15-Day China: Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai

Q: Q: Do I need to book Universal Beijing Resort tickets separately from the tour?

A: Theme park admission for Day 4 is included in the tour price, but Universal Beijing Resort operates a real-name reservation system in addition to ticket purchase — every visitor must reserve an entry time slot through the resort's official app or mini-program using the same ID used for ticket booking. Your travel consultant will handle this reservation as part of arranging the tour; just bring the same identification document used for booking on the day.

Q: Q: How difficult is this itinerary overall?

A: This tour is rated Easy to Moderate. Most days involve flat city walking, with a full day of theme park walking at Universal Beijing Resort and a moderate day of uneven terrain, steps, and a sightseeing elevator at the Wulong Karst area. Travellers with mobility limitations should discuss the Wulong day with their travel consultant before booking.

Q: Q: What is the Yuxiandu Royal Cuisine Museum dinner like?

A: It's an immersive dining experience in Beijing's Haidian District combining an imperial-cuisine tasting menu with a costumed banquet performance and museum displays on the history of Chinese court cuisine — part meal, part theatre.

Q: Q: What is the best time of year for this itinerary?

A: March to April and October are the cleanest shared windows across all four cities on this route. Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai are best in spring and autumn, while Guangzhou is best avoided from May through September due to heat, humidity, and typhoon risk.

Q: Q: Do I need a visa to visit China for this tour?

A: Most foreign nationals need a Chinese visa to visit mainland China, and visa fees are not included in the tour price. Some nationalities can use China's short-term transit visa-free policy in certain circumstances, but this is a separate arrangement from a full tourist visa — check current requirements for your passport well before travelling.

Q: Q: How are the flights between the four cities arranged?

A: Domestic flights connect Beijing to Chongqing (roughly 2.5 hours), Chongqing to Guangzhou (roughly 2 hours), and Guangzhou to Shanghai (roughly 2 hours), and are included in the tour price along with airport transfers on each end.

Transportation
Domestic Flights & Private Car
Accomodation
4-Star Hotels & Theme Hotel
Maximum Altitude
~800 m (Wulong Karst area)
Departure from
Beijing
Best season
Mar–Apr & Oct
Tour type
Culture & Nature
Meals
Daily hotel breakfast
Language
English
Fitness level
Easy to Moderate
Group Size
15 travellers

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

This 15-day China tour combines Beijing’s imperial landmarks and a full day at Universal Beijing Resort with Chongqing’s stepped hillside lanes and karst landscapes, Guangzhou’s Lingnan heritage streets, and Shanghai’s riverfront skyline. Domestic flights connect each city, with private vehicle transport and an English-speaking guide throughout.

Five days in Beijing open with an evening around Wangfujing, followed by a full day at the Badaling section of the Great Wall capped with dinner at the Yuxiandu Royal Cuisine Museum, an immersive imperial-cuisine dining experience with a costumed banquet performance. The next day covers Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Yonghe Temple, before a full day at Universal Beijing Resort’s theme park, with an overnight stay at one of the resort’s themed hotels. Beijing concludes with the Temple of Heaven, the Bird’s Nest, and the Sanlitun district, before a flight to Chongqing.

Four days in Chongqing take in Jiefangbei, the stepped historic district of Shibati, the illuminated stilt houses of Hongyadong, and a Liangjiang night cruise; a full-day excursion to the karst landscape of Wulong; and a day combining the Dazu Rock Carvings, the Liziba monorail line running through a residential building, and the Yangtze River Cableway, before a flight to Guangzhou.

Three days in Guangzhou take in the restored Lingnan streets of Yongqingfang, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the classical garden of Yuyin Mountain House, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum, Shamian Island, the Canton Tower, and a Pearl River night cruise, before a flight to Shanghai.

The tour concludes with three days in Shanghai: Nanjing Road and an evening at the Bund on arrival; the Lujiazui financial district, Yu Garden, and a dinner cruise on the Huangpu River; and a day trip to the canal town of Zhujiajiao before departure.

Accommodation is in 4-star hotels throughout, except for the themed hotel stay at Universal Beijing Resort, with daily hotel breakfast and two named dinners included.

Highlights

Explore Beijing's Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall at Badaling
Spend a full day at Universal Beijing Resort's theme park
Wander Chongqing's stepped lanes and the illuminated stilt houses of Hongyadong
Cross the karst natural bridges of Wulong and see the Liziba monorail through a building
Discover the restored Lingnan streets of Yongqingfang and views from the Canton Tower
Cruise the Huangpu River past the illuminated Bund and Pudong skyline

Day 01 :

Beijing — Arrival & Wangfujing

After an airport transfer to your hotel, the afternoon eases into the trip with a walk around Wangfujing Pedestrian Street.

