Best of China
SG01: 8 Days Small Group Tour of Beijing - Xi'an - Shanghai
Tour Type: Small Group of 1-18 travelers, guaranteed departures
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned coach
Accommodation: 7 nights at good 5-star hotels
Meals: 7 western buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches with some being a la carte style, 1 dumpling dinner
Tour Highlights:
- Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army
- Cruise on the Huangpu River to take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai
- Meet a local Chinese family, interact & taste delicious home-cooked Chinese food
- Enjoy a la carte meals, Kung Fu Show, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance performance

From $1229 per person Free Inquiry


From US$1229 per person
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Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Upon your arrival, our guide will pick you up at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and then arrange the transfer to take you to the centrally located hotel. Check in and relax for the rest of the day.
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing



- the former Sheraton
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing





Day 2 Beijing
Our group at the Forbidden City
Your small group Beijing tour starts today. This morning, our guide will accompany you to the famous Tiananmen Square, where you will have a leisurely walk and take pictures of those
landmark buildings on and around the square, like the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Great Hall of the People. Then walk through the Tiananmen Tower to enter the Forbidden City, which is also known as the imperial Palace Museum, storing millions of cultural collections.
Around noon, we will serve you an a la carte welcome lunch, which will enable you to taste authentic Chinese food, especially the well-known Beijing Roast Duck. It costs CNY 150.00 per person and has been included in our price.
After lunch, our guide will take you to the Temple of Heaven, a place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) used to hold worship ceremonies to the Heaven for a good harvest year. Your evening will be highlighted by a Chinese Kung Fu Show performed in the Red Theater, and the show tells a story of how a little monk grows into a master.
Meals:Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch
Around noon, we will serve you an a la carte welcome lunch, which will enable you to taste authentic Chinese food, especially the well-known Beijing Roast Duck. It costs CNY 150.00 per person and has been included in our price.
After lunch, our guide will take you to the Temple of Heaven, a place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) used to hold worship ceremonies to the Heaven for a good harvest year. Your evening will be highlighted by a Chinese Kung Fu Show performed in the Red Theater, and the show tells a story of how a little monk grows into a master.
Meals:Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch
Day 3 Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall with a round-trip cable car, A toast with red wine on the wall. (B)
In the morning, you will be accompanied to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the most splendid part of the Great Wall sections in China. You will be definitely amazed by the large defensive wall which was constructed by Chinese people thousands of years ago. We include a round-trip cable car for you. Moreover, we specially provide red wine for a group toast on the Great Wall.
Since restaurants down the hill cannot meet our serving standard, lunch is not included today, but our guide is glad to offer you recommendations. Return to the city in the afternoon. You are free at leisure to explore a local market.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Since restaurants down the hill cannot meet our serving standard, lunch is not included today, but our guide is glad to offer you recommendations. Return to the city in the afternoon. You are free at leisure to explore a local market.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 4 Beijing to Xi'an by Flight
Summer Palace, Olympic Bird's Nest, A la carte lunch, Hutong Rickshaw Tour, Experience Chinese Paper Cutting, Fly to Xi'an, Airport-hotel transfer. (B+L)
Today is your last day in Beijing, but you can still explore more about this capital city during the daytime. In the morning, our guide will escort you to the Summer Palace, the royal garden of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Then we will make a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium (Bird's Nest), whose appearance looks like a nest made of twigs.
At midday, we will arrange an a la carte lunch at a fancy restaurant, which is valued at CNY150.00 per person and has been included in our price.
In the afternoon, have a Hutong tour by rickshaw, where you will see traditional residential quarters and bustling alleyways. Additionally, you will visit a Hutong family home and learn how to make paper cuttings. Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Xi'an. In about two hours, our local guide and driver in Xi'an will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel




At midday, we will arrange an a la carte lunch at a fancy restaurant, which is valued at CNY150.00 per person and has been included in our price.
In the afternoon, have a Hutong tour by rickshaw, where you will see traditional residential quarters and bustling alleyways. Additionally, you will visit a Hutong family home and learn how to make paper cuttings. Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Xi'an. In about two hours, our local guide and driver in Xi'an will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel





Day 5 Xi'an
Terracotta Army, A local family visit and an authentic home-cooked lunch, Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi'an Museum, Tang Dynasty Show with dumpling dinner. (B+L+D)
Our clients learning to make dumplings in Xi'an family visit
Your Xi'an small group tour starts with a visit to the Terracotta Army, one of the World's Eight Wonders and the largest underground military museum on the earth. With the guide's vivid introduction, you will know more about the history behind and be impressed by the greatness of the labors.
Lunch will be arranged in a local family home (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price), and you can learn how to cook Chinese dishes from the host.
In the afternoon, our guide will escort you to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi'an Museum. The pagoda is located in the Jianfu temple, a haven of peace and tranquility, where you will appreciate the well-preserved Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda, as well as enjoy a leisurely walk around. A Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will be scheduled tonight, what's more, you will be served with a famous Dumpling Dinner at the same time.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch, Dumpling Dinner
Friendly Tips
Clients visiting in January, February, March and December need to arrange the dinner and evening activity on their own, since the theater is usually closed at that time.
Lunch will be arranged in a local family home (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price), and you can learn how to cook Chinese dishes from the host.
In the afternoon, our guide will escort you to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi'an Museum. The pagoda is located in the Jianfu temple, a haven of peace and tranquility, where you will appreciate the well-preserved Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda, as well as enjoy a leisurely walk around. A Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will be scheduled tonight, what's more, you will be served with a famous Dumpling Dinner at the same time.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch, Dumpling Dinner

