6-Day A Tale of Two Cities Tour - Beijing’s Regal Splendor and Shanghai’s Modern Metropolis

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Your guide and driver will be waiting for you at the exit of Beijing Capital Airport. Upon your arrival, meet them and proceed to your hotel in Beijing.

They will assist you with the check-in process, allowing you to relax and prepare for the next day's exploration.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on today's itinerary, visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning.

Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city square, resides at the heart of Beijing, with the Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to its north, demarcating it from the Forbidden City.

Encircled by formidable structures, it includes the Heavenly Gate, numerous museums, government edifices, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

Your tour guide will lead you through 12 meticulously chosen locations within the Forbidden City, surpassing the typical 6-8 brief stops of other group tours.

Beyond offering insights into the city's architecture, history, feng shui, and art, your guide will introduce you to sites associated with renowned figures from the two dynasties.

These figures include the most diligent emperors, the longest-reigning empress dowager, and the most gifted concubine. The guide will narrate their stories, allowing you to envision their experiences within the city.

Today's lunch will be served at a local restaurant, where your will savor Beijing Roast Duck. Your local tour guide will recommend a specific venue based on your itinerary.

Beijing Roast Duck, a dish originating from the imperial era, is celebrated for its thin, crisp skin. Authentic versions predominantly feature the skin with minimal meat, sliced before diners by the cook. It stands as the epitome of Beijing cuisine. 

After lunch, the guide will lead you to the Hutongs in Beijing's Dongcheng district for a walking tour.

Hutongs are historic alleyways flanked by traditional single-story courtyard houses, relics of old Beijing that are rapidly fading. As you wander through these narrow paths, you can visit local residents to experience the traditional lifestyle and learn about the preservation of these unique homes and their culture.

In a workshop within the hutongs, you'll also learn how to create Peking Opera masks. Additionally, you can ascend the Bell Tower to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the hutongs.

After this delightful excursion the guide will escort you back to your hotel for a rest. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, the guide and driver will pick you up to continue today's tour. Today's itinerary includes visits to the Temple of Heaven and the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist edifices where emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties held annual ceremonies to pray for bountiful harvests.

The park surrounding the Temple of Heaven is vibrant with activity; each morning, many local elders gather there to sing, exercise, and practice tai chi.  

Lunch is arranged at a local restaurant near the Great Wall, where the guide will assist you in selecting dishes according to your preferences.

The Mutianyu Great Wall, renowned for its picturesque scenery and expertly restored structures, is ranked the top section of the Great Wall on TripAdvisor.

To save you time, we have arranged round-trip cable car access, eliminating the need for a 40-minute staircase climb. Upon arrival at the Wall, the guide will offer an introduction, after which you are free to explore.

The cable car serves between Tower 14. Hiking from Tower 14 to Tower 23, often deemed the "Golden Route," is celebrated by trekkers as the Wall's most beautiful and captivating section. This hike typically takes about two hours.

Afterward, descend by cable car, take a bus back to our vehicle, and then return to the hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today marks the final day of your Beijing journey. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you'll head out to explore the Summer Palace. 

The Summer Palace is the largest and most impeccably preserved royal park in China. Renowned for its natural beauty and cultural significance, the Palace has profoundly influenced Chinese horticulture and landscape design, earning the title 'The Museum of Royal Gardens'. 

You will lunch at popular local restaurant,  your guide will recommend specific restaurants based on your interests and itinerary.

After enjoying lunch, your guide and driver will escort you to the Beijing South Railway Station, where you will board the train to Shanghai, your next destination.

Upon arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in the evening, your Shanghai tour guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel, assisting with your check-in. You can then relax and enjoy a well-deserved rest. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

Your local guide will lead you to ascend Shanghai's tallest building, the Shanghai Tower, offering a monumental view over the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and a sweeping panorama of the city.

Amidst the bustling crowds, board a public ferry across the Huangpu River, drifting slowly from the modernity of Pudong to the historical depths of old Shanghai, crafting the latest chapter of its story.

Begin your historical journey at the Bund, the landing site of foreigners centuries ago. Each building narrates tales of its golden era, and you'll discover the traces of time etched into their structures, reflecting the ebb and flow of history.

Wander through alleys to observe local life, where residents cope with the city's housing pressures by dwelling in confined spaces.  

Take a moment to relax in a restaurant, savoring exquisite Shanghai delicacies. You'll also have the chance to experience China's most popular method of ordering takeout.

Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near The Bund. Here, you can savor a wide range of cuisines. 

After lunch, continue your tour with an afternoon visit to Yuyuan Garden. 

With a history exceeding 400 years, the Yuyuan Garden offers a wealth of attractions—from the dragon-lined walls and ancient trees to tranquil paths and historic halls filled with valuable antiques.

After concluding today's tour, the guide will escort you back to the hotel for some rest. 

• Breakfast

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and transport you to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your departure flight.