📷 Wangfujing Pedestrian Street — Day 1 Alt text (EN): Wangfujing shopping street Beijing China evening lights Search prompt: Wangfujing pedestrian street Beijing China night lights shops

Day 02 :

Beijing — Great Wall at Badaling & Imperial Cuisine Dinner

A full day is spent at the Badaling section of the Great Wall, one of the most accessible and best-restored sections near Beijing. In the evening, dinner is at the Yuxiandu Royal Cuisine Museum, an immersive dining venue combining an imperial-cuisine tasting menu with a costumed banquet performance and displays on the history of Chinese court cuisine.

📷 Great Wall at Badaling — Day 2 Alt text (EN): Great Wall Badaling section mountains Beijing China Search prompt: Great Wall of China Badaling section mountain ridge Beijing

📷 Imperial cuisine banquet performance — Day 2 Alt text (EN): imperial banquet costumed performance dinner Beijing China Search prompt: imperial court cuisine banquet performance costume Beijing China

Day 03 :

Beijing — Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Yonghe Temple

The day covers Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace, before continuing to Yonghe Temple, a working Tibetan Buddhist temple also known as the Lama Temple.

📷 Forbidden City — Day 3 Alt text (EN): Forbidden City palace rooftops Beijing China Search prompt: Forbidden City Palace Museum rooftops Beijing China

📷 Tiananmen Square — Day 3 Alt text (EN): Tiananmen Square Beijing China landmark Search prompt: Tiananmen Square Beijing China gate landmark

📷 Yonghe Temple — Day 3 Alt text (EN): Yonghe Lama Temple golden roof Beijing China Search prompt: Yonghe Temple Lama Temple golden roof Beijing China

Day 04 :

Beijing — Universal Beijing Resort

The full day is spent at Universal Beijing Resort's theme park, home to seven themed lands including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Transformers Metrobase, and Minion Land. Tickets must be purchased and reserved in advance. The night is spent at one of the resort's themed hotels.

📷 Universal Beijing Resort — Day 4 Alt text (EN): Universal Beijing Resort theme park entrance China Search prompt: Universal Beijing Resort theme park entrance China

📷 Universal Studios Grand Hotel — Day 4 Alt text (EN): Universal Studios Grand Hotel Beijing China themed lobby Search prompt: Universal Studios Grand Hotel Beijing China lobby

Day 05 :

Beijing to Chongqing — Temple of Heaven, Bird's Nest & Sanlitun

The morning covers the Temple of Heaven, an imperial complex for annual prayer ceremonies, followed by the Bird's Nest, the 2008 Olympics national stadium, and the Sanlitun district, known for its open-air dining, bars, and retail. A flight of roughly 2.5 hours then reaches Chongqing, with a walk around the Jiefangbei commercial district before checking in.

📷 Temple of Heaven — Day 5 Alt text (EN): Temple of Heaven circular building Beijing China Search prompt: Temple of Heaven circular building park Beijing China

📷 Bird's Nest stadium — Day 5 Alt text (EN): Bird's Nest National Stadium Beijing China Search prompt: Bird's Nest National Stadium Beijing China Olympic

📷 Jiefangbei Monument — Day 5 Alt text (EN): Jiefangbei Liberation Monument pedestrian street Chongqing China evening Search prompt: Jiefangbei Monument pedestrian shopping street Chongqing China night lights

Day 06 :

Chongqing — Shibati, Hongyadong & Liangjiang Night Cruise

The day returns to Jiefangbei before following the restored stepped lanes of the Shibati historic district. In the evening, the itinerary moves to the illuminated stilt-house complex of Hongyadong, followed by a Liangjiang night cruise past the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.

📷 Hongyadong — Day 6 Alt text (EN): Hongyadong illuminated stilt house complex Chongqing China night Search prompt: Hongyadong illuminated cliffside stilt buildings Chongqing China night reflection

📷 Liangjiang night cruise — Day 6 Alt text (EN): night cruise boat Yangtze Jialing river confluence Chongqing China skyline Search prompt: Liangjiang night cruise boat illuminated skyline Chongqing China rivers

📷 Shibati historic street — Day 6 Alt text (EN): Shibati stepped street traditional buildings Chongqing China stairs Search prompt: Shibati stepped historic street Chongqing China stone stairs traditional buildings

Day 07 :

Chongqing — Wulong Karst Day Trip

A full day is dedicated to the Wulong Karst area, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, taking in the natural stone bridges of Tianshengqiao and the narrow karst gorge of the Longshuixia Fissure.

📷 Tianshengqiao Natural Bridges — Day 7 Alt text (EN): Tianshengqiao three natural stone bridges karst gorge Wulong China Search prompt: Tianshengqiao natural stone bridge karst gorge Wulong Chongqing China

📷 Longshuixia Fissure — Day 7 Alt text (EN): Longshuixia Fissure narrow karst gorge steep walls Wulong China Search prompt: Longshuixia Fissure narrow canyon steep rock walls Wulong China

Day 08 :

Chongqing — Dazu Rock Carvings, Liziba & Yangtze River Cableway

The day travels out to the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage site of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian stone carvings dating back over a thousand years. Back in the city, the itinerary continues to the Liziba light-rail station, where a monorail train runs directly through a residential building, and the Yangtze River Cableway for aerial views over the river.