Clients visiting in January, February, March and December need to arrange the dinner and evening activity on their own, since the theater is usually closed at that time.
Day 6 Xi'an to Shanghai by Flight
Observe local life in the park, Tai Chi practice, Xi'an City Wall, A la carte lunch, Fly to Shanghai, Airport-hotel transfer. (B+L)
In the morning, our guide will take you to the City Wall Park, a place for locals to do exercises or spend their leisure time. There, you will enjoy your time following the master to practice Tai Chi, a kind of Chinese Kung Fu. Then, our guide will accompany you to the landmark of Xi'an, the City Wall, which is the best-preserved city wall in China. On the wall, you can either walk or cycle. The bike can be hired on the wall.
Afterwards, an a la carte lunch will be provided in a well-known local restaurant, which is valued at CNY120.00 per person and has been included in our price.
In the afternoon, the guide and driver will transfer you to the airport to take a flight to Shanghai. In about two hours, our Shanghai guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel




Afterwards, an a la carte lunch will be provided in a well-known local restaurant, which is valued at CNY120.00 per person and has been included in our price.
In the afternoon, the guide and driver will transfer you to the airport to take a flight to Shanghai. In about two hours, our Shanghai guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel





Day 7 Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden and its traditional bazaar, A la carte farewell lunch, Former French Concession, the Bund and Huangpu River cruise. (B+L)
Shanghai Bund
This morning, you will be accompanied to the Shanghai Museum to appreciate more than 120, 000 relics. Then we will go to a classical garden, Yu Garden, which follows the exquisite architectural style of the southern China. You will also have time to visit the traditional bazaar nearby.
An a la carte farewell lunch valued at CNY120.00 per person will be served for you. This has been included in our price.
After lunch, we will proceed to the Former French Concession which is said to be the earliest and also the largest one of the four concessions in China. Delicate restaurants, cafes and old houses could be found there. Then, you will be escorted to the Bund and have a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. The Bund, located on the bank of the Huangpu River, is a scenic line of Shanghai and also a must for visitors to Shanghai. Upon returning to the hotel, our tour guide will see you into the lobby and say bon voyage.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch
An a la carte farewell lunch valued at CNY120.00 per person will be served for you. This has been included in our price.
After lunch, we will proceed to the Former French Concession which is said to be the earliest and also the largest one of the four concessions in China. Delicate restaurants, cafes and old houses could be found there. Then, you will be escorted to the Bund and have a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. The Bund, located on the bank of the Huangpu River, is a scenic line of Shanghai and also a must for visitors to Shanghai. Upon returning to the hotel, our tour guide will see you into the lobby and say bon voyage.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch
Day 8 Departure from Shanghai
Please check out before 12:00. We recommend the most efficient and money-saving way - taking a taxi by yourself from hotel to the airport, A pleasant trip home! (B)
Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included today, so you can take a taxi to the airport for your leaving flight. If your flight leaves from Shanghai Pudong airport, you may choose to experience the maglev train from Longyang Road Station to Pudong airport. We will assist you, and wish you a nice journey home.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
B-- Breakfast L-- Lunch D-- Dinner
2021 Prices
Prices are per person in US Dollars; departures are guaranteed even with one person!
Earlier Booking, Bigger Savings
10% off - book 60 days before, 5% off - book 30 days before
Remark: The prices in red reflect the current discount.
Price Includes
- Domestic airfares
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
- Professional English-speaking guides
- Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
- Tips or gratuities for hotel porters
Price Excludes
- International airfares
- Entry Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
Why Travel With Us
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Meals : all meals were to a good quality standard, the only problem we had in some cases was the timing, as because of the evening programme in two cases we had a late lunch (up to 14.00) and an early dinner (before 19.00), which made us enjoy less the dinner. The quantity offered was always very generous, even too much. In general maybe lighter lunches could make the afternoon programme easier to go through. Very much appreciated was the home lunch which gave us the possibility to be in a real home and participate in the cooking.
Guides: both competent, friendly and talking good English.
Drivers and cars: everything ok
Hotels : very good, both for position, quality, breakfast
Thanks and regards, we will call you for our next trip to your wonderful country. ... More
1. I think the time planning was well thought-out.
2. The meals varied from good to great, only couple of times it was so-so (and it is unavoidable on a weeklong journey). For me the highlight was the dumpling dinner with the Tang dynasty show.
3. I liked all the guides. They all have been very different, but all were very helpful and polite.
4. The drivers were very professional, the buses have been very clean.
The only concern I have - if I want to go to China again, I will probably would skip Xian and Shanghai - they were great, but I would prefer visit some other parts of China. And it seem, absolute majority of your tours include these cities.... ... More
Without question it was a pleasure to be with Mark in Beijing for three days. He was charming, entertaining, and spoke to us like his friends and not like a bunch of tourists that he would not see again. He was a definite addition to our Beijing experience. On the guides names, could I suggest that they use their Chinese names and give us this written down so we get a chance to perfect our pronunciation of their names. Personally I feel it is slightly insulting to the guides for us tourists to be so lazy that we expect our guides to adopt English names. I would like to use our guides Chinese names if at all possible.
I feel sure that because of the desire to continually improve, Travel China Guide will remain one of the best companies offering tours in China. I would have no hesitation in recommending any of my friends and family to go on a tour with them. ... More
Most impressive help from TCG was that my flight was delayed for 12 hours and the pre-tour one night reservation at the Beijing hotel was cancelled but they kindly and strongly negotiated to get for me the full refund despite of hotel regulation of no refund for the same day cancellation. They paid me back the amount in $US in Xian and I really thank you for the kind help.
Thank you again! ... More