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Explore Beijing

Plan your trip to beijing: best of beijing tourism.

Essential Beijing

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Beijing Is Great For

Food forays.

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Explore Beijing

Plan your trip to beijing: best of beijing tourism.

Essential Beijing

Trending in the forums

Beijing Is Great For

Food forays.

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Explore Beijing

Plan your trip to beijing: best of beijing tourism.

Essential Beijing

Trending in the forums

Beijing Is Great For

Food forays.

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Traveling to Beijing, China: Your Ultimate Travel Guide [2024]

Beijing is a captivating city that combines the allure of narrow, picturesque alleys, traditional teahouses, vibrant bar streets, bustling commercial districts, contemporary elements, and the authentic charm of old Beijing. This unique blend has contributed to Beijing’s extensive and profound cultural heritage, as well as its orthodox yet elegant lifestyle.

Must-visit attractions in Beijing include iconic landmarks such as Summer Palace, the majestic Forbidden City, and the awe-inspiring Great Wall. Moreover, Beijing offers a diverse range of choices tailored to individual interests, whether it’s a couple seeking romantic experiences or a family in search of cultural wonders. Whether your heart yearns for royal monuments or fashionable neighborhoods, Beijing has the perfect place waiting to be discovered.

You might also be interested in: 🍳 25 BEST PEKING DUCK RESTAURANTS IN BEIJING, CHINA 2023 🍜 15 Best Noodle Dishes in Beijing|Restaurants Included 2023 🍚 62 Best Beijing Chinese Foods & Snacks You Must Try 2023 🏠 91 Best Restaurants in Beijing China in 2023 [Locals’ Guide]

🌟beijing travel planning guide.

🔍Where is Beijing China Located?

🌏Getting to Beijing, China

🚗how to get around beijing, ☀️weather for beijing travel (best time to visit), 🌟34 best things to do in beijing, china, 🏨where to stay in beijing, 🌸final tip on traveling to beijing, china travel planning guide&faq.

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Considering a last-minute trip to Beijing? Check out the finest tours, hotels, and more below! Remember to plan in advance for the top attractions in Beijing! 🇨🇳 Top Activities and Tours in Beijing: 1. Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour : With an informed guide, delve into the enigma of the Forbidden City, a highly popular Chinese landmark, while also appreciating the grand allure of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. 2. Best Beijing Hutong Food and Beer Tour : Immerse yourself in the rich historical ambiance while discovering the local way of life, and indulging in traditional cuisine at hidden gems and authentic family-run eateries. 3. Best Great Wall Tour: Discover the best-guided group tour of the Mutianyu Great Wall , Badaling Great Wall , and Jinshanling Great Wall , renowned for their ancient splendor, including lunch and an uncrowded experience. 4. Universal Beijing Resort Admission : Experience the grandeur of the largest Universal Studios with seven themed areas, 37 exhilarating rides, iconic landmarks, and exclusive early entry benefits. 🏨 Top Hotels in Beijing: Mandarin Oriental Hotel (luxury) Manxin Courtyard Hotel (affordable luxury) Crystal Orange Hotel (mid-range) Atour Light (budegt-friendly) 🌐Make sure to install ExpressVPN in advance for unrestricted internet access during your stay in China!

🔍 Where is Beijing China Located?

Beijing, the capital city of China, is located in the northeastern part of the country. It is situated at approximately 39.9 degrees north latitude and 116.4 degrees east longitude.

Beijing is surrounded by the province of Hebei to the north, west, and south, while the municipality of Tianjin lies to its southeast. With its strategic position in northern China, Beijing serves as a cultural, political, and economic center.

If you’re a visitor looking for different ways of getting to Vancouver, here’s some practical advice on how to get here.

✈️Getting to Beijing by Plane

Beijing is served by two primary airports: Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport.

Capital International Airport , situated approximately 20 kilometers from the city center, stands as China’s busiest civil airport. It serves as the preferred arrival point for most tourists visiting Beijing. The airport offers comprehensive facilities and transportation options. There are five airport bus lines connecting it to downtown, providing convenient access. Additionally, taking the subway from the airport to the city is also highly convenient. Taxis are readily available at Terminals T2 and T3.

Daxing International Airport , a newly constructed airport completed in 2019, serves as the second-largest international airport in Beijing after Capital International Airport. It is located approximately 47 kilometers from downtown. The airport provides 12 airport bus lines for transportation to the city. Passengers can catch the airport bus at Gate 20 on the east side of the first floor of the terminal. Taxis are available on the first floor of the terminal building, with three designated platforms. For online car bookings, the designated area is the 1M floor of the P1 parking building.

🚆Getting to Beijing by Train

For train and high-speed train travel, Beijing has five main stations . The majority of trains make stops at Beijing South Railway Station, Beijing Railway Station, and Beijing West Railway Station.

Among these stations, Beijing Railway Station serves routes to cities such as Jinan, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and others. Beijing South Railway Station primarily handles trains heading to Tianjin, Harbin, and other northeastern regions, as well as Hefei, Shanghai, Nanjing, Jinan, Qingdao, and other eastern areas. Beijing West Railway Station is mainly used for journeys to destinations including Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Xi’an, and other regions in the northwest and south.

Subway : The subway system in Beijing offers the most convenient and efficient mode of transportation. Currently, there are 16 subway lines and 1 dedicated airport line operational, providing coverage to major commercial areas and tourist attractions within and around the city. The subway operates from around 5:00 am to 11:00 pm, with slight variations in the schedule for each line. The fare for subway journeys starts at CNY 3 and is based on the distance traveled, with a maximum fare of CNY 7.

Bus : Beijing’s public bus system is highly developed, encompassing comprehensive routes. Buses generally operate between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm, with some routes extending until 11:00 pm. Additionally, 15 night buses continue to operate during late hours. On urban bus lines, the fare is typically CNY 1, except for buses whose numbers begin with “6” or above, which are charged based on the distance traveled. It’s important to swipe your transportation card when boarding and alighting the bus. Failure to swipe when getting off will result in the full fare being charged.

Taxi/Online Car-hailing : In the absence of subway and bus options, taking a taxi or utilizing online car-hailing services is a convenient choice in Beijing. The initial cost for a taxi ride within a 3-kilometer distance is CNY 14. The regular price per kilometer is CNY 2.3, and during nighttime, an additional 20% of the regular price per kilometer is charged.

🔥Tip : A helpful tip to note is that traffic congestion in Beijing, particularly during rush hour, can be quite severe. Hence, the subway is recommended for travel during these periods. It is important to avoid unlicensed taxis , as they tend to be exorbitantly priced. Official taxis in Beijing have license plates starting with “京 B.”

Beijing experiences distinct seasons, including hot and rainy summers and cold and dry winters. January is the coldest month, often with temperatures below 0°C, while July is the hottest, occasionally reaching nearly 40°C.

March-May : During the spring months of March to May, Beijing experiences a short and fluctuating season. The temperature alternates between rises and falls, and there are occasional dust storms. Despite these challenges, there are still pleasant and warm days in May to enjoy outdoor activities.

June-August : Beijing has a relatively brief but hot summer, with many days reaching high temperatures, particularly around noon, up to 40°C. However, the suburbs around Beijing offer a refreshing escape from the heat. Additionally, this period coincides with the summer vacation for Chinese students, leading to increased tourist activity.

⭐ September-November : Autumn is the most suitable season for traveling to Beijing . The temperature is pleasant, not too cold, and it is considered the most beautiful time of the year. From late October to early November, Fragrance Hill in Beijing is renowned for its red autumn leaves, attracting climbers and photography enthusiasts to flock to witness this breathtaking spectacle. It is also the best time to climb the Great Wall, showcasing the most beautiful scenery of the year.

December-February : Winter in Beijing is characterized by naked trees and very cold weather. However, it is also the liveliest time of the year , featuring bustling temple fairs from early December to mid-February. These fairs attract large crowds and create a vibrant atmosphere. It is the perfect time to enjoy a hot pot of instant-boiled mutton and partake in a festive Chinese New Year celebration, adding to the charm of visiting Beijing during winter.

1. Explore the Forbidden City – One of the Best Places to Visit in Beijing

The Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum, is a remarkable complex of ancient wooden structures, renowned as the world’s largest and best-preserved. It is also home to millions of invaluable cultural artifacts, constituting one-sixth of China’s total cultural relics.

When visiting Beijing, most first-time visitors prioritize a trip to the Forbidden City. The typical tour follows a specific route, starting at the Meridian Gate and progressing through the three main halls of the Outer Court including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony, then proceeding to the three main halls of the Inner Court consists of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and finally exploring the Western Six Palaces. The tour concludes by passing through the back of the Imperial Garden, visiting the Palace of Benevolent Peace and the Western Six Palaces, and exiting through the Gate of Divine Prowess.

The tour of the central axis, including the primary three halls, is the busiest but offers the best views along the way. It is recommended to have a guide who can provide detailed historical insights. For those wishing to avoid crowds, an alternative option is to bypass the main three halls and head directly to the east and west six palaces, where visitor numbers are significantly lower.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY60 | Nov to Mar: CNY40 ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 8:30-17:00 | Nov to Mar: 8:30-16:30; it is closed on Mondays, except for the Chinese statutory holidays. 🚇By subway: Take subway line 1, get off at Tiananmen East Station (Exit B) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), and walk 900 meters to arrive

2. Glimpse the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park is situated at the central point of Beijing’s north-south axis, adjacent to the Forbidden City to the south and Beihai Park to the west. It was once the tallest point in the city’s center. The park boasts a wide variety of impressive old trees and picturesque peaks with each hosting a lofty pavilion and a stunning array of peonies that bloom in May every year. The Wanchun Pavilion is recognized as the commanding peak on the central axis of Beijing, offering a commanding view of the Forbidden City and providing a panoramic view of the city.

Jingshan sits at a mere 43 meters above sea level, but it claims the title of the highest viewpoint in the vicinity of the Forbidden City. Tourists flock here every day to marvel at the panoramic view of the Forbidden City. However, not everyone is privy to the most stunning view of the palace. Timing is crucial! The optimal time to glimpse the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park is up until noon when the sun rays bathe the red walls and yellow tiles, resulting in a majestic and beautiful rosy red hue that surpasses the first-hand experience.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY2 ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 06:00 – 21:00 | Nov to Mar: 06:30-20:00 🚍By bus: Take bus 5 or 58 and get off at Xibanqiao Station.

3. Explore the Beihai Park

Beihai Park, located in the heart of Beijing, is considered China’s most ancient, well-preserved, and historically significant classical royal garden. The park is divided into four distinct areas: the Eastern Shore Area, the Botanical Garden of Qiongdao, the Northern Shore Area, and Round City.

The Eastern Shore Area features courtyard-style gardens like Painted Boat Hall and Hao Pu Creek Garden (Haopujian), surrounded by tall pines and cypress trees, creating a charming naturalistic ambiance reminiscent of traditional southern gardens.

In the Northern Shore Area, from east to west, visitors can explore scenic spots such as Minor Western Heaven, Quieting Heart Room (Jingxin Room), Western Heaven Temple, Nine-Dragon Wall, Chanfu Temple, and the Five-Dragon Pavilions. These structures blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings and offer breathtaking views of the lakeside. A notable landmark in Beihai Park is the White Pagoda, which is a Tibetan lama’s Pagoda.

The north gate of Beihai Park can be reached easily by taking subway Line 6, and both the north and south gates can be accessed by various bus routes. On the opposite side, you can find the iconic Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, while Shichahai is located next to the north gate.

Visitors can also observe local Beijing elders singing, dancing, and engaging in physical exercise, imparting an authentic and rich flavor of life to the park. While there are shops and restaurants within the park, they tend to be more expensive than those outside.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY10 | Nov to Mar: CNY5 ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 06:30 – 21:00 | Nov to Mar: 06:30-20:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 6 and get off at Beihai Bei Station, and get out from Exit B.

4. Visit the Temple of Heaven – A Sacred Place with Historical Significance

The Temple of Heaven was a sacred place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held the Heaven Worship Ceremony to pray for abundant rainfall and a plentiful harvest . The complex is comprised of an outer and an inner section, separated by two encircling walls.

The Circular Mound Altar(Huanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven(Huangqiongyu), and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests(Qiniandian) are the most impressive buildings in the complex, arranged from south to north. Visitors can also appreciate the ingenious design of the Echo Walls and Three Echo Stones.

To make the most of your visit , the typical tour order begins at the South Gate and proceeds to the Circular Mound Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Three Echo Stones, Danbi Bridge, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Palace of Abstinence, the Divine Music Administration, and exits through the North or East Gate.

The Temple of Heaven holds great historical significance and is definitely a must-visit destination. To ensure that you don’t miss out on the core parts of the temple, purchasing a combined ticket is advised . If time permits, it’s recommended to delve deeper into the park to enjoy its relaxing atmosphere and admire the ancient trees. Exiting from the North Gate is suggested, where you can find a Ciqikou bean juice shop across the street, offering authentic Beijing snacks at an affordable price. Taking the subway from the North Gate is also a convenient option.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY15 | Nov to Mar: CNY10 ⏰Opening hours: 06:00-22:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station, and leave from Exit A

5. Witness the Flag-Raising Ceremony at Tian’anmen Square

As the largest square in the world , Tian’anmen Square is surrounded by several notable landmarks, including the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China on its west and east sides, respectively.

Continuing south of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall will lead you to ZhengYang Gate (also known as Qianmen). The Monument to the People’s Heroes is located in the center of the square, while Tiananmen Tower can be found on the opposite side of the square, on the north side of Chang’an Street, and nearby the sparkling Jinshui River. Daily, the flag-raising and lowering ceremony is held in a solemn manner at Tian’anmen Square, so it is highly recommended for newcomers to Beijing attend this important event.

The flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square takes place every day at a fixed time, regardless of weather conditions. During early summer, the ceremony takes place at 4 o’clock, while in winter, it is at 7 o’clock. If you miss the flag-raising, you can still witness the lowering ceremony in the afternoon at sunset. The flagbearers team is located inside Tiananmen Square and the training takes place outside the east side of the gate. You can observe the flagbearers practicing their swing posture up close.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 to Qianmen Subway Station and walk about 333 meters

6. Visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall - beijing travel

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, situated in Tian’anmen Square south of the Monument to the People’s Heroes, was erected as a tribute to Chairman Mao. Its construction was completed in 1977, and it has a sprawling area of more than 57,000 square meters, out of which the construction area is about 28,000 square meters.

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is the main building consisting of two floors. The roof of the hall is a double-eave roof that is supported by forty-four granite pillars on a large Burgundy granite base. The hall also has six memorial rooms and a movie theater. Every year, thousands of visitors come to pay their respects to Chairman Mao.

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall remains closed every Monday, but it is accessible to the public from Tuesday to Sunday during the morning hours between 8-12 PM. It is free to visit the hall upon presenting a valid ID, but visitors are required to undergo a security check. Kindly note that bags, cameras, water cups, and other items are not allowed inside and must be stored before entering. There is a long queue that typically forms during peak periods.

🚇By subway: Take subway line 1 to Tian’anmen East or Tian’anmen West Station, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is to the south.

7. Pay A Visit to the National Museum of China

National Museum of China - beijing travel

The National Museum of China is the largest contemporary museum in the world , covering almost 200,000 square meters and boasting an extensive collection of over one million artifacts. The museum comprises five floors and 48 exhibition halls, making it one of the Chinese museums with the most extensive and diverse collections of cultural relics.

Its collection is comprehensive and spans a vast historical period, featuring a wide array of materials and forms such as tortoise shells, bronze ware, porcelain, jade, gold and silverware, coins, Buddhist sculptures, ancient books, calligraphy, imperial seals, paintings, Ming & Qing furniture, enamelware, glassware, silk goods, handicrafts, ethnic relics, folk relics, and revolutionary relics. The museum offers an exhaustive showcase of the country’s traditional and exquisite cultural heritage.

There are numerous galleries within the museum, but the Ancient China Gallery and the Ancient Chinese Bronze Art Gallery are both unmissable for those with a bit of background knowledge. While the staff are well-groomed and provide good service, it’s unfortunate that no tour brochures are available and the electronic interpreter only covers a portion of the cultural artifacts. However, visitors can take advantage of the professional free and volunteer interpreters present in the museum to gain significant knowledge and learn about a plethora of amazing treasures. Furthermore, to save time amongst the crowds, online appointments can be made before visiting the museum.

🎫Admission ticket: most galleries are free ⏰Opening hours: 09:00-17:00; closed on Mondays 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station, and leave from Exit A

8. Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution – Fans of Weapon Must See

Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution - beijing travel

Established in 1959, the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution is situated on the extension of Chang’an Street, which is located west of Tiananmen Square. It is the only all-encompassing military history museum in China, boasting an exhibition area of almost 60,000 square meters and a construction area of around 159,000 square meters, showcasing an array of historical weapons, cultural relics, artworks, and gifts exchanged during foreign military alliances .

The grand building features an impressive 7 floors, including two wings of four stories each and a large military emblem at the top. The venue consists of 10 exhibition halls, which include the Ancient Wars Hall, and Weapons Hall, as well as two halls dedicated to the War of Liberation and Anti-Japanese War, among others.

If weaponry intrigues you, the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution in Beijing is a must-see. This museum provides a miniature portrayal of China’s entire war history, from ancient to modern times, with detailed and well-crafted exhibits. The Anti-Japanese War display showcases a complete collection of weaponry, including a vast array of Chinese, American, and Japanese weapons.

The exhibit halls are arranged chronologically, from the shallow to the deep, making it easy to understand each weapon in a particular historical period. Additionally, there are many unique models and souvenirs available for purchase, making this a perfect destination for model enthusiasts. A single day may not be enough to fully explore everything the museum has to offer.

🎫Admission ticket: free ⏰Opening hours: 09:00-17:00; closed on Mondays 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 1 or Line 9 and get off at Junshi Bowuguan (Military Museum) Station and get out from Exit A

9. Explore Another Museum at Capital Museum

The Capital Museum is a large and comprehensive museum in Beijing spanning over an area of 24,832 square meters with five floors above ground and two floors underground. The exhibition of the museum consists of three main components: Main Display, Fine Collection Display, and Temporary Exhibition. With 5622 cultural relics on display, visitors can see a range of items such as bronze ware, ceramic ware, Buddha statues, jade, gold and silver, coins, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, and more.

🎫Admission ticket: free ⏰Opening hours: 09:00-17:00; closed on Mondays 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Muxidi Station, and get out from Exit C1.

10. Wander the YuYuanTan Park

This park in downtown Beijing is one of the largest and offers various picturesque spots, making it an ideal place for residents to unwind and take a leisurely walk. One of its most renowned attractions is the Cherry Garden , which boasts thousands of cherry trees imported from Japan. During the months of March and April, visitors can witness the stunning display of cherry blossoms that lasts for over a month.

Yuyuantan Park enjoys a convenient location with easy access through subway and bus transportation, and it generally doesn’t get overly crowded. However, the Yuyuantan Cherry Blossom Festival, held annually in April, tends to attract a large number of visitors, resulting in long ticket queues. During summer, visitors can enjoy boating and swimming in the park, while an ice festival takes place every winter, adding to the park’s diverse attractions.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY10 ⏰Opening hours: 06:00-21:30 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Military Museum Station and enter from the northern side of China Millennium Monument

11. Stroll Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street is Beijing’s well-known shopping and sightseeing street situated on the central axis of the city, extending from the north end of the Archery Tower of Qianmen to the turning point of Tiantan Park in the south, covering roughly 845 meters. It was formerly called Zhengyangmen Street during the Ming and Qing Dynasties till the Republican era, and in 1965, it was officially renamed Qianmen Street.

The street boasts many renowned old-fashioned restaurants , including Quanjude, Donglaishun, Siji Minfu, and Yitiaolong, among others. While maintaining its original traditional and historic shops, new stores such as clothing department stores, food stores, and watch stores have also emerged. The street is worth a visit if one is interested in exploring Beijing’s heritage and culture.

Qianmen Street underwent renovations before the 2008 Olympic Games, and since then it has lost some of its former vibrancy and popularity. However, the street still boasts numerous old buildings adorned with archways, traditional brands, and red lanterns, providing a glimpse into old Beijing’s flavor- perfect for sightseeing and photo opportunities. While strolling along the pedestrian street, visitors can also opt for a small sightseeing trolley called Dang Dang Che, which spans several hundred meters and costs around CNY 20.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 to Qianmen Station and get out from Exit B or C.

12. Walk in Dashilar Street

Dashilar is a popular commercial street located in the central part of Beijing. Its total length is 275 meters from east to west, and it is an essential part of the south-central axis, situated south of Tian’anmen Square and on the west side of Qianmen Street. The street boasts numerous shopping, dining, and entertainment options, along with time-famous brands, making it a go-to place to experience Beijing culture. In the past, it used to serve as Beijing’s center for entertainment, with various notable opera houses, teahouses, book shops, and the earliest cinema in Beijing’s history located there.

Situated in the heart of ancient Beijing lies an array of options for purchasing Beijing’s old objects and tasting the city’s famous delicacies in Liubiju, Rui Fu Xiang, and Quanjude. Dashilar boasts an exquisite display of traditional Chinese architecture, a popular spot for foreigners to capture memorable photographs. However, the current reality of modern times has commercialized the area, resulting in the appearance of modern signage that takes away from the charm of old Beijing.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Qianmen Station. Get out from Exit C and then walk south for about five minutes.

13. Enjoy Peking Duck at Quanjude

Beijing Quanjude is a legendary restaurant that has become an iconic symbol of Chinese cuisine, particularly known for its mouthwatering Peking duck . With a rich history spanning over 150 years, it has earned a reputation as one of Beijing’s must-visit culinary destinations.

Quanjude’s roast duck is a culinary masterpiece, boasting crispy skin and succulent meat, served with delicate pancakes, scallions, and a delectable hoisin sauce. The restaurant’s skilled chefs meticulously prepare the ducks using traditional techniques, ensuring a delightful dining experience.

Over the years, Quanjude has welcomed countless dignitaries and celebrities from around the world, adding to its allure. Beyond the famous roast duck, Quanjude offers a range of delectable dishes that showcase the essence of authentic Chinese cuisine. It is truly a gastronomic delight that captures the essence of Beijing’s culinary heritage.

⏰Opening Hours: 11:00 – 14:00 16:30 – 21:00 📍Address: No.30 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District

14. Appreciate the Charm of Old Beijing at Nanluoguxiang

Nanluoguxiang, also known as South Gong and Drum Lane, is a historical and cultural landmark situated in Beijing. This 786-meter-long and 8-meter-wide alley is one of the oldest surviving hutongs in Beijing and is listed among the city’s 25 protected areas. It dates back to the time of the Yuan Dynasty and has the distinction of being the only well-preserved Yuan Dynasty Hutong courtyard structure. This historic residential area is truly remarkable due to its large scale and highest-grade checkerboard traditional layout.

Today, it features various specialty shops with different styles, elegant private houses, and restaurants that provide an exciting combination of old Beijing hutong and modern appeal . It now has become a fashionable hotspot in Beijing, blending modern elements with the historical essence of old Beijing. Anyone who wants to appreciate the quiet charm of old Beijing could visit the traditional courtyard dwellings on both sides of the road. These houses feature former residences of celebrities and historic buildings that can be explored.

Nanluoguxiang remains the most intact alley of conventional courtyard houses in Beijing. The majority of the courtyard residences in the hutong are private dwellings, which are not accessible for visiting. It is noteworthy that making sure to visit the Wenyu Nai Lao store to purchase cheese or yogurt is recommended. Nowadays, Nanluoguxiang is increasingly crowded with tourists, particularly during weekends and holidays; and many of the goods sold here are more expensive than anywhere else.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 6/ Line 8 directly to Nanluogu Xiang

15. Taking a Stroll Down the Yandai Xiejie

Yandai Xiejie, which spans 232 meters in length, is renowned as the oldest commercial street in Beijing. During the Qing Dynasty, this street was primarily dedicated to selling cigarette sets, mounted calligraphy and painting, and jade artifacts. Its enigmatic name was inspired by its resemblance to a smoking pipe, with the eastern entrance being likened to a cigarette holder.

A trip down this avenue is a quintessential experience showcasing ancient customs , including Beijing paper-cut, sugar-blowing figures, and characteristic snacks. A range of local and traditional delicacies such as Yaoji fried liver, and roasted lamb prepared by Master Ji can be found in the vicinity, so don’t miss out!

The route to the street can be accessed by taking a leisurely walk from Nanluoguxiang, which is in close proximity to the street. It is quite narrow and is lined with small shops selling varying specialties. You can also come across numerous small souvenirs being sold, however, due to the flocks of people, waiting in line is almost inevitable for purchasing anything.

