China 9-Day Classic Highlights Tour
- Durée 8 nights / 9 days
- Langue English
- Thème Culture
- Rythme Moderate
- Taille du groupe Prix 3 pax
Résumé du voyage
Experience China’s essential highlights in 9 days: explore Beijing’s imperial landmarks and the Great Wall, uncover Xi’an’s Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter, and soak up Shanghai’s old town, modern skyline and free time for Suzhou or water towns. Travel comfortably by high-speed train and stay in well-located 3-star hotels with German-speaking local guides.
Prestations prévues
Programme complet
Arrival in Beijing and Summer Palace
Points of Interest : Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, your German-speaking guide will be waiting for you at the airport. From there you drive to the western part of the city to visit the Summer Palace, the Qing emperors’ residence during the hot summer months. Most of the complex is taken up by Kunming Lake, surrounded by halls, covered walkways, the Longevity Hill and the famous marble boat.
After the visit you are driven to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace.
Driving time: approx. 2 hours, 60 km
- Meals included : None
- Accommodation : Dong Fang Hotel 3* (Beijing)
Walk on Tiananmen Square and Imperial Beijing
Points of Interest : Beijing
After breakfast you set off for a walk across the famous Tiananmen Square, framed by several important government and cultural buildings. From here you continue on foot to the southern entrance of the Forbidden City and explore the vast former imperial palace complex in detail.
In the afternoon you head to the southern part of the city to visit the Temple of Heaven. Its three-tiered Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks.
Driving time: approx. 1.5 hours, 40 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Dong Fang Hotel 3* (Beijing)
Great Wall at Mutianyu and Olympic Park
Points of Interest : Beijing
In the morning you drive to Beijing’s Olympic Park for a brief photo stop at the Olympic Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, and the National Aquatics Center. The journey then continues north of the city to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Here you can see and climb one of the most picturesque and less touristy stretches of the Wall near Beijing.
For a small additional fee you can make use of a cable car to reach the Wall and a summer toboggan run for the descent. Later you return to the city and your hotel.
Driving time: approx. 3 hours, 160 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Dong Fang Hotel 3* (Beijing)
Beijing Hutongs and High-Speed Train to Xi'an
Points of Interest : Beijing, Xi’an
In the morning you first visit the Drum Tower area, where some of Beijing’s traditional hutongs and courtyard houses are best preserved. With your guide you stroll through the narrow lanes, wander along the picturesque shores of Houhai Lake and gain insight into the daily life of local residents.
After a lunch break you are transferred to the railway station and board a high-speed train to Xi’an. On arrival in Xi’an you are met and driven to your hotel for check-in.
Driving time: approx. 2 hours, 100 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Minsheng International Hotel 3* (Xi’an)
Terracotta Army and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an
Points of Interest : Xi’an
Today you visit Xi’an’s most famous attraction with your guide: the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, located about 40 km outside the city. Thousands of life-sized warriors, horses and chariots stand in vast excavation halls guarding the emperor’s tomb.
In the afternoon you continue to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, one of Xi’an’s symbols and among the oldest surviving structures in China.
Driving time: approx. 2 hours, 100 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Minsheng International Hotel 3* (Xi’an)
Xi'an City Wall, Muslim Quarter and Train to Shanghai
Points of Interest : Xi’an, Shanghai
In the morning you explore Xi’an’s remarkably well-preserved ancient city wall and enjoy panoramic views over the former imperial capital from above. You then visit the Great Mosque and stroll through the old Muslim Quarter and its busy market streets, one of China’s most vibrant Muslim communities. This is an excellent place to observe daily life and sample Xi’an’s famous street food.
In the afternoon you are transferred to the station and board a high-speed train to Shanghai (around 6 hours). Upon arrival in Shanghai your German-speaking guide welcomes you and takes you to your hotel for check-in.
