Five-City Tour from Beijing to Shanghai Samples Best of China

How many manmade buildings can you think of that have survived for more than 2,500 years? The Great Wall of China is impressive for many reasons, but top on that list has to be its longevity—some sections date as far back as the seventh century BC, so long ago that a major reconstruction was needed by the time the Ming dynasty rolled around in 1368 AD. Today, much of the wall stands as always has. It courses east to west across the green mountains and running rivers of northern China for some 5,500 miles. You’ll see the monumental Great Wall on Nexus Holidays’ 10-day guided tour of China, and it’s just one small part of the tour, which stops in five cities and includes round-trip airfare from 31 departure cities.

Click here for a sample itinerary of the trip.

Days 1–4: After departing from a gateway city on an economy-class flight, you’ll touch down in Beijing. Once on the ground, say nǐ hǎo to your English-speaking tour guide before transferring to the regal Jade Palace Hotel, which is situated in Zhongguancun, known as the “Silicon Valley of China.” The next three days are jam-packed with sightseeing excursions: you’ll see Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, another relic from the Ming dynasty. A trip to the Great Wall is the highlight of day 4; your tour group will also spend some time checking out the Olympic Village, which includes Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube.

Days 5–6: The trip moves on to Hangzhou, a city known to Chinese poets as “Paradise on Earth.” You’ll cruise West Lake, renowned for its natural scenery and ancient pagodas, before taking in the pleasant sights and smells of a green-tea plantation. The 3,000-year-old city of Wuxi is your destination on the next day, where you’ll pay a visit to the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan. This iconic statue stands 88 meters high and weighs more than 700 tons, which puts it on the shortlist as one of the largest Buddha sculptures in the world and, whenever anyone places a magazine under it, the world’s largest paperweight.

Days 7–10: The last days of the trip are split between the city of Suzhou and metropolitan Shanghai. Suzhou is known as the “Venice of the East” for its 1,500-year-old Grand Canal and interlocking waterways. While here, you’ll take a stroll through the Master of the Nets Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed to evoke the peaceful, simple life of a fisherman, it’s a meticulous display of unique water features and nature scenes.

Your tour of Shanghai begins with a trip to the Bund, a waterfront district lined with shops and varied architecture influenced by former European occupiers; its building styles range from Romanesque to Gothic to Beaux-Arts. Later, you’ll enjoy more than 120,000 curated treasures on display at the Shanghai Museum. Following breakfast on day 10, you’ll depart Shanghai for your return flight home.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.