China loops · 13 days / 12 nights
13-Day China: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou
From the Ming tombs to the Bund, then south into the water towns and the tea hills — the route that shows you both Chinas.
Beijing is stone and scale. The Yangtze delta is water, gardens and money. Thirteen days is enough to feel the difference rather than just be told about it.
Day by dayExactly what happens, in order — nothing added for the brochure.
Beijing Arrival & Ancient Timekeeping
Upon arrival at Beijing airport, you will be greeted by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After check-in and a short rest. Then, begin your exploration with a visit to the Drum & Bell Towers – the former timekeeping center of Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, standing on Beijing’s central axis. Wander along Yandai By Street, Beijing’s oldest diagonal street, famous for its historic tobacco shops and traditional architecture. End the evening by Houhai Lake, a scenic lakeside area with lively bars and restaurants, offering a beautiful night view of old Beijing.
Great Wall & Imperial Academies
Head to the Shuiguan Great Wall, a unique section of the Ming-era Badaling wall, nicknamed “Iron Wing Fortress” for its V-shaped layout along a steep valley with water-gate watchtowers. Afternoon: visit Lama Temple – Beijing’s finest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, once the residence of Emperor Yongzheng. Then, explore the Directorate of Imperial Academy & Confucius’ Temple, the supreme educational institution of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, arranged in the traditional “left temple, right school” layout. Return to your hotel in Beijing.
Imperial Majesty & Transfer to Tianjin
Start at Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest city-center square, surrounded by national monuments. Enter the Forbidden City – the magnificent imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the largest and best-preserved wooden palace complex on earth. Climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City from its highest point. Stroll along Qianmen Avenue, a historic commercial street on the central axis lined with time-honored brands. In the late afternoon, take a train from Beijing South Station to Tianjin, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Tianjin’s Concessions & Bustling Streets
Visit the Porcelain House – a surreal mansion decorated with millions of ancient porcelain pieces. Then, explore Jingyuan Garden, a former residence of the last emperor Puyi, blending Chinese and Western styles. Drive through the Five Great Avenues – a neighborhood of over 200 colonial-era villas in various European styles. Stop at Min Yuan Square, a restored stadium-turned-public square with a lively atmosphere. End the day on Binjiang Road Pedestrian Street (in front of the Quanyechang Department Store), a bustling shopping district with iconic early-20th-century architecture.
Tianjin’s Riverside Heritage & Night Cruise
Begin at the Northwest Corner (Xibei Jiao), a vibrant food area famous for authentic Tianjin breakfast snacks. Then, visit the Italian-Style Town – a well-preserved former Italian concession with charming piazzas and architecture. Walk to Jinwan Square, Jiefang Bridge, and the Century Clock – all iconic landmarks along the Haihe River. Explore the Ancient Culture Street – a recreated Qing-dynasty street lined with traditional crafts, tea houses, and souvenir shops. In the evening, enjoy a Haihe River Night Cruise with dazzling city lights. Lunch is arranged at the historic Qishilin Restaurant in Xiaobailou.
High-Speed to Shanghai & Bund Night
Take the high-speed train C263 from Tianjin West Station (09. 23) to Shanghai (14:56). Upon arrival, visit the Oriental Pearl Tower – a futuristic TV tower with observation decks offering a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai. Then, walk along The Bund – the iconic waterfront with colonial buildings on one side and the Pudong skyline on the other. End the day with a Huangpu River Cruise, gliding past illuminated skyscrapers and historic landmarks. Check into your Shanghai hotel.
Classical Garden & Modern Concessions
Explore Yu Garden – a masterpiece of Ming-era classical design with pavilions, rockeries, and the famous Zigzag Bridge. Visit Jing’an Temple – a Buddhist temple with golden roofs and a jade Buddha, peacefully set amid skyscrapers. Stroll along Wukang Road, a tree-lined street known for its French Concession villas, boutique shops, and cafés. End the day at Xintiandi – a stylish entertainment district redeveloped from traditional Shikumen lane houses, blending old charm with modern dining and nightlife.