Taking a stroll down the street for a while can take you to Houhai which is quite bustling, especially during the evening hours. If you get tired walking, you can opt for a tricycle tour that is popular for hutong sightseeing.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 8 to Shichahai, get out of the station from Exit A2, and then walk west for 1 minute

16. Learn Chinese Cuisine at Black Sesame Kitchen

If you’re all about exploring different food cultures, then Black Sesame Kitchen is the spot for you! It’s been hailed as one of Asia’s finest by Miele Guide, guaranteeing you a truly unique experience. By day, the kitchen transforms into a hotspot for private Chinese cooking classes tailored to international folks. You can roll up your sleeves and learn the art of dumplings and noodles, among other tasty techniques. But here’s the deal: those classes are super popular, so snag your spot ahead of time. When evening rolls around, the restaurant switches gears and serves up a delicious set menu of Chinese dishes . It’s a fantastic chance to mingle with folks from all over the globe and delve deeper into Chinese cuisine and culture. And yes, you can totally make advance bookings for this culinary adventure.

⏰Opening Hours: 11:00 – 22:00 📍Address: 28 Zhong Lao Hutong The Courtyard Institute, Dongcheng District

17. Admire the Serene Bell and Drum Tower

The Bell and Drum Tower is a group of ancient buildings located at the northern end of Beijing’s north-south central axis. It served as the time-telling center of the Han, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties and played a crucial role in the city’s history . The pair of towers stand in the front and back and have an imposing and magnificent appearance. And This scale and height of the tower construction are unparalleled in the history of the urban bell and drum towers.

While the Bell and Drum Tower may not offer a multitude of sights, its modest size in comparison to other world cultural heritage sites in this imperial capital ensures a serene and tranquil experience for the few tourists from home and abroad who come to explore its historical significance.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY20 ⏰Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Guloudajie Station, walk 10 minutes to the tower

18. Enjoy A Night at Houhai Bar Street

Houhai stretches from Menwai Street in the east to Xinjiekou Street in the west and boasts of an ancient historical atmosphere that imbues the place with a mysterious color. The bars here are distinct and not excessively noisy , offering a unique cultural atmosphere and melodious singing that make for a modern urban alternative. To ensure the best clubbing experience here, it is advisable to avoid getting lost among the numerous choices and feeling embarrassed when rejecting a waiter’s warm greetings.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 8 to Shichahai Station and leave from Exit A2.

19. Visit Prince Gong Mansion – A Best-Preserved Imperial Mansion

Prince Gong Mansion also referred to as Gong Wang Fu in Chinese, is the most extensively conserved imperial mansion in China that comprises more than 30 buildings showcasing Western architecture and traditional garden designs. Its compact layout and distinct style have made it a remarkable place to visit.

Initially serving as the dwelling of Heshen, a Qing Dynasty official, the mansion witnessed the historical transition from the dynasty’s prosperity to its decline. The divided complex includes two parts – the mansion and the garden area . Within the mansion, there are multiple luxurious courtyard houses as the residential section, while the garden area located at the back of the mansion is called Jincui Yuan. Within the garden precinct, there are three unique features which include the Western-Style Gate, the Grand Theater House, and the ‘fu’ Stele, which are also known as the Three Uniqueness in Prince Gong Mansion.

The mansion from the Qing Dynasty boasts an artistic beauty that is just as impressive as that of the Forbidden City, showcasing some things that even the royal family doesn’t have. Currently, there are museum exhibitions that relate to Qing history. During spring, visitors can bask in the beauty of the garden, which boasts different types of blooming flowers.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY40 ⏰Opening hours: 08:30-17:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 6 to Beihai North and leave from Exit B

20. Go to See the Lama Temple – The Largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing

The Lama Temple, also known as Yonghe Temple, is situated in the northeast corner of Beijing and is regarded as the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in the area, widely visited by locals for worship . It spans a total area of 6.6 square meters, featuring more than one thousand temples that seamlessly blend various ethnic architectural styles such as Han, Manchu, and Mongolian.

The temple comprises five main buildings, including the Yonghe Gate Hall, the main hall Yonghe Gong, the Yongyou Hall, the Falun Hall, and Wanfu Pavilion, which stand apart in their specific courtyards. The height of the buildings lessens as one proceeds northwards.

Currently, the Lama Temple in Beijing has become the most prosperous religious site for praying for good fortune. Adjacent to the entrance gate, there is a small window that offers the free distribution of Buddha incense. It is strictly prohibited to take photographs of the Buddha statues within the temple premises. Visitors are expected to comply with the rules and regulations of the temple.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY25 ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 09:00 – 17:00 | Nov to Mar: 09:00-16:30 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong (Yonghe Temple) Station, get out of the station from Exit F

21. See the Confucius Temple and The Imperial College

The Confucius Temple and the Imperial College (Guozijian), constructed during the Yuan Dynasty, served as places of worship for emperors to Confucius and as the central government’s most prestigious institution of learning , respectively. Located symmetrically along the central axis, these two architectural complexes make up a magnificent and comprehensive display of ancient Chinese architecture.

Some of the key structures found in the Beijing Confucius Temple are the Xianshi Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongshengci (Worship Hall), with the Dacheng Hall being the holiest temple in the Confucian Temple. The Imperial College’s main building remains well-preserved after more than seven centuries and is currently the sole fully-preserved site of China’s highest ancient university.

The Confucius Temple and the Imperial College may not hold the status of being a world cultural heritage or a 5A scenic spot, but they are still worth a visit, especially for individuals who are interested in Chinese ancient architecture along with the history and culture. Not as crowded as the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace, one can find towering ancient trees and splendid temples inside, and the 14 stone stele pavilions from the Ming and Qing dynasties are highly valuable sources of historical information about ancient China. Visiting this place can provide a great insight into the tradition of honoring Confucius during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and one can also gain knowledge about the ancient education system’s highest university.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY30 ⏰Opening hours: May to Oct: 08:30 – 18:00 | Nov to Apr: 08:30 – 17:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 and get off at Yonghegong Station, and get out from Exit G

22. Enjoy Coffee at Wudaoying Alley

Wudaoying Hutong is a notable hutong in Beijing with a length of a little over 600 meters. The buildings are in the Chinese style and feature mottled red paint that adds an aged feel to the area. The big red gate, gate pile, and drum-shaped bearing stone are juxtaposed with modern shops, signs, and advertisements, forming a strong contrast between Chinese and Western cultures.

It is now becoming a hub for young people in Beijing, with a plethora of creative shops, cafes, and boutiques to explore. The street is adjacent to an ordinary residential area, blending street life with the latest fashion trend. Though there aren’t many tourists here, it’s an excellent spot to grab a coffee and feel at peace.

Wudaoying Hutong, which is often frequented by young people and foreign tourists, can be included in an itinerary alongside The Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, and The Imperial College Museum. Unlike the bustling atmosphere of Nanluoguxiang (South Luogu Lane), this location offers a quieter experience. The area boasts an array of cafes, restaurants, B&Bs, jewelry shops, and clothing stores. It is known that many of the shop owners here are expatriates and returnees.

🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong Station, get out of the station from Exit F

23. Stroll Around Ditan Park

Ditan Park, alternatively referred to as the Temple of Earth, holds the position of being the second of the five altars present in Beijing. It was a place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties offered sacrifices to the “imperial deities” and still remains the most substantial sacrificial altar in China . The ancient trees within the premises are worth admiring, especially during autumn when the ginkgo trees turn golden, and the place is relatively less crowded. Additionally, every Spring Festival, a bustling temple fair takes place, which showcases a sacrificial performance resembling the Qing Dynasty and displays the grandeur of its ceremonies.

The size of the Temple of Earth may not be huge but it has a relatively high number of vegetation covered with a variety of old trees. During the autumn season, many photographers visit there to capture the beauty of the ginkgo leaves in shades of yellow. People also gather there to perform various activities such as singing, dancing, and playing guitar. Overall, it’s a tranquil location.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY2 ⏰Opening hours: May to Oct: 06:00 – 21:30 | Nov to Apr: 06:00-20:30 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Subway Line 5 to Yonghegong Station and get out from Exit A

24. Find Art at 798 Art District

The 798 Art District is situated in the northeast part of Beijing and is referred to as the Dashanzi Art District, situated in the Dashanzi zone. Art enthusiasts will find solace in this old, converted factory that showcases various contemporary and innovative artistic expressions from around the world, including art exhibitions, galleries, photography, clay sculpture, coffee, bars, graffiti, boutiques, design studios, and art performances. Additionally, it hosts significant international art exhibitions, art events, and fashion shows.

🎫Admission ticket: Free; some galleries and exhibition halls sell admission tickets ⏰Opening hours: The art district is open all day long. Most shops and galleries inside are open from 10:00 to 18:00 and some may close on Monday 🚍By bus: Take bus 401, 402, 405, 418, 445, 973, 988, 991 or Fast Transit Line 117 to Wangyefen Station or Dashanzi Lukou Nan Station

25. Purchase Second-hand Goods at Panjiayuan Flea Market

Beijing Panjiayuan Flea Market, established in 1992, is the most extensive and well-known market for second-hand goods and curios in China . It covers 48,500 square meters and is situated in the southeast corner of Beijing’s Third Ring Road, Chaoyang district. Stores are open every day, while street stalls are only available on weekends.

If you happen to be a collector or enthusiast of Chinese antiques, crafts, or collectibles, then you might want to consider visiting this marketplace. The best time to drop by is on Saturdays and Sundays as there is a wider selection of items on offer. You can find cultural relics, paintings and calligraphy, the four treasures of the study, pearl, and agate, Beijing Opera facial masks, porcelain wood, furniture crafts, and other collections here. However, be cautious when making any purchases as there are many counterfeit goods being sold. Make sure to carefully examine the items, compare prices, and choose your sellers wisely to avoid being taken advantage of.

⏰Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 8:00-17:30 | Sat to Sun: 04:30-17:30 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 10 to Panjiayuan Station and leave from Exit B

26. Visit Beijing Olympic Park

The Olympic Park in Beijing is situated at the north end of the central axis of Beijing, spreading over an area of 11.59 square kilometers. The most iconic landmarks of the park include the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube , which are located in the southern part and are representative of the Beijing Olympics; The Beijing National Indoor Stadium is one of the three main venues for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, its shape resembles an unfolded folding fan, and adjacent to the “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube”.

The Olympic Forest Park , the most extensive urban park in Beijing, is situated north of the Olympic Park and is now a natural scenic getaway for the city’s residents. The Sunken Garden , composed of seven courtyards with elements of Chinese culture, effectively showcases China’s cultural heritage in a modern context.

The southern section of the Olympic Park features a diverse range of natural beauty, such as lakes, woodlands, hills, and wetlands, across the entire park, conveniently located near the subway station. The lakeside is a popular spot for people to relax, read books, and watch movies, while many joggers can be seen on the jogging paths. Visitors can rent bikes or electric scooters to explore the lake’s surrounding scenery. Despite being busier on weekends, the park’s vast size ensures it never feels overcrowded.

🚇By subway: Take Line 8 or 15 to Beijing Olympic Park and leave from Exit B

27. Stop by Silk Street

Silk Street, also known as Xiushui Street, is a popular shopping market situated in the Chaoyang District of the city, which is close to the international CBD business district. It is considered the most influential worldwide tourist shopping mall in China and is on par with the renowned Great Wall and Forbidden City tourist attractions.

In 2005, the “Silk Street” was replaced with a new “Silk Street” department store, spanning over an area of 28,000 square meters and containing 1,500 stalls. The store sells a diverse range of ethnic products including silk, fine clothes, pearls, tea, handicrafts, and Chinese food such as Quanjude roast duck. Silk Street attracts a diverse clientele, ranging from dignitaries and their wives to international sports stars, which emphasizes its unique position as a leading international market in China.

In fact, the New Silk Road retains the form of the old market’s shopping street while featuring a wider range of specialty products and longer shopping hours. The vendors communicate in English, utilize calculators, and haggle with foreign traders. And multitudes of merchants remain active and diligent.

⏰Opening hours: 9:30-21:00 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Yonganli

28. Go Shopping in Taikoo Li Sanlitun

Taikoo Li Sanlitun, which covers an area of about 61,014 square meters and consists of 30 independent buildings, is now known as an ultimate destination for fashion trends in Beijing . The site offers a wide range of facilities including shopping, dining, hotels, and entertainment, which are divided into three areas: South, North, and West Districts.

Taikoo Li South hosts the largest Adidas brand center in the world as well as the first Apple Store in China, both of which attract a large number of young people who are interested in limited-edition releases. Meanwhile, Taikoo Lee North is the home of many international luxury brands, creative and cutting-edge designer stores, and art galleries.

Sanlitun is a unique area in Beijing where ordinary and extravagant lifestyles come together to create a melting pot of culture and indulgence. It is a popular spot among young people on weekends as it offers a diverse range of experiences, from high-end fashion brands and luxury goods to local street food and upscale Western-style Chinese cuisine. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee at a quiet cafe or unwind at a smoky bar. All in all, Sanlitun is a confluence of diverse elements that must not be missed.

🚇By subway: Take subway line 10, get off at Tuanjiehu Station, and exit from A

29. Enjoy Your Nightlife at Sanlitun Bar Street

Sanlitun is the answer to the question of where to find Beijing’s liveliest nightlife, especially for those who are fashionable and enjoy the high-end atmosphere. Being close to the embassy district, it’s common for foreigners to frequent the area. Sanlitun bar street offers a variety of bars and nightclubs catering to different tastes like wine bars, gay bars, and music bars. However, visitors should be aware that prices in Sanlitun can be quite costly.

30. Do Half-day Trip to the Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, which is situated in the western parts of Beijing, China, holds the distinction of being the largest and best-preserved royal park in the country , spanning an area of approximately 290 hectares. This heritage site was added to the World Heritage List in 1998.

The palace has three main areas, namely, a political center focused around the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the emperor’s living quarters consisting of the Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Joyful Longevity, and the scenic tourist area of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor in the Summer Palace has a small purple “waterfall” with thin vines adorned with purple blooms, creating a romantic and charming view.

To fully explore the vast Summer Palace, set aside approximately five hours on foot. Begin at the East Palace Gate, prioritizing visits to the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, as well as the Garden of Virtue and Harmony—spaces where the emperor worked and entertained. Nearby, well-proportioned attics housed the emperor and concubines. Continue along the Long Corridor, leading to the Tower of Buddhist Incense Pavilion. If fatigue sets in, consider taking a boat to Suzhou Street, exiting through the North Palace Gate. Alternatively, keep walking the Long Corridor to the West Causeway, modeled after the Su Causeway. Follow the lake path, eventually reaching the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Finally, exit through the new palace gate or continue north toward the East Palace Gate.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY30 | Nov to Mar: CNY20 ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 06:30 – 18:00 | Nov to Mar: 07:00 – 17:00 🚇By subway: Take line 4 to Beigongmen, and exit from D

31. Explore the Ruins of Old Summer Palace

The Old Summer Palace, which consists of Yuanmingyuan(the Old Summer Palace), Wanchunyuan(the Garden of Blossoming Spring), and Changchunyuan(the Garden of Eternal Spring), was a significant imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty for over 150 years. Unfortunately, the main constructions were burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Force in 1860, and today only the wreckage remains as a reminder of its past imperial glory.

Wanchunyuan is the smallest garden with many small attractions and pavilions scattered throughout. Nowadays, it is mainly used as the venue for the annual Lotus Festival in Yuanmingyuan. Changchunyuan boasts large-scale waterscapes and the Great Fountain Ruins (Dashuifa) is the most comprehensively conserved ruins in the area.

The Old Summer Palace appears to be less attractive in reality than it is described in the book. There are ruins and broken walls as far as the eye can see, and despite repairs, weeds and stones still occupy the area. The destruction of Yuanmingyuan was heavily influenced by the materials used for construction at that time, with the wooden houses consumed by the fire.

The ruins park may not be visually stunning, but it can create a significant psychological impact on people due to the ruins . What once was the magnificent Garden of Gardens, now lies in ruins and holds little beauty in its current state.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY10 ⏰Opening hours: May to Aug: 07:00-19:00 | Apr, Sep, and Oct: 07:00-18:00 | Nov to Mar: 07:00-17:30 🚇By subway: Take Subway Line 4 and get off at Yuanmingyuan Station, and get out from Exit B

32. Admire the Charm of the Fragrant Hills Park

Xiangshan Park, also known as Fragrant Hills Park, is located in the western suburbs of Haidian District, Beijing. It is a famous forest park and an imperial garden with a long history. In ancient times, emperors would come here to hunt and keep cool during the summer. It is a famous maple leaves landscape area in Beijing. Every autumn, the maple leaves all over the mountains are as red as flames.

The best viewing season is from mid-October to early November, which lasts about a month. Famous scenic spots are Bright Temple (Zhao Miao), a large and attractive building with Tibetan temple style, and quaint courtyard with Jiangnan characteristics –Study of Reading Heart (Jianxin Zhai), Chairman Mao Zedong and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stationed earliest living and office place – Shuangqing Villa.

The annual Red Leaves Festival , which runs from mid-October to mid-November, attracts tourists from all over the country. But catching up with the peak of weekend tourism can be really a sea of people. If you want to come here, you need to arrange both the time and the route. There are two options for going up the mountain: cable car and walking, you can walk up to the top can enjoy the scenery first, and then go down with the cable car is not too bad for the knees.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Nov 15: CNY10 | Nov 16 to Mar: CNY5 ⏰Opening hours: 06:00 – 19:30 🚍By bus: Take bus 563, 318, 360, or 698 and get off at Xiangshan Station

33. Hiking the Great Wall

The Great Wall of China is a remarkable architectural feat that spans approximately 13,000 miles. It was constructed over several centuries to defend China against invasions. The wall varies in age, with some sections dating back over 2,000 years. It is made of various materials, such as stone, brick, tamped earth, and wood. The wall’s purpose extended beyond defense, serving as a transportation route, a symbol of national unity, and an engineering masterpiece. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction, offering breathtaking views and insights into China’s rich history and cultural heritage.

Hiking the Badaling Great Wall Section

Badaling is a renowned section of the Great Wall of China, located in the Yanqing District of Beijing. It is widely recognized as one of the most well-preserved and popular segments of the Great Wall . Known for its beautiful scenery and steep terrain, Badaling offers a captivating experience for visitors.

Constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Badaling served as a crucial military fortification, protecting the northern borders of China. Stretching approximately 7.6 kilometers, it features a series of watchtowers, beacon towers, and defensive walls that wind their way along rugged mountain ridges.

Since its opening to the public, Badaling has attracted countless tourists from around the world. In 1988, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, acknowledging its historical and cultural significance. Over the years, extensive restoration work has been carried out to preserve its original grandeur.

Visitors to Badaling can embark on an awe-inspiring journey by walking along the ancient walls, exploring the watchtowers, and enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. For those who prefer a more convenient option, there is a cable car that transports visitors to the highest point of the Wall, providing stunning panoramic vistas without the need for strenuous hiking.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY40 | Nov to Mar: CNY35 ⏰Opening hours: 06:30 – 14:30

How to Get to Badaling Great Wall

Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station, located near Jishuitan Subway Station on Line 2. The bus operates from early morning until late evening, with a travel time of about 2 hours. The fare is approximately CNY 12.
Take the Tourist Bus Line 1, which departs from the southwest of Qianmen Arrow Tower. This bus will take you to the Badaling Guntiangou Parking Lot. The payment fee is CNY20 in cash per person. The estimated duration for a one-way journey is around 100 minutes.

Hiking Juyong Pass Great Wall Section

Juyongguan, also known as Juyong Pass, is a section of the Great Wall of China located in the Changping District of Beijing. It is one of the three most famous mountain passes of the Great Wall , along with Jiayuguan in the west and Shanhaiguan in the east.

One of the notable features of Juyongguan is its steep terrain, which makes it a natural defensive position. The pass is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and its narrow valley is flanked by steep cliffs. To enhance its defensive capabilities, various fortifications were built along the pass, including watchtowers, gates, and beacon towers. These structures provided both defensive functions and served as signaling stations for communication along the Great Wall.

The Juyongguan section of the Great Wall is also renowned for its architectural beauty. It features several well-preserved structures, such as the Cloud Platform (Yun Tai), which is a marble terrace built during the Ming Dynasty. This platform served as a base for ceremonies and provided a vantage point to observe the surrounding landscapes.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY40 | Nov to Mar: CNY35 ⏰Opening hours: 08:30-17:00 🚍By bus: Take bus line 883 or 919 from Deshengmen West or Deshengmen to Nankou Lukou South or Nankou Lukou North. Then, change to bus line Chang 20 to Juyongguan Great Wall.

Hiking Mutianyu Great Wall Section

Located in Huairou County, approximately 70 km northeast of central Beijing, the Mutianyu Great Wall is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and remarkable preservation. This section of the Great Wall stands out as one of the most picturesque and sought-after destinations for both local and international tourists , offering a captivating blend of natural beauty and historical significance.

Stretching across a length of about 2.5 kilometers, the Mutianyu Great Wall claims the title of the longest segment of the Great Wall in China. It boasts an impressive array of features, including 22 watchtowers and three primary defensive barriers, among them a moat designed to deter potential intruders from approaching the wall.

Upon reaching the Mutianyu Great Wall, visitors have various options to explore this magnificent structure. They can choose to hike along the wall, opt for a cable car ride , or even embark on an exhilarating toboggan descent. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and bring along water and snacks, as the dining options on the wall itself are limited.

🎫Admission ticket: CNY40 ⏰Opening hours: 08:30-17:00 🚍By bus: Take the bus from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station and get off at Mutianyu’s Parking Lot P1. The bus operates from 8:30 am, with a travel duration of about 1.5 to 2 hours. The fare is roughly CNY 30.

Hiking Jiankou Great Wall Section

Jiankou Great Wall is renowned for its challenging nature and is considered one of the most difficult sections of the Great Wall to hike . Its steep and treacherous segments add to its reputation. The name “Jiankou” derives from its resemblance to an arrow, with the collapsed ridge forming the arrow nock. This segment is also home to noteworthy landmarks, including the “Eagle Flies Facing Upward” watchtower and the “Beijing Knot.” Although Jiankou Great Wall is not as well-preserved as other parts, it remains a favored destination for adventurous hikers and history enthusiasts. However, it’s important to note that due to its rugged terrain and limited safety measures, hiking Jiankou Great Wall is recommended only for experienced hikers equipped with proper gear and precautions .

🚍By bus: Take bus line 916 Express at Dongzhimen Transit Hub. After approximately 1-1.5 hours, alight at Yangjiayuan. From there, head north on foot until you reach a crossing, then make a right turn and board the H25 bus to reach the Xizhazi Village West stop.

Hiking Jinshanling Great Wall Section

Explorers of the Jinshanling Great Wall can embark on a hike along the wall while relishing breathtaking vistas of the surrounding countryside. This section of the Great Wall extends approximately 10.5 kilometers and boasts an impressive collection of 67 watchtowers. It is revered as one of the most well-preserved segments, attracting hikers and tourists alike.

During the autumn, Jinshanling Great Wall showcases its awe-inspiring beauty as the foliage of the surrounding trees transitions into vibrant hues of red, yellow, and orange, creating a picturesque landscape. This time of year is particularly favored for visiting. Additionally, the wall offers an enchanting setting for photography enthusiasts, especially during sunrise and sunset when the wall radiates a golden glow.

Jinshanling Great Wall is renowned for its challenging hiking trails, featuring steep inclines and rugged terrain . Due to these challenging features, it is not advisable for families with young children or elderly individuals. However, for those who are up for the adventure, it promises an unforgettable experience.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY65 | Nov to Mar: CNY55 ⏰Opening hours: 6:00 – 17:30 🚍By tourist bus: Between mid-March and mid-November, a tourist bus departs at 7:40 am from Beijing’s Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station, returning from Jinshanling at 16:00 pm. Tickets cost around CNY 120.

34. Come to Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs encompass the burial sites of thirteen Ming Dynasty emperors and rank among China’s most expansive and significant imperial mausoleum complexes. Presently, only the Changling Tomb, Dingling Tomb, Zhaoling Tomb, and Sacred Way are accessible to the public. The entire scenic area is a harmonious whole, with each mausoleum functioning as an independent unit and strategically situated in front of a mountain. Among the thirteen tombs, the Changling Tomb holds significant prominence as it was the first constructed and serves as the tomb of the third Ming Dynasty Emperor. It boasts the distinction of being the largest, most original, and well-preserved tomb among the 13 Ming Tombs. The Changling Museum exhibits a wide range of unearthed relics, including the phoenix crown, the civilian official’s top hat, jade belt, and hairpins, offering a captivating display. In addition to exploring the historical aspects, it is recommended to visit the Zhaoling Tomb and take a leisurely stroll along the Sacred Way. The Sacred Way features captivating stone statues, while the Zhaoling area provides a serene and less crowded environment, ideal for peaceful walks.

🎫Combo Ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY130 | Nov to Mar: CNY100 (four open tombs) ⏰Opening hours: Apr to Oct: 08:30 – 17:00 | Nov to Mar: 08:30 – 16:30 🚇By subway: Take the Changping Line subway to Changping Dongguan Station. From there, transfer to bus 314, which will take you directly to Changling or Dingling.

