8 Days Glimpse of China-Beijing/Xian/Shanghai

Overview

Three great cities, three faces of China. The 8 Days Beijing, Xi’an & Shanghai tour (7 nights / 8 days) is the perfect first journey to China: the imperial capital of Beijing, the Silk Road city of Xi’an with its Terracotta Warriors, and dazzling modern Shanghai. It runs as a small-group tour on fixed dates, with 4-star hotels (5-star or similar in Shanghai), daily breakfast and six lunches, English-speaking local guides, a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an and a flight to Shanghai.

In Beijing you watch locals practise tai chi at the Temple of Heaven, ride a rickshaw through the old hutongs and visit a family at home, cross Tiananmen Square into the Forbidden City, walk on the Mutianyu Great Wall with a return cable car, and stroll the Long Corridor of the Summer Palace. In Xi’an you walk on the Ming City Wall, try making a clay warrior, stand before the Terracotta Army, and explore the Muslim Quarter and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In Shanghai you discover the shikumen lanes, the Yu Garden, the view from the Oriental Pearl Tower and the lights of the Bund.

Hotels (or similar)

City	Hotel	Nights
Beijing	Beijing Xinqiao Hotel (4-star)	3
Xi’an	Grand Mercure Xi’an on Renmin Square (4-star)	2
Shanghai	Sunrise on the Bund Hotel (5-star) or similar 4-star	2

Hotels are for reference; a similar hotel of the same class is used if they are unavailable.

Fixed group departures

This is a fixed-departure small-group tour with an English-speaking guide, departing on set dates roughly every week from March to December (the 2026 programme still has departures in November and December). Contact us for the current dates and availability – private departures on any date are also possible.

Why choose this tour?

China’s three most famous cities in eight days, at a good group-tour price.
Great Wall cable car, hutong rickshaw ride and Summer Palace boat ride included.
Bullet train Beijing–Xi’an and a flight to Shanghai.

Who is it for?

First-time visitors to China, families and couples. The grade is easy, with plenty of walking. Best in April–May and September–October.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF WITH LOCATION MAP

Trip Facts

Tour Code: PTT-CN-TR-002
Duration: 8 Days
Program Type: Drive
Minimum Pax: 2
Start Trip: Beijing
End Trip: Shanghai
Program Grading: Easy

Trip at a Glance

Day 01: Arrive in Beijing – transfer to hotel
Day 02: Temple of Heaven – hutong rickshaw ride and family visit – Tiananmen Square – Forbidden City
Day 03: Mutianyu Great Wall with return cable car – photo stop at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube
Day 04: Summer Palace with boat ride – high-speed train Beijing – Xi'an (about 5–5.5 hours)
Day 05: Xi'an City Wall – terracotta miniature workshop – Terracotta Warriors – Bell Tower Square
Day 06: Muslim Quarter and Gao's Courtyard – Big Wild Goose Pagoda fountain show – fly to Shanghai
Day 07: Shanghai – Shikumen lanes, Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar, Oriental Pearl Tower and City History Museum, the Bund
Day 08: Transfer to Shanghai airport – departure

Trip Highlights

Temple of Heaven and a rickshaw ride through Beijing's hutongs
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Mutianyu Great Wall with return cable car
Summer Palace with a boat ride
Bullet train to Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an City Wall, Muslim Quarter and Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Yu Garden, Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund in Shanghai

Itinerary in Details

Day 01Arrive in Beijing – transfer to hotel
Overnight: Beijing (4-star hotel)

Welcome to China! You are met at Beijing Capital International Airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to recover from your flight.
- OvernightBeijing
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 30 km / 1 hr
- Places VisitedBeijing Capital International Airport, Beijing
Day 02Temple of Heaven – hutong rickshaw ride and family visit – Tiananmen Square – Forbidden City
Full-day guided sightseeing | Overnight: Beijing (lunch included)

Begin at the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests, and watch locals practising tai chi, dancing and playing cards in the park. Ride a rickshaw through Beijing's old hutong lanes and visit a local family at home. After a Chinese lunch, walk across Tiananmen Square into the Forbidden City, spending more than two hours among its halls, courtyards and imperial treasures. Optional evening: a kung fu or acrobatics show.
- OvernightBeijing
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 25 km / 7 hr
- Places VisitedTemple of Heaven, Beijing Hutongs, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 03Mutianyu Great Wall with return cable car – photo stop at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube
Drive about 2 hours each way | Overnight: Beijing (lunch included)

