at Shichahai Lake to watch traditional rickshaws glide past neon-lit bars, or catch a kunqu opera snippet at Huguang Guild Hall.
Great Wall--Temple of Heaven
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast & afternoon tea & dinner
Morning: Great Wall VIP Experience
Begin your day with a private transfer to the Mutianyu Great Wall (9:00 AM), chosen for its restored watchtowers and lush mountain backdrop. Skip crowds via a VIP entrance ticket, granting direct access to lesser-known sections. For the ultimate thrill, upgrade to a helicopter tour—soar 500m above the wall, capturing panoramic views of its snaking battlements and surrounding valleys.
Post-flight, unwind with a Great Wall-theme afternoon tea at the Wall’s onsite café. Sip pu’er tea while savoring “soldier’s bread” (steamed buns shaped like ancient warriors) and honey-glazed walnuts, all served on Ming-dynasty-style porcelain.
Afternoon: Temple of Heaven
At 2:00 PM, journey to the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO site), where Ming/Qing emperors prayed for harvests. Wander the Echo Wall, a circular marble structure where whispers travel 65m across the courtyard. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a masterpiece of wooden architecture with triple-tiered blue roofs.
Evening: Imperial Roast Duck & Hutong Magic
From 6:30 PM, indulge in Peking duck at Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant, a Michelin-recommended spot. Watch chefs carve golden-skinned duck tableside, paired with plum sauce, cucumber, and pancakes.
You can choose foot massage, houhai night bars or Sanlitun bar street at night.
Summer Palace--Boating on Kunming Lake in Summer Palace--Fly to Guilin
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast
Morning: Summer Palace Royal Retreat
Begin at the Summer Palace (9:00 AM), China’s largest surviving imperial garden. Stroll through the Long Corridor, a 728-meter painted gallery built to shield Empress Cixi from the sun. Marvel at the Marble Boat, a Qing-dynasty pavilion-on-water symbolizing imperial stability.
VIP Boating Experience (10:30 AM): Glide across Kunming Lake on a private dragon-headed paddleboat. Your guide will point out hidden gems: the 17-Arch Bridge (adorned with 544 stone lions) and the Tower of Buddhist Incense, a mountain-top temple offering panoramic views.
Afternoon: Flight to Guilin in Style
Transfer to Beijing Capital Airport via private car (1-hour drive). Board a first-class flight to Guilin, enjoying priority boarding, gourmet snacks, and champagne service.
Evening: Li River-View Luxury
Check into Poetry & Distance Li River Yard, a boutique hotel where every room faces Guilin’s iconic Elephant Trunk Hill. Unwind on your private balcony with a complimentary osmanthus tea set, watching the Li River’s emerald waters flow past karst peaks.
Li River Four-Star Cruise (Zhenghang)--Ruyi Peak--Yangshuo West Street--Impression Liu Sanjie Show/Golden Dragon Cruise
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast
Morning: Li River Four-Star Cruise
Board the Zhenghang Four-Star Cruise (9:00 AM) for a 4-hour journey from Guilin to Yangshuo. Upgrade to the VIP second-floor deck for unobstructed views of karst peaks rising like jade pillars from emerald waters. Enjoy a complimentary lunch box (rice noodles with braised pork, seasonal vegetables) while passing landmarks like Nine Horse Painting Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal.
Afternoon: Ruyi Peak Adventure
After disembarking (1:30 PM), transfer to Ruyi Peak (30-minute drive). Ride the 600m cable car to the summit, where a 360-degree observation deck reveals panoramas of mist-shrouded mountains and the Li River snaking below. Daredevils can walk the glass-bottomed bridge for heart-stopping views of the valley floor.
Late Afternoon: Yangshuo West Street Exploration
Stroll Yangshuo West Street (4:00 PM), a 1,400-year-old pedestrian thoroughfare lined with Ming-era eaves and modern cafes. Sample local snacks like cili pepper fish and browse shops selling bamboo flutes, calligraphy scrolls, and indigo-dyed textiles.
Evening: Impression Liu Sanjie Show
At 7:30 PM, witness Impression Liu Sanjie, Zhang Yimou’s epic outdoor performance. Set against a natural backdrop of 12 karst peaks, 600+ performers sing folk songs, row bamboo rafts, and dance under moonlight. Friday/Saturday alternative: Join the Golden Dragon Cruise, a nightly illuminated boat parade on the Li River with traditional drumming and fireworks.
Accommodation: Retreat to Banyan Tree Yangshuo, a luxury resort where villas feature private pools, outdoor bathtubs, and views of the Li River’s reed-filled banks.
Hot Air Balloon--Yulong River Bamboo Rafting--Silver Cave
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast & Dinner
Morning: Hot Air Balloon Flight
Begin at Yangshuo Hot Air Balloon Base (7:30 AM) with a sunrise flight. Soar 500m above the Li River Valley, capturing aerial views of mist-clad karst peaks, bamboo rafts, and terraced rice fields. The 45-minute flight includes a champagne toast and a commemorative certificate.
Late Morning: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Transfer to Yulong River (9:00 AM) for a 2-hour bamboo rafting adventure. Drift past water buffalo, limestone cliffs, and local fishermen casting nets. Upgrade to a “VIP raft” with a built-in table for tea service and fruit platters.
Afternoon: Silver Cave Exploration
After lunch (on your own), journey to Silver Cave (1:30 PM), a UNESCO-listed karst wonder. Wander through 30+ chambers filled with stalactites shaped like dragons, mushrooms, and waterfalls. Don a helmet for the “Adventure Zone”, where narrow passages and underground rivers test your agility.
