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Both Hong Kong and Shanghai are often called “the Pearl of Orient”, while Shanghai and Beijing are often called “A Tale of Two Cities”. This 8 days Hong Kong Shanghai Beijing Iconic China Tour takes you to explore all amazing tales of the top 3 cities in China. Hong Kong is famed as Asia’s World City, Shanghai is the Global Economic Capital City and the biggest city in China, while Beijing is China’s Capital City and the second biggest city in China.
Hong Kong is an international city that weaves Western and Asian culture together. You can use 2 days to explore Hong Kong freely like Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Stanley Market on your own as it is English-friendly. Shanghai is the Queen of the Orient, you can spend about 3 days admiring Shanghai through its skyline, museums, temples, and the Bund. With 4-5 hours high-speed train, you will transfer rapidly from fast-paced Shanghai to fast-paced Beijing with a history of over 3,000 years. You can spend about 3 days in Beijing exploring the imperial sites for royal families and relaxing in old Hutongs to get a glimpse of ordinary people's life. Sure you will not miss Beijing’s rich cultural heritage and engineering wonders like Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall. Come and start a Iconic China Tour from Hong Kong to Shanghai & Beijing with us now!
Hong Kong (3 Days)
Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Stanley Market, Victoria Harbour, Star Ferry, Avenue of Stars, Wong Tai Sin Temple
Shanghai (2 Days)
Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Tower
Beijing (3 Days)
Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace,Imperial College Museum, Wudaoying Hutong, Temple of Heaven
Nihao! Welcome to Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient and the shoppers' paradise with a mix of Chinese and Western influences. Upon arrival at Hong Kong, your local tour guide and driver will meet there and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to have fun on your own. You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.
Arrival Ideas:
As Asia's World City, travelers can arrive in Hong Kong easily by air. There are numerous international and domestic airlines for you to enter China and the rest of Asia from Hong Kong. You can visit Hong Kong by air from most cities in China, like Guilin, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, and more. In addition, travelers can take high speed train to Hong Kong from Guilin (3.5 hours), Guangzhou (1 hour), Shenzhen (0.5 hour), Kunming (7.5 hours), etc.
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. It is time to enjoy your full-day Hong Kong trip. The first stop is to pay a visit to the highest point of Hong Kong - Victoria Peak (about 552 meters). You will take the famous Peak Tram, which was operated for more than 110 years, and travel through the verdant woods to explore some hidden old buildings left by the old Hong Kong. Get atop to the observation deck to overlook the amazing Hong Kong skyline and beautiful harbor views. Seize the rare time to take some photos from atop. The second stop is to go to the Aberdeen Fishing Village, a peaceful traditional fishing village with the rows of old junks and sampans where you will get a very interesting contract and change of pace to the Hong Kong business district and Kowloon.
Then head to Repulse Bay which is known for its silky soft white sand and one of the most expensive residential areas in the world. Lots of luxury villas can be found by the bay, including that of some famous celebrities. By the end of the beach stand the eccentric Kwun Yam Shrine. You can also explore the former colonial style Repulse Bay Hotel and the ornate Life Guard Club built in traditional Chinese style nearby. The last stop for today is Stanley Market. Walk through the bustling market selling fancy petty commodities and enjoy browsing the stalls with clothing and souvenirs can’t find elsewhere. To relax a little bit, you can order a cup of coffee or beer at the seaside café or pub to spend time getting away from the crowds.
It is your free time visit around HK according to your flight time.Then you will head to the airport for your flight to Shanghai (about 2.5-3 hours).
Welcome to Shanghai, China’s most internationalized and vibrant city! Shanghai's long-term fusion of Eastern and Western cultures has contributed to Shanghai's unique culture. Upon your arrival at the airport in Shanghai, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Shanghai. The rest of the day is free on your own so you can have a good rest for the jet lag or explore by yourself around your hotel. You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.