Drive to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and most scenic sections of the Great Wall, with watchtowers strung along forested ridges. A return cable car is included, giving you more time to walk on the wall. After lunch near the wall, return to the city with a photo stop at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube of the 2008 Olympics. In the evening try Peking roast duck (optional).
- OvernightBeijing
- CountryChina
- Highest PointMutianyu Great Wall
- Altitude540m / 1,772ft
- Travel ModeDrive: 75 km / 2 hr · Drive: 75 km / 2 hr
- Places VisitedMutianyu Great Wall, Beijing Olympic Park
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 04Summer Palace with boat ride – high-speed train Beijing – Xi'an (about 5–5.5 hours)
High-speed train about 5–5.5 hours (second class) | Overnight: Xi'an (lunch included)

Visit the Summer Palace, China's largest imperial garden, walk the painted Long Corridor beside Kunming Lake and take a boat across the lake. After lunch, board the bullet train to Xi'an, the ancient capital where the Silk Road began; your Xi'an guide meets you at the station.
- OvernightXi'an
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 20 km / 3 hr · Drive: 1080 km / 5 hr / 30 min
- Places VisitedSummer Palace, Xi'an
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 05Xi'an City Wall – terracotta miniature workshop – Terracotta Warriors – Bell Tower Square
Full-day guided sightseeing | Overnight: Xi'an (lunch included)

Walk on the 14th-century Xi'an City Wall, the most complete city wall in China (optional bicycle ride, extra cost). Visit a cave-dwelling pottery workshop to try making a miniature warrior, then see the Terracotta Army of the First Emperor – thousands of life-size soldiers, horses and chariots in battle formation. Back in the city, stroll around Bell Tower Square. Optional evening: the Tang Dynasty music and dance show.
- OvernightXi'an
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 90 km / 7 hr
- Places VisitedXi'an City Wall, Terracotta Army, Xi'an Bell Tower
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 06Muslim Quarter and Gao's Courtyard – Big Wild Goose Pagoda fountain show – fly to Shanghai
Flight about 2 hours | Overnight: Shanghai (lunch included)

After a free morning, explore the lanes of the Muslim Quarter and the traditional courtyard house of Gao's Courtyard, where you can watch Chinese shadow puppetry. At noon see the musical fountain show on the North Plaza of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (when operating). In the afternoon fly to Shanghai, where your guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel.
- OvernightShanghai
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 15 km / 4 hr · Fly (Xi'an to Shanghai): 120 min · Drive: 45 km / 1 hr
- Places VisitedMuslim Quarter Xi'an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shanghai
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 07Shanghai – Shikumen lanes, Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar, Oriental Pearl Tower and City History Museum, the Bund
Full-day guided sightseeing | Overnight: Shanghai (lunch included)

Discover Shanghai, China's largest and most modern city. Wander through the shikumen lane houses of old Shanghai, the classical Yu Garden and the busy Yuyuan Bazaar. After lunch visit the Shanghai City History Museum at the foot of the Oriental Pearl Tower and ride up to its second sphere for a bird's-eye view, drive through the skyscrapers of Lujiazui, and end on the Bund as the colonial buildings and Pudong skyline light up.
- OvernightShanghai
- CountryChina
- Highest PointOriental Pearl Tower
- Altitude4m / 13ft
- Travel ModeDrive: 30 km / 8 hr
- Places VisitedTianzifang (Shikumen lanes), Yu Garden, Oriental Pearl Tower, The Bund
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 08Transfer to Shanghai airport – departure
End of tour

After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your flight home (shared transfer; private transfer on request).
- CountryChina
- Travel ModeDrive: 45 km / 1 hr
- Places VisitedShanghai Pudong International Airport
- MealsBreakfast

Altitude Chart of 8 Days Glimpse of China-Beijing/Xian/Shanghai

Total Driving Time: 13h 30m Total Flying Time: 2h Total Travel Distance: 1,160 km

Driving distance & time shown here are approximate — for city tours the exact distance/duration can vary and isn't always measurable.

Highest point: 1,772 ft / 540 m — Day 03 · Mutianyu Great Wall with return cable car – photo stop at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube

Services Included

7 nights in 4-star hotels (Beijing 3, Xi'an 2) and a 5-star or similar 4-star hotel in Shanghai (2) with daily breakfast
Meals as listed in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
6 lunches at local restaurants
High-speed train Beijing – Xi'an (second class) and flight Xi'an – Shanghai (economy)
Mutianyu Great Wall return cable car, hutong rickshaw ride with family visit and Summer Palace boat ride
English-speaking local guides and air-conditioned vehicles for all sightseeing as per itinerary
Entrance fees to the sights listed in the itinerary
Airport/station arrival and departure transfers (shared basis according to flight times)
Service charges and government taxes

Services Excluded

International flights to China and back
China visa fee
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary, and drinks
Optional activities and evening shows (kung fu, Tang Dynasty show, cable cars or bicycles where marked optional)
Private transfers (available at extra cost), and supplement for arrivals at Beijing Daxing Airport
Tips for guides and drivers, travel insurance and personal expenses

Trip Notes

Optional add-on tours

Make your evenings special with these optional shows and activities. They are not included in the tour price; book them with us in advance or with your local guide one day before. Return transfers and guide service during the show are arranged.