MOST LUXURY : Mandarin Oriental Hotel (⭐️ 9.6) This upscale hotel offers tranquility amidst the bustling city and provides stunning sunset views of the Forbidden City from its Mandarin room. It excels in all aspects, including considerate service, outstanding facilities, superb dining options, and a relaxing spa, making it highly recommended.

BEST CULTURAL ARCHITECTURE : Manxin Courtyard Hotel (⭐️ 9.8) This hotel is perfectly situated and resembles Beijing’s Hutongs, featuring narrow passages leading to open courtyards and guest houses. Amidst the busy ambiance, it offers a tranquil traditional luxury. The service is exceptional. You can enjoy tea and capture moments in the courtyard.

MID-RANGE PICK: Crystal Orange Hotel(⭐️ 9.6) This highly affordable hotel boasts an excellent location near Wangfujing shopping street and within walking distance of the Forbidden City. It’s conveniently situated right across the subway entrance. The rooms, though not spacious, are well-kept and clean. Additionally, the hotel provides free luggage delivery.

TOP BUDGET PICK : Atour Light Hotel(⭐️ 9.4) Atour Light, China’s leading humanistic hotel, charms with its serene color scheme, artful decor, and wooden floors. Guests enjoy custom mattresses, smart room controls, and cityscape views. United Park is a multifunctional public space that combines a coffee bar and reading area.

To maximize your Beijing experience, plan your itinerary strategically, prioritizing popular attractions on weekdays to avoid crowds. Prepare for variable weather by packing comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and an umbrella. Engage with locals for authentic experiences and explore lesser-known neighborhoods for hidden gems. Respect local customs, indulge in Beijing’s diverse cuisine, and savor every moment of your journey. With these tips, your Beijing adventure will be truly remarkable.

🎫Do I need a visa for China?

Yes. Most visitors to China will need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose and duration of your trip, as well as your nationality. If you are a resident of the US, you must apply for a Chinese visa at the Consular Office in the country. On the other hand, inhabitants of countries like Japan, Canada, and the UK can request a visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center .

🤔 Why is it necessary to install a VPN in China?

In China, the government has strict regulations on internet access, leading to the blocking of popular websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube. To access these sites, a VPN is suggested as a means of bypassing the restrictions. It is important to choose a reputable VPN provider and use caution while doing so. ExpressVPN has been historically deemed the most reliable VPN for this purpose, despite being heavily targeted by China’s censors. Nevertheless, it is still a widely preferred option owing to its ease of installation and user-friendliness.

📲 Is it necessary to have a Chinese SIM card while in China?

Yes. It is crucial to acknowledge that accessing the internet in China may pose limitations due to certain websites being prohibited or filtered. To ensure uninterrupted connectivity while staying in China, purchasing a local SIM card is advisable. For optimum results, acquiring SIM cards from either China Unicom or China Mobile is recommended. While China Mobile has the most comprehensive coverage in China and is a market leader, China Unicom is more compatible with foreign phones, enabling 3G and 4G services. Or you can purchase a SIM card online .

🔮 Should I buy China travel insurance?

Yes. Although China is generally a safe country for travel, it is still possible to encounter accidents or other unexpected occurrences. Therefore, obtaining travel insurance can provide a sense of security and financial protection. In my research, I have found that World Nomads is a reputable travel insurance provider that covers a wide range of activities and is recommended for the average traveler. Nevertheless, I advise you to compare insurance quotes from various providers before making a decision.

🚙 Can you rent a car in China?

Unfeasible . Obtaining a Chinese driver’s license to rent a car and self-drive may seem like an option, but it is not a practical choice for most foreigners. Therefore, many prefer to opt for a driver or public transportation when navigating China, as it proves to be more convenient.

✈️ What’s the best site to purchase flight tickets for China?

I suggest using Trip for affordable flights to China. As a China-based company, they often offer lower prices compared to foreign companies. Additionally, they offer English-speaking phone support in case of any issues.

🏡 What is the best way to book hotels in China?

Not only does Trip offer a wider range of flight options, but it also provides a greater selection of hotels to choose from. Moreover, Agoda is a reliable resource for hotels throughout Asia.

🎒What do I pack for China?

Travel adapter and converter: China uses a different electrical system than many other countries, so it’s important to bring a travel adapter and converter if you plan to use electronic devices such as phones, cameras, and laptops. Sunscreen: The UV index in China can be high, particularly during the summer months, and prolonged exposure to the sun without protection can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. Deodorant: It should be noted that finding deodorant in China may not be a simple task.

📚 Can a guidebook for traveling to China be useful?

Yes . If you’re planning to travel to China for the first time, a travel guidebook can be a valuable resource, and Lonely Planet is one of the most reputable guides available globally. Its comprehensive itineraries and recommendations take into account your personal preferences and can save you both time and money. The insider tips are also extremely helpful in navigating China’s unique cultural landscape like a local.

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Beijing Travel Reviews on Tripadvisor.com

Beijing, the ancient and present capital city blessed with lots of unbelievable cultural wonders, is the premier destination for every traveler to China. No matter hiking on the magnificent Great Wall of China or strolling in the old imperial palaces and gardens or visiting some modern architectures, you are allowed to see the charming faces of China. Besides, Beijing is also a wonderful gateway to other Chinese hot tourist cities because of the convenient transportation system. Therefore, many travelers begin their China tour from Beijing.

As a leading travel China Agency, we have helped many tourists complete their Beijing trip. Some of them shared their experiences and reviewed our service on tripadvisor.com. Read their review of Beijing Travel and get some inspiration for your own Beijing experience.

We were a group of 6 on a China Discovery 13 day tour of China. We traveled to Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Chonqqing, and Yangtze River Cruise.

Tracy Tan was our contact person at China Discovery. She was very easy to work with and she handled all of the details for our trip. I highly recommend Tracy!

The tour was EXCELLENT!

Jamie our guide in Beijing was a 10 Star Guide, the best guide I have ever experienced. (I have used about 40 guides in the last 6 years.) He spoiled us with his attention to details and his concern for our interest. He arranged for a wheelchair for me on the 2nd day as I was having an issue walking that day. It was a temporary issue, but Jamie was the one that suggested get a wheelchair and he pushed me around all day.

All the other guides did an excellent job. The tours selected were very good and we enjoyed all the attractions.

When we arrived in Chengdu, our guide, Bay had presents (Chopsticks, Bookmarks, & Panda Bears) for us and that was appreciated by the wives

All the hotels were 4 stars and we enjoyed each and everyone. Novotel Xinqiao was our favorite.

The restaurants and homes that we visited were very good.

The river cruise was very nice, we upgraded to premium cabins once we got on the boat at a much less cost than if we had booked the premium cabins in the beginning. The food on the boat was ok, but we felt it could have been much better.

The transportation was very good with plenty of room for the 6 of us and baggage.

The pickups and drop offs were excellent.

We were very pleased with the quality of the hotels, meals, guides, transportation and communication.

I highly recommend China Discovery for your next trip to China.

The trip was overall well planned. Thanks Leo Li. We enjoyed the various places of interest and fantastic local food. Small hiccups were quickly resolved and travel was comfortable. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and helpful. We will recommend China Discovery to our friends and family.

Philippines

We had the 10-day tour beginning in Beijing, then Xi'an, Guiling and Shanghai. Very interesting tour combining the historical, cultural, rural and urban facade of China. It was well coordinated and the places visited were very interesting . Upon arrival, the tour company was ready right at the moment we went beyond immigration all the way till we left China. The guides in every city were the key factors because they bridged the language barrier, were very accomodating and very well knew the places to visit. Mention of Susie in Beijing, Jin in Xi'an, David in Giulin and Henry in Shanghai. Of course, all these were coordinated by Vivien Li of China Discovery. I contacted her via email , processed the tour requirement and delivered. You can trust her.

Visit China!!

Sukeshini N

Our 13 day Silk Road tour was the best experience ever for us - a group of six ladies in our dustiest and seventies!! It wasn’t just about visiting China! It was about its rich cultural heritage; its arts, its calligraphy, its operas, the food, the different religious influences, the pagodas, the palaces, its architecture and its texts. It’s also about its long political history, stretching back thousands of years; years of court intrigues, Emperors and Concubines, about the wars, the armies, the violence, the suicides, the rise and fall of Dynasties. Then there is always the Great Wall! It’s also about its diverse and humbling geography from lush green woods, to clear lakes, to snow capped mountains, the sand dunes and the vast deserts. And beneath all of that, it’s impossible not to see this country’s national pride, the people’s hopes, their industriousness and their aspirations. More than that, it has been about our own experience with the people, the dust storms, the cold, the heat, the bullet trains, the sleeper trains and the sights and the streets! Thank you, Vivian Lì ( China Discovery) for making this happen!

Sunshine12911673704

We are a group of 6 senior citizen women and we had the time of our lives. China Discovery helped open our eyes to the wonders of China, as we traversed from the east to west- taking in Beijing,Xi’an, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar with varying topography, history and climate: from deserts, dust storms, dunes, snowcapped mountains and frozen lakes, we followed the modern Silk Road and whilst some of us rode camels some of us walked up the dunes.

China Discovery guides in each city helped us and cared for us and Vivien Li of China Discovery put them all together and constantly kept in touch with us. Once one of our bullet trains was cancelled due to dust storms and Vivien contacted us within an hour to inform us and booked us into an alternative transport. Another group in another tour did not even know their train had been cancelled until we told them to check the next day. So grateful to Vivien!!!

My wife and me took a 21-day private customised tour through China organised by Wonder, China Discovery. Wonder is an ideal travel consultant. He is highly competent, absolutely professional and flexible. Exept one also the local tour guides and drivers were very engaged and trusty. For travelling within China we used mainly the very efficient, very fast, comfortable and very punctual high speed trains. The selection of hotels (location and comfort) was also good. So, we were able to carry out our tour, which was quite ambitious and strict for our age (71 years), well. We can highly recommend China Discovery and personally Wonder.

Hi, it was a great trip organised by the team of China Discovery. Everything was seamless and very well planned as per the itinerary provided in advance. All of their guides and drivers were professionals and well versed with the knowledge about all the spots we covered. Even the selection of Hotels at Shanghai, Xian and Beijing were fabulous with amazing meal options. We as a family had a superb lifetime experience. Once again, thanks to China Discovery for making our trip so special.

After a significant amount of research for our family trip to China, I came across China Discovery. I cannot thank Wonder Wang enough for arranging one of the best holidays we have been on as a family. We absolutely LOVED every day and every trip we took. I would highly recommend China Discovery and Wonder Wang to anyone planning a trip! Wonder’s communication was both responsive and excellent, being extremely patient and accommodating with all of my many requirements!

We are a family of 5 with three children aged 15,11 and 9. I have stayed in some pretty plush hotels in my time but the hotels booked by Wonder well surpassed our expectations! He found us interconnecting rooms so it was really convenient and gave the children their own space.

We spent 12 days touring Beijing, Xian and Chengdu in a privately organised mini bus with three of the nicest and most knowledgeable tour guides. Gary in Beijing, Paul in Xi’an and Sandy in Chengdu. Each of them spoke excellent English and were extremely attentive. We were checked into our hotels by all three guides and taken to train stations/airport for trips to the next city. Gary even took us all of the way onto the bullet train and found space for many suitcases onto the carriage. Paul was so accommodating and flexible and the children found him really entertaining. Sandy ordered us the nicest food in Chengdu.

As for the places we visited, we saw and learnt so much about the tradition, history and the culture. China is one of the cleanest, safest and most beautiful countries I’ve been to, immersed in thousands of years of culture and heritage.

When we got home, my children thanked me for taking them on the best holiday they’ve ever been on. I honestly can’t thank Wonder from China Discovery and our wonder guides Gary, Paul and Sandy enough. We loved it so much I’m already thinking about my next trip there!

danaCalizor

The 4-night/5-days China tour in Beijing and Xian was fantastic and fit our needs perfectly. We are a family of three including 2 teenagers and we made our own way to Beijing. We were greeted at arrivals and taken to our hotel for much needed sleep. The tour ran exactly as promised and we were given enough time to properly see each site. We never felt rushed. Both tour guides were clearly passionate about their respective cities, were very knowledgeable and worked very well with children. Tony in Beijing reminded us to take family photos at the perfect moments while sharing all about the past and present. Linda in Xian made sure we tried the famous noodles and yummy desserts. Each tour guide asked what we wanted each day and made sure each day was a great experience. The meals were delicious and ordered for our specific dietary needs. The drivers arrived on time and were very polite.

I used China Discovery (based in Chengdu) and Evelyn made all the arrangements. I will be using them for our next adventure.

GoPlaces696446

11 days private tour in China, visting Beijing, Chendu, Guilin and Zhangjiajie. Amazing locations, and excellent service provided from China Discovery letting us enjoy a truly beautiful country and culture.

My wife and I have had a wonderful time spending 13 days travelling across Beijing, Luoyang, and Xi’an. Our private tour across the 3 cities booked by Chinadiscovery.com was most enjoyable, exciting, and well looked after. Our entire holiday trip ended smoothly. Transportation via road/high speed train/air travel and hotel arrangements exceeded our expectations. Our 3 English speaking Tour Guides, Liu (Beijing), Kelly (Luoyang) and Sandy (Xian), were very knowledgeable, professional, helpful, and friendly. We are glad to have gained such an enriching experience and deeper knowledge of China’s historical landmarks, culture, and past civilization of which the knowledge certainly made our tour enriched and full of memories.

We also acknowledged the exceptionally supportive and efficient Tour consultant, Rita Jiang, who promptly assisted with our personal concerns faced throughout our trip. When we needed to make changes to our hotels, transport and itinerary, she promptly attended to our requests. And when we raised our concern transferring our several oversized and overweight luggage, she thoughtfully upgraded our 5-seater saloon vehicle to a 7-seater SUV and upgraded our Xian-Shanghai flight to Business Class.

We can only be highly satisfied with China Discovery's service and their commitment to customers ‘satisfaction. We would strongly recommend their service to people who have an interest in visiting China.

China, as a tourist destination, has everything to offer: architectural monuments and relics of ancient civilizations, beautiful national parks/landscape, blooming garden flowers, old historical towns and modern metropolises, amazingly stunning snowcapped mountain tops... It is made up of multi- ethnic, multi-religious & multi-cultural people and it’s certainly also a safe and tourist friendly country. We are already planning our next trip to China.

We took a 8days private tour to Xian, Louyang and Beijing. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. We would not have such a memorable trip without the help of China Discovery and all 3 of our tour guides in each city. Everything went smoothly and well planned. All our guides (Jessie, Shane & Maggie) went above and beyond to give us the best experience. They introduced us to local food in each city which we completely love it. Leo Li (our organiser) was very accommodating & revise itinerary so that we can visit all the sites that we wish to visit.

I highly recommend China Discovery if you would like to truly experience China.

10 days - Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Zhangjiajie - Shanghai.

What an incredible trip!

My husband and I had an excellent experience with China Discovery. Starting with the itinerary tailored to suit us.

Everything was quick and efficient as we had little time for planning.

The prepared, humorous and super attentive tour guides served us exclusively, equipped with new cars and very polite drivers.

Excellent hotels!

Wonderful tours! I recommend!!

Thank you China Discovery for an amazing trip to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai. We had the best time and could not have been better looked after and guided in our time in China. We saw the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, Pandas and many other amazing sites. The restaurants we went too were all interesting and delicious!

Leo Li was fantastic in helping us put together the perfect itinerary and for any queries and support on our journey. We had great support from our wonderful guides Power, Ivan, Sarah and Mark who really helped us make the most of our trip. We would strongly recommend China Discovery and will be back in touch when we next look to come back to China. Thank you!

I took a 13-Day private tour fo Beijin, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangchuo, Yangtze River Cruise and Shanghai. I first of all would like to thank China Discovery for such a great job before and during my trip. They promptly answered all of my questions and gave me peace of mind since I was traveling all by myself so far away from home. Alipay was a great suggestion because it not only helped with paying for just about anything but also kept us in touch throughout my trip with their chat feature. The trip you put together for me was exceptional, and along with some of the optional tours we added, and the cruise ship you picked made for a superb experience.

The hotels were very good, well located and clean, I was just a bit disappointed that most of the staff in the majority of hotels, even at the front desk, didn't speak English, but I was able to communicate through translation apps. The guides were excellent, their English was very good, they were very knowledgeable, attentive, flexible, and very helpful; what I'm very thankful for is that whenever I had train rides they helped me all the way into the train car, with my luggage and finding my seat, that meant a lot because without knowing Chinese I surely would have missed the train or gotten into the wrong one, they also gave me instructions as which way to go once I arrived to my destination to meet the guide. The vehicles and drivers were also very good.

The Victoria Sabrina cruise ship couldn't have been better, the staff and local guides with the exception of the very last one (I already contacted the cruise ship regarding this issue) were friendly and very very nice. There were very few non Chinese-speaking passengers but the cruise director made sure to take care of us at all times. They had shows, optional tours and activities that I enjoyed thoroughly.

I gladly recommend your company, I loved my China trip and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't think twice about contacting Tracy and China Discovery!!!! Well done Tracy!

New Zealand

We did a private customised 2 week trip to China with China Discovery.

From the planning stage the process was very quick and efficient. Johnson Wang replied to my emails very promptly and the itinerary was finalised to what we wanted.

The trip went smoothly. We all had pick ups at the airport at different times but that did not pose an issue.

The English speaking guides were mostly excellent and really made sure we had a good experience and looked after us very well.

Then at the end due to bad weather in one location we made last minute changes to our flights and once again Johnson and his team made these changes with a few hours notice for us.

I feel they really went above and beyond to make the trip the best experience for us.

Amazing seamless service and I would recommend them highly to anyone considering a guided tour of China.

Thanks to China Discovery tours for arranging an amazing travel experience. Outstanding tour consultant Leo Li coordinated every detail of our trip. Your English-speaking guides and private vehicle drivers are exceptional.

Highlights of our tour spanned from the Great Wall and Grand Palaces of Beijing to armies of Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, the unique Panda Breeding sanctuary in the heart of Chengdu and a spectacular cruise down the Yangtze River to the Financial Capital of Shanghai.

China is Amazing!.. It's a living legacy from the ancient to ultra-modern. Rickshaws on cobblestone roads to high-speed trains on elevated rails, China is full of cultural contrasts and lovely people.

Thanks for making our China vacation possible.

We appreciate you and your team’s support.

Xièxie China Discovery tours!

Two Travellers from Canada.

Organized online by Evelyn Ma who assembled the itinerary, ticked all the boxes. Very attentive guides and drivers. For a total rookie this made China simple and understandable

Happiness51174163394

Folks, if you are planning to visit the wonderful country of China, you must use China Discovery to make the most of your visit. The folks at China Discovery provide a friendly, engaging, highly informative tour service, with a personal touch. I’m returning in a year, and I’ll surely request their services once again. Enjoy!

BarrieMorgan

Wonder Wang arranged a private tour for four comprising visits to Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an and a 3 night Yangtse River cruise. I can't praise Wonder and China Discovery enough for the arrangements. Wonder responded to all our questions fully and speedily. The choice of 4* accommodation was excellent, and all the accompanied transfers, which one would find difficult on one's own, went without a hitch. All of the guides were very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. I strongly recommend the company and Wonder.

Kimerald Evangelista

There are 8 of us from the Philippines and we got China Discovery to create for us a personalized package for Beijing because we have 2 seniors with us and we need to consider their pace and needs.

Mr. Wonder (yes, that's his name) who helped me curate the tour has been more than helpful. He fixed our itinerary, answered my many questions, was patient with various changes, always replied promptly even when he was on a holiday. His English is very good so we didn't have any problem with communication. The hotel he booked us in was very central. Restaurants and shops everywhere. Subway and bus stations just outside hotel door. Very professional and excellent with his job.

The tour turned out to be as accurate as the itinerary Mr. Wonder made for us. Our tour guide 刘开庆先生 Mr. Jackson Liu is a very good guide, he's always on time, kind, patient, and helps our older family members. He knows the history and a lot of interesting anecdotes about all the places we visited. Even my 10 year old child was amused with the stories he told. He translates twice, English for the younger people, and Mandarin for our senior parents. He takes good pictures of us! He suggests good restaurants that locals go to and our tummies are more than satisfied. He even answers my calls during his off hours when I would need help finding which subway to take or when I was having a hard time finding a certain place.

Price-wise, they're very economical. I was able to compare this to another relative who contracted with another company who will also do a similar Beijing tour just 3 weeks after ours. Our trip definitely was value for money.

We had a wonderful time in Beijing and will be sure to contact China Discovery again for our next China trip.

Wonder from China Discovery was amazing organising a dream China Trip!

Was so good, we even have now booked and gone on 2 trips with them! The first was a 22 day trip going through all of the major sites in China: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Hangzhou, Hengdian, Shanghai. There was a guide and driver personally there to greet us at each location, and all the internal train tickets were included. So were the attraction tickets.

Note we were given the option to book our own hotels and pay for our own lunches. If you rather the tour company organise that yourself - go for it, that’s the default option. But I think paying for your own lunches at least gives you more flexibility. You can also negotiate the locations and itinerary to your own liking.

In terms of cost - for the 22 days (with 2 rest days) it was $7160 USD for two people - ie around $325USD per day for us as a couple (no lunches/hotels - but including all trains/tickets/transport).

It was such a professional and wonderful experience, we got Wonder to organise a 3 day trip to Guangzhou just last week as well (using the 144 hour visa free transit rule China has). That was also amazing.

So regardless if you’re planning a big holiday or a short trip, Chinese Discovery is amazing and takes all the stress out of organising everything. Just have your passport and wechat pay enabled and you’ll be fine.

We - a family of three with a toddler not yet 2 years old - booked a private two day tour with China Discovery including sightings of the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo and we were thrilled. We had two great days with a super knowledgeable and amazing guide, very sensible safe drivers, and a quick, very helpful „planning“ agent before and during our journey. We can really recommend them especially when travelling with small children, we could spontaneously adjust our plans according to our toddlers needs and also good great advise on what to do best in what time etc. Thank you all so much, we had an amazing time!

We originally booked this trip in September of 2019. We all know what happened then. Tried again in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Finally, my wife and ii were able to take the trip to Beijing. Johnson Wang and I had kept in touch since i had made the original arrangements. China discovery set up the entire trip from the airport to the return to the airport. My only request of our English speaking guide was that she keep my wife happy. Linda followed my instructions, and we had one of the best guided tours of our travels. Linda picked good restaurants to eat in and walks that were within the limits of our 73-year-old legs. She made sure that we were picked up at convenient location to the sites we visited and followed the itinerary. I would recommend China Discovery to anyone that would want to visit and learn about Beijing.

Ying Ying H

I took a personalized tour created by Tracy. She is AMAZING. If you are not satisfied with anything, don't hesitate to let her know because she won't stop until you are fully satisfied with your itinerary. Also, by having this personalized trip, everything was extremely easy and convenient. You only need to provide your ID for them to take care of everything for you. You will have to arrange your own flights, but once you are there, just sit back and relax.

We found China Discovery online and trusted them thanks to the beautiful reviews they got. Now I can confirm that they are absolutely fantastic and helpful! A special thank to Zeva that was very kind and helped us before the departure for all the organization and suggestions. The trip was perfectly customized according to our needs, we had some difficult request (as we asked to see the fishing with cormorants in Guilin) and she perfectly planned everything. Also all the local guides and drivers were very kind and helpful. During our last day we had the flight at midnight and asked to the last guide to bring us to have dinner before going to the airport and they found a special restaurant for us.

We did a fantastic 11 days Beijing-Pingyao-Xian-Guizhou-Guilin-Beijing Highlights Private Tour, China is enchanting with its spectacular landscapes and temples!!

Trail49793389141

Despite -10° to 5° C temp during our visit, we had a wonderful time visiting the Simatai section of the Great Wall of China, Gubei water town, Beijing's Forbidden City and Summer Palace. Our tour was specially designed to our taste by Tracy who gave many great suggestions ideas. We even added a day of skiing for the kids at Nanshan Ski Resort.

All the places we visited were spectacular. Simatai allowed a nite walk on the Great Wall with beautiful lighting. Gubei water town with hot spring pools during the winter month is just exhilarating. Many memories were made on this trip with the family.

Our tour guide was very friendly and patient. His knowledge on Chinese history as well as current happenings is very extensive. Always sensitive and flexible to our daily needs. Jamie catered to our changes of the itinerary according to everyday situation and is a gracious host. Some of destinations were altered, timing was altered but Jamie handled everything smoothly. Our driver, Mr Hu is also a patient man and always helpful with our luggage etc.

I have been recommending this tour agency to my friends back home. Will visit China again soon.

Our experience with China Discovery (Chengdu) was absolutely great from the very beginning. Phoebe was available and definitely patient enough to adjust the itinerary to our needs and to clarify everything we needed to know before booking.

We spent two days on Huangshan mountains, it was just great! The guide was available, very experienced and spoke good English. A 2-day tour is definitely recommended.

We also went on a day tour to the Great Wall. We had some hitches but China Discovery and the staff were ready to solve the problem immediately.

Thank you for your availability and honesty.