Today you will spend the whole day feeling the perfect blend of the West and East in this “Paris of the East” by visiting brilliant museums, traditional Chinese-style gardens, modern skyscrapers, and exotic architecture.
First, head to Shanghai Museum for an awe-inspiring visit to view the finest collection of art and learn about profound Chinese history. Built in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a ding, Shanghai Museum has a round top and a square base, symbolizing “round sky, square earth”. It contains 120,000 cultural relics which showcase incredible artifacts of Chinese art throughout 5000 years’ history. Immerse yourselves in the Exhibition Hall of Bronze and Ceramic to appreciate the elaborate bronzes and exquisite artifacts. You won’t miss the chance to enjoy the top treasures - Da Ke Ding (bronze food vessel over 3000 years ago), and Bianzhong of Marquis Su of Jin (ancient musical instruments). Next, move to Yu Garden, the most celebrated classical Chinese garden hidden in the bustling Shanghai downtown area. Enjoy a leisure walk and visit the Chinese architecture, and feast your years with exquisite sculptures and carvings. Yuyuan Bazaar outside the garden is a fun place to taste some local snacks as well as buy some traditional Chinese handicrafts and artworks.
After that, you will take a stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, where lots of well-known brands, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and towering buildings stand on both sides. Continue your walk to the Bund, the top 1 place to visit on the Shanghai bucket list. Reputed as “An Exhibition of International Buildings”, the Bund is a collection of 52 buildings in various international architectural styles. Overlook the amazing skyline and skyscrapers of the Pudong Area from the Bund. The last stop today is the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the second in the world, at a height of 362 meters. Ascents up to 546 meters over the 118th floor for a breathtaking panoramic view of modern Shanghai.
This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the train station for your high speed train to next destination - Beijing (about 4.5-5.5 hours). Upon arrival in Beijing, your guide will meet you at the train station and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own so you can explore by yourself around your hotel.
Today you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and royal gardens.
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and then head to Tian’anmen Square, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day.
Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. Listed as a world heritage site, Forbidden City has about 500 years’ history, and served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.
In this afternoon, drive to the “Museum of Royal Garden” - Summer Palace, which used to be the resort for royal families to flee summer heat. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.
Recommended Optional Activity: You can try the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude this evening.
In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Great Wall boasts a history over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. Mutianyu Great Wall is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!
Then head to Beijing Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. The museum is consisting of two parts: Confucius Temple (Kongmiao) and Imperial College Museum (Guozijian). Kongmiao is the place where people paid homage to Confucius during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Confucius is the greatest thinker and educationalist in ancient China. Guozijian (Imperial academy) is a kind of university/college in ancient China that can be traced back to the Sui Dynasty (581–618). Guozijian is also the place where the Emperor personally lectures. The college was constructed right next to the temple in accordance with Chinese tradition where a temple is always to the left of a school. This museum is a good place for you to learn more about ancient China's education system and ancient buildings.
At last, you can also enjoy a relaxing time exploring the ordinary local life through the Wudaoying Hutong which is near the museum. It is the coolest non-touristy hutong alleyway street in all of Beijing. Travel through the narrow alleys with many featured shops standing on both sides. After that, transfer back to your hotel and have a good rest tonight.
This morning you will head to Temple of Heaven. Located in Beijing's Tiantan Park, the Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace. As a World Heritage, the Temple of Heaven (Taoist temple) is also known for its rigorous symbolic layout, peculiar structure, and magnificent decoration. The Temple of Heaven used to be a place to offer sacrifice to Heaven by 22 Chinese emperors twice a year for good harvests. You can learn more about the grand praying ceremony there, as well as observe the amazing designs such as the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stones. Nowadays, it is also a park for local people to do morning exercise and you are welcome to join them.
Then, it is time to end your 8-day China tour. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high speed train to your next destination.
Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.
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George
Romania
I did a 2-week tour in China, in Dec24/Jan25 and I was very pleased with Asia Odyssey. They handled everything very professionally, from the good accommodations to the great tour guides we had. I totally recommend this company for China tours.
Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu/Sichuan, Guilin/Yangshuo, YangtzeRiver
Date of Experience: Jan 01, 2025
Tour Customized by: Catherine
You May be Interested in This Tour: Customized Tour
Ilwad
Australia
Tour name: Line B2, 8 days Lhasa-Yamdroktso-Shigaste-Mt.Everest tour.
Key people: Bob (local Tibetan tour guide), Catherine Wang (travel consultant), Mr. Yu. Jian (driver).
This tour was sublime, a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! From the very start, I was met with grace and incredible kindness. The driver assigned to me by the company was Susan and greeted me with a smile on her face, as well as the traditional Tibetan scarf she delicately placed around my neck. She then kindly offered to take some photos of me outside of the airport and offered me some water as we drove to the first accommodation in Lhasa. She then sent me a few locations within the city to explore, for shopping and food and shared her experience of living in the region for over a decade.
The following day we met our tour guide Bob, who to date has been my favourite tour guide. He was nothing short of incredible. Not only did he translate everything from Tibetan to Mandarin and English, making the tour accessible to all of us, but went above and beyond for all of us. Whether it was taking extra photos from awkward angles as the photographer to answering our follow-up questions or even giving us his own recommendations i.e. where to rent the traditional Tibetan clothes or shop for souvenirs. He was incredibly knowledgeable and humble- a true mix of wisdom and personal insight. I found his personal experiences and insight made the tour feel more authentic, especially as he had been doing this since 2009. His great anecdotes and true appreciation of the Tibetan culture, as well as his uplifting attitude and great sense of humour made the trip that much more special. Especially on the days when we were on the road for up to 7 hours, as we began the travel towards Everest Base Camp (EBC).
In terms of the people I met on the tour, it was truly a mixed bag in the best way possible! As I was a 22-year-old solo solo-female traveler you might expect that I would want to be around a similar company. In contrast, I had the best time ever with a wildly different demographic！ From middle-aged interracial married couples to retired solo travelers and other solo travelers, my group was made up of people from different neighbouring countries each with their own experiences of travel. As someone who is learning Chinese this was perfect for improving my linguistic skills however most could also speak English so there were no language barriers either.
The people in my group were lovely, kind and interesting characters. Each with open-minds and curiousity about the Tibetan culture. Having people from different walks of life and experiences in my group turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Even with our different backgrounds, we shared laughter, food and stories. I am grateful to have been in the same group as them for those 8 days- it was a true pleasure. Also, the nature of the tour meant that we overlapped with different groups based on both of our itineraries, meaning that we mixed with others for the first few days of the tour. This was a great way to also meet others as some were also staying at the same hotel as us.
The driver Mr. Yu Jian was also incredible. He so kindly brought our luggage in and out of the vehicles and always waited for us patiently in the mornings. Even when we (I) were running late, losing track of the timings and rushing outside with a hastily prepared buffet breakfast to go.
In terms of the tour, my personal highlights were of course seeing EBC and Everest in person, however, the in-betweens were just as remarkable. The 108 zig-zags we had to endure on the way to EBC, the petrol station stops where we’d stretch our legs and interact with the locals (often trying to sell us things) and growing closer and closer to the enchanting Everest. Being able to see the surreal landscape views of Tibet, both in Lhasa and outside, was awe-inducing. As I flew in on 25/03, I was met with the mountainscape being submerged with snow. By the time we made it to EBC, the snow had mostly melted but the rugged mountain view perfectly complemented the seemingly endless holy Yamdrok Lake. It was a nature lover’s paradise through and through, especially with the domesticated and wild animals across the area.
I also thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the locals. They met me with such curiosity, warmth and open-mindedness. I was touched to be perhaps the first black European person they met, and hope that they left our interactions with a new perspective. The first meal I had in Tibet was also sublime (I will put a picture below of the dish and a screenshot of the location I went to, recommended to me by my first driver). There was also a traditional Tibetan musical performance shortly after I had finished my meal, also recommended to me by Susan which began around 8pm!