City	Show / activity	Show time	Price
Beijing	Kung fu show	Daily 17:15 & 19:30	On request
Beijing	Acrobatics show	Daily 17:15 & 19:15	On request
Beijing	Peking opera	Daily 19:30	On request
Xi'an	Tang Dynasty show with dinner	Daily 18:00–20:30	On request
Shanghai	Huangpu River night cruise	Daily 19:30–21:30	On request
Shanghai	ERA Shanghai Circus World	Daily 19:30	On request

You can also add a traditional Chinese massage or foot reflexology session in any city.

Notes for this tour

Visa: a China visa is not included. Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free or with a 240-hour transit exemption; others need a tourist visa – please check with us or the Chinese embassy before booking.
Money and apps: mobile payment (Alipay or WeChat Pay) is used almost everywhere; set it up before travel with an international card, and carry some cash. Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked without a VPN.
Passports: carry your passport every day – it is needed to enter the Forbidden City, many museums and for train tickets. Major sights require advance booking, which we handle.
Walking: sightseeing involves a lot of walking and some steps (especially on the Great Wall); wear comfortable shoes.
Best seasons: April–May and September–October; summers are hot and humid, winters in Beijing cold and dry. Avoid Chinese national holidays (early May and 1–7 October), when sites are very crowded.
Group tour: this is a fixed-departure group tour; airport and station transfers are shared with other guests arriving at similar times (private transfers on request). Pick-up is from Beijing Capital Airport (PEK); arrivals at Daxing Airport (PKX) carry a supplement.
Flexibility: the order of visits may change because of closing days (many museums close on Mondays), reservations or weather.

Notes for this tour

Visa: a China visa is not included. Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free or with a 240-hour transit exemption; others need a tourist visa – please check with us or the Chinese embassy before booking.
Money and apps: mobile payment (Alipay or WeChat Pay) is used almost everywhere; set it up before travel with an international card, and carry some cash. Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked without a VPN.
Passports: carry your passport every day – it is needed to enter the Forbidden City, many museums and for train tickets. Major sights require advance booking, which we handle.
Walking: sightseeing involves a lot of walking and some steps (especially on the Great Wall); wear comfortable shoes.
Best seasons: April–May and September–October; summers are hot and humid, winters in Beijing cold and dry. Avoid Chinese national holidays (early May and 1–7 October), when sites are very crowded.
Group tour: this is a fixed-departure group tour; airport and station transfers are shared with other guests arriving at similar times (private transfers on request). Pick-up is from Beijing Capital Airport (PEK); arrivals at Daxing Airport (PKX) carry a supplement.
Flexibility: the order of visits may change because of closing days (many museums close on Mondays), reservations or weather.

It is required to make the reservation at least 5 days before the arrival date.
No reservation has been made at this moment, and all the reservations are subject to the confirmation when the booking is made.

FAQ

8 days. It starts in Beijing and ends in Shanghai. Overnight stops: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai. The day-by-day itinerary above shows travel times, places visited and meals for each day.

Please see the overview for the best season for this destination – we can advise on weather, festivals and peak periods for your travel dates.

The grade is easy. It is suitable for most travellers, including families with children and seniors; walking is mostly short and on paved paths or easy trails.

It is a fixed-departure small-group tour: you travel with other international guests on set dates with an English-speaking guide, which keeps the price low. If you prefer, we can run the same itinerary privately on any date at a higher price.

Many nationalities can now visit China visa-free for short stays or with the 240-hour visa-free transit; others, including Nepali and Indian passport holders, need a Chinese tourist visa. We can advise and help with the documents.

7 nights in 4-star hotels (Beijing 3, Xi'an 2) and a 5-star or similar 4-star hotel in Shanghai (2) with daily breakfast; Meals as listed in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); 6 lunches at local restaurants; High-speed train Beijing – Xi'an (second class) and flight Xi'an – Shanghai (economy); Mutianyu Great Wall return cable car, hutong rickshaw ride with family visit and Summer Palace boat ride; English-speaking local guides and air-conditioned vehicles for all sightseeing as per itinerary; Entrance fees to the sights listed in the itinerary; Airport/station arrival and departure transfers (shared basis according to flight times); and more – see the full Includes list.