We have 11 Days family trip in Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu. The whole trip was amazing. Accomodation and transportation are wonderful. The food are very nice. The hotel is great. We are so thankful to Wonder Wang who arrange this amazing trip from the very beginning, also for being very helpful and patient to give a quick respond, always ready to give any information that we need, and make sure that everything has been well communicated. Also special thanks to our tour guides Jack (Beijing), Jessie (Xi'an), Kevin (Chengdu) and all the drivers. They are very kind, cheerful, communicative and helpful. The service was very excellent from our arrival to our departure. We feel very safe and comfortable. We highly recommend China Discovery to everyone who wants to have a memorable, pleasant, and comfortable trip to China.

Took a family trip to China - Guilin, Shanghai, Xian , Beijing. It was well planned and executed trip by Wonder. We thoroughly enjoyed every step of the day. The sights, choice of hotels, guides and vehicles were spotless and well organised. Wonder was very accommodating and patient of suggestions. Quick to respond. Will highly recommend this agency especially Wonder for wonderful experience.

sharifahmed8

I am overwhelmed and very satisfied with this 13 day China trip! The service I got was beyond my expectations. We were taken care of every places we visited. All local guides and drivers were helpful.

We thought we would face difficulty to find suitable Muslim food but guides took us to the right places and we had very yummy food all over the trip. Even in the Yangtze river cruise, cruise manager instructed his chef to prepare special meals for us! All local guides speak very good English. We always felt safe there.

Special thanks to Leo Li for organising such a wonderful and memorable trip! Me and my family will cherish the memories of our China trip many years to come.

Adventure13976004750

We had such an amazing tour of Beijing with China Discovery. They are an incredibly professional and attentive company, really lovely people. From start to finish the level of service was first class. Our guide and driver were great too. Unfortunately, a personal emergency cut our visit short but Zeva and the team were so very supportive, beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. We wholeheartedly recommend China Discovery - and we never write reviews.

This was a fantastic experience and my first time visiting China. My China Discovery tour was in two parts, firstly Beijing, followed by Xi'An and time to see the Terracotta Army.

I had guides in both cities - Justin in Beijing and Angela in Xi'An.

Both guides were incredibly knowledgeable, punctual, informative and supportive of a first time visitor.

The Beijing part had many highlights, Tiannanmen Sq, The Forbidden City (simply incredible!), the hutongs, streetfood, the palace gardens and pretty much everywhere I went. A driver service removed all the worries that would be expected of an English-only speaker. Special mention for the Great Wall visit at Mutianyu... humbling and simply stunning to stand on a magnificent piece of history. I understand that I am part of the 'returning wave' of westerner tourists to China, so I didn't see many other westerners at all.

Everyone was very friendly, the locals thought my wearing shorts in Autumn was 'funny', but that only put more smiles on faces. The temples were beautiful and the city has a large, bustling, but appealing presence to it.

Xi'An was a once in a lifetime 'must see' for the Terracotta army. Angela proudly showed me the essential city sights for a two day visit. It's a very pretty city with a wonderful vibe. The food quarter (muslim section) is exceptional and well worth the visit! I was lucky enough to stay in the 'old section' of the city, so the architecture was the traditional structures. Very beautiful. The Terracotta Army is simply incredible. It's busy, so be prepared for crowds, but it's easy enough to get to where you need to, see the pits and enjoy the marvel of history that is laid before us.

Drivers in both cities were exceptional and I can't thank them enough for their fantastic service.

My travel agent (Rita) did an amazing job in organising my trip - it was all so 'easy' that it took away my worries. I wholeheartedly recommend this trip and organiser. Thank you team, this was an incredible tour of the traditional 'heart' of ancient China. To those thinking of going, treat yourself, you'll be glad you did!

Very good tour, and China Discovery's communication (before, during, and after the trip) was very good.

We researched many tour providers and (despite a negative review for China Discovery that we saw, which criticised the individual guides rather than the company) went ahead with China Discovery as this tour fitted with our specific needs (starting in HK, and not including flights to/from UK). The trip was a customised 15 day tour to Guilin, Chengdu, Lhasa, Xi'an and Beijing, so if you need something different they should be able to customise. Highlights were:

- Guilin, River Cruise through the Limestone Karst mountains to Yangshuo where we saw a fantastic evening show that was directed by Mr Zhang (director of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony).

- Chengdu, Giant Panda Research Centre, evening show with face-changing.

- Lhasa (Tibet), Potala Palace and monasteries, plus the scenery. This was supposed to be a group tour, but the group was just us!

- Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors, City Walls, Bell and Drum Towers

- Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Olympic Park.

By the end of the tour we felt a bit overwhelmed, which was not surprising given the amount packed in!

Our experience of guides was very good, we had a different guide in each city and all were knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to understand. If anything was not clear they would repeat and clarify anything we asked them, they never pressed us to go anywhere we did not want (e.g. shops/side tours/etc.), and the only "complaint" that we had was that at times we felt they walked a bit fast (but never excessively).

As we travelled in the low season (and had to deal with 30C in HK down to -1C in Beijing... -12C with wind chill) all the sights were quite free of tourists which we had not expected from what we had heard of other's experiences touring China.

We would recommend China Discovery (although we think that this could easily depend on whether the individual guides were as good as ours).

Our advisor was Wonder Wang who was brilliant from the first moment, advising us on planning our trip and then seeing everything through. The hotel was comfortable and our guide (Jack) was extremely helpful and informative, it couldn’t have gone better. The only small issue was that we didn’t have our flight details for leaving Beijing, which it turns out we needed on arrival, but fortunately I had already added Jack on WeChat and the border guard was able to talk to him and they sorted it all out between them. We would 100% recommend both Wonder and Jack if you’re planning a trip to Beijing.

Overall I would highly recommend China Discovery as they did a really good job of planning our tour, putting us in touch with the guides and showing us the relevant sites.

All the guides spoke English quite well and the German was surprisingly good too.

This is the second time I have used this tour group. Both times were excellent. This time the tour was for my Dad and sister.

The booking was very easy and information was always given on time. Rita was very helpful.

My Dad and sister loved the tour. The guide and driver could not have been more helpful. The trip was excellent and went very smoothly.

I would highly recommend using this company.

China is diverse and fascinating with history nature and food. Rita at China discovery made all arrangements so we could enjoy most of China in comfort and efficiently with excellent guides at each stay. When our train ride from Shanghai to Beijing was cancelled by the railways, Rita promptly informed us and made alternate flight arrangements keeping the tour moving smoothly. The tour started with Beijing and the forbidden city and the Great Wall are an experience. Tibet is a different world with awesome artwork everywhere. Lin river cruise is a must. The caves were an experience, better than the ones in West Virginia and Virginia. Terracotta Army is a must see. The tourists outnumbered the army and the crowds were unbelievable. The Yangtze River cruise is so relaxing and pleasant. Shanghai is best for the shopping experience and the riverfront.

Thanks to Rita and her team at China Discovery in making this tour so memorable.

Explorer62404723154

We booked 2 separate private tours with China Discovery, one for 2 days in Beijing and the other 2 days in Datong.

Rita, our travel consultant, is very responsive and helpful in the course of organising them.

Similarly, the guides for both trips exceeded our expectations, with their friendliness (humour) and knowledge...we felt that we had an excellent history lesson on China and thoroughly enjoyed our trips!!

I strongly recommend their service

My family and I went on a 11 days Silk Road Tour in China end of Oct 2023 with China Discovery. Journey began at Beijing to Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi then end in Kashgar. Overall a very well organised trip. Logistics were well coordinated, and hotels were of excellent standard. Local cuisines were gastronomic delights. The guides were all knowledgeable which added so much colours to the sights and sounds. Rita the arranging agent was very responsive from the start and continue to monitor to ensure a smooth tour. Definitely a recommendation for anyone thinking of using China Discovery and Rita.

Our Travel Consultant, Rita, organised our tour to perfection! She included all of the sights we were most interested in and ensured our trip was one to remember. All of the local guides were outstanding, with a wealth of knowledge about their local area and attractions. We had no idea China had so many beautiful hidden gems. We had the most wonderful trip, and would recommend China Discovery, and especially Rita

We had a great time in China thanks to China Discovery. We had a business meeting in Wuxi, asked them to organize a tour afterwards, but we did it very close to the traveling dates, as we were really struggling with the visa and the dates of the meeting. That left us almost no time to organize the tour, but Rita Jiang from China Discovery was really efficient in doing so. Everything was fast and smooth before going, and exactly the same after arriving there. Everything from hotels to vehicles, guides, tickets, etc., was perfectly arranged, what made that we had a very enjoyable trip and we hope to go back soon to such a beautiful country!

Sara-Jane A

We chose the 6 day classic Beijing and Xian tour. Should have done a tour for longer! Can’t begin to thank the team at China Discovery. Wing was so helpful in organising the entire trip. I just gave her dates and where we wanted to go and she did the rest! She made it stress-free for us and was so accommodating, even with last minute changes and her email responses were always thorough. We could not fault the accommodation and meals included. We were so comfortable and well-fed! Jamie and Angela were awesome tour guides in Beijing and Xi’an respectively. Their English was most commendable. Both so knowledgeable and showing us to the best parts of their cities! Jamie waited an hour with us until check-in for our train to Xi’an, and even walked us right through to our train seats. He was truly great and we are so thankful for him. Angela was so proud of Xi’an and shared some amazing knowledge of the history, and good food with us. She also recommended some great places to come back to when we plan to come back to China! She was also great. Highly highly recommend China Discovery. We will be back and sure to use your services again!

Where and how do I start?! Firstly, I was blessed to find China Discovery! China has always been my number one destination to visit. After extensive research, I realized I could not plan and actualize this 3-week trip alone. My husband and I bought our flights to Beijing for November and unable to start planning until October. Knowing that we were on a time crunch, I quickly emailed my itinerary to what seemed to be the top tour companies online. The one that stood out the most was China Discovery. Tracy, our travel consultant, was quick to reply and, without any questions, provided complete arrangements to my itinerary to the tee. In the next 2-3 weeks, Tracy was extremely patient and accommodating to my adjustments and requests to improve the itinerary.

The itinerary included five major cities (Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie) and several other sub-cities (Dengfeng, Leshan, Emeishan, Fenghuang) in between. In each of the five major cities, we were greet kindly with a tour guide and driver. Everyone spoke fluent English and were very knowledgable with the culture and history. Jamie, our first guide in Beijing, went above and beyond every day to ensure that our initial arrival and experience of China was excellent. Kelly was excellent at explaining the history of Luoyang and the dynasties in chronological order that was easy to understand. In Xi'an, Waldener was spunky, gregarious, and very informative. Evan perfectly delivered the essence and beauty of Chengdu and took care of us in more ways than we expected. Lee friendly and proudly welcomed us to Hunan province, where we were in awe everyday as we explored Zhangjiajie.

Though the drivers did not speak English, they expressed by their nice gestures and smiles. We appreciated how attentive and sweet Tracy was during our trip. She made sure to contact me to check in several times. I can't say our trip was 100% flawless. There were little hiccups, but nothing that would sour the entire trip. The important thing is any unwanted issues were taken care of quickly.

We started the trip in excitement and curiosity, and ended with appreciation and amazement. We love China so much we already have two trips in mind for 2024. Of course, we'll be sure to contact China Discovery again!!

As this was our first visit to China we were relying on Wing and the team to make all the necessary arrangements. Booking accommodation, buying advance tickets and supplying transport and guides.

We were very impressed. From pre-travel suggestions to final send off everything went very smoothly.

It was a bit of a whistle stop tour taking in a lot of the most famous sights in just over two weeks, but we always planned on returning. Next time will be more leisurely.

China Discovery were an excellent agency to work with and always very responsive when we had queries.

They come highly recommended.

Jane and Jon

9 day tour of Beijing/Xian/Zhangjiajie/Beijing

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this trip! Starting with our travel consultant, Zeva Du. She was so patient and helped us make great decisions. I was hesitant about doing a private tour, but it was the best idea ever and allowed us to see the cities we wanted within our travel dates.

Every tour guide in each city was amazing and spoke English very well. They were very informative and knowledgeable. They could not have been more attentive. When leaving Beijing, we took a train to Xian. Linda, our tour guide, escorted us all the way to our seats on the train. Thank goodness we stayed on the train until the last stop! The train system over there is so efficient and a great way to travel.

Jessie in Xian was wonderful. I think seeing the Terracotta Army was my favorite.

David in Zhangjiajie and Liqi in Shanghai were equally great.

If you like Chinese food, each restaurant we were taken to for lunch was amazing.

Our Peking duck dinner in Beijing was the absolute best.

It was wonderful to see China up and running again. They suffered greatly during the pandemic and is working very hard to recover. I would highly recommend this tour company and would gladly use them again. Thank you to Zeva and her team for such a great trip!

I had a fantastic time on my trip to Beijing and I was all thanks to the fantastic planning by my specialist, Wonder, and my guide, Jackson. I was in Beijing for 5 days and they were able to take me to every site I wanted to visit, and several very cool and historic smaller sites I hadn’t thought of. Wonder made excellent suggestions and planned things very well, and it was easy connect through email. Having a private car and driver made getting to all those sites easy and relaxing. Jackson, my guide, was so informative and friendly! My particular recommendation is, if you have the time, try visiting the Great Wall at Jinshanling - it’s outside the city so there is a more relaxed and peaceful vibe.

tq so much for China Discovery for arrangement due our trip in China, Wonder as our contact person for arranger our trips are so helpful and always monitoring our trips from we before departure till we are all arrived safe in our home, i recommend Wonder, he is so much helpful and understandable. We using their service before and never disappointed us till now, always pleasure and will using their service in coming trips.

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Prompt response to query was appreciated with suggestions for daily guided tours with car and vehicle.

Always in time at the hotel for daily excursions. Very flexible with our request.

Beijing is a must for historical sites. Visit to Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven and Great Wall is a must. Very safe to walk anywhere even late night.

Shanghai is a must to see the business capital of China and walk along the Bund.

Go the Buddha Jade temple and Yu Garden .

Guides are very helpful till the last minute. A joy.

They are the best.

I took a 10-day tour of China including Guilin, Chengdu, Xian and Beijing. The highlights were the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall. Guilin also surprised with amazing scenery on the Li River cruise. At each destination I had a driver and tour guide which made it possible to see many attractions in a short time. The tour guides knew the history and culture and helped us to check-in to hotels and give us recommendations for local dining and shows. The drivers were always waiting for us when we finished at a destination. I wouldn't have had the confidence to travel around China without a tour guide due to the language barrier. But, this was easy and the tour guides made everything efficient. Also, booking my tour with Tracy was easy as she amended the tour to fit my needs. For anyone travelling to China, I recommend this company.

Our Tour with China Discovery well very well, I need to compliment them on their organization and choice of guides. Our consultant Wing was extremely helpful, kind and flexible. We did a 14 day, personalized tour and visited the imperial cities with Chengdu and a short cruise on Yangtze River. I would definitely recommend them and will plan another tour with China Discovery in the future (hopefully).

We had a great experience with China discovery, our travel consultant and tour guides were incredibly friendly, helpful, and responsive, and they had a lot of knowledge about all the places we visited. The tour was very well organised and although we went during golden week - which was incredibly busy - the tour guides went above and beyond and were excellent at making sure it didn’t affect our trip. We were treated very well during our tour, got to see some amazing things, and would highly recommend using this service because of this.

Me and my family travelled to China for 10 days with China Discovery. We had an amazing experience with our China trip to Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao, it's a well packed itinerary with interconnecting high-speed bullet train.

Very huge thanks to our travel consultant, Mr Wonder Wang. The communication via email and wechat with our travel consultant was always very prompt and professional. We went back quite alot of times adjusting the itinerary and he was very helpful and accommodating.

Our guides are polite, helpful, friendly and knowledgeable especially our Beijing tour guide(Mr Jack), he helped us to settle alot of things. We learned a lot from them.

I will definitely be travelling with them again!

I had an amazing experience with my 8 days China trip to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai. I recommend anyone who is planning to go on a China trip with China Discovery. Please contact Wonder Wang, he assisted me all throughout my trip with competence, efficiency, done in a very responsive, responsible way. He responds quickly at all times no matter what time it it wherever you are in the world. And this is very important specially in visiting China where everything has its own system, tickets in place properly sibmitted accordingly including passports, different language, huge crowds....Thanks China Discovery for a memorable China experience!

We had Johnson Wang as our travel consultant to develop a customized 16 days itinerary with flexibility to accommodate any unexpected surprises. A team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff that included local guides and drivers made our tour an amazing and worry-free one. We appreciate very much the help from local guides for transfer at train stations and airports as the check-in process may not always be the same. My most impressive experience was in Dunhuang and Chengdu. The tours at Turpan, Kashgar, and Tashkrugan are my favorites. Beijing and Xian are always fascinating. We are looking forward to China Discovery to plan our next trip.

I had an absolutely incredible time in China with China Discovery. My trip (Chengdu, Chongqing, Changsha, Shanghai, Qingdao, Beijing) could not have gone any smoother. Every tour guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and every hotel was great. Every place that I visited was also absolutely spectacular in terms of scenery.

I also want to give a special mention to my travel agent Rita Jiang for putting up with me and my intricate demands (even at the last minute). I would highly, highly recommend China Discovery to anyone who wishes to visit China, especially the more "niche" parts which Western-based travel agencies do not typically offer.

Our tour covered all of the main tourist attractions offered by this vast and beautiful country.

We chose China Discovery.com for our China holiday simply because, their website information was easy to understand and their holiday options were numerous and very detailed. From the start there was a strong sense of service and we got that from our very first email to the Travel consultant. Every email was answered promptly and clearly. We were able to tailor our preferred tour option to suit our budget and in the end the choices we made were perfect. The consultant continued to keep in touch either by email or through the agents until tour end.

At all city locations local guides with modern sedans and drivers ensured that we connected smoothly with our transport, accommodation and access to all tourist destinations. At many tourist sites, the long walks and climbing long stairways suited younger and/or fitter clients. We seniors with average fitness were blessed with guides who tailored our visits perfectly to our optimum enjoyment. And still got to enjoy most on offer.

Throughout our multicity itinerary we travelled on the superbly smooth and comfortable bullet trains, high class internal air flights and comfortable high standard river boat cruises. The three day 5 star Yangtse river cruise was very comfortable, modern stylish and the staff service standard was exceptional.

Lastly we believe that it would be very difficult to experience the numerous contrasting features of China, historical and modern and its cultural entity without all the aspects of the China Discovery private tour package.

We visited China in September 2023 for 16 days visiting Beijing, Xian and Shanghai . The attraction Great Wall, Forbidden City (Beijing) Terracotta Warriors (xian) and the gardens and the lights surrounding Shanghai organized by China Discovery (Chengdu) and our consultant Ms Wing Zeng were amazing. Discovery China ( Chengdu) provides a professional first class service. I highly recommend Ms Wing Zeng consultancy and China Discovery C

Just came back from a 11-days trip with China Discovery. We visited 4 cities, Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie and Guilin. It's a well packed itinerary with interconnecting high-speed rail and flights. We have Vivien Li as our travel consultant, and she was able to quickly come up with a schedule that allows us to visit all the hotspots including some we add in ourselves like the old summer palace. Everything ran like clockwork, and we travelled first class with our own transport, tour guide and driver just for the two of us. I heartily recommend China Discovery and especially Vivien for your next China trip.

South Africa

Rita Jiang was our travel consultant from China Discovery who worked with me to plan our 30 days in China. She helped with a suggested itinerary and when I added or removed destinations, she swiftly and efficiently adjusted it with clever additions I had not researched. I tried 2 other large Chinese travel agencies with my proposed itinerary before settling with China Discovery. China Discovery was not the cheapest, but they were certainly the most efficient in response time and also, most importantly, they created an excellent itinerary with clever routes and efficient transportation options between destinations. When you are travelling for this length of time as a family, efficient travel time is very important. The guides which met us in each location were well spoken and highly knowledgable. The drivers were excellent too. We covered Shanghai, Zhangzhou, Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang, Guilin, Kunming, Dongchuan Red Lands, Lijiang, Chengdu, Juizhaigou and Huanglong Valley, Xian, Luoyang, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Datong and Beijing with our two children aged 9 and 10.

There is no other way to travel efficiently through China and get to understand the culture and history without the help of a local travel agent. I highly recommend China discovery to help you plan your next trip!

We had a wonderful trip in China, from north east to south west. Meeting old friends and discovering new regions we did not know exist. A big part of our trip we got help from China Discovery, who did a brilliant job in organising, guiding and realising our wishes beyond our expectations. Johnson Wang from China Discovery was very helpfull and quick in communication, have helped us with making the itenary of our trip and listening very careful to our wishes (Places of interest, speed - and way of travel). We went to Beijing and the North Easton our own, after that China Discovery organised the rest of trip to Xining (City, Qinghai lake, Caka lake) with excellent local guide Sally and driver Bai (Both highly recommended!) and the Yangtze river cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. Magnificent views, friendly people, super service and great food is our rememberance of this trip! We are looking forward to next trip!

Long China trips for not-so-young people

Four of us in our 60-80s have recently returned from our 25 days trip (26.08-19.09) covering [1] Datong, Hanging Temple, Pingyao Ancient City, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda of Fogong Temple, Hukou Waterfall, Xi’an, [2] North Xinjiang (Urumqi Bazaar, Ulungur Lake, Hemu Village, Kanas Lake, Rainbow Beach, Guozigou Bridge, Sayram Lake, Karajun Grassland,Tekes County aka BaGua City), [3] Chengdu (Leshan Giant Buddha, Emei, Ya’an-Kangding,Luding Chain Bridge, Panda Tour), Huanglong Valley, Jiuzhaigou Valley, [4] Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang Ancient Town and finally, Beijing (on our own, 3 nights).

Above 4 group of sightseeing points are customized and planned with Ms. Wing Zeng of China Discovery with her friendly and professional suggestions and helps as well as personalized responses. Her selections of 7 tour guides (and drivers) all along the routes are mostly fine, who are knowledgeable in the subject matters involved, helpful and have tried their best to answer our numerous questions along the tours. This is in contrast to previous 2 China tours (of two members in our group) with other travel agency where the tour guide(s) were primarily taking them from one point to the next without too much “explanations”. Nevertheless, more “understandable English”-speaking guide (in 1 instance) would help non-Chinese-speaking tourist to enjoy the program more completely. Also, Chinese breakfast with western alternatives would be a plus for some of us (not so easy to adjust to the lifestyle of other country?).

The whole trip is of course no doubt tiring. Fortunately, at the end, we do “overcome”. And all of us are happy with the services rendered to us by this Chengdu-based China Discovery, with which we are connected via WeChat to Ms. Wing Zeng to deal with any unexpected issue arising out of the long trips without any problem as she has immediately, sovereignly reacted to the situation to address them.

We would highly recommend those who want to visit China to take the services of “China Discovery” based in Chengdu with their team of professional travel consultants like Ms. Wing Zeng into consideration to enjoy the trips less hassle.

Attached are some of our travel pictures to share the happy moments of this trip:

I am really happy that we chose this company to help us organise our trip to China. From our first enquiry to the end of our trip, we had prompt courteous and personalised responses. I never felt like “just another foreign tourist”. Once we chose the tour we wanted , the travel consultant Zeva Du, was always just an email or text message away. Her communication with us was faultless, and she understood subtle cultural differences. We had an absolutely wonderful trip that was definitely due to the expertise of this company and it’s staff

Kar Tung Quek

My wife and I speak little Chinese and we did not want to join a package group tour. It was great that we found China Discovery online. Mr. Wonder Wang of China Discovery was just fantastic in helping us design a customised private tour itinerary for our China tour. Wonder Wang was very professional, responsible, and responsive. The resultant itinerary was just perfect for us. The english-speaking tour guides and drivers at each of the destinations we visited were just great making it a carefree, comfortable, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. We were connected with Wonder Wang and the respective tour-guides online via WeChat throughout the journey and the coordination from one destination to the next were perfect and smooth. We boarded the Century Oasis Cruise ship for a Yangtze cruise as part of the itinerary. On board we were serviced by one of the english-speaking cruise managers. The onboard service was just excellent. We were connected on WeChat with the cruise manager who kept us informed and instructed every step of the way. The cruise manager also connected with our tour guide at Yichang to perfectly coordinate our disembarkation arrangements. We would highly recommend China Discovery and Wonder Wang to all who wish to visit China with their own customised itinerary and at their own pace.

I have joined a 17 days trip to Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, including Yangtse Cruise. Besides enjoying all the places, they are amazing. I also enjoyed the hospitality from the tour guides on the gound and the cruise ship. They served good foods and yummy. We travelled by plane, ship, high speed train during the tour. The tour arrangement is good, my travel consultant is Mr. Leo Li. Overall, the tour was very nice and satisfying. I definitely will travel to China again next time.

This tour company scheduled and organized our privet tour very professionally. I would strongly recommend using them.

Our trip was amazing, you could see how happy we were from 20 pictures I attached below. Two weeks of travel by plains, bullet trains, Starting in Beijing-Xian-cruising Yangtze river, Shanghai, Guangzhou, beautiful Guilin and finishing up in Hong Kong. We all had a great time and returned back with wonderful memories.

