11-Day Beijing & Shanghai Cultural Discovery
- Durée 10 nights / 11 days
- Langue English
- Thème Culture
- Rythme Moderate
- Taille du groupe Prix 3 pax
Résumé du voyage
Discover the highlights of Beijing and Shanghai on this 11-day private tour. From the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Great Wall at Mutianyu to Shanghai’s Yu Garden, Suzhou’s classical gardens and canals, local food walks and cooking with a Chinese family, this itinerary blends imperial history, contemporary art and authentic everyday life.
Prestations prévues
Programme complet
Arrival in Beijing and city tour
Points of Interest :
Arrive in Beijing, where your German-speaking guide meets you at the airport. You are driven into the city center and, depending on arrival time, enjoy a short introductory city tour to get your first impressions of the Chinese capital. Afterwards you continue to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the surroundings independently.
Drive: about 1.5 hours, 60 km
- Meals included : None
- Accommodation : Overnight at Red Wall Hotel (Beijing)
Temple of Heaven and imperial parks
Points of Interest :
After breakfast you stroll across Tiananmen Square, the vast central square in Beijing framed by important buildings such as the Great Hall of the People and the Mao Mausoleum. On foot you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the southern entrance of the Imperial Palace, the Forbidden City, which you explore in detail. You leave the complex through the north gate.
Lunch is served in a local restaurant. In the afternoon you drive to the Temple of Heaven in the south of downtown. The three-tiered Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks. In the surrounding park you experience an introduction to Taiji (Chinese shadow boxing) and watch locals practicing. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Drive: about 1 hour, 25 km
- Meals included : Breakfast and lunch
- Accommodation : Overnight at Red Wall Hotel (Beijing)
Culinary tour and contemporary art in Beijing
Points of Interest :
In the morning you drive east of Beijing to the settlements of Songzhuang and Renzhuang, which still belong to the municipal area. Many galleries of modern Chinese artists are located here, and you visit several of them. Some well-known artists also live in courtyard houses that blend modern design with traditional architecture.
In the afternoon you return to the city center for a guided food walk through the alleys of the old town. You stop at several typical Chinese eateries to taste a variety of local snacks. The day ends with a hotpot meal, a convivial Chinese-style fondue shared at the table.
Drive: about 2 hours, 110 km
- Meals included : Breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation : Overnight at Red Wall Hotel (Beijing)
Summer Palace and boat trip
Points of Interest :
Today you visit the Summer Palace, the former summer residence of the Qing dynasty emperors. This expansive complex is dominated by Kunming Lake, official halls and private quarters, the Hill of Longevity and the famous Marble Boat. You cross the lake by excursion boat to a small island with the graceful Jade Belt Bridge and have time to explore the scenic grounds.
After the visit you return to your hotel, and the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to relax or continue discovering Beijing on your own.
Drive: about 1.5 hours, 50 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Overnight at Red Wall Hotel (Beijing)
Olympic Park, Ming Tombs and Great Wall at Mutianyu
Points of Interest :
In the morning you drive to Beijing’s Olympic Park for a short photo stop at the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, and the National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube. You then continue to the Ming Tombs, where you stroll along the Sacred Way lined with life-size stone statues and visit one of the burial chambers with its funerary objects on display.
Afterwards the road takes you to the Great Wall north of the city, at the Mutianyu section. Here you have the chance to see and climb one of the most scenic and less crowded stretches of the wall. For an additional fee, a cable car is available for the ascent and a summer toboggan run can be used for the descent, adding a touch of adventure to the day.
Drive: about 1.5 hours, 90 km
- Meals included : Breakfast and lunch
- Accommodation : Overnight at The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (Beijing)
High-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai
Points of Interest :
After breakfast you drive back into downtown Beijing and onward directly to the railway station. Here you board a modern high-speed train to Shanghai, traveling in 2nd class and crossing the country efficiently and comfortably. Upon arrival in Shanghai you are transferred to your hotel located near the famous Bund waterfront promenade.
Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy a leisurely walk along the harbor front, admiring the historic colonial-era facades on one side and the futuristic skyline of Pudong on the other.
Drive: about 1.5 hours, 90 km (transfers)
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Overnight at New West Lake Boutique Hotel (Shanghai)
Visit to gardens and temples in Shanghai
Points of Interest :
Today you discover the Yu Garden, originally created as a private garden by a wealthy Chinese family. It is a classic example of traditional Chinese garden design, recreating natural landscapes in a compact space with ponds, rocks and pavilions. The garden lies in the heart of the old town, so after your visit you can wander through the lively nearby bazaars.
After a Shanghai-style lunch you head to the Jade Buddha Temple, known for its finely carved jade Buddha statues, and then continue to Xintiandi. This former French Concession neighborhood, with its restored shikumen houses, has been carefully redeveloped by an international team of architects and now blends historic architecture with trendy restaurants, cafés and boutiques.