Driving time: approx. 2 hours, 90 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Holiday Inn Express 3* (Shanghai)
Sightseeing in Shanghai: Old Town, Temples and the Bund
Points of Interest : Shanghai
After breakfast you head to Shanghai’s Old Town to visit the beautiful Yu Garden, one of the finest examples of southern Chinese garden design in former private imperial gardens. There is also time to wander through the surrounding old streets.
In the afternoon you visit the Jade Buddha Temple, which is very popular with Shanghai’s residents. Afterwards you stroll along the Bund, the historic riverside promenade, where you can admire the striking skyline of modern skyscrapers facing grand colonial-era buildings.
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Holiday Inn Express 3* (Shanghai)
Free Day in Shanghai
Points of Interest : Shanghai
Today is completely free for you to explore Shanghai on your own. Your guide will be happy to suggest optional excursions, for example to a nearby water town or to the garden city of Suzhou, often called the “Venice of the East”. Suzhou, with its canals and classical gardens, lies about an hour’s drive from Shanghai.
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Holiday Inn Express 3* (Shanghai)
Farewell and Departure from Shanghai
Points of Interest : Shanghai
Depending on your flight time, you are transferred to the airport for your return journey or onward travel arrangements.
- Meals included : None
- Last day : Transfer to the airport for your return or onward flight
China 9-Day Classic Highlights Tour
Participants
Date
Time
Overall rating
...5.02026-03-01Neos Travel organized the trip superbly; everything went off without a hitch, exactly as agreed. The flexibility in tailoring the package was also excellent. A big thank you to our outstanding contact, Liane!
- Silke5.02026-02-22
China was our first trip there, and we honestly couldn't imagine doing it any better. Neos Travel's local partner Markus planned and organized everything to perfection for us. From our very first contact with Markus to the end of our entire China tour, we received expert guidance, attentive support, and plenty of practical tips. Over 19 days we explored Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. We rode high-speed trains four times and took two domestic flights. At every stop we had a private guide and driver, and everything ran seamlessly. Guides welcomed us at stations and airports with signs bearing our name, so we found each other immediately. The guides spoke excellent German, were courteous, friendly, and possessed an incredible depth of knowledge that they shared with us brilliantly. Every single day was fantastic and completely different. It's impossible to pick a highlight — it was all wonderful and breathtaking. A huge thank-you to Markus; we had a wonderful time in China. We’re also very happy with Neos Travel and would gladly recommend it.
- Rambler5.02026-02-18
China surprised me with its efficient public transport, the high electrification of traffic, and the overall cleanliness and safety — a wonderful destination for travel. At first I had to adjust to the crowds, but the wide streets and parks help spread people out, so you’re rarely crowded. Landscapes impressed me: Beijing’s northern surroundings and Guilin’s scenery in the south were highlights. I was lucky with the weather — three weeks without a drop of rain! Among the cities, Beijing and Shanghai left a strong impression; Xi’an and Chengdu were also beautiful, while Giongqing was a bit much for me. The guides were excellent, and through them I learned a lot about the country’s history and culture. I admire how the drivers handle the heavy traffic — calm, confident, and in control. Communication with Neos Travel was quick and informative at all times, and everything went smoothly. Thank you, Neos Travel; I would gladly recommend you.
- D&S4.02026-02-11
As part of our Neos Travel itinerary, our first day in Shanghai was filled with boundless wonder. The city, the traffic, the people—everything felt larger than life! It takes a moment to adjust to the crowds, but Xi’an was especially impressive beyond Shanghai. The hotel selections were excellent in Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and again in Shanghai/Pudong, and very tidy in Hangzhou; we were less impressed by Suzhou (Holiday Inn) and Beijing (Penta Hotel). The boat trip was very good, and the views along the Yangtze were partly superb. The first excursion into the Xiling Gorge was thrilling!
- Wortmann4.02026-02-07
Overall, the trip was very nice. The on-site guides were good and informative, and the drivers were mostly excellent (one exception). The accommodations were also fine. The only clouds were the cancellation of the helicopter flight and the hot-air balloon ride, which dimmed the finale somewhat. In the future, it would be better not to collect money upfront for activities—pay on-site if the event goes ahead. We also appreciated the travel guidance from our Neos Travel team, especially the Xi'an tip about the evening theater with dinner.