📷 Dazu Rock Carvings — Day 8 Alt text (EN): Dazu Rock Carvings Buddhist stone sculptures Chongqing China cliff Search prompt: Dazu Rock Carvings Buddhist stone carvings cliff Chongqing China

📷 Liziba Monorail through building — Day 8 Alt text (EN): monorail train passing through residential building Liziba Chongqing China Search prompt: Liziba monorail train through building Chongqing China elevated track

📷 Yangtze River Cableway — Day 8 Alt text (EN): cable car crossing Yangtze River Chongqing China skyline Search prompt: Yangtze River Cableway cable car crossing river Chongqing China skyline

Day 09 :

Chongqing to Guangzhou — Yongqingfang & Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

A flight of roughly 2 hours reaches Guangzhou. The afternoon continues to Yongqingfang, a restored Lingnan heritage street, and the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a 19th-century Lingnan ancestral hall renowned for its intricate carvings.

📷 Yongqingfang — Day 9 Alt text (EN): Yongqingfang restored heritage street Guangzhou China Search prompt: Yongqingfang Lingnan heritage street Guangzhou China restored

📷 Chen Clan Ancestral Hall — Day 9 Alt text (EN): Chen Clan Ancestral Hall carved architecture Guangzhou China Search prompt: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall carved roof Guangzhou China

Day 10 :

Guangzhou — Yuyin Mountain House, Cantonese Opera Museum & Shamian Island

The day travels to Yuyin Mountain House, a Qing-dynasty classical garden in Panyu District and one of Guangdong's Four Great Gardens, before returning to the city for the Cantonese Opera Art Museum, a Lingnan garden-style museum preserving Cantonese opera heritage, and the colonial-era architecture of Shamian Island.

📷 Yuyin Mountain House — Day 10 Alt text (EN): Yuyin Mountain House classical garden pond Guangzhou China Search prompt: Yuyin Mountain House classical garden pavilion Guangzhou China

📷 Cantonese Opera Art Museum — Day 10 Alt text (EN): Cantonese Opera Art Museum garden architecture Guangzhou China Search prompt: Cantonese Opera Art Museum Lingnan garden Guangzhou China

📷 Shamian Island — Day 10 Alt text (EN): Shamian Island colonial architecture tree-lined street Guangzhou China Search prompt: Shamian Island colonial buildings tree-lined street Guangzhou China

Day 11 :

Guangzhou — Canton Tower & Pearl River Night Cruise

The day is spent at the Canton Tower, a 600-metre observation and broadcast tower, followed by an evening Pearl River night cruise past the illuminated skyline.

📷 Canton Tower — Day 11 Alt text (EN): Canton Tower Guangzhou China skyline night Search prompt: Canton Tower Guangzhou China skyline night

📷 Pearl River night cruise — Day 11 Alt text (EN): Pearl River night cruise boat illuminated skyline Guangzhou China Search prompt: Pearl River night cruise illuminated skyline Guangzhou China

Day 12 :

Guangzhou to Shanghai — Nanjing Road & The Bund

A flight of roughly 2 hours reaches Shanghai. The evening brings Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, followed by a walk along the illuminated Bund waterfront.

📷 Nanjing Road — Day 12 Alt text (EN): Nanjing Road pedestrian street shops Shanghai China night Search prompt: Nanjing Road pedestrian shopping street Shanghai China night

📷 The Bund at night — Day 12 Alt text (EN): The Bund waterfront skyline Shanghai China night Search prompt: The Bund Shanghai China skyline night waterfront

Day 13 :

Shanghai — Lujiazui, Yu Garden & Dinner Cruise

The day is spent in the Lujiazui financial district, followed by Yu Garden, a Ming-dynasty classical garden. In the evening, dinner is served aboard a Huangpu River cruise, taking in the illuminated skyline while dining.

📷 Lujiazui skyline — Day 13 Alt text (EN): Lujiazui financial district skyline towers Shanghai China Search prompt: Lujiazui financial district skyline Shanghai China towers

📷 Yu Garden — Day 13 Alt text (EN): Yu Garden classical pavilion pond Shanghai China Search prompt: Yu Garden classical pavilion pond Shanghai China Ming dynasty

📷 Huangpu River dinner cruise — Day 13 Alt text (EN): dinner cruise boat illuminated skyline Shanghai China night Search prompt: Huangpu River dinner cruise illuminated skyline Shanghai China

Day 14 :

Shanghai — Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

A day trip of roughly an hour reaches Zhujiajiao, a Ming and Qing dynasty canal town with stone bridges and waterside lanes.

📷 Zhujiajiao Water Town — Day 14 Alt text (EN): Zhujiajiao water town canal stone bridge China Search prompt: Zhujiajiao ancient water town canal stone bridge Shanghai China

Day 15 :

Shanghai — Departure

The tour concludes with a private transfer to the airport for departure.