This was my third time to the “motherland “ born a fourth generation ABC that doesn’t speak a word Chinese, did Beijing,Xian, Lhasa, Chengdu, Yangtze River cruise and of course the greatest city Shanghai, Mr Leo Li of China Discovery arranged the trip we opted to go the 5 star route with group of two , Leo answered all my questions promptly and to my satisfaction, the local guides some the best we ever encountered very good English skills on many topics, a couple became friends, question who would I have arrange a China trip? Mr. Leo Li

At first actually i didn't expect much from this trip, however it turns out that me and my mom really enjoyed the whole trip. We visited beijing and shanghai for 4 days, and the whole 4 days have been amazing!! All of local guides are warm and super helpful. When we first arrived at beijing , i asked our guide for food recommendation, she give us a recommendation for peking duck restaurant. Me and my mom actually whrn there and the food was AMAZING. Not forget to mention that the cars the provided are comfortable, my car in shanghai even had heated seat and back massage feature. Perfect!!

Mr Wonder Wang organised a fantastic tour for us and helped us out in Chengdu when we were unable to organise a English speaking tour guide due to the University World Athletic Championships. We had gone to watch our son compete there and were left stranded when we realised there were no taxis after the games. The first time, a policeman helped us get a taxi. I reached out to Wonder for our second night and he organised a Didi for us.

He also helped us when our flight was 00.40 in the morning.

Our tour guides in Xian and Beijing were informative and punctual, the cars clean and bottles of water were kept up to us in the hot, muggy weather.

In Xian, Waldner, our guide showed us the Terracotta warriors, Ancient City Wall, the Muslim quarter , Big Wild Goose , Huanyangling Mausoleum in two days as our time was limited In Beijing, Andy was our guide who was able to show Tianannmen Sqare, Forbidden Palace, Jingshan park.

Due to flooding, we were unable to visit the Sacred Way but we saw a live performance instead which was an added cost but well worth as well as a local neighbourhood house and the family, had a rickshaw ride a Taoist Temple. The Great Wall was awe inspiring too. Andy also dropped us at 798 where missile etc were made during the Cold War but is now a place for artists and galleries before picking us and dropping us at the airport.

The bullet rains were fantastic between Chengdu and Xian and Xian and Beijing.

I also strongly recommend a tour guide, 5 days in Chengdu without one was very tricky although the chines people went out of there way to help us.

Palvannanathan G

Vivien Li made excellent tour arrangement for our 14 day trip to China. Replied to my 20 or more emails immediately, sent both during initial arrangements and also during our travel within China. Responded to all specific requests including last minute changes requested while we were traveling in China. Hotels and guides were excellent, price charged was very reasonable. Took great care of us including contacting us when there was a change in flight schedule due to anticipated typhoon in Southern China.

I requested to arrange travel in Shanghai Maglev train 4 days before arriving at Shanghai and took great effort to arrange this. Changed the flight schedule to fly out of Shanghai Pudong airport and we were able to take Maglev train to Pudong airport. I want to thank Vivien Li for making our China travel a wonderful experience.

Our tour arrangements made by Zeva Du were flawless! We booked a Yangtze River Cruise on the Century Glory ship followed by a private tour of Beijing which included English speaking guides and a private car.

The boat cruise was perfectly wonderful! The accommodations were very comfortable, the food choices were satisfactory, the boat was lovely and the staff was amazing!

The shore excursions were interesting. We definitely recommend seeing the The Three Kingdoms Show by Beacon Fires!

Maggie, our tour guide in Beijing, was the best! She took great care with every detail. She was always on time and organized. She made history come to life with interesting facts and exciting details of each location we saw. She chose delicious restaurants for us to try and took extra time to help please us!

We definitely recommend requesting Zeva Du with China Discovery to make a trip of a lifetime come true!

China Discovery - particularly travel consultant Wonder Wang - did an outstanding job in organising and supporting our recent trip to the mainland of China. It was a memorable visit. We are now back in Hong Kong after a memorable trip to the mainland of China. The destinations - Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie and Guilin - were well chosen, with so many interesting and exciting things to see and do. The guides we had in each location were great - well informed, helpful, friendly and mainly with excellent spoken English. The hotels were also very good - comfortable and well located (the Yungshuo river resort was a particular highlight). And the travel logistics - trains and planes - worked seamlessly.

China Discovery was extremely responsive and flexible throughout in putting together and supporting our visit plans. The suggestions for travel options, and readiness to adapt as our plans changed, was greatly appreciated. China Discovery's performance was highly professional, first-class in fact, and I would have no hesitation in recommending the company to others who might be considering a trip to the mainland of China.

mankAthens_Greece

We are 9 friends who had travelled to China with China Discovery this summer and we had a really fantastic, custom-made private trip going to Beijing, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Shangri la, Dali, Ethnic Minorities of Guangxi, Kunming and Guilin. As we expected, we obtain so many amazing experiences and memories. All our tour guides and drivers were excellent, helping us all the time to make our journey comfortable and easy without any troubles.

Especially, I should mention Tracy, our coordinator at the agency, who had organised everything perfect and was from the earliest planning and through all the trip very helpful and friendly and we felt that someone really care about us by giving us assistance and services when we have got problems to solve! So, a special thanks to Tracy and the entire team at China Discovery! We highly recommend this agency from planning to executing to anyone looking to explore China!

We had a wonderful, custom-arranged, private trip as a family of three with China Discovery in summer of 2023 - going from Beijing via Xian, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Longsheng, Yangshou, Kungming, Yangtze River to Shanghai.

As we expected, we left with many exciting new impressions and memories - really a trip worth taking.

Last not least, we must mention Tracy, our coordinator at the agency, who was from the earliest planning stage all the way through the trip the most competent, most friendly, and most helpful coordinator we could think of - we felt really well looked after! A big compliment and thanks to you, Tracy, and the entire team at China Discovery!

Special thanks to China Discovery (based in Chengdu) for the given assistance and services all the time we have got a trouble to solve. In particular I would like to thanks the local assistant Wing Zang for the support and fast reply to all our enquiries.

Their support make the difference between a succesful tour and a failing one! thank you again.

I recomend their assistance to all travellers!

From planning to executing. I believe this is the best that everyone can give/get. The driver and tour guide are friendly which makes it easier for conversation for people who are not really good with conversation. I would use your service again when I visit China again in the near future.

I would recommend tourists to download wechat and provide a number for both sides, in case there's a need to contact the tourist/driver/tour guide due to different circumstances.

We planned a 3 week round trip together with China Discovery and then booked there.

Already during the planning our wishes were taken into account individually. I said what we would like to see and the trip was put together accordingly.

In addition, we received documents that facilitated the application for visas. I was a little skeptical at first, because we had to transfer the fees in full before the start of the trip, but everything worked out perfectly on site.

We had a guide in each city who picked us up from the airport or train station and took care of us on site. The hotels, tickets and transportation were all booked by China Discovery. We did not have to worry about anything.

At lunchtime, the guides usually picked out a local restaurant and advised us on local specialties. This was also included in the tour price. China is really worth a trip and offers besides great culture, beautiful landscapes as well as modern vibrant cities. There is something for everyone here.

Just a week tour with China discovery for Beijing and Shanghai. As a non local, it is very difficult to navigate with all china only app and regulations, not to mention the crowd. China discovery makes the logistics seemless. All smoothly run and avoid all the miles of queues. Highly recommended.

Fotografista

We had an unforgettable our 7-day private tour to Xi’an and Beijing with China Discovery! Zeva Du, my travel consultant, orchestrated a seamless and exceptional experience in both cities. Her reliability, responsiveness, and efficiency in handling last-minute requests and changes were excellent!

Despite the unusual heat and heavy crowds at the tour sites, the itinerary was carefully designed to account for these factors. Zeva also tailored activities to cater to my family with teenagers, ensuring everyone had a good time.

Our guide in Xi’an, Bruce, was truly wonderful! His knowledge, enthusiasm, and excellent English made the tour even more enjoyable. The driver and the comfortable, air-conditioned car were a blessing in the very hot weather.

In Beijing, Linda, our guide, impressed us with her knowledge and understanding of our needs as we traveled with teenagers. She went above and beyond, assisting us with dinner reservations and other recommendations, making our experience delightful.

The entire tour was very well planned, offering us a diverse glimpse into the rich history and culture of both cities. The exceptional service and attention to detail provided by Zeva and the guides truly made this journey a memorable and rewarding one. We highly recommend China Discovery and would choose them again for future trips. Five stars!

Mohammed Muneer

I had a fantastic experience with China Discovery Tour and would highly recommend the company to others. I had a great time visiting Beijing and Guilin, and was impressed by the meticulous planning and flawless execution of the trip. I also expressed the gratitude towards Vivian, the trip organizer for her exceptional work, profound knowledge, and unwavering commitment to showcasing the very best of each destination. Overall, I had an unforgettable experience and I left with a profound sense of fulfillment

I found out China Discovery by chance and was attended by Wonder, who was very helpful and responsive to my long list of enquiries. He has helped to arrange for a private tour at Beijing and we were glad to have experienced tour guide Jack Liu to bring us around. He is very knowledgeable, gave good suggestions for eateries and helped us took many nice photos. Tour guide, together with driver Dong shifu and Song shifu were always on time and friendly. We felt welcomed and had an enjoyable trip at Beijing. Two thumbs up for the tour. Truly appreciate it.

Our family booked a two day private tour for Luoyang, Rita made the entire experience very smooth and hassle free. This is the highlight of our entire two week trip back in China since Covid. The hotel is very comfortable, and the tour guides are very knowledgeable and attentive, not only did we get to visit some major attractions, we also met some local martial art school students and talked to them at a personal level. It is a very valuable experience for me and my kids. We plan to visit other cities in China in the near future, and definitely will book tours with this company again.

I have some experience booking hotels and purchasing park tickets in China, knowing the Chinese language, I still have to deal with wechat app, wechat payment, and lack of online information. I have spent hours online booking attractions. In comparison, this company provides a very smooth travel experience, everything is taken care of, it is definitely worth looking into if you are thinking of traveling in China.

Our family enjoyed our China Discovery tour. I was impressed with the tour service and flexibility, especially for our three children. Our tour coordinator, Wing, was exceptional and helped us coordinate the trip best suited for us. He was responsive and friendly. We will use China Discovery again and ask for Wing. Our tourguide, Maggie, and driver, Jin, were considerate and competent. We felt like family and appreciate this professional service--genuinely concerned with making our tour in Beijing a memorable vacation. The sites were unbelievable and can't wait to visit Shanghai next time with China Discovery. All the best, the Herrings.

Wing Zeng did a custom private tour for five days, including trains, hotel and flights, and everything went as expected.

Hong Kong (China)

We are Chinese living overseas and my experience with China was 30 years back. My son expressed to me his interest in traveling to China before he starts university studies. As I am totally unfamiliar with travel in China, I approached China Discovery for planning and arranging my 8 days trip to Beijing and Xian. Rita patiently guided me through the spots I could explore in the 2 cities and as both me and my son loves history and culture, she tailored-made a traveling itinerary that best suits us. The tour turned out to be great. Our tour guide in Beijing, Andy, is fun and knowledgeable, telling us everything about Lao Beijing. Our tour guide in Xian, Jessie, is flexible with all my requests and is very understanding. We highly recommend China Discovery to anyone who plans to visit China.

We have been to China many times (Chinese Family living overseas) but wanted to plan our six cities / 11-day visit with China Discovery to ensure my 80-year old parents would have a customized, comfortable, and smooth experience. Johnson Wang worked with us to provide a great plan including some off the beaten path locations. We had several interactions with Johnson as we planned our trip, he was very supportive and understood our needs to keep our plans flexible when traveling with older parents. Great hotel selections, wonderful tour guides and Drivers, very comfortable private cars provided. Bi-lingual experience with Chinese and English travelers. Johnson was great providing beyond expected support when we had issues getting cash from ATM machines in China. I highly recommend China Discovery for a memorable time in China !

When I discovered China Discovery online, I booked a 4-day, 3-night tour to Beijing for my parents through Vivien. As I couldn't go with them, I was a little bit worried in the beginning. Both of them, who are 70+ years old and had never been to China. Happened that they were extremely happy and enjoyed the tour immensely until they left Beijing. They were taken care very well with a great service. I highly appreciate how smoothly Vivien organized all the plans and professionally arranged the tour after I requested some adjustments. Additionally, my parents were very pleased with how knowledgeable guide, Kai. He didn't not only introduce them to a deep history of each spots they visited, he also introduced them to authentic Chinese culture. Other than that he also has pleasant personality that made it easy to get along with. Kai's attention to detail was impressive, for a small example he even provided weather information in Fahrenheit, which was very convenient for Americans. I highly recommend China Discovery for those with no China experience as well as for people who have significant China experience.

Booked a multi city tour with China Discovery. They organised hotels, 4 -5*, all internal transport, Inc flights and high speed trains. Admission to attractions, a guide and a driver. The experience was phenomenal, couldn't have asked for ant more. Professional at every stage of the experience. I would 1 highly recommend a visit to China & 2 using Discover China to help with this trip of a lifetime.

I visited Beijing for two days, and with the help of China Discovery, I had an amazing experience. Wonder created an excellent itinerary so that my mom and I could see the essential sights during our short visit. In just two days, we were able to see the Ming Tomb Sacred Way, the Great Wall, a free tea ceremony, Tiananmen Square, an excellent view of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Olympic nest. We were able to see all of these sights and enjoy good restaurant recommendations, yet we did not feel rushed and we also had flexibility in our schedule. At one point during my visit, I had to take a detour from the itinerary to visit my Embassy. My tour guide was flexible and so helpful.

Speaking of which, one of the best highlights of the tour was our tour guide! We visited during the May 1st Holiday when almost 30 million other tourists traveled to Beijing. Our tour guide, Oliver, was amazing at weaving us through crowds, taking the best pictures, bargaining down prices while we shopped, and taking us from place to place. Not only did he have amazing logistical skills, he is also so knowledgeable about Chinese history and culture. I’ve lived in China for a long time, but I learned so much from him and I gained an even deeper appreciation for Chinese history. Oliver is a very experienced tour guide and his English vocabulary is fantastic. He is personable & considerate, and he went out of his way to make sure we had a great experience. Our driver was also so kind, reliable, and helpful.

This was my mom’s first time to visit me and see China, and she had a wonderful experience. If you are going to Beijing for a short visit, then using China Discovery is a must. It is worth the price. It will enable you to maximize your time and enjoy the wonderful highlights of Beijing. I highly recommend.

Informative and friendly guides, safe drivers, great communication from head office pre-trip and until we returned home.

A quick weekend in Beijing to see the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City logged us 31,000 steps. It was worth it! From the easy planning and booking with Leo, to the 5 star care from Andy, our guide. The two days in Beijing were memorable and awesome! We had our own driver who got us close to gates and kept the non-tour part of the walking to a minimum. We learned a lot about Beijing from Andy. Great job China Discoery Tours!

I was traveling to China for business reasons and wanted to extend my stay a little to see some of it. I had Beijing and the Great Wall in mind as well as the Terracotta soldiers in Xi’An. I knew that with the little time I had I would need all the logistical assistance I could get so when I stumbled onto China Discovery and they responded promptly with a well curated plan inclusive of hotel, drivers and guides I was all in!

They get a sense of your price range and adjust hotel bookings accordingly.

I wanted to travel by bullet train starting from Hangzhou and Rita figured it all out, including the hotel by the airport in Shanghai the night before leaving.

The guides were not only really knowledgeable but also lovely people, the same can be said for the drivers. In just four days I learned and experienced so much. As I was there over the weekend the sites in Beijing were busy, thankfully they took me to a section of the wall a little further out where they were much more manageable. In spite of the number of people, the experience was even better than I expected.

While Beijing is a cosmopolitan city I could easily relate to, Xi’An was simply magic. It is much more laid back, many went out of their way to say hello and welcome me to China and between the terracotta soldiers, the city wall (ride the bike on it!), the pagodas and the Muslim district I absolutely fell in love with it and will go back for sure to experience the archeological museum and the nearby mountains.

Massive thanks to you Jack and Lily!

After arrival in Beijing, the pickup service and transfer to the hotel checkin was very smooth.

Then the first day, after a good breakfast, I got picked up at the hotel from the guide and the driver, together we visited Tiananmen Square and went into the Forbidden City, where I got a very amazing tour with a lot of interesting historical and cultural informations. After we passed the Forbidden City, we took a short visit to the Jingshan Park with the nice overview over Beijing and the forbidden city. Finally for this day, we visited the temple of heaven, again with a lot of historical and cultural informations.

Finally for this day, we visited the temple of heaven, again with a lot of historical and cultural informations.

sannespaeth

I had Jack from China Discovery help me with planning a 3 day trip to Beijing for me and two of my young adults (aged 23 and 19) - and we had the best time. The train rides from Shanghai and back were smooth. The boutique hotel - Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel - was very charming, clean, friendly staff, wholesome breakfast buffet and located in one of Beijing's unique Hutong areas. Our guide was very well versed in Chinese history and added great value to our visits to The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, The Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and The Great Wall. Also, his recommendation for a local, hidden restaurant, famous for its roast duck, made the trip very special. All in all, perfect :) We have now taken many trips around China planned by Jack and the team at China Discovery, and it's always been a great experience.

SergioPapamax

We visited Beijing and the experience was superb. Everything was perfectly organised, easy and smooth. The guide and the driver were extremely friendly and did take care of us. All visits were amazing. The guide was perfectly informed and shared with us the history, culture and details were to look at. I would certainly recommended.

What a wonderful experience. We had a great remarkable Beijing day tour with our tour guide named Mingsun. Not only everything was perfect but we felt the tour guide and the driver truly cared about us. Definitely will book a tour with Mr Wonder again.

Wonder and his team planned an exceptional 18 day tour of China for our family. Visiting Beijing, Xian, Zhangjajie and 5 days in Yunnan.

From the planning stage, to the selection of hotels and guides, Wonder was fabulous and he could not have been any more helpful. Booking a tour such as this allowed us to be flexible with our choices of activities and areas and it was a trip we will never forget!

I would recommend Wonder and China Discovery for anyone who is looking to book a well planned and personalised tour around China. It made life so easy and a trip to remember forever!

We had 8 days trip of Beijin-Luoyang-Xian with China Discovery arranged by Wonder in Jul'21.

Along with great content of trip, very qualified local guides and hotel selections, we had great service and flexibility to adjust our program due to many uncontrollable incidents through weather conditions.

Client oriented mindset and agility to finding alternatives options of Wonder has let smoothly finish our trip with maximum satisfaction. Strongly suggest China Discovery and Wonder as agent for your programs.

Joanna Burns

We did a shortened version of the China Discovery 17 day highlights tour. There was a big group of us with lot's of children so we decided to shorten our trip which was not a problem with China Discovery tours.

Our five families had a superb trip! The incredible sites we visited such as the 'Great wall' and the 'Terracotta warriors' will stay in our memories forever! Our guides took us to some superb restaurants where we really enjoyed the local food. The Peking duck for me was a favourite. I can't speak highly enough of our travel agent Johnson based in Chengdu. He was very patient in answering our many questions and was superb in organising the trip for us. Our local guides were excellent! There knowledge of the places we visited was in-depth and really added to the interest in what we were seeing. I will highly recommend your tour to other teachers at my school and friends and family back in New Zealand.

Jack easy to work with, quality accomodations, and Li (guide) were very personable and professional.

marcos iglesias

I love it!!!

It was worth each cent.

The guide, Kai, was incredibly knowledgeable, it made a huge difference to have him showing me the places and explaining all the history behind it.

The timing was very well managed and not rushed and the best part was avoiding huge crowds.

I am very, very happy with their services.

I am already trying to get some days off to plan a trip to Xian with them.

I strongly recommend their services.

Estelle Leger

Excellent experience with China Discovery!

Our contact Riley was very professional and pro active to organize the tour.

Everything was as mentioned in the contract, no bad surprise. Our guide Jenny was very helpful and managed to adjust the plan according to our request.

We would definitely recommend China Discovery.

I've been living in China for almost 2 years, and haven't had the opportunity to travel because of restrictions in 2020, but now that it's eased up and with the help of China discovery tours, and a very helpful and pleasant lady, Rita they helped to create a trip of a lifetime!

It took me a while to actually decide on where I'd like to go, and Rita helped me each step of the way, I felt bad sometimes for adding and removing things on my itinerary but Rita didn't complain and was very swift with these changes.

I went to Beijing, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie and had a private driver and tour guide in all the cities. I felt like a famous superstar! Haha!

My tour Guide Yoyo was very professional and also an amazing photographer. She was really sweet and kind and I feel like I made a good friend. I had a wonderful experience in Beijing I visited the forbidden city, summer Palace, The Great Wall of China which was probably the best and most emotional experience I've had as now I'm considered a "true hero", 798 art ,a contemporary art center, the temple of Heaven and a unique experience in the Beijing Hutongs where we learned paper Cutting among others.

It's was definitely amazing and I'd love to go back one day!

Next was Chengdu, I was so excited to see the Giant Pandas! I really enjoyed it there and seeing the little Pandas had me oooo'ing and aaaawww'ing all the time!

The next day the private driver and tour guide took me to The Giant Buddha of Leshan! What a phenomenal experience! So majestic and full of history! I was in complete awe and had a good exercise climbing up and down all those stairs haha! My tour guide treated us to lunch close by and we had super delicious food prepared by the local restaurant which also had very unique and beautiful set up.

I had the option to also add days of rest on my tour because yes, I am lazy haha but it was good as it was right in the middle of my tour and I was already feeling exhausted!

Soon after I was on my way to Zhangjiajie, already by the airport I was in a different world! I have been to many airports in my life, but the scenery around Zhangjiajie airport was gorgeous!

I was nervous about the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge days before, but when I got there i was super pumped to try walking across. My tour guide gave me 2 options 1. A zip line down to the river or taking the slide, we decided to choose the slide down and then either a boat down the river or a quiet and tranquil walk along the river. Even though it was long the walk along the river was so much better.

The views, spots and photo ops were all there!!

We also explored the yellow Dragon Caves which is beautifully lit up by different colored lights!

The next day was Zhangjiajie mountains! I am forever grateful to my tour guide David for seeing my mood change around the busy "tourist spots" where I'd get a little too overwhelmed by the noise and people so he offered to take me to secret spots where I'd get the same views (actually better views) and it's much less crowded and more serene.

I was so happy and grateful he tried his best to make my trip memorable and it was! Definitely it was!

I'm just thankful I didn't have to go through all the effort of booking planes, trains and hotels because Rita at China discovery did it all for me, and she was there when a little mishap happened and immediately moved me to a better hotel!

Lee Cassidy

The Tour was excellently organized and we had a great tour guide who had extensive knowledge. We were all so impressed, we plan to book more tours.

markandkeena

Recently my husband and I went to Beijing and Xi 'an with China Discovery. This is our fourth trip with this company! And our fourth trip working with Wonder as our travel-technician!

We are extremely happy with our experience.Unexpected events happened and we were required to head to a Beijing Public hospital for a check.Wonder, our tour guide Linda, and China Discovery, however, made it as smooth of an experience as possible for us while also trying to ensure we could still see the "big events": namely, the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven.And even though our itinerary needed some edits due to the unexpected events, Linda made sure that we were able to enjoy our experience in the safest way possible.She looked for shorter lines, she journeyed in the cold to a more remote area on the Great Wall with us, and she even waited with us at the train station when we were heading to Xi 'an. She also always made a point to always pick the most excellent food choices for our lunch, making an extra effort to merge the food that represented Beijing, but also that would be comfortable for a westerner to eat. While we would have been willing to try anything, that extra little effort made our eating experience all the more wonderful. Throughout the entire time in Beijing, Linda always made sure we were comfortable and safe and Wonder checked in frequently.

Next, Bruce, our tour guide in Xi 'an, was also excellent! Extremely passionate about history and food, he wanted to make sure we had the fullest experience possible during our short stay in Xi' an.He encouraged us to ask questions and went on a food mission to make sure, even though we were already eating the most wonderful dumplings, that we could also try a special sandwich from Xi 'an prior to heading to the airport. I love food, so this was fantastic! We rode around the wall on a bicycle -- a surprisingly very fun experience -- , visited the warriors, toured the Muslim quarter and tried a number of the most wonderful dishes I have ever had in China. Bruce also took the time to show us HOW to eat some of the dishes, since we would have been lost otherwise.

We are very happy with our experience and hope that we can go on another one.If so, we will definitely be reaching out to Wonder, since we have thus far, thoroughly enjoyed our adventures.

U9720FRmartink

China Discovery organised our visit to Harbin and Beijing; great hotels, all flights (even the one that was cancelled the day before travel caused no problems and was dealt with efficiently), guides and drivers to pick us up and transport us around, meals (delicious) and all entrance tickets wherever we went. The snow and ice sculptures in Harbin were very impressive (and it was as cold as Tracy from China Discovery kept warning us!) but the highlight was the time in Beijing. Our guide (Kai) was fabulous; knowledgeable, span a great story and illuminated everywhere that we visited. The Forbidden City/Summer Palace were great but the Great Wall was everything that we hoped for. Still lots to see in Beijing and would not hesitate to ask China Discovery to organise our next trip, anywhere in China.