- Marie5.02026-01-21
We did a tailor-made journey with Neos Travel. From Frankfurt we flew to Beijing to visit the Great Wall, then after this short stop we hopped on the train to Xining and from there embarked on the legendary journey to Lhasa (we were the only foreigners on the train). Lhasa was our central stop, and from there we explored Tibet thanks to the excellent organization by Neos Travel. We'd love to come back.
- Anonym5.02026-01-16
Neos Travel planned the trip to perfection and executed it flawlessly, and even our on-site requests were accommodated without any problems. Thank you for this fantastic experience with Neos Travel!
- Sandra5.02026-01-10
This trip, organized by Neos Travel, turned out to be perfectly planned. We were all initially thrilled by how well it was organized; we had no problems or uneasy moments, and we felt very safe as everything ran smoothly. The China journey was very impressive for us Europeans; we hadn’t expected it to be so wonderful, and we all gained plenty of impressions. Although we visited several big cities, we never felt that the people were stressed. The sights were busy, but it was not an organizational issue. We take only positive memories from the China trip and would highly recommend the organization.
- Stefan5.02026-01-08
The organization of the long journey to Zhangye was perfect, even though I had some concerns at first. After a long final leg (FRA-Beijing-Lanzhou train to Zhangye, about 4.5 hours) and roughly 24 hours of travel, I was picked up at night by the guide and driver and taken to the hotel. The support was excellent, thoughtful, and the guide's English was easy to understand. I had unforgettable 1.5 to 2 days with him. The trip and return flight to Guilin went smoothly. There I was reliably picked up again, and the next four days, including the rice terraces, were very impressive. The guide was very considerate, spoke clear German, and was flexible with my visiting wishes. The time after the program drop-off in Yangshuo I could spend in many ways thanks to the hosts at my chosen accommodation. The pickup at Hong Kong station was a very pleasant surprise (guide Daniel) to the hotel and for the welcome briefing. Thank you Neos Travel for organizing a well-rounded trip.
- Birgit K5.02025-12-25
Markus listened closely to our wishes and organized everything to perfection. The trip ran smoothly from start to finish, thanks to his attentive planning and Neos Travel.
- ...5.02026-03-01
Neos Travel organized the trip superbly; everything went off without a hitch, exactly as agreed. The flexibility in tailoring the package was also excellent. A big thank you to our outstanding contact, Liane!
- Silke5.02026-02-22
China was our first trip there, and we honestly couldn't imagine doing it any better. Neos Travel's local partner Markus planned and organized everything to perfection for us. From our very first contact with Markus to the end of our entire China tour, we received expert guidance, attentive support, and plenty of practical tips. Over 19 days we explored Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. We rode high-speed trains four times and took two domestic flights. At every stop we had a private guide and driver, and everything ran seamlessly. Guides welcomed us at stations and airports with signs bearing our name, so we found each other immediately. The guides spoke excellent German, were courteous, friendly, and possessed an incredible depth of knowledge that they shared with us brilliantly. Every single day was fantastic and completely different. It's impossible to pick a highlight — it was all wonderful and breathtaking. A huge thank-you to Markus; we had a wonderful time in China. We’re also very happy with Neos Travel and would gladly recommend it.
- Rambler5.02026-02-18
China surprised me with its efficient public transport, the high electrification of traffic, and the overall cleanliness and safety — a wonderful destination for travel. At first I had to adjust to the crowds, but the wide streets and parks help spread people out, so you’re rarely crowded. Landscapes impressed me: Beijing’s northern surroundings and Guilin’s scenery in the south were highlights. I was lucky with the weather — three weeks without a drop of rain! Among the cities, Beijing and Shanghai left a strong impression; Xi’an and Chengdu were also beautiful, while Giongqing was a bit much for me. The guides were excellent, and through them I learned a lot about the country’s history and culture. I admire how the drivers handle the heavy traffic — calm, confident, and in control. Communication with Neos Travel was quick and informative at all times, and everything went smoothly. Thank you, Neos Travel; I would gladly recommend you.