International flights to China and back; China visa fee; Meals not mentioned in the itinerary, and drinks; Optional activities and evening shows (kung fu, Tang Dynasty show, cable cars or bicycles where marked optional); Private transfers (available at extra cost), and supplement for arrivals at Beijing Daxing Airport; Tips for guides and drivers, travel insurance and personal expenses.

This package includes 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, as marked on each day of the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost; your guide will recommend good local restaurants, and vegetarian, vegan and other dietary needs can be catered for.

Yes. We run this tour privately for your group on the dates you choose, and we can tailor it – add extra nights, change or upgrade hotels, add activities, flights or a guide in your language (Russian, German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Hindi on request). Just send us your wishes.

A deposit of 20–30% is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due before or on arrival. Visa invitation letters, where required, are issued only after the deposit has been received. You can enquire through this page, email pigeontravel@gmail.com or contact us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm availability and send a booking confirmation.

Before 60 days – No cancellation charge. From 60 days to 45 days – 10% of the total tour / service cost. From 45 days to 15 days – 15% of the total tour / service cost. From 15 days to 07 days – 25% of the total tour / service cost. From 07 days to 02 days (48 hrs) – 50% of the total tour / service cost. From 48 hours to arrival or NO SHOW – NO REFUND. Note: Air ticket cancellation charge will be as per airline’s rule. Now a days many airlines offering non-refundable ticket in low fare which cannot be refunded once issued. Please see the Cancellation Policy section for full details.

Children under 5 travel free, sharing with parents. Children aged 5–11 receive a discounted rate. Children 12 and above are charged the full adult rate.

Dress modestly at temples, monasteries, mosques and other holy places: cover your shoulders and knees, remove shoes (and hats) where asked, and walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels in Buddhist sites. Ask before photographing people, monks or rituals, and note that photography is not allowed inside some shrines.

Cancellation Policy

Policy Regarding Cancellation / NO SHOW / EARLY DEPARTURE
In the event of cancellation of tour / travel services – due to any avoidable / unavoidable reason, we must be informed in writing. Cancellation charges would be effective from the date we receive advice in writing and cancellation charges would be as follows:-
Before 60 days – No cancellation charge.
From 60 days to 45 days – 10% of the total tour / service cost
From 45 days to 15 days – 15% of the total tour / service cost
From 15 days to 07 days – 25% of the total tour / service cost
From 07 days to 02 days (48 hrs) – 50% of the total tour / service cost
From 48 hours to arrival or NO SHOW – NO REFUND

In case of peak season hotel bookings a separate cancellation policy is applicable (which would be advised as and when required).

In case you cancel the trip after commencement, refund would be restricted to a limited amount, which too would depend on the amount that we would be able to recover from the hoteliers/contractors we patronize. For unused hotel accommodation, chartered transportation & missed meals etc. we do not bear any responsibility to refund.
Note: Air ticket cancellation charge will be as per airline’s rule. Now a days many airlines offering non-refundable ticket in low fare which cannot be refunded once issued.

Booking Policy

A deposit of 20–30% is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due before or on arrival. Visa invitation letters, where required, are issued only after the deposit has been received.

Child Policy

Children under 5 travel free, sharing with parents. Children aged 5–11 receive a discounted rate. Children 12 and above are charged the full adult rate.

Excellent rating
Based on 30 reviews

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We spent 4 days in Nepal, visiting different places with the Pingeon Travel Agency, Mr. Min Khatri was very friendly, helpful and was attentive to us at all times, with 24-hour service. for anything we needed and was attentive to us via WhatsApp every day. We booked everything from Spain, they picked us up at the airport and at the end they took us, including a driver, guide in Spanish, visits and hotels, and we had no problem, they complied with everything agreed and we were able to visit everything. The driver (Mr. Pawan) is a very good driver, friendly and kind, and the guide (Mr. Giri) is friendly and helpful. Punctual, helpful and attentive. We were in 2 different hotels, and both were very good, highlighting the one in Kathmandu, Hotel Hyatt Place Kathmandu, a new hotel, excellent service and very friendly. The Pingeon Travel agency is highly recommended and they have everything from tours to complete packages. We were happy with the services.

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Pigeon Travel has been an exceptional ressource for me in both travel support to and from Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Min Katri is simply always there onnecway or another, checking fright and other arrangements, hotel schedules and in Bhutan excellent ( required) tour guides. As well, he and Pigeon Travel are exceptional in meeting last minute changes to my plans and really are “there” 24/7. I thinking now about next trips and highly recommend Min and Pigeon travel for your trips— as in planning my next trip to India and Nepal and am using Pigeon Travel the whole way. Highly recommend!

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Kavya K

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8 Days Glimpse of China-Beijing/Xian/Shanghai