The Best of China

average review

BEIJING, XIAN, CHENGDU AND SHANGHAI

Like a greatest hits album, our Best of China tour stands as a smarTours® classic. We carefully curated our attractively priced four-city itinerary to capture both ancient and modern China. You won’t miss a beat as you sample the architectural treasures of Beijing and discover the astonishing Terracotta Army in Xian. You’ll fall in love with the giant pandas in Chengdu and be fascinated by Shanghai, the Paris of the East. From the Great Wall to Yu Yuan Garden, China is a must-see, and our guides will spin a fascinating narrative about its history, culture, and way of life as you experience this sweeping, storied destination.

Itinerary at a Glance

Tour Itinerary:

  • 3 nights in Beijing
  • 2 nights in Xian
  • 2 nights in Chengdu
  • 3 nights in Shanghai

Tour Highlights

  • Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
  • Forbidden City (Beijing)
  • Summer Palace (Beijing)
  • Great Wall (Beijing)
  • Terracotta Army (Xian)
  • Tang Art Museum (Xian)
  • Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
  • Jinli Street (Chengdu)
  • The Bund (Shanghai)
  • Yu Yuan Garden (Shanghai)
  • Suzhou Excursion (Shanghai)

Your Tour Includes

  • Optional round-trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (JFK) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
  • All intra-China flights and ground transportation
  • Accommodation at deluxe and first-class hotels
  • 17 meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
  • Sightseeing tours as described in itinerary
  • English-speaking Tour Director and local guides

Is this tour right for you? Find out What to Expect

Tour Itinerary

Map

Click the Day by Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.

Flights

Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.

You may have to book your own flights to the tour destination. If so, you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing

Day 2: Beijing

Day 3: Beijing

Day 4: Beijing/Xian

Day 5: Xian & Terracotta Army

Day 6: Xian/Chengdu

Day 7: Chengdu

Day 8: Chengdu/Shanghai

Day 9: Shanghai

Day 10: Shanghai/Optional Suzhou Excursion

Day 11: Depart Shanghai

Guided Tour Pricing

We are working diligently to secure future tour dates and pricing for this itinerary. Please fill out the "Request a Future Date" form linked below, and we will notify you once dates are available.

Optional Tours

Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.

Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.

Full-Day Hutong (Old Beijing) & Temple of Heaven Tour with Lunch

Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Show

Afternoon Shanghai Tower and Jade Buddha Temple Tour with Lunch

Chinese Dinner and Shanghai Acrobats Performance

Full-Day Suzhou Excursion with Lunch

What to Expect

Max Group Size: 30 travelers

For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.

Reviews

Peggy M

4 years ago
Tour and guides were EXCELLENT!! Value for the money was EXCELLENT! I really feel I did see the very best of China, both in historic sights and interesting industries such as silk, pearls, jade and tea. Modern Shanghai waterfront was amazing. Food was average except for all hotel breakfasts were fabulous and the meal in the Hutong in Beijing with the family was excellent. AirChina food was awful.

Penelope

4 years ago
Our guide was wonderful as well as the different guides who joined us in different cities. The hotels were exceptional.

Philip K

4 years ago
Apart from the China Air delay, which we now know was an unexpected weather difficulty, the tour, the tour guide, the daily guides and bus drivers were all first rate ( read-excellent). We certainly could not have ever done anywhere near as well on our own. a 5 -star tour experience!!

Jose R

Great tour‼️
The best tour guides, very helpful and insightful.
I can’t wait to visit China once again.