I used China Discovery to take a 6-day tour of Beijing and Xian (there was a 5 hour high-speed train between these two cities).

The tour guides were great, everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and flexible. I had a great time. It was also shockingly less expensive than I expected.

Zeva & china discovery, see you in my next holoday in 2021

We did a customized tour of Beijing and Shanghai in about 4 days. The coordinator did a fantastic job communicating with us throughout the whole process, and really allowed us to see the sights we were most interested in. Our guides on the ground in both cities did a great job accommodating us, even to the extent of finding a specific restaurant we had in mind. It was an enjoyable trip and being able to put the planning in someone else's hand made it a stress-free vacation!

1 day tour in Beijing. The company were very helpful- helped us book the tickets and ensured that we had a guide that could speak English when visiting the wall. Would definitely use again! Thanks!

My husband and I had the most amazing private tour thanks to China discovery. Thanks to Rita and her amazing team we had VIP/first class service throughout our whole trip in Beijing and Xian. We had a nice, clean, comfortable car, fun, knowledgable tour guides (thank you Kai and Timo, we learnt a lot about the history of China) delicious food and wonderful places to see. In this current Covid situation, where travel is a bit more restricted, Rita and her team looked after us at all times, ensuring we had everything we needed to travel. We highly recommend this tour. Thank you Rita.

The first time I saw the Great Wall was in a movie "The karate kid". I promised myself to go there someday. Being a foreigner living and working in China, still had no idea of how to plan the trip. My wife and I discovered this agency online and decided to trust blindly and go for it (payments involved). Glad to have walked the wall in person coming all the way from zw. Thanks to Vivien and her team we got first class service from airport pick up, accommodation and being treated like royals. Thank you Linda for being an awesome tour guide. We learnt loads about ancient China. Keep it up China discovery.

We just finished one week Beijing tour. We appreciate the flexibility of the agency to customize a tour according to our needs, especially because we travelled with a three months old baby. Riley adapted the itinerary to what we were hoping for. Also, she was always available answering any question or helping us to solve any inconvenience during the trip. Overall great hotel location, amazing guide as was Kai, a very knowledgeable person of the city, culture and history and good transportation.

Visited Beijing over the weekend of the 20th to the 24th of August 2020 on a private tour organized by China Discovery. I've used them in the past, when I did Nanjing for my birthday last year and have to say, just as before they did not disappoint.

My travel consultant, Wendy, was super helpful in meticulously planning the trip for me, and making sure as many places I wanted to see were included on the tour.

But the real stars of the trip were our guide - Lee - and driver, who went over and above to make my trip to rhe city an incredibly memorable one. Can't recommend them enough !!

My wife and I had a private tour from Shanghai to Huangshan in late October 2019.

It was a 3-day visit. We stayed at the foothill of Huangshan. Hotel was clean and pleasant.

The trip was wonderful and the services of the tour guide and driver were also very good.Tracy Tan at China Discovery provided good and prompt service too.

One negative aspect was the private tour price could have been 20% lower. That would have been perfect.

chrisdR872JP

Unsure of who to contact to organise my 8-day tour of China, I contacted China Discovery and they were excellent. I have no hesitation in recommending them to family and friends..

My contact at the company was Wing Zeng and, after a number of emails discussions options we finally agreed an itinerary that met all my needs.China Discovery organised my travel, hotels and guided tours for 3 cities and everything was excellent!

The real proof of the quality of the service came when I arrived at the wrong exit at Beijing station. Despite being 10pm I was able to text Wing Zeng who immediately resolved the situation. Brilliant customer service!! Thank you Wing Zeng for organising an excellent tour

kumarilm2016

China Discovery organised a 13 day China tour for us from 21/12/19 to 3/1/20. Wendy Dan was the consultant.Covered Beijing,Xian,Guilin,Huangshan and Shanghai. Overall, a great tour! and well organised,thanks Wendy!

Andy our guide in Xian was excellent as were the guides in Guilin and Huangshan.

Vehicles provided in general were good.Restaurants in Beijing were bad however the quality improved after we protested.

Hotels were neat and clean(chose all 5star) except in Xian and after we complained ,we were upgraded.

I would definitely recommend ChinaDiscovery tours and would book with them again on my second tour.

We were a family of 4, all adults.

Wonderful experience with China Discovery. Limited on time, we worked with Vivien to hire a local guide, driver and private car to ensure we got to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in one day. Candy was a wonderful guide. This was my seventh trip to these sites and even I learned something about the Forbidden City. After touring the Forbidden City we jumped in our comfortable van and drove past the Olympic venues and chose to visit Mutianyu. Candy assisted us with purchasing tickets and allowed us time to explore on our own and coordinated for an amazing meal at a local restaurant. The expedience and convenience of the tour was exceptional. Security around the Forbidden City makes finding a driver and tour guide there difficult, which is something I did in previous trips. I'd highly recommend working with Vivien and her team to book your upcoming travel to any number of cities throughout China.

rameshdhoorgapersadh

Shanghai visit included two days at the Disney resort. Magic experience with my wife and 19 year old son. Then a transfer to Beijing on high speed train. Tours in Beijing City followed by trip to Great Wall. Snow had fallen the previous night so going up the pass to the Great Wall was a fabulous experience as i come from South Africa where we have very little snow. Left Beijing on high speed train back for Shanghai to check into the "Sunrise on Bund" hotel. Classy Hotel well positioned to explore the city. My agent Lyn Wang did an excellent job of putting my package together. Lyn was constantly communicating with me via email in the run up to my departure date. Tour guides and drivers were friendly, helpful and on time. Special thanks to our young guide Ms Tina in Shanghai who did our transfers to and from the train station and airport. Was with us till we got onto train as well as made sure we had our boarding pass in hand for our return journey before saying goodbye to us. This tour company and my agent Lyn will be recommended to family and friends travelling into China - for a hassle free holiday. Thank you Lyn Wang.

We used China discovery for a private tour ( 2 people ) of 12 days Beijing, Xian, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Riley was our contact. She presented us a very good program covering all the highlights, with a good combination of sightseeing and free time; She was very helpful and quickly replied to our questions, gave advice on questions we had related to the trip and was also flexible and open to change .

We had good guides and guidance , but our Xian guide Gin and our Hangzhou guide Lulu were really exceptionally good , they gave good explanations and really helped us out , also we had our personal car with driver and tour guide and we were dropped at the entrance of the sightings and the tour guides organized the tickets and the food at noon , taking into account our preferences. The timing spent and the program offered were really adapted to what we want. We also recommend to visit Hangzhou, very nice. So we are extremely happy with the service we have received from China discovery and i would certainly recommend them for a china trip. ( i was bit unsure before i booked because you never know via internet , but for those in doubt , really they give good service).

russellm510

My wife and I have been regular international travellers over the past decade but had not made it to China's mainland until last month. A conference nearby presented the ideal opportunity to remedy this with a short Yangtze River Cruise to celebrate a significant birthday for my wife and to satisfy our curiosity about other places in this vast country. We are travellers rather than tourists, so I would like to endorse the travel agency (China Discovery) which helped us with our internal travel arrangements. In the first instance, all we had to do was indicate our intended arrival and departure points and our intended length of stay and our assigned agent Echo Gou cheerfully and efficiently provided us with multiple options. Over a couple of weeks we settled on an itinerary including various sites in Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Three Gorges Dam, Yichang, Shanghai and Hangzhou over 12 days. Highlight was probably West Lake in Hangzhou. Hotels were all of high standard, local individual guides were well-educated and fluent English speakers and drivers were confident and cheerful. Most travel tween cities was by high speed rail, but when we chose to vary this for convenience once in China to include an internal flight and a private car transfer to an airport in another city, this was expertly arranged by our contact agent Echo in Chengdu at minimal additional cost. This flexibility made what might otherwise have been some difficult aspects of our trip into a smooth and enjoyable experience. I can't fault the professionalism and expertise of China Discovery and our agent, and I recommend others who like to travel independently to consider using such an efficient service at such reasonable cost.

HarikaSetty

Our tour was organized by China Discovery [Rita Jiang] for 15 days covering five beautiful places. Though there were different means of communications available we just used Email and our Journey to china was all set.

Everything was perfectly organized starting from planning, implementing and executing.

We Didn't face any problem anywhere while travelling or while interchanging stations.

Security: We didn't face any problem anywhere either with baggage or other property. Everything was Secured.

Comfort: spacious cars, Door to door services, Hotels in the city center were provided, which was very convenient.

Food: food which was served was exactly the way we liked [Indian Vegetarian]

Awesome and Honest tour guide and Driver treated us like a family.

Incredible People of China !!

Juliotravels

I went to China for 4 days because we are making other stops and did a little of local searching for the best way to see the Great Wall. I gathered most of the prices and most convenient for a friend and I. By far this options as the best, the price was 272 usd, (2 people) and it dealt with a personal driver and tour guide that was very well manner and opened the door for us every time. Our tour guides name was candy she was very nice and went above and beyond to help us us out. Her English and knowledge of the Chinese culture was exceptionally perfect, literally and question I asked she had and answer for not including the normal tour itself. So the day started by them picking us up in a luxurious car at our hotel, with small treats in there for us. Then we went to the Great Wall, which the price covers the entrance and the lift tickets up and down. Then we went to sacred way, which dealt with the 13 emperors that ruled China and their burials, then we stopped at a jade manufacturing plant that gave us a small tour of jade which was great. Then we they took us to the buddhist temple in which we paid a small fee for the entrance and this was not on the itinerary, they waited for us and then they took us to the hassling market in which they had plenty of restaurants with great prices and really great food which is always fun and delicious. And they finally candy and her driver took us to a kung fu play at the Theater which was fantastic and a perfect way to end the day. Thank you Guys and Candy for being such incredible ad hospitable individuals. When I return to china I will definitely do this again with this company.

ChuckTheTravelingGuy

Prior to a Princess cruise which departed from Shanghai, we took a nine day China Discovery Tour of three of China's most well-known cities...Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Catherine Liu, our travel consultant in China, was outstanding to work with as we had numerous questions before flying to Beijing.

Included in the China Discovery Tour she arranged were tours of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in Beijing, the amazing Terra cotta warriors in Xian and the Pudong and Bund areas in Shanghai. These tours and the many other stops we visited were excellent.

We chose the small group tour of usually 7-15 people that included numerous stops at various sites, five star hotels, excellent guides and drivers, a bullet train ride from Beijing to Xian and a flight from Xian to Shanghai. We met interesting please, saw amazing sites and were thoroughly pleased with our China Discovery Tour.

One suggestion, avoid July and August if possible as students are out of school and visit these three cities with their families which makes for crowded sites. The reason we decided on an August tour was so we could take the cruise from Shanghai which was only offered in August.

Visiting China was extremely educational. We could have never accomplished as much as we did if we had tried to tour on our own. We highly recommend the China Discovery Tour and especially Catherine Liu. Catherine was very professional, was quick to answer our questions via email and made sure our guides were excellent. Ask for her when you book a China Discovery Tour. You will be glad you did.

Beijing-Xi’an-Zhangjiajie-Guilin-Yangshuo-Shanghai (Hangzhou & Suzhou)

Riley Guo did a brilliant job organising our trip. After reviewing the original itinerary, we made some adjustments for logistical efficiency. Riley was always quick to respond to my queries and even shared her WeChat number for even faster response. This was invaluable when we had a minor problem due to my mixing up a day trip time. Riley was quick to change train tickets and saved the day.

As with many other prudent travellers dealing with an unfamiliar Chinese tour operator, I was concerned about making the deposit and subsequent balance. However, I made each payment via Paypal without a hitch.

The greatest benefit of a private tour is the peace of mind at every stop. Driver and guide were at hand and took care of all tickets (no queuing) and lugging of suitcases. All breakfasts and lunches were included - all good to excellent depending on the hotel/venue.

We were able to save time and energy, thereby enjoying the sights and culture to the fullest.

Not only would I recommend China Discovery, I will be using them for our next trip to China.

Davegledhill

Review For China Discovery

China Discovery is simply superb!

The period prior to departure is a little scary. Although the itinerary is comprehensive, handing over a large amount of money on a promise, is daunting. The application process for a tourist visa is rigorous and final details of flights and train bookings were not available until the last few weeks. That led to a little nervousness at the Chinese Embassy. As it was, visas were issued without the detail. That is my only criticism as the rest of the trip was faultless.

This is a slick operation, the company strives for perfection and they deliver. The itinerary was close-hosted so a guide and driver were on hand at every destination to see us through every aspect of the visit. The ultimate illustration of efficiency was when a guide appeared on the platform on arrival at Xian station and waved my name card through the train window!

A detailed itinerary is issued before travelling. We elected for a few days in Hong Kong before and after the trip. Collected from the hotel, we had little to do for the remaining duration other than enjoy the experience. I booked good hotels and first class rail travel - the bullet train is impressive - which proved worth the additional cost. Whilst it may appear at face value to be an expensive trip, when you consider what is included, the trip is excellent value for money. The only compromise was economy flights, between distant venues. Baggage allowance on internal flights is limited so Business Class may be a consideration, if one wants to take more luggage and, of course, for that extra touch of luxury. Many meals were included allowing us to sample local cuisine.

The trip took in Chengdu to see pandas, Xian for the Terracotta Warriors, a Yangtze cruise and Beijing to see the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall. At every venue, additional sites were added to round out the experience. I lost track of the number of times I said "Wow!" The itinerary proved to be extensive and varied. The guides were not only efficient, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly but I would add that I met new people, anxious to deliver a unique insight. They became, albeit short term, friends. My thanks and compliments.

I can thoroughly recommend China Discovery. The tour coordinator was exceptional and our every request was delivered. The itinerary was comprehensive and executed flawlessly. Not only did we receive what we had booked but were made to feel like VIPs at every event.

My memories of China will be memorable, largely thanks to a skilled company which delivers excellence. Kudos to the team.

We really enjoyed our China trip organised by China Discovery. During our 14 days trip we had been to Beijing, Xian, Lhasa (Tibet), Chong Qing, Yichang and Shanghai, including a wonderful 3-day-cruise on the Yangtse River aboard the Century Legend Ship. Our consultant Riley was always quick to reply to our emails and helped us throughout the planning phase with her important tips and constructive suggestions. We are very happy with the service she offered to make our journey a unique and memorable one. The China Discovery website also has a very useful travel guide for China.

All of our local tour guides (Mark in Beijing, Kelly in Xian, Zhouma or Dolma in Lhasa, Diana in Chongqing, Nancy in Yichang as also Linda and Jack in Shanghai) were most cordial, friendly, knowledgeable, spoke good English and were punctual in picking us up from or dropping us off at the airport/train station/hotel. We had also been given their mobile numbers in advance to keep in touch, so getting a Chinese SIM card upon arrival would be useful. As we had a private tour, the guides were also flexible about departure times, where to have lunch and so on.

The entire tour and all transportation, including two train trips, two domestic flights and our Yangtze cruise, was well organised. Don't hesitate to ask for a tour without shopping stops if you don't think you'll like them. We enjoyed the lunch in different restaurants, and all the excursions provided by both China Discovery and Century Cruises.

You should be aware that if you want to pay the price quoted in CNY, the only option for foreigners is an international bank transfer, which is insecure and does not offer any kind of protection. Payments via PayPal or credit card, which have more protection for buyers in case something goes wrong, are only accepted if you pay the USD price which can however be several hundred dollars higher. It is therefore better and desirable for customers if China Discovery would accept payments in Chinese Yuan made by credit card.

That being said, we can still warmly recommend China Discovery to all tourists who are planning to visit China. You will get to see and experience this country in the best possible way with them.

The tour was very well orgnized by China discovery ( Jack Li) and very interesting

Xi'an with the terracota of course but also the city wall and the old city

Chengdu with the Giant Pandas

Xining , door to Tibet and Tibetan civilisation with the Qinhai lake and the so interesting museum

Lhasa with the Potala and other monasteries

Beijing at the end with the Great wall and the Tianshan etc,

Very good souvenirs!

I'm a meticulous vacation planner and while the pre-planned packages available from various tour companies were good, none specifically met what my wife and wanted to do on vacation. I did some research on where to go and what to see and we originally were going to do 12-13 days to include some trips into the rural areas to see some scenery, etc. We ended up limiting the trip to the three big cities and received bids from multiple tour companies based in China. China Discovery stood out in the quality and completeness of their responses and had the most competitive pricing. The reviews on Trip Advisor were also very positive and helpful.

We ended up booking 8 days in China with visits to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. We had a list of everything we wanted to see and China Discovery made it happen -- an advantage of booking a private tour is that you can go and see what you alone want to do. (We booked our own air travel to and from China using miles earned on an airline)

In Hong Kong I was not able to find a private guide -- they are all group tours. The buses are designed for around 30 people and we had 10 in our group one day on a Lantau Island tour (fantastic) and just the two of us the next day (Victoria's Peak, Aberdeen Fishing Village/Stanley Market -- avoid it, just find a way to go to Victoria's Peak).

In China's mainland private tours are the only way to go. Why? You are only as fast as the slowest people in your group. And when it was just the three of us (us plus guide/driver) we were much more nimble at getting through crowds and we were in a car or minivan, not a bus, for driving around. The tour company gets the tickets for everywhere you are going so you don't have to wait in line. And we were able to customize portions -- like no Shanghai Museum, but add Tongli water town and a night cruise in Shanghai. Add high-speed train instead of plane between Shanghai and Beijing ... with first class tickets.

I read reviews of the hotels they had chosen to put us up at and all got good to great reviews -- and they lived up to expectations. Note: you can ask for different hotels if you want higher quality or different location -- a China four-star is Western three-star, etc. The Regal Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong was 2 1/2-3 star compared to the other two hotels. Food was average -- I had to teach the cook how to do Over Easy Eggs. The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai was fantastic -- huge room and great service -- 4-4.5 stars! Beijing hotel was the Ramada Park Plaza Wangfujing that was also great ... 4 stars. Food was great at both Shanghai and Beijing hotels. Breakfast at the hotels was included every day and lunch on most days which was in local Chinese restaurants. Extra expenses were tips for our guides and drivers, dinner, snacks, souvenirs, taxis -- we ended up spending much less than anticipated in this regard.

We had different guides each day in Hong Kong because they were group tours, then a guide + driver for the Shanghai area and guide + driver for the Beijing area. All of them spoke English well and were able to answer questions that we had. They were all very knowledgable about the subjects of each tour and even got into nitty gritty details. We were VERY impressed. At meals we would talk about all sorts of things -- especially about how we all lived and family, things like that. The guides had no problem taking photos of us with our phones and were never hurried us along if we wanted to take additional photos or video.

We happened to encounter an annual holiday when we were in Shanghai -- with millions of people pouring into the city to celebrate -- and then rehearsals for a 70th anniversary of the PRC parade and celebration in Beijing shut some roads and attractions. Both could have really thrown a monkey wrench into our plans, but the guides were adept at rearranging the schedule to our advantage and to avoid crowds and juggle going to sights that were open.

What did we see? Each line is what we did in a day

Hong Kong -- Lantau Island tour (4 sights to see) .... rating A

Hong Kong -- HK Island tour ... rating C (avoid as Aberdeen Fishing Village doesn't exist, Stanley Market is OK if you want to shop for clothes, artwork and souvenirs, and you are forced to do a Jewelry Factory Tour that is really a way to try and get you to buy some jewelry, only Victoria's Peak was good on that tour)

Shanghai -- Yu Garden, the Bund, Nanjing Road (shopping), World Financial Center (100th floor observatory), nighttime cruise ... rating A

Shanghai -- Tongli Water Town (has canals like Venice) ... rating B (very touristy, but still interesting)

Beijing -- The Mutianyu Great Wall, the Ming Tombs ... rating A

Beijing -- Hutong Tour/Rickshaw Ride, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven ... rating A

Beijing -- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City ... rating A (the Square is kind of meh, but the Forbidden City more than made up for it)

One piece of advice save the Forbidden City for last ... it is so impressive it may make other sights seem much less interesting.

This was an experience of a lifetime, professionally organised by Vivien of China Discovery and so well carried out by all the team we met. Starting in Shanghai we (party of 4) travelled 1st class on the bullet train to Beijing, Xi'an then Chengdu before a flight back to Shanghai. All travel and accommodation was included in the trip as well as private guides and comfortable private transport at each location. The hotels were all of a very good (4 star) standard with breakfast included and the several lunches we enjoyed were varied and delicious, easily coping with a vegetarian. The whole experience was so good it's difficult to pick highlights, though the Great Wall, the Terracotta army and the pandas at Chengdu are obvious must-do's and came up to all our expectations. But, there was so more than just these highlights. The visits to Temples, Pagodas, parks, monuments and museums combined expertly to give us a great insight into China's past as well as the experience of the modern, busy country that China has become, with the success of these visits mainly down to our guides whose level of English, knowledge and warmth made the whole trip so enjoyable. I cannot praise Vivien and the team highly enough - she was ever ready with help when organising the trip and stayed in contact throughout, helping us to re-schedule some items that were lost due to weather. Before we set off I was naturally anxious that all would work - there was no need for worry as everything worked perfectly. Thank you so much! If you are thinking of taking any type of trip in or around China, you can put your trust in China Discovery and you won't be disappointed.

I took a 2 week personalized vacation with Chendu Bamboo tours through China. I wanted to put some thoughts down to the TripAdvisor community as I had a lot of reservations going into it, and I hope my review will help clarify some of the items that I was uncertain of.

First, while I researching, I determined that I wanted to do a custom tour as none of the packages that I saw had everything I wanted. The towns I chose were Beijing, Xian, Dunjuang, Chendu, Guilin and Shanghai. I submitted inquiries to multiple companies and ChinaDiscovery came back to me promptly with a very comprehensive tour that was detailed and in line with my expectations. The scary part of communicating my requirements was that it had to be done mostly through email, although the Leo of Chengdu Bamboo was also quick to Skype call me to handle some of my more advanced questions.

If you decide to book a tour like this (and you are firmly in the middle class) this is and expensive endeavor. For you to pull the trigger, you can expect a number of big expenditures. First, you will need to put an initial balance down on the trip to reserve the reservation. That amount was placed through PayPay, and the Paypal account that I placed it to did not look anything like the business I was dealing with. It was a bit unnerving sending the money to such a strange account, but in the end, the transaction was fine and 100% legitimate. One point of confusion...you may research and book through ChinaDiscovery, however the invoice then turned into Chengdu Bamboo International Tours Co, Ltd. From a payment standpoint, this was fine. I found myself having fears about placing so much money to the this travel company which I only researched on the internet...but in the end, all my fears were unfounded and the execution of my trip was as perfect as it gets.

Expect to pay a few big expenses. In addition to the trip costs, you will also have some other big expenses. You will need to coordinate the buying of your international plane tickets, which I handled shortly after the deposit. If you are a US citizen, you will need to get a visa. In my case, the Chinese Visas costs about $160 per person for a 10 year visa, and to get it, you must carefully submit a form to the Chinese consulate in a designated region of the country. Because I delayed doing this, I needed to do expedited service. And because the form is brutal and requires you to send your passports to the Chinese consulate, I enlisted a visa expert (CIBT.com) in order to get in processed. Long story short, about $1K later, I received the last of the passports back from the consulate with about 2 days to spare. So plan ahead.

The final expense is that you will be advised (not mandated) to give them tips to the drivers and tour guides. You will find yourself wanting to give them tips for the great service they provide, but you should calculate 2 weeks and 2 persons a day, and understand that it will cost you hundreds of dollars or thousands of Yuan as part of your trip costs.

Last warning to give about going to China...you'll need cash. Only some (not most) banks and stores are hooked up to the Visa and Mastercard system. This means, (1) you may need to search for the right bank to get cash in China in order to withdraw funds and (2) the vendors that you'll see only will take your cash. This caused some stress the first couple of days as I had trouble finding a bank that worked.

Now...for the good stuff. Once prepping for all that, the trip that was designed by Chinadiscovery (or Chengdu Bamboo Tour Company) was pretty spectacular. The guides were beyond great, and did a truly amazing, amazing job of being everything you would want as a tour guide. Prompt, flexible, funny, sometimes motherly, sometimes brotherly, open, honest, kind, insightful, human, knowledgeable and ...simply great. Each one in each town was different...but each of them took such pride in their cities/country that you are given a great gift. The coordination of the planes, trains and automobiles was flawless and as we traversed our way around each city, we never missed a single connection, nor did our guides ever fail to meet us at our designated meeting points.

The hotels were as good as it gets as well. Breakfast was included in all hotels...some food good, and other food great. The hotels were within walking distance to all the good things. For Beijing, 15 min walk to the Forbidden City. Shanghai? 5 minute walk to the River and 20 minutes to The Bund. I could go on, but the accommodations were really good. Combine that with flawless execution of all travel arrangements, it made for a stress free trip. The lunches were all Chinese and again, and food ranged from good to great. They always gave our family of 3 too much food for one sitting, and I felt embarrassed about leaving so much food behind.