My favourite monastery we visited was also the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which we visited on our penultimate day in Tibet. We went on a Sunday which meant that not many tourists, if any, were there. Especially the tour took place during the off-season (End of March/Early April). As such it was an immersive experience being able to calmly walk through the monastery. With a history dating back to 1447, I felt like I connected to this the most, with there being living trees on the site that had been first planted over 400 years ago! Even seeing locals re-paint some of the religious paintings and the monks ready to enter for their evening classes gave a sense of serenity. It was a wonderful way to end the trip. Also, I would like to highlight seeing the Yamdrok Lake’s deep shades of turquoise from many angles (extraordinary), trying yak meat for the first time (different and at times tasty), seeing the Karola glacier (even when the rest of the landscape was snowless), seeing monks’ daily debates at Sera Monastery, of course climbing and seeing Polata Palace (tip: bring a 50 RMB note with you to take the famed picture outside Polata Palace- a fellow tour member loaned me his, thanks Yuki!), as well as Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan incense making where the activity leader wrote us, upon our request, a sign in the Tibetan language with anything i.e. our name or quotes. Seeing the stars on the first day of the new moon in the village just outside of Everest was also phenomenal (tip: walk 5-10 minutes in the opposite direction of heading into town to escape the light pollution for a better view, we only stayed out for 15 minutes just around midnight due to fatigue but if you really commit to it and maybe even venture further out and perhaps later on in the night around the new moon phase you will be stunned out what will find in the starry night sky.. hopefully the milky way!).
I would also like to give a warm mention to the hotel workers in the first hotel we stayed in Lhasa as they were incredibly kind to me. They were curious to know what my story was and where I had travelled as well as catering to my needs in the mornings (i.e. morning coffee etc.). Though they won’t see this, the woman working at the Tibetan clothes’ rental who helped me take pictures on my phone and conversed with me was also very kind! Even the shopkeeper who gave me a freebie after I bought some goods from his store was patient with me as I perused through the shops looking for instant noodles. Overall, I was met with such kindness from the very start of the trip until the very end!
Regarding altitude sickness, the tour will provide you with one free bottle of oxygen, as well as an emergency tank of oxygen in the shuttle bus. For reference I didn’t finish the bottle of oxygen throughout the trip but bought a spare one from the supermarket down the road from the hotel in Lhasa and the quality was great for only a few more RMB (lasted the entire trip). With a lot of water for hydration and taking it easy, alongside deep breaths, I think this tour is accessible to anyone without any underlying health conditions.
Finally, I would like to thank my tour agent Catherine Wang who has supported me throughout this trip! From when I first sent an email back in December 2024 to inquire about this tour until present she has supported me and provided me with updates throughout this process. Although I sent persistent emails (regarding the Shigatse earthquake and permit process/progress update) she always kept me in the loop. Even during the trip she had sent me an email to ask how it was going. Thank you very much for your patience and hard work, this trip has been the trip of a lifetime!
TLDR: I would 1000% recommend this trip and tour. All the little moments and cherished memories I have made will last a lifetime. Thank you to Bob, Mr. Yu Jian, Catherine, Susan, my tour group members and all the others who have made this trip so special. I am beyond grateful.
Destination(s): Tibet
Date of Experience: Oct 07, 2024
Tour Customized by: Catherine
You May be Interested in This Tour: 8 Days Lhasa Yamdrok Shigatse Group Tour with Everest Base Camp
Siew Chor
Australia
Liz was prompt with her helpful response. We appreciate her help.
Destination(s): Beijing
Date of Experience: Oct 07, 2024
Tour Customized by: Liz
You May be Interested in This Tour: 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Forbidden City & Great Wall
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(Based on a private tour for two people. Price varies depending on program, travel date, number of people.)
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