- D&S4.02026-02-11
As part of our Neos Travel itinerary, our first day in Shanghai was filled with boundless wonder. The city, the traffic, the people—everything felt larger than life! It takes a moment to adjust to the crowds, but Xi’an was especially impressive beyond Shanghai. The hotel selections were excellent in Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and again in Shanghai/Pudong, and very tidy in Hangzhou; we were less impressed by Suzhou (Holiday Inn) and Beijing (Penta Hotel). The boat trip was very good, and the views along the Yangtze were partly superb. The first excursion into the Xiling Gorge was thrilling!
- Wortmann4.02026-02-07
Overall, the trip was very nice. The on-site guides were good and informative, and the drivers were mostly excellent (one exception). The accommodations were also fine. The only clouds were the cancellation of the helicopter flight and the hot-air balloon ride, which dimmed the finale somewhat. In the future, it would be better not to collect money upfront for activities—pay on-site if the event goes ahead. We also appreciated the travel guidance from our Neos Travel team, especially the Xi'an tip about the evening theater with dinner.
- Marie5.02026-01-21
We did a tailor-made journey with Neos Travel. From Frankfurt we flew to Beijing to visit the Great Wall, then after this short stop we hopped on the train to Xining and from there embarked on the legendary journey to Lhasa (we were the only foreigners on the train). Lhasa was our central stop, and from there we explored Tibet thanks to the excellent organization by Neos Travel. We'd love to come back.
- Anonym5.02026-01-16
Neos Travel planned the trip to perfection and executed it flawlessly, and even our on-site requests were accommodated without any problems. Thank you for this fantastic experience with Neos Travel!
- Sandra5.02026-01-10
This trip, organized by Neos Travel, turned out to be perfectly planned. We were all initially thrilled by how well it was organized; we had no problems or uneasy moments, and we felt very safe as everything ran smoothly. The China journey was very impressive for us Europeans; we hadn’t expected it to be so wonderful, and we all gained plenty of impressions. Although we visited several big cities, we never felt that the people were stressed. The sights were busy, but it was not an organizational issue. We take only positive memories from the China trip and would highly recommend the organization.
- Stefan5.02026-01-08
The organization of the long journey to Zhangye was perfect, even though I had some concerns at first. After a long final leg (FRA-Beijing-Lanzhou train to Zhangye, about 4.5 hours) and roughly 24 hours of travel, I was picked up at night by the guide and driver and taken to the hotel. The support was excellent, thoughtful, and the guide's English was easy to understand. I had unforgettable 1.5 to 2 days with him. The trip and return flight to Guilin went smoothly. There I was reliably picked up again, and the next four days, including the rice terraces, were very impressive. The guide was very considerate, spoke clear German, and was flexible with my visiting wishes. The time after the program drop-off in Yangshuo I could spend in many ways thanks to the hosts at my chosen accommodation. The pickup at Hong Kong station was a very pleasant surprise (guide Daniel) to the hotel and for the welcome briefing. Thank you Neos Travel for organizing a well-rounded trip.
- Birgit K5.02025-12-25
Markus listened closely to our wishes and organized everything to perfection. The trip ran smoothly from start to finish, thanks to his attentive planning and Neos Travel.
What is included in the price
- 8 nights in the specified hotels in double rooms with private bathroom or shower
- High-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an in soft seat, 2nd class
- High-speed train from Xi’an to Shanghai in soft seat, 2nd class
- All transfers and sightseeing listed in the program including entrance fees
- German-speaking local guides (changing by region)
- Meals listed in the program (8 breakfasts)
- Visa fees
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Any services not mentioned in the program
- International flights to and from China