In Beijing, our guide took us through Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, The Great Wall, and Temple of Heaven (among other places). When she took us to the train station for our trip to Xian, she insisted in walking us down to our seat on the High Speed railway car. When I asked if that is the company policy, she said 'that MY policy' (to ensure her clients get to where they are going). Amazing. We reached Xian for a day and Zoe gave us great insights of the growing city, the crowds, and life in China. Then onto Dunjuang, where Lily and her driver rearranged the schedule to ensure that we saw all the Silk Road sites. The schedule changes included her and the driver starting at 6AM (after we were picked up at the airport 10PM the night before) in order to ensure we saw everything. Then in Chengdu, Cherry helped so patiently with my wife's shopping at the Panda sanctuary. And in Guilin, Kennedy was awesome describing the land and China's ethnic minority. The insight for the rice fields and rivers were wonderful. We ate probably the best Chinese food of the trip in the fresh country air. Then finally, to Shanghai, where Zack was truly a joy, and one of the friendliest and enjoyable people I have ever met in my life. The city of Shanghai was amazing, and my son enjoyed it tremendously.

Two things I would do over if I could. First, I would plan to take it in June, not late July. We had to compete with the rest of China, which has summer break at this time. As a result, the places were packed with China tourist going to the same sites, which made the crowds a bit much. Second, I would have also altered the trip to spend 1 less day in Guilin and 1 more day in Shanghai. Other than that, I would not have changed anything.

Bottom line...if you are planning a trip to China, I highly recommend planning it with Chengdu Bamboo and if you are lucky enough to work with Leo, you will not be dissapointed.

I am a history major and I went to China to study ancient Chinese history. The tour guides were very knowledgable and would always answer my questions. It was by far my favorite vacation. Visiting the grottoes, Buddhist temples, museums, ancient fortifications, and cities were the highlights of this history major's experience. My favorite experience was visiting Pingyao ancient city. The walls were first built during the Western Zhou dynasty and the buildings are mostly from ancient China. I stayed in a hotel inside the ancient city, ate the local food, bought traditional clothing, and went to the bar at night. There are many bars that stay open late and some of the locals dress in traditional clothing. It felt like living in ancient China! If you are interested in shopping, there is a gift shop near the terracotta warriors museum that shows you how they are made. You can buy pretty much anything there from a replica terracotta statue with your face on it to furniture, pottery, and replica weapons. I bought a replica sword for 960 RMB and they shipped it to my house. There is also a silk museum in Shanghai where you can buy beautiful clothing. The local people were always very friendly, polite and interested in talking with you. I never felt nervous or disrespected during my stay. The tour guides will go out of their way to ensure you enjoy your visit. I would highly recommend China Discovery for anyone who is interested in visiting China. It is much nicer to have a tour guide show you all the fascinating things to explore and explain Chinese culture and history than visiting China without a tour guide and being blind to all these things.

My husband and I are just back from a wonderful holiday in China. We organized this from Ireland with Wendy at China discovery who helped us put together a fantastic itinerary. Beijing was amazing the palaces Xian ancient city Chengdu was a culinary delight. Guilin had to be our favorite place the natural beauty of the Karst mountains along the li river and of course the rice terraces and the old city of Longsheng. The Yangtze River cruise was spectacular especially Wushan. We ended our amazing trip in Shanghai. The personal guides and drivers in each city we’re always there to greet us from our flights or trains. Each day was packed with so many places of interest to see and delicious lunches. We are missing the lovely time we spent in China so much that we plan to return soon to explore more beautiful places China has to offer.

RagerRayboy

My wife and I recently completed a 22 days’ vacation/excursion in the People’s Republic of China. We arranged this voyage with China Discovery Tour Agency.(May17th-June7th, 2019)

Our journey throughout China included three air flights and four high speed trains.

We visited Beijing, the capital of The People’s Republic of China. Highlights in Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Great Wall (Mutiny Section), the Sacred Way, wonderful Kungfu Show, and a wonderful dinner of Peiking Roasted Duck at the Iconic Quanjude restaurant. We then traveled 4.5 hours by Fast train to Xian to visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses excavation site then on to the Ancient City Wall and then in the evening attended a wonderful Tang Palace Dance Show. We then traveled 3 hours by plane to Lhasa, the capital of TIBET. Then from TIBET back to China to the city of Chengdu (2 hours by plane) to visit the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and also enjoy the relax atmosphere of the city’s Renmin Park. Then from Chengdu we traveled 1.5 hours by plane to Guilin, the most scenic city in China. We then drove about 2.5 hours to visit one of the most beautiful rice terraces in China…Longji Rice Terrace. What an experience hiking up on the edge of the mountain, including traveling up more than 900 steps in order to arrive at our hotel. Then the next morning more hiking up hill and steps to observe the spectacular view and to get a better understanding of the engineering developed many, many years ago to be able to cultivate rice at that high altitude. Later we visited Huangluo Yao Village and enjoyed a beautiful show by the Village Long Hair People. The following day we traveled back to Guilin and took a very relaxing sightseeing cruise 84 kilometers down the Li River to Yangzhou Town.

That evening we attended an amazing show directed by the world-famous director Mr. Zhang Yimou then the next day we drove back to Guilin and took a fast train (5 hours) to the the city of Chongqing (The largest city in Southwest China) to catch our cruise ship to take a 3 nights 4 days cruise down the Yangtze River, and during the cruise we had 3 shore excursions to visit different historic sites. After our cruise we then went on an all-day tour of the Three Gorge Dam. It is the largest dam in the entire world. After that we traveled by bus to to Yichang and took a fast train the the new city of Shanghai. Shanghai is less than 20 years. In Shanghai we visited the 400 year old Yun Garden, the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Nanjing Road, the famous BUND, Zhujiajiao Water Town, Tianzifang, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, and finally we attended an incredible Acrobat Show. Then on June 6thth we traveled back to Beijing by fast train (4.5 hours) and on June 7thth we departed China.

We have traveled to many different places all over the world during the past 21 years and I must say this excursion in China arranged for us by the very efficient, professional, and knowledgeable agent Wendy Dan of China Discovery was truly unbelievable. Simply put, Wendy Dan and all of the drivers and especially our English-speaking guides provided us with services way above our expectations. We indeed experienced a voyage of a lifetime.

During the past 21 years, we have traveled to the Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, all over the USA and Canada, many places in Central America and South America, Western Europe, Northern Europe, Egypt and throughout the entire Caribbean and we have been fortunate to have a very good experience in each of those many places. China Discovery organized a 22 days’ tour along with its the very proficient, caring, and knowledgeable service providers (especially our private English-speaking tour guides) which has resulted in my wife and I having to tell the World that this trip compares with the best vacation we experienced in all of our travels during the past 21 years. We are very, very impressed with the overall beauty, safety, cleanliness, orderliness, and history we experienced at all of the places we visited. We are still amazed at the considerable level of development China has achieved during the past 35 years. Yes, put a visit to China, planned by China Discovery, on your bucket list.

Finally, my wife and I would like to express again our sincere thank you very much to Candy-Beijing, Maria-Xian, Dorjee-Lhasa, Kevin-Chengdu, Kennedy-Guilin, Charlie-Chongqing, Yichang- , Terry-Shanghai and Tina-Shanghai for your caring and professional service.

After 6 days exploring Hong Kong by ourselves we started our guided tour of China on 30th May. We are very well travelled and have always booked independently so this was a first for us to put ourselves in the hands of an online travel agency in China! Wonder Wang from China Discovery (Chengdu) had corresponded with us over a number of months and together we had formulated a tour taking in Guilin, Yangshuo, Xian, Shanghai and finally Beijing. The 4 guides, Smiley, Walender, Frank and Kevin all had very different personalities and that was an extremely interesting aspect of the holiday. They were all friendly, professional, knowledgeable and always on time. The tour was just myself and my husband accompanied by different guides and drivers.

The 2 internal flights and 2 high speed trains worked well and we were taken to the airports/stations and always met with smiling faces. The lunches were varied and we had some great meals although we had to overcome some food challenges when dining by ourselves in the evenings. Additional shows were suggested by the guides and special mention must be made of the show at Yangshuo on the River Li - amazing! The hotels and breakfasts were of a good standard although bathroom facilities in a couple of instances could have been more modern but always spotlessly clean.

The programme was varied and we tweaked it when planning with Wonder’s help. The Great Wall was amazing and we particularly loved Shanghai. We were flexible in order to maximise the time spent in places especially in Beijing.

We were a little skeptical at first booking online with a Chinese travel agency but have no worries China Discovery and Wonder Wang were efficient, professional at all times and we had a great time. China was so much more than we expected and we would not hesitate to recommend China Discovery to others and maybe one day we will return to see the rest of the country. A great holiday!

Awkwardtrip

Ms.Lyn wang was very cooperative & professional right from the time of enquiry, booking & arranging the customized China tour for 12 days covering Beijing, Yangtze river cruise, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai. We really appreciate her for organizing the tour in a very professional manner. We were bit apprehensive initially as we booked directly without any tour operator from my country of origin. It was very wonderful & pleasant experience and we really enjoyed every moment of it.

All all tour guides were very professional & cooperative giving all the required info of the tour. Yangtze river cruise by “president No-7” was very good & enjoyed the way they organised.

Zhangjiajie is a must visit place with such a scenic beauty & we feel three days there would have been more justified to enjoy thoroughly such a natural scenic beauty spot. But the only disappointment was the hotel “Wulingyuan Hotel” arranged was close to the hills but the food was really bad & couldn’t eat at all. The least we expected that the breakfast could be to suit overseas travellers, but was really not up to any standard. Suggest you to recommend any other hotels for overseas guests.

In Shanghai, there was much free time left after covering all the listed places as per itinerary & suggest tour guide could provide some local shopping tips in China as in Nanjing road it was all expensive which are otherwise generally available in any other country. Don't miss Bund walk in the evening, the skyline under lights is most delightful to watch /gaze.

Overall it was very nicely organised & we really appreciate your professionalism for well organised tour. I certainly recommend "China discovery" tour operator & happy to avail for any future tours in china.

ksenthilvel

Lyn - Our travel consultant did a wonderful job and we had a great 8 days trip covering Beijing, Xian and Shanghai.

For our May travel we started just with a web page inquiry in Jan. She was patient enough and guided all through the details. Right from Train and Air booking (Beijing-Xian-Shanghai) and optional ones everything was well timed and paced. The guides assigned did a wonderful job and were there right from the airport picket to check in on our way back. There were no ambiguities in what's covered and not and helped a lot to have well planned travel.

Our veg food requirements were well taken care of and the entire itinerary was smooth and seamless. The private van was big enough to accommodate two adults and two grown kinds with 4 big suitcases and 4 bags.

Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for english tour in China. Here are few tips;

1. Made all payments to China Discovery though Paypal since other payment modes not convenient

2. Carry enough cash (Master / Visa) not accepted at many places - excepts Starbucks and big malls. Could withdraw cash using Visa card on local ATMs. To my surprise the exchange rate was better at ATM (no additional charges) than what I got in India

3. Google, WhatsApp and Facebook access would be a challenge. I found betternet VPN handy for those 8 days

4. Unlike other places no insistence of Tips from anybody. Being private tour I tipped Guides and Drivers well (More than 12 hours every day).

5. Do expect visits to Jade Factory, Tea Museum, Terracotta factory. If you want to avoid let them know in advance

I had no reason to call Lynn during our trip and that's great :)

Go for it. I had lot of reservation while booking mine with limited online reviews available, hence sharing this.

We recently booked a 3 city private tour with China Discovery.com. The arrangements for hotels , transportation and sight seeing was flawlessly executed. I would highly recommend this tour. All this was made possible by our fabulous tour guide Riley Guo. She was very prompt in responding to all our questions. The weather towards the end of May in Beijing , Xian and Shanghai is starting to get hot but still tolerable. We were able to hike the Great wall which is spectacular for nearly 4 hours. All our tour guides (Helen in Beijing, Kelly in Xian and Frank in Shanghai) did an awesome job explaining the history and planning out the trip.

I would thoroughly recommend Riley Guo at China Discovery to help plan and organize your trip. Nothing is ever too much trouble and she was able to deliver an amazing experience at a very reasonable price. Cant wait to go back and cruise the Yangtze river and explore other cities in China.

We have heard and seen alot about how amazing China is, so my partner and I decided on a 10 days vacation to China. It's our maiden voyage to China and we selected Beijing as our first destination to kick start our adventure..

It was a last minute decision with additional complication when we decided to include a meet up with friends who are residing in North East of China. Our hectic daily schedule meant that very little time were spent on researching our trip. Fortunately we found China Discovery who were able to provide personalised travel itineraries. Wendy Dan was assigned to assist us in planning our trip. Wendy has a patient of a saint and she is extremely helpful, professional and obviously dedicated to her job.

We appreciate the complexity involved in the trip as we were pretty ambitious with our travel plans and we were constantly tweaking our schedule. Wendy was always on hand to assist and offers suggestions to suit our challenging travel plans. Our constant tweaking were compacting the timeline for Wendy to organise our trip.

We finally decided on a 5 days self organised travel plan prior to engaging the service of China Discovery for a 5 days Beijing and Datong trip.

When we embarked on the trip organised by China Discovery, we were concerned that the schedule may be punishing since we were constantly on the road for 5 consecutive days prior to China Discovery trip. Our concerns were unfounded, we found the travel itineraries very relaxing, accommodating and well planned. All our requests and requirements were well taken care off. The accommodations and transportation arrangement were of excellent and much appreciated.

Connector740452

Hello Jack,

We recently got back from our wonderful 19 days trip to China and wanted to take this time to thank you for preparing such an awesome itinerary for us. It was tailored to the places we wanted to visit Beijing, Xian, Lhasa,Tibet, Chengdu, Guilin, Yanshuo, Li River Cruise, Longji, Chongqing Yangtze River cruise, Yichang, Shanghai.

We enjoyed every single day of our tours to the maximum.

The treatment we received from all of our tour guides and drivers was excellent. We were always greeted on time at the airport or train station by our tour guide who promptly introduced themselves and also the driver. Very nice people always wanting to help and explain all the details about the place visited, their culture and traditions.

Hotels were beautiful, very comfortable and centrally located. Staff always ready to help if needed. We were very surprised with the beautiful gift waiting for us when we got to our hotel in Chengdu. I wished we had more time to go visit you in your office and personally thank you.

The very well planned itinerary was carried out to our expectations, never a missed placed to visit, and when it was time for our next destination, our tour guide had everything under control, from taking our bags to getting our tickets and making sure we were in the right place on time.

The Yangtze River cruise was very relaxing, excellent buffet and staff service. Our activity coordinator Rebecca, was great in keeping the activities going and letting us know which sceneries where coming up and what to look for every time. Nightly entertainment was very good also. The tours very very well organized and we really enjoyed them.

We loved every city visited and experienced different Chinese cuisine every placed we went. The restaurants and food was carefully selected always keeping in mind if we were allergic to any food or liked or disliked any hot spices.

We are very happy and it has been an amazing vacation and a learning experience. Will be happy to recommend your company and specially you Jack for all your help, patience and knowledge. We'll be happy to return to China to experience many other beautiful places we didn't get to see this time around.

Thank you very much for everything you did for us.

Idania and Alberto Mesa

We have just returned from our holiday organized by Jack Li in China Discovery. This amazing tour lasted twenty days and we visited Beijing,Xi’an,Chengdu,Lijiang,Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou and Shanghai. We found China Discovery to be an absolutely reliable tour company,responsible and very attentive. The service was of the highest quality- hotels,guides,drivers and all the restaurants attended and recommended. We have full confidence in recommending China Discovery for anyone needing a stress free holiday in China. In each location the guides were professional,enthusiastic and delighted to give us an insight into their community-history,customs,religions,fauna and flora. In fact each location was a highlight and we have a lifetime of unforgettable memories. We would like to thank Jack Li for customizing our tour and for taking such good care of us. It was a remarkable holiday made possible by the expertise and efficiency of China Discovery and its wonderful team.

daniela1122

We've just come back from 2 amazing weeks in China booked through China Discovery based in Chengdu, our travel consultant was Johnson. We chose a bespoke tour taking in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengu, then a short river cruise on The Yangtze, followed by a night in Zhangjiajie and finishing off in Shanghai. We had the most amazing time. Johnson organised the trip and was very patient with our infinte changes to the itinerary,

Johnson arranged all the transport within China, hotels, and guides in each of the cities, all guides spoke excellent english, were really well organised and knowlegeable. Ruby (in Chengdu), Kimi (in Xi'an) and Johnson (in Zhangjiajie) were absolutely excellent and made our stay really special. Having a guide cuts down the queueing time considerably as tickets are prebooked for you and they only need to be picked up, in some places there are preferential queues for guided tours.

We travelled mainly by high speed train, which is by far the most convenient way of seeing the country. We were astounded by how efficient, clean and punctual the trains were. We also used the underground system of most of the cities we stayed in, we found them all easy to navigate, modern, clean and punctual.

We had 3 days in Beijing , we stayed at the Park Plaza: excellent breakfast comfortable and clean rooms, excellent location. In Beijing we saw the Forbidden city, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace and had a great day on the Great Wall, which is astoundingly impressive, coming down on the tobbogan was great fun. We were supposed to visit the Hutongs and have a go at some calligraphy, but unfortunately due to a mix of Beijing traffic, an early afternoon train to catch and the calligraphy person being called away, we were unable to do this last activity.

The second stop was Xi'an , we stayed at the Grand Mercure on Remnin Square, Less impressive than the other hotels in the square, but comfortable and excellently located. It was built in the Soviet era and had an air of faded grandeur. The Terracotta Warriors were breathtaking and we had a lovely time cycling round the town walls. Xi'an is a really pretty city by night with bustling markets and pretty lights everywhere. We took the opportunity to learn to make dumplings and have lunch with a local family. This was a great experience. It was in one of the super-modern high rise buildings that are ubiquitous, the host was a former guide and it was one of the best meals we had in the holiday. It was more a demonstration of how to fill the dumplings rather than a cookery lesson, but we enjoyed it nevertheless.

Next stop Chengdu , home of the pandas. We stayed in the Dorset Grand, the only way to describe the hotel is WOW! The highlight was the Pandas, we enjoyed Renmin park and the Opera. We mentioned to our guide that we wanted to try the local hotpot so she stayed with us into the evening to help us with ordering and show us how it was done.

The next stop was Chongqing , from here we took a 3 day cruise on the Yangtze on the Century Legend, which was a lot of fun and restful after the busyness of the previous week. Food was ordinary at best. The cruise had group excursions, which made us really grateful that we booked a private tour with China Discovery for most of the holiday (rather than a group tour with a UK based agency) as there was a lot of hanging around waiting for other people. The quality of the guides provided by China Discovery was also much higher. Breathtaking scenary and an amazing feat of politics and engineering.

Second last stop Zhangjiajie , the slow train was incredibly interesting, and it was the first look of small town, rural China we caught. It had a completely different feel from the other places we visited. As we got there we wished we had followed Johnson's advice and stayed an extra day. To sum the place up in one word: spectacular, we saw Tianmen Mountain and the Yellow dragon cave.

Finally a last few days in Shanghai , we stayed at the Sunrise on the Bund, a beautiful hotel, but not really on the bund. We were unlucky that there were night roadworks going on outside our window, but the staff did their best to mitigate their impact. Shanghai does not really need a guide, it is quite westernised and it is easy to navigate. The advantage of having a guide is that you will pack much more into the day. Again, we were grateful to have one of China Discovery's guides for one of the 3 days we spent here. As when we asked the concierge at the hotel for direction for a shopping centre, he arranged for a taxi to take us to a really hard sale place that made us feel quite uncomfortable. During the rest of the holiday only twice we had been taken to places where we felt in some way obliged to buy something, but it was not a hard sell, the trips were listed on the itinerary and we could have said we did not want to go there.

Overall it was a great holiday and we have been so impressed by the organisation and value for money provided by China Discovery and Johnson that we are planning to do a tour of Southern China in the next couple of years.

When researching tours of China we found that China Discovery was the perfect company to book with as we were able to customise our own trip.

We traveled to multiple destinations within China where we had our own personal guides which made the language barrier a breeze as we were able to thoroughly enjoy ourselves with no stress. The guides had excellent English and local knowledge and showed us many things that we would have otherwise missed.

I would not hesitate to recommend China Discovery and our tour coordinator Wing Zeng. She was excellent at planing the whole tour for us, including the internal travel arrangements. I was also very impressed with how she kept in contact with us throughout the entire trip.

When traveling domestically in China, we soon noticed that there were no signs in English at the airports so we were very grateful to have our tour guides assist us with the flight check-ins.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in China and would definitely recommend this company to others.

David1990CH

Switzerland

We wanted to visit some sights in different cities in China. Riley from China Discovery was very patient and competent and helped us plan our trip. She answered all our questions quickly and also helped us process our VISA applications.

This resulted in a 16-day tour during which we visited the following cities: Beijing, Harbin, Chengdu, Lhasa, Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo and Guilin. Riley organized for us the tickets for 6 domestic flights and 2 train trips. In each city we were welcomed by a tour guide and a driver. Everything went smoothly and everything was well organized.

We would like to thank Riley for her patient support and would book our next trip to China with her again.

NorthStar769301

My husband and I were very, very pleased with the arrangements our online consultant Wing Zeng with China Discovery Yangtze River Cruise Tibet Discovery put together for us which was a 14 day trip. We flew into Beijing, experienced the Great Wall, the imperial palace, Xian, to see the Terra cotta warriors, cities in between, we cruised along the Li River and a 3 days cruise down the Yangtze River. Our trip ended in Shanghai. Yes, we too were a bit uncomfortable making arrangements online with such a distance away but Ms Wing put our minds at ease. Our experience was beyond our expectations starting with our tour sites and hotels. We were able to experience transportation that we don’t have in our area like the bullet train and subway. Our Guides, Mr Jean, Ms Alice, Ms Vivian, Ms Fay, and Zack were all fabulous at what the do. We would definitely book with this company again.

Wonder Wang organised an incredible memorable tour for us. our ten day trip in China was faultless - from the minute we put our feet in China right up to our flight home we were cared for in every detail. our guides and their drivers were simply amazing. Forest in Beijing, besides being very knowledgeable was a caring and lovely human being. Avril in Shanghai and Vivian in Xian were excellent as well. Their English was excellent. Punctual, arranged great lunches and simply excelled in all areas. Wonder arranged lovely hotels in the best locations. I would highly recommend China Discovery to anyone who wants to travel in China. 110% all the way!!

My son and I just returned from a seven day trip to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. The trip was booked with China Discovery and I would like to express my satisfaction and appreciation for a well organized and extremely enjoyable trip from beginning to end. The guides - Lindsay and Vivienne in Beijing , Timo in Xi'an , Laura in Shanghai were all organized, punctual, pleasant and professional. Everything went smoothly and we really enjoyed the 5-star hotel package. The food that was included exceeded our expectations for most of the time and the drivers were courteous and safe . Many thanks China Discovery for helping us to experience such a wonderful time.

We chose a private tour as we wanted a relaxing trip, some time to ourselves, and flexibility. I arranged our 18 day trip through Catherine Liu (China Discovery, based in Chengdu). I made several changes to our itinerary, had many questions and a few concerns; Catherine responded quickly allying our concerns, providing more information, and making the changes requested. We travelled by air, bullet trains and private vans. All our guides were great, heaps of historic and local knowledge.

The Ice & Snow Festival in Harbin was on our bucket list, so expectations were high. Harbin is awesome: very friendly people, great food, stunning scenery, and didn’t feel as cold as we expected (due to the dry air, it felt 10 degrees warmer than it actually was – still cold though). I do recommend visiting the Snow Park towards the end on the day so you can catch the light show, it’s stunning. The second floor of the tourist information centre has some entertaining stuff to look at too.

Beijing was great! I do recommend going in the winter/off-season, as it is much less crowded. Our tour guide Eric was amazing; we loved his sense of humour, entertaining way of telling us about the history & chatty story titbits, and his enthusiasm was contagious. We were always either in awe or laughing. Unfortunately I started to get sick while in Beijing.

Xian was impressive, but unfortunately I got sicker. Catherine had kept in touch throughout, to see how I was, and arranged for me to visit the hospital with our interpreter. That was an experience I won’t forget.

We were so impressed with our tours, interpreters, drivers, and ongoing attention to detail (both pre & during the trip); we asked to meet Catherine when we were in Chengdu to thank her personally. The tour far exceeded our expectations, accommodation was great, and Catherine ensured my request for hotels with comfortable beds was met.

Thanks again to Catherine, our guides and drivers.

