Shanghai to Beijing: both cities, the train in between, the Wall at the end
Three days in Shanghai, the high-speed train north, and four days in Beijing including the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
The itinerary
- Day 1Day 1
Arrive Shanghai
Met at the airport, private transfer to your hotel, help with Alipay and a SIM. Evening free; your guide points you to dinner.
- Day 2Day 2
Shanghai classic
Yu Garden, the Bund, ferry to Lujiazui and Shanghai Tower, xiaolongbao lunch, former French Concession. Guide and car all day.
- Day 3Day 3
Suzhou or Zhujiajiao
A day trip by car: Suzhou's gardens and canals, or the quieter Zhujiajiao water town with a free afternoon back in Shanghai.
- Day 4Day 4
Train to Beijing
First-class seats on the high-speed train, about 4.5 hours, tickets booked under your passports. Met at Beijing South, transfer to your hotel near the Forbidden City or in a hutong area. Evening walk in the hutongs.
- Day 5Day 5
Tiananmen and the Forbidden City
Timed, passport-registered entry to the Forbidden City (we book it, which foreign visitors often cannot). Jingshan Park for the view, then a hutong rickshaw ride and a Peking duck dinner recommendation.
- Day 6Day 6
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Private car to Mutianyu, less crowded than Badaling, with the cable car up and the toboggan down if you want it. Lunch in the village. Back for the Temple of Heaven at sunset if you still have legs.
- Day 7Day 7
Summer Palace and departure
A morning at the Summer Palace by the lake, then transfer to Beijing Capital or Daxing airport. Or carry on: Xi'an is 4.5 hours by train.
What is included, what is not
- 6 nights four-star hotels (3 Shanghai, 3 Beijing), breakfast included
- Private airport and station transfers
- English-speaking guide on 5 touring days, a local guide in each city
- Private 7-seat car with driver on touring days, including the Great Wall day
- First-class high-speed train Shanghai to Beijing
- All entry tickets, including Forbidden City, Mutianyu cable car and Shanghai Tower
- Real-name bookings under your passports before arrival
- Phone and message support from our team throughout
- International flights
- Lunches and dinners
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional toboggan at Mutianyu, personal expenses, tips
About this trip
Why Mutianyu and not Badaling?
Is the train better than flying?
Can we reverse it, Beijing first?
What is the deposit and cancellation policy?
Tell us your dates and who is coming
Tell us your dates and who is travelling
We reply within one business day with an itemised quote in Australian dollars, listing exactly what is included and what is not.