Water Town Zhujiajiao
Take a day trip to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, a 1,700-year-old canal town on the outskirts of Shanghai. Visit Kezhi Garden – a private classical garden built by a scholar, noted for its delicate rock formations. See the Daqing Post Office – a colonial-era post office turned museum. Cross the Fangsheng Bridge – the largest and oldest stone arch bridge in the area. Explore Yuanjin Zen Temple, a serene Buddhist temple with over 400 years of history. Finish at the Zhujiajiao Humanity Museum, which showcases the town’s canal life and customs. Return to downtown Shanghai in the evening.
Suzhou Gardens & Canal Life
Drive from Shanghai to Suzhou. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) – the largest and most famous classical garden in Suzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage site with ponds, pavilions, and exquisite landscaping. Then, walk along Pingjiang Road – a historic waterside street with preserved Ming-Qing architecture, teahouses, and handicraft shops. In the late afternoon, transfer to Tongli Ancient Town, one of the best-preserved water towns in Jiangnan, and check into your hotel within the town.
Tongli Boats & Silk Heritage
Start the day with a traditional boat ride through Tongli’s scenic canals, passing under ancient stone bridges and alongside white-washed houses. Then, drive back to Suzhou to visit the Suzhou Silk Museum – an informative museum tracing the history of silk production from silkworm to finished fabric, with live weaving demonstrations. In the afternoon, head to Jinji Lake – a modern lakeside area where you can view the iconic “Big Pants” building (Suzhou Gate) from a distance, a striking contemporary landmark. Return to your hotel in Tongli for the night.
Hangzhou’s West Lake Classics
Drive from Suzhou to Hangzhou. Explore West Lake – the poetic freshwater lake that has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Take a boat ride to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon – three small pagodas in the lake, a symbol of Hangzhou. Visit the Leifeng Pagoda – a historic pagoda rebuilt at the foot of a hill, offering panoramic lake views. End with Yuewang Temple (General Yue Fei’s Temple) – a memorial to the famous Song-dynasty patriot, with imposing statues and ancient cypress trees. Check into your Hangzhou hotel.
Temples, Canals, and Song Dynasty Show
Visit Lingyin Temple – one of China’s most famous Buddhist temples, tucked in a forested valley with ancient caves and hundreds of carved rock-cut Buddhas. Then, explore the Grand Canal Scenic Area – a section of the world’s oldest and longest man-made waterway, with historic wharves and traditional neighborhoods. In the evening, enjoy Songcheng Eternal Love – a spectacular large-scale live performance depicting the history and legends of the Song Dynasty, complete with stunning sets, water effects, and acrobatics. Return to your hotel.
Farewell & Departure
Enjoy a relaxed morning at your own pace, or do some last-minute shopping in Hangzhou. Your private driver will transfer you from your accommodation to the airport according to your flight schedule. We wish you a safe journey home and hope you take many wonderful memories of China with you!
What is in the priceAnd what is not. We would rather you knew now.
✓Included
- Admission fees for every sight listed in the itinerary
- Private vehicle with a skilled driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Driver and guide accommodation and meal allowance
- Meals mentioned above
- High-speed train tickets, second class
- English-speaking guides
- Service charge and government taxes
- Luggage transfers between airports, stations and hotels
- Daily accommodation mentioned above (12 days free breakfast)
- China travel insurance
−Not included
- International flights to and from China
- Meals not listed above
- Chinese visa fees
- Excess baggage charged by airlines
- Tips to guides and drivers (suggested USD 20 per group per guide, USD 15 per driver)
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Personal travel accident insurance
- Optional programs and personal expenses
Prices depend on dates, party size and the hotels you choose, so we quote per trip rather than publish a number that would be wrong. Send us your dates and we will come back with one figure — in writing, with the hotels named.
PracticalThe things people ask before booking.
Tell us the dates. We will send this route back priced, with the hotels named.
Everything here is a starting point — we cut days, add nights, swap hotels and change the order of cities all the time. Rebecca answers in English, usually within a few hours.
