China Golden Triangle
With this 8-day journey, discover the diversity of China's unique landscapes, history, and culture.
This is a classic tour and you may alter any of its elements to suit you.
Days
8
Price
from US$1,679 p/p
Best For
First-time visitors
Best Time
Apr.May.Sep.Oct.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.


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Amazing and Effortless Experience Overall!
![]() China Highlights is totally legit and they planned our visit in Beijing perfectly, they were also great with being flexible to meet our unique needs and timelines, with multiple changes on the fly. Our guide in Beijing, William, was amazing as well! William was friendly, kind, thoughtful, funny, and also was great at keeping us on track timing-wise (as we didn’t make this particularly easy for him lol). Cannot recommend both China Highlights and William to anyone else looking to visit China for the first time! More
jamesrkable, Jun 2025
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Beijing group tour
![]() We had a group tour for our clients and William was our guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and flexible throughout the tour. Our clients loved the way he explained diverse topics. We would recommend him for our future groups too.Thank you William and God bless! More
Prima Rodrigues, Jun 2025
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A culture of hospitality and smiles
![]() Beijing was prettier and far less crowded than anticipated. Colin aka Po Po, our guide, enhanced the experience with his knowledge and wicked sense of humour. He made every moment special for us.We spent about three days in Beijing and surrounds. China highlights offerings were high quality, including accomodation, car, driver, guide and selection of real local restaurants. Being vegetarian wasn’t an issue at all. Visiting historical quarter of Beijing along with Hutong walk and Confucius Beijing temple were unique experiences- which became more special with Colin’s interest in philosophy and wonderful global perspective. Despite language barriers- we were greeted by scores of locals with genuine smile and curiosity. We shall be back (hopefully with Colin) to explore this wonderful culture. More
Inderjeet, Jun 2025
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Tour Highlights





Itinerary Details
Welcome to China! Your private guide and driver will be waiting for you at the airport upon your arrival to transfer you to your hotel where you can relax.
After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Warm up with a short visit to Tian'anmen Square. Within walking distance, you will reach the largest imperial palace in the world — the Forbidden City. Compared with other groups, your guide will lead you to the less touristy halls and enrich your experience with interesting background stories.
Sit down for a break at noon and enjoy the best-known dish in Beijing – roast duck – for lunch.
In the afternoon, wander past traditional hutong courtyard houses to get a glimpse of the locals' lives.
In the morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors would go to pray for a better harvest. Nowadays, it's famous for its incredible architecture and is a gathering place for locals to do exercises, such as tai chi and square dancing.
"Complete your trip to China with an unforgettable visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu" — recommended by the Lonely Planet, the Great Wall at Mutianyu offers a magnificent landscape of well-preserved walls and towers as well as splendid surroundings. It's about 1½ to 2 hours' drive from central Beijing and is suitable for hiking.
For the last stop in Beijing, you will stroll through the Summer Palace, a serene space where you can see the imperial garden and all its glory, enjoy the natural beauty coupled with some great cultural relics of the past, and get away from the busy center of Beijing life. It's worth every step!
Travel to Xi'an on a bullet train after lunch.
Freshen up in the morning and start your day at the site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses — the burial place of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. You also have the opportunity to visit a traditional cave dwelling nearby to find out how clay warriors are made.
Enjoy an authentic lunch and witness the most undamaged ancient Chinese city wall in existence.
Head to Shaanxi History Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda followed by the Muslim Quarter where you can try local snacks.
In the late afternoon, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport so you can catch a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your local tour guide.
Discover Shanghai starting from the Bund, where foreigners first landed in Shanghai hundreds of years ago. During the In-Depth Bund Culture Discovery Tour, you will see features hidden in the architectural complex, with each building telling a story about its golden age.
Then visit "the crown of beauty in Southeast China" – Yu Garden – and the "little eastern gate" — Shanghai Old Street.
Sit down for a break and have lunch. Feel excited as you ascend to the highest observation deck in Shanghai Tower to get a bird's-eye view of the whole city.
Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport. Have a nice journey home!
Price Includes
Price from: $1,679 (Tour code: gh-cht-1)








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