My sister-in-law and I booked a three day tour of Beijing and two-day tour of Xian with China Discovery. Mr. Leo Li was our contact and he was extraordinary. He helped us with every detail of the tour, making suggestions and providing the very best tour I have ever experienced. He also made changes "on the fly" when we made changes and we still didn't miss anything! Our tour guides were also extraordinary. Candy, our Beijing guide, was an awesome young woman with incredible knowledge of the city, it's important buildings, art, history, food, and anything else we wanted to know. She was articulate, friendly, and full of exuberance. Our driver in Beijing was tireless in his difficult job of navigating the city and taking us outside of Beijing to see the Great Wall. Becky, our Xian tour guide, was also excellent. Despite her young child being sick with the stomach flu, she navigated us around this beautiful city effortlessly and explained the history of the Terra Cotta warriors with clarity and expertise. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this company for any length of tour required. When I return to China - and I will - China Discovery will be my tour guide of choice. Thank you Leo, Candy, and Becky for making this trip one we will remember forever.

These guys are the real deal!

I used the China Discovery office based in Chengdu. Vivien hooked us up with an unforgettable 4 day tour in Beijing. Vivien was in constant communication answered all my questions and concerns about going to China as USA citizens. She had it all under control!

They picked us up arriving at airport ,brought us to hotel and back afterwards.

My family and I had no issues at all not being able to speak the language during the tour as well as our tour guide handled any translating necessary.

As far as the tour went, our guide wasted not one minute! We walked alot, saw and learned an incredible amount if history in four days. Our guide named Jeans , was incredibly knowledgable of the many thousands of years of Chinese history.

He really impressed me with the details about the history he knew and a great attitude to go along ! I highly recommend these guys!

Our trip to China was awesome. I wanted to visit the great wall of china and it was in my bucket list for a long time . Customer service rep RILEY at china discovery helped me so so much in making my dream come true. I talked to many companies , but riley was very helpful and prompt. He was not only very informative he was patient and answered all my questions. He made sure all our needs were met. He took care of us and checked on us even after we left china. We started in Beijing and finished in Xian. Our tour guides Mr. Jean in Beijing and Mr. Ben in Xian were very good. They took care of all our need and beyond . The drivers were on time as well. All in all we had an Excellent trip. Thankyou so much Riley for making it all easier on us. Thankyou for taking care of all our needs and paying attention to every single detail.

I'm from England, in April 2018, I was looking for a tour of China and as most people do, looked at many differnt companies. I sent off ideas of where I wanted to go and the types of things that interested me. I came accross China discovery and to be honest, the reviews on this site were mixed. Some very good, some very bad. As I read on, it appeared that there were 2 companies running with the same name, this one in Chengdu, China and one in America. Reading through it seemed that it was the one in America that was getting the bad press.

I was also concerned about sending money to a company in Asia, anayway I did & needent have worried. Johnson Wang arranged everything, answered all questions etc, changed and rechanged my schedule and phoned me during the trip to check all was ok. Thanks Johnson.

I started in Beijing,went to the forbidden city. in all of these places,trains, planes, visitor sites, expect to que and have your bags etc searched and scanned along with visa and passports etc. You really need a full day to get round the forbidden city and visit the musems. I didn't want a trip that took me to the great wall and said there you go, pop up and be back in 30 minutes so told them I wanted to be out in the country so got them to arrange a 3hr walk on the wall at Jinshanling, quieter than closer options but out in the mountains & lovely. be warned, it is very steep up and down in places. This done, back to Beijing then more sights the next day before the bullet train to Xian.When you gou get off the train and go up the steps, make sure you know whether to turn right or left, big staiton.

All the guides, drivers were waiting for me on time at every location and spoke good english. Johnny was the guide here in Xian and very pleasant and informitive. As with most, I came to see the terracottas and wasn't dissapointed but be aware the 3rd chamber with the horse and carrage was heaving when I went, not comfortable, they need to limit numbers a bit. Hang Wang Tomb is a must and worth the drive out there.Shanxi museum also worth a look but give yourself a good 4 hrs +. I had 6 internnal flights in all, these are flexible in there timings and can and do change so expect that, if they don't, all the better but be prepared to be flexible.Next, Hotel Universal at Guilin with riverside room - good. Guides name was Dixon, again very friendy and informitive. From here I took a boat down the Lee river, about 50 miles of snaking river to Yangsou. Lovely little place, good hotel (new century) nice park to walk left side beyond car park. Also the water show - well worth the visit, outdoors, on river,at night, can get cold (or wet) so go prepared. About 3oo mostly locals involved alongside quality singers and good use of lighting. Next back to Guilin and flight to Kunming (Stone forest area but do go to the Ethnic Younan show, (minority tribes) not cheap but a wow) Dali -best for me + N hotel a wow, Guide here was Alice and probably the best. lovely woman, good knowledge and way with people. Lots of options here. Next flew to Chongching for 3 nights on Yangtze cruise, again, lovely views along the way. some of their optional trips on the cruise wern't so good but they are optional. You do notice the smog but it got clearer into my trip. Don't expect many locals anywhere, restaurants etc to speak english so use an app to translate menus etc. Also, the shops wouldn't accept western credit cards whilst I was there, this may change but check first. Food varies from province to province.

All in all I had an excellent trip, well looked after by guides and Johnny.

See more reviews on Tripadvisor See all reviews from our guests

Amazing Beijing Travel Stories

Here are selected travel stories shared by our valued customers who visited Beijing and more stunning places. May these stories ignite your wanderlust and make you pack your bags and go! Or, you can click 2012-2024 Customer Travel Stories for more stunning stories.

Elie & Marie has successfully enjoyed their wonderful and romantic 10 week couple's private vacation and experienced a lot of interesting things in 32 destinations around vast China!

 Elie (Belgium)
 (69 Days) 2019.09.04~2019.11.11
 Beijing - Hohhot - Datong - Pingyao - Luoyang - Xian - Jiayuguan......Yunnan - Guilin - Xiamen - Hangzhou - Shanghai

North American English Teachers’ China Trip to Visit Their Students off Internet

We customized three big group China trips for tens of VIPKid English teachers and their family members to visit Xian, Shanghai, etc. from Beijing and meet their students off Internet in China in 2019!

 VIPKid Teachers (USA/Canada)
 (9-21 Days) 2019
 Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Suzhou - Hangzhou - Huangshan -... - Chengdu

Winston's Couple Tour to 9 Cities all around China plus Yangtze Cruise

Winston and his wife have traveled to many world places during the past 21 years and experienced the best vacation this time to explore China's west and east, north and south parts!

 Winston (USA)
 (22 Days) 2019.05.17~2019.6.07
 Beijing - Xian - Lhasa - Chengdu - Guilin - Longsheng - Yangshuo - Yangtze River Cruise - Shanghai - Suzhou - Beijing

William and his wife traveled to Huangshan and Zhangjiajie with us in 2017. This time they laid more emphasis on culture and history, so he went to several ancient capitals of China.

 William (USA)
 (11 Days) 2018.03.22~2018.04.01
 Beijing - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Xian/Luoyang - Dengfeng - ... - Mount Tai - Beijing

Some top destinations like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Tibet etc. are undoubtedly beautiful and amazing. But there are some other places will pleasant surprise you, like Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple...

 Ms.Lee (USA)
 (18 Days) 2017.09.18~2017.10.05
 Kathmandu - Kunming - Lhasa - Shigatse - Xian - Luoyang - Pingyao - Datong

In 22 days, we managed to see a far bit of the country. We started in Beijing had 4 days there and we went to The Forbidden City, go to the top and overlook Tiananmen Square which was amazing.

 Paul (Australia)
 22 Days (2017.07.31~2017.08.21)
 Beijing - Datong - Pingyao - Xian - Chengdu - Guilin - Yangtze - Shanghai

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A Travel Guide To Beijing: 10 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip

If you decide to travel to Beijing, it's a good idea to research as much as you can before you buy your plane tickets and make hotel reservations.

Beijing, China's capital city, has a population of 21.54 million (as of 2018) but it's not as big as Shanghai, according to China Highlights . If you get the chance to travel to Beijing, it's a good idea to research as much as you can before you officially buy your plane tickets and make some hotel reservations.

In order to maximize your time, check out the best hotels to book, some things to do, what restaurants will give you the best dining experience, and how to get around the city.

Here is a travel guide to Beijing: 10 things to know while planning your trip.

Go See Lama Temple And Spend Time In The 798 Arts District

According to Fodors , you want to go see Lama Temple, which has a statue of a Buddha that is 85 feet and made from sandalwood.

Travelers should also spend some time in the 798 Arts District. This is a fascinating area as there are art galleries, cafes, and you can walk around. This area dates back to the end of the '90s and used to be a bunch of factories.

Travel To Beijing In The Autumn And Spring

China Highlights recommends going to Beijing between the months of September and November. The website also suggests April and May as really good times of the year to go.

This is because you're going to get the best weather during those times. China Highlights also says that if you go when it's a holiday, you could find quite a lot of people, so it's best to avoid those dates.

Stay At New World Beijing Hotel Or Regent Beijing

If you stay at New World Beijing Hotel, it'll be super easy to get around as you can walk and in ten minutes, you'll be at the Chongwenmen Subway Station. There are also two restaurants in the hotel and your room will allow you to really see Beijing. There's a spa, a pool, and people shared on Booking.com that the rooms are nice and it's a great experience.

You could also stay at Regent Beijing which is close to the airport, a quick walk to Beijing Peninsula Shopping Arcade, and also enables you to walk to restaurants. It's going to be a lovely, luxurious experience.

Stay In The Qianmen Area Or Wangfujing

When you travel to Beijing, what area should you stay in? Top China Travel suggests the Qianmen Area as it has a "slow pace of life" and it's a "historical center of old Beijing."

The website also recommends Wangfujing as it's close to many things and so it's easy to get around from there. You'll also find a lot of stores if that's something that interests you.

Eat Dumplings Then Go To Black Sesame Kitchen

Fodors recommends that people who travel to Beijing try dumplings since they're such a popular dish. The publication says that people dip them in black vinegar and the dumplings have a filling of pork and chives or cabbage.

Travelers will also enjoy eating at Black Sesame Kitchen. You do have to make reservations ahead of time, but this will be a really fun meal. Customers are given two wine pairings and a ten-course menu, and since the kitchen isn't closed off, you can get an inside look at how local food is cooked.

There Are Many Ways To Get Around Beijing

When it comes to public transportation, Beijing has a lot in common with other big cities: you can use the subway system, get a taxi, or hop on a bus.

Trip Advisor says that the subway won't cost very much and as a nice bonus, you can even get on the Airport Train from there. You can get on a subway car as early as five in the morning and the service stops at 11 at night. The website does caution travelers that although buses are a convenient way to get around, they are often super crowded so it's a "standing room only" type of situation. And, of course, you can always take taxis.

Don't Miss The Great Wall Of China Or Beihai Park

Of course, if you're in Beijing, you have to go to the Great Wall of China . It's 356 miles and, according to Travel China Guide , it's convenient to get there if you're staying in Beijing.

You also want to go to Beihai Park which Travel China Guide says is among the parks that have been in the area for the longest period of time. It has 175 acres and there is a beautiful botanical garden.

You Want To Have Cash On You, But Don't Tip

China Highlights says that the currency used in China is Renminbi (RMB or CNY). The website shares that while you can use credit cards in certain places (especially if they are higher-end hotels), you're going to do the best with local cash. It's a good idea to exchange some money before leaving for your trip.

According to Trip Savvy , leaving a tip on a bill in China is "generally uncommon and can even be considered rude or embarrassing in some circumstances." Even though travelers do sometimes tip the people working at hotels, it doesn't sound like it's something that you should do.

Find A Flight Deal In March

Cheap Flights says that the best time of the year to fly to Beijing is March. As is the case with many places since the Christmas holidays are pricey, December is considered the worst month.

The website recommends making flight arrangements 54 days prior to when you want to travel. If you can book a Thursday a.m. flight, it could be even more affordable.

Experiencing Beijing The Way That Its Residents Do

According to Metro.co.uk , if you want to experience Beijing as if you lived there, you can't miss Gui Jie road which has tons of restaurants (more than 150, in fact). It's also fun to go to some breweries in the Sanlitun district.

The publication also advises travelers to know that cars don't tend to halt at red lights, so walking around can feel a bit tricky at times, so that's something to be aware of. Walking around a city is always the best way to see it, though.

Sources: Chinahighlights.com , Tripadvisor.com , Tripsavvy.com , Cheapflights.ca , Travelchinaguide.com , Metro.co.uk , Fodors.com , Topchinatravel.com

Update April 12, 2024

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China Travel Advisory

Travel advisory april 12, 2024, mainland china, hong kong & macau - see summaries.

Updated due to new national security legislation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Summary: Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.

Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Reconsider travel to the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services . Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Macau SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction .

Mainland China – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws , including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions .

Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.

The Department of State has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the PRC government exists in the PRC.

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to interrogations and detention without fair and transparent treatment under the law.

Foreigners in the PRC, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign-government personnel, academics, relatives of PRC citizens involved in legal disputes, and journalists have been interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws. The PRC has also interrogated, detained, and expelled U.S. citizens living and working in the PRC.

PRC authorities appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage. There is increased official scrutiny of U.S. and third-country firms, such as professional service and due diligence companies, operating in the PRC. Security personnel could detain U.S. citizens or subject them to prosecution for conducting research or accessing publicly available material inside the PRC.

Security personnel could detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR governments.

In addition, the PRC government has used restrictions on travel or departure from the PRC, or so-called exit bans, to:

compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations;
pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad;
resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens; and
gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.

U.S. citizens might only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there may be no available legal process to contest an exit ban in a court of law. Relatives, including minor children, of those under investigation in the PRC may become subject to an exit ban.

The PRC government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a U.S. citizen and choose to enter Mainland China on travel documents other than a U.S. passport and are detained or arrested, the PRC government may not notify the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulates General or allow consular access.

Check with the PRC Embassy in the United States for the most updated information on travel to the PRC. In some limited circumstances travelers to Mainland China may face additional COVID-19 testing requirements to enter some facilities or events.

The Department of State does not provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID-19 vaccine doses where they are eligible.

Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC. A positive drug test, even if the drug was legal elsewhere, can lead to immediate detention, fines, deportation, and/or a ban from re-entering the PRC. PRC authorities may compel cooperation with blood, urine, or hair testing. Penalties for drug offense may exceed penalties imposed in the United States.

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION, and TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURES

Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence and surveillance, are common in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures. Authorities may impose curfews and travel restrictions on short notice.

If you decide to travel to Mainland China:

Enter the PRC on your U.S. passport with a valid PRC visa and keep it with you.
Read the travel information page for Mainland China .
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Avoid demonstrations.
Exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
Avoid taking photographs of protesters or police without permission.
Keep a low profile.
If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Embassy Beijing or the nearest U.S. Consulate General immediately.
Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter . Follow U.S. Embassy Beijing on Twitter , WeChat , and Weibo .
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest Travel Health Information related to the PRC.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Summary: Hong Kong SAR authorities have dramatically restricted civil liberties since the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) imposed the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR on June 30, 2020. Following the Hong Kong SAR government’s enactment of its own Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, 2024, Hong Kong SAR authorities are expected to take additional actions to further restrict civil liberties.

The 2020 National Security Law outlines a broad range of vaguely defined offenses, such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance builds on this framework with additional vaguely defined offenses, such as treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, sabotage against public infrastructure, and external interference. According to the legislation, these offenses are applicable to foreign nationals within the Hong Kong SAR and to individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, located outside its borders. Under these provisions, anyone who criticizes the PRC and/or Hong Kong SAR authorities may face arrest, detention, expulsion, and/or prosecution. Hong Kong SAR authorities are attempting to enforce these provisions against individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, residing outside of their jurisdiction by offering cash rewards for information leading to their arrests in the Hong Kong SAR.

Dual Nationality: The Hong Kong SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter Hong Kong SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau .

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges under the 2020 National Security Law and/or the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

If you decide to travel to the Hong Kong SAR:

Enter the Hong Kong SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
Read the travel information page for the Hong Kong SAR .
Be aware of your surroundings.
If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau immediately.
Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Do not consume drugs in the Hong Kong SAR or prior to arriving in the Hong Kong SAR.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on Facebook and Twitter .
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest Travel Health Information related to the Hong Kong SAR.
Monitor local media, local transportations sites, and apps like MTR Mobile or Citybus for updates.

Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Summary: The U.S. government has a limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Macau SAR due to People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel restrictions on U.S. diplomatic personnel.

Even in an emergency, the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires all U.S. diplomatic personnel, including those accredited to the Macau SAR, to apply for and receive visas before entering the Macau SAR. Approval takes at least five to seven days, significantly limiting the U.S. government’s ability to offer timely consular services in the Macau SAR.

Dual Nationality: The Macau SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter the Macau SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau .

If you decide to travel to the Macau SAR:

Enter the Macau SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
Read the travel information page for the Macau SAR .
If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Do not consume drugs in the Macau SAR or prior to arriving in the Macau SAR.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on Facebook and Twitter .
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest Travel Health Information related to the Macau SAR.
Monitor local media and the Macau Government Tourism Office website for updates.
Review your flight status with your airline or at the Macau International Airport website.

Travel Advisory Levels

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COMMENTS

Beijing, China: All You Must Know Before You Go (2024)
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market.
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Beijing
9. Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) 2,954. Points of Interest & Landmarks. Located on the highest point in Beijing City, this park was built in 1179 during the Jin Dynasty and today provides visitors with sweeping views of the Forbidden City located below. See full details.
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Beijing
Jingshan Park is renowned for its artificial hill, constructed from soil excavated during the construction of the Forbidden City's palace moat. From the hilltops, you can enjoy great city views. Review of: Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) Written March 6, 2024.
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Beijing (Updated 2024)
2023. 1. Mutianyu Great Wall. 24,033. Ancient Ruins. Admission tickets from C$44. In 1368 AD, Mutianyu Great Wall was built by Xu Da who is the main general for Zhuyuanzhang in the Great Wall ruins of Northern Qi Dynasty. Linked to Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west,the section of the Great Wall is the military hub defensing of the ...
Beijing Tourism (2024): All You Need to Know Before You Go
A city where history and modernity share centre stage. Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square).
Beijing, China: All You Need to Know Before You Go (2024)
360,771. PLAN YOUR TRIP. Beijing. Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market ...
Beijing, China 2022: Best Places to Visit
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market.
THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Beijing
Top Things to Do in Beijing, China: See Tripadvisor's 659,364 traveller reviews and photos of 2,533 things to do when in Beijing.
Beijing, China 2024: All You Need to Know Before You Go
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market.
Beijing, China 2024: Best Places to Visit
In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market. A visit to the Great Wall, the longest manmade structure in the world, is ...
THE 30 BEST Places to Visit in Beijing (UPDATED 2024)
2023. 1. Mutianyu Great Wall. 24,045. Ancient Ruins. Admission tickets from ₹2,688. In 1368 AD, Mutianyu Great Wall was built by Xu Da who is the main general for Zhuyuanzhang in the Great Wall ruins of Northern Qi Dynasty. Linked to Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west,the section of the Great Wall is the military hub defensing of ...
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78º F. WARMEST. 52 in. WETTEST. Sep - Nov. $115. 55º F. 19 in. Price trend information excludes taxes and fees and is based on base rates for a nightly stay for 2 adults found in the last 7 days on our site and averaged for commonly viewed hotels in Beijing.
THE 10 BEST Beijing Tours & Excursions for 2024 (with Prices)
from. $100. per adult. 14. Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. 23. Historical Tours. 6+ hours. Bag Beijing's Big Three—the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall—in just a day on this convenient door-to….
Traveling to Beijing, China: Your Ultimate Travel Guide [2024]
Beijing, the capital city of China, is located in the northeastern part of the country. It is situated at approximately 39.9 degrees north latitude and 116.4 degrees east longitude. Beijing is surrounded by the province of Hebei to the north, west, and south, while the municipality of Tianjin lies to its southeast.
TripAdvisor Beijing
We started in Beijing had 4 days there and we went to The Forbidden City, go to the top and overlook Tiananmen Square which was amazing. Read China Discovery's reviews about Beijing travel and tour experience on tripadvisor.com to know tour arrangements, attractions, guides, drivers/car, transportation in Beijing.
A Travel Guide To Beijing: 10 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip
both images are via Trip Advisor. Fodors recommends that people who travel to Beijing try dumplings since they're such a popular dish. The publication says that people dip them in black vinegar and the dumplings have a filling of pork and chives or cabbage. Travelers will also enjoy eating at Black Sesame Kitchen.
Top Things to Do in Beijing
Things to Do in Beijing, China: See Tripadvisor's 659,624 reviews & photos of 2,533 Beijing attractions.
THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Beijing
9. Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) 2,954. Points of Interest & Landmarks. Located on the highest point in Beijing City, this park was built in 1179 during the Jin Dynasty and today provides visitors with sweeping views of the Forbidden City located below. See full details.
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Asia forums. China forums. Get answers to your questions about Beijing. Ask a question. Travel forums for Beijing. Discuss Beijing travel with Tripadvisor travelers.
China Travel Advisory
China Travel Advisory. Updated due to new national security legislation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Summary: Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions. Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong ...
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Next time in Beijing we will again choose their travel services. Thank you. Date of experience: April 2024. Ask Escape57202143125 about Temple of Heaven Tickets Booking. Thank Escape57202143125 . This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our ...
China Travel Beijing
per adult (price varies by group size) Longqingxia Gorge Cruise and Guyaju Cave Dwellings Private Day Tour. 44. Full-day Tours. from. $216.00. per adult (price varies by group size) Beijing Private Day Tour of Forbidden City and Great Wall at Mutianyu. 32.
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THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Beijing
9. Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) 2,954. Points of Interest & Landmarks. Located on the highest point in Beijing City, this park was built in 1179 during the Jin Dynasty and today provides visitors with sweeping views of the Forbidden City located below. See full details.
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Airline, Airport, and Travel Abbreviations; Air Travel Queries: accessibility,wedding dresses,travelling with children. Connecting Flights at London Heathrow Airport; TUI Airways (formerly Thomson) Dreamliner - Movies and Seating Information ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++ Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel
Blinken will travel to China amid concerns of global issues
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China in the coming week as the Biden administration continues to try to ensure that the US-China relationship stays the course, even as the US ...
Tripadvisor Announces 2024 Travelers' Choice Hotels Award Winners
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Explore Beijing

Essential Beijing

Trending in the forums

Beijing Is Great For

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Explore Beijing

Essential Beijing

Trending in the forums

Beijing Is Great For

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Explore Beijing

Essential Beijing

Trending in the forums

Beijing Is Great For

Great tours of the Great Wall

Unleashing your inner artisan

Traveling to Beijing, China: Your Ultimate Travel Guide [2024]

Table of Contents

🌏Getting to Beijing, China

🔍 Where is Beijing China Located?

✈️Getting to Beijing by Plane

🚆Getting to Beijing by Train

1. Explore the Forbidden City – One of the Best Places to Visit in Beijing

2. Glimpse the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park

3. Explore the Beihai Park

4. Visit the Temple of Heaven – A Sacred Place with Historical Significance

5. Witness the Flag-Raising Ceremony at Tian’anmen Square

6. Visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

7. Pay A Visit to the National Museum of China

8. Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution – Fans of Weapon Must See

9. Explore Another Museum at Capital Museum

10. Wander the YuYuanTan Park

11. Stroll Qianmen Street

12. Walk in Dashilar Street

13. Enjoy Peking Duck at Quanjude

14. Appreciate the Charm of Old Beijing at Nanluoguxiang

15. Taking a Stroll Down the Yandai Xiejie

16. Learn Chinese Cuisine at Black Sesame Kitchen

17. Admire the Serene Bell and Drum Tower

18. Enjoy A Night at Houhai Bar Street

19. Visit Prince Gong Mansion – A Best-Preserved Imperial Mansion

20. Go to See the Lama Temple – The Largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing

21. See the Confucius Temple and The Imperial College

22. Enjoy Coffee at Wudaoying Alley

23. Stroll Around Ditan Park

24. Find Art at 798 Art District

25. Purchase Second-hand Goods at Panjiayuan Flea Market

26. Visit Beijing Olympic Park

27. Stop by Silk Street

28. Go Shopping in Taikoo Li Sanlitun

29. Enjoy Your Nightlife at Sanlitun Bar Street

30. Do Half-day Trip to the Summer Palace

31. Explore the Ruins of Old Summer Palace

32. Admire the Charm of the Fragrant Hills Park

33. Hiking the Great Wall

Hiking the Badaling Great Wall Section

How to Get to Badaling Great Wall

Hiking Juyong Pass Great Wall Section

Hiking Mutianyu Great Wall Section

Hiking Jiankou Great Wall Section

Hiking Jinshanling Great Wall Section

34. Come to Ming Tombs

🎫Do I need a visa for China?

🤔 Why is it necessary to install a VPN in China?

📲 Is it necessary to have a Chinese SIM card while in China?

🔮 Should I buy China travel insurance?

🚙 Can you rent a car in China?

✈️ What’s the best site to purchase flight tickets for China?

🏡 What is the best way to book hotels in China?

🎒What do I pack for China?

📚 Can a guidebook for traveling to China be useful?

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