Evening: Zhuang Ethnic Feast
At 6:00 PM, savor Guilin March 3rd Zhuang Cuisine at Songlin Restaurant, housed in a stilted wooden stilt house. Feast on oil tea (rice noodles in herbal broth), lemon duck, and five-color glutinous rice while watching folk dancers perform the “Copper Drum Dance” and bamboo pole routines.
Note:
1. Pregnant women, disabled individuals, elderly people aged 70 and above, and children under 1 meter in height are not permitted to ride the raft. Children over 1 meter
must purchase an adult ticket and ride with an adult.
2. Visitors weighing over 200 pounds must book a private raft, and if the combined weight of two people exceeds 320 pounds, they will also need to have separate rafts.
3. The bamboo rafts are for two people, and if there is an odd number of passengers, an additional fee for an empty seat will apply, with the specific fee determined by the
scenic area.
Flight to Shanghai
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast
Morning: First-Class Flight to Shanghai
Board a first-class flight from Guilin to Shanghai, enjoying priority check-in, gourmet meals, and lie-flat seats for mid-air relaxation.
Afternoon: Mercedes-Benz Transfer & Deep Pit Hotel Check-In
Arrive at Shanghai Pudong Airport, where a Mercedes-Benz V-Class (private car) awaits for a 1-hour drive to InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland. This UNESCO-awarded hotel is built into a 88m-deep abandoned quarry, featuring underwater suites, cliff-side spa, and panoramic views of the waterfall.
Evening: Free Exploration
Unwind at the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool or wander Sheshan National Forest Park nearby, dotted with Ming-era temples and bamboo groves.
Nanjing Road--The Bund-Yuyuan Garden--Shanghai Tower Candlelight Dinner
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Dinner
Afternoon: Nanjing Road & The Bund Discovery
Depart your hotel at 1:30 PM in a private Mercedes-Benz V-Class for a curated tour. Begin at Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s historic shopping strip. Explore century-old stores like Songshan Department Store (1907) and modern malls like Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, where silk scarves and jade jewelry meet global luxury brands.
Next, stroll The Bund, a 1.5km waterfront promenade lined with 52 Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco buildings. Your guide will highlight landmarks like the HSBC Building (1923) and Customs House (1927), while sharing tales of Shanghai’s “Paris of the East” era.
Late Afternoon: Yuyuan Garden Night Tour
At 4:00 PM, wander Yuyuan Garden, a Ming-dynasty oasis hidden behind bustling streets. Admire the Exquisite Jade Rock, a 5-ton porous stone, and the Huxinting Teahouse, where lanterns cast golden light on zigzag bridges and lotus ponds. Capture the garden’s “night beauty” mode—red lanterns reflecting on water, and moonlit pavilions.
Evening: Shanghai Tower Candlelight Dinner
Ascend to Shanghai Tower (632m, world’s 2nd-tallest building) for a private candlelight dinner on the 118th floor. Savor French-Chinese fusion dishes like truffle-infused lobster soup and black pepper beef with XO sauce, paired with vintage Bordeaux. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame a 360-degree panorama of Pudong’s neon skyline and the Huangpu River’s twinkling cruise ships.
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town--Chinese Hanfu Photography
5+ Star Luxury Hotel
Breakfast & lunch & afternoon tea
Morning: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Exploration
Begin at Zhujiajiao (9:00 AM), a 1,700-year-old “Venice of the East” nestled along canals lined with Ming/Qing-era stone bridges and whitewashed houses. Wander North Street, where artisans craft bamboo lanterns and calligraphy brushes, and pause at Kezhigong Garden to admire rockeries and lotus ponds.
Boating Experience (10:30 AM): Glide through narrow waterways on a wooden ferry. Your guide will share tales of the town’s silk and rice trade history while passing landmarks like the Fangsheng Bridge, a five-arch marble structure where locals release carp for good fortune.
Lunch: Shanghainese Delicacies
Savor a Shanghai-style lunch at Lao Zhengxing Restaurant (12:30 PM). Feast on hongshao rou (braised pork belly), xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and chuan dou (sweet lotus root stir-fry), paired with chrysanthemum tea.
Afternoon: Hanfu Photoshoot Extravaganza
At 1:30 PM, transform into a Ming-dynasty noble at Hanfu Atelier. Choose from 50+ silk robes, embroidered with dragons or peonies, and receive professional hair styling with jade hairpins. Your 2-hour photoshoot unfolds at scenic spots: posing on Lang Bridge at sunset, sipping tea at a riverside pavilion, or strolling with an oil-paper umbrella. You’ll receive 50 raw photos and 9 retouched images within 48 hours.
Late Afternoon: Tea Tasting & Dim Sum
At 3:00 PM, join a Chinese tea ceremony at Yunxi Teahouse. Sample premium Longjing (dragon well) green tea and aged Pu’er while learning the art of tea pouring. Enjoy complimentary xiao long bao as a sweet finale—steamed to perfection with pork and soup filling.
Evening: Free Leisure
Return to your hotel or explore Zhujiajiao’s night market, where lanterns illuminate stalls selling handmade rice cakes and silk scarves.
Departure from Shanghai
Breakfast
Enjoy a final touch of luxury with a Mercedes-Benz V-Class transfer (6:00 AM) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Your driver will assist with luggage and expedite check-in via the airport’s priority lane.
Farewell Note:
As you board your flight, reflect on a journey blending imperial splendor, natural wonders, and Shanghai’s modern glamour. Safe travels—until we welcome you back to China’s heart!
A day designed to conclude your adventure with grace, comfort, and a touch of local artistry.
Based on 10,000+ traveler reviews