- Meals included : Breakfast and lunch
- Accommodation : Overnight at New West Lake Boutique Hotel (Shanghai)
Cooking with a Chinese family and Shanghai art scene
Points of Interest :
In the morning you meet a Shanghai family and visit the local market together, choosing fresh ingredients for lunch while getting an insight into everyday life. You may also visit a kindergarten with your host family, offering a glimpse of local education. Back at their home you jointly prepare a home-cooked lunch and of course enjoy the meal together at the family table.
Art is the focus of the afternoon. You explore the M50 creative district, a former industrial area now filled with contemporary galleries and studios, and stroll along Taikang Road in the city center, another vibrant hub for design shops, cafés and small galleries.
Drive: about 45 minutes, 20 km
- Meals included : Breakfast and home-cooked lunch
- Accommodation : Overnight at New West Lake Boutique Hotel (Shanghai)
Chinese villages and the silk industry
Points of Interest :
Today you first drive to the idyllic small town of Luzhi, a picturesque water town that typifies a Yangtze Delta village with traditional houses lining narrow canals. You take a leisurely walk through the old streets and enjoy a short boat trip along the canals to experience the town from the water.
You then continue to Suzhou, famous for its classical gardens. Here you visit the Master of the Nets Garden, the smallest of the former private gardens in the city, renowned for its elegant layout. Afterwards you tour a silk spinning factory. Suzhou was once the center of China’s silk industry, and seeing the production process from silkworm to finished fabric is especially fascinating. In the evening you return to Shanghai.
Drive: about 2.5 hours, 180 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Overnight at New West Lake Boutique Hotel (Shanghai)
Museum day and Shanghai skyline views
Points of Interest :
In the morning you visit the Urban Planning Exhibition Center on People’s Square, where detailed models and displays illustrate Shanghai’s past and future development. Around the square you can also see the grand Opera House, the City Hall and the Shanghai Museum from the outside.
Later you cross to the other side of the Huangpu River to Pudong and ascend to the observation deck of the Shanghai World Financial Center. With its glass floor sections and sweeping views, it offers spectacular panoramas across the entire city and the Bund. The rest of the day is free for your own explorations in Shanghai, whether shopping, café-hopping or revisiting favorite sights.
Drive: about 1 hour, 30 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Accommodation : Overnight at New West Lake Boutique Hotel (Shanghai)
Farewell and departure
Points of Interest :
Depending on your flight time, you have a transfer to the airport and the journey comes to an end, or you continue with an individual extension program. If possible, the transfer is arranged using the Transrapid maglev train for a fast and futuristic ride to the airport.
Drive: about 1 hour, 50 km
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Last day : Transfer to the airport and end of the trip
11-Day Beijing & Shanghai Cultural Discovery
Participants
Date
Overall rating
Tetyana5.02026-03-04Neos Travel designed a trip that could be personalized to my schedule. The guides were very competent, and it was possible to start later and stay longer to fit my daily rhythm. Markus provided excellent planning advice and was always reachable, offering several alternatives. I couldn't fault a thing—perfect—and I will plan my next Japan trip again with Neos Travel.
Claudia5.02026-03-03Neos Travel took care of everything and the trip was well organized. From pickup at the train station, rides in our minibus with the driver, to the hotel, tour guide, meals, sights, and the schedule—everything ran smoothly. Our tour guide, Frau Ling, was excellent and very attentive. She spoke good German and also brought humor to our teenage group. Even when she couldn’t answer every question, she gave us a thorough introduction to Chinese culture. She adjusted the program to weather conditions and led us enthusiastically through the vegetable market.
...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!
Silke5.02026-02-22China 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.
Rambler5.02026-02-18China 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&S4.02026-02-11As 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!
Wortmann4.02026-02-07Overall, 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.
Marie5.02026-01-21We 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.
Anonym5.02026-01-16Neos 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!
Sandra5.02026-01-10This 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.
- Tetyana5.02026-03-04
Neos Travel designed a trip that could be personalized to my schedule. The guides were very competent, and it was possible to start later and stay longer to fit my daily rhythm. Markus provided excellent planning advice and was always reachable, offering several alternatives. I couldn't fault a thing—perfect—and I will plan my next Japan trip again with Neos Travel.
- Claudia5.02026-03-03
Neos Travel took care of everything and the trip was well organized. From pickup at the train station, rides in our minibus with the driver, to the hotel, tour guide, meals, sights, and the schedule—everything ran smoothly. Our tour guide, Frau Ling, was excellent and very attentive. She spoke good German and also brought humor to our teenage group. Even when she couldn’t answer every question, she gave us a thorough introduction to Chinese culture. She adjusted the program to weather conditions and led us enthusiastically through the vegetable market.
- ...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.
What is included in the price
- All transfers and visits listed in the program, including German-speaking tour guide and entrance fees
- Train journeys mentioned in the program in the specified classes
- Meals mentioned in the program
- Accommodation and breakfast in the specified hotels
- Visa
- Drinks
- Tips on site
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- All services not mentioned in the program