10 Days Enchanting Tour

The best thing about this tour is its sweep: in 10 days, you move from the imperial courtyards of Beijing to Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, Hangzhou’s tea hills, and Shanghai’s glowing skyline. I like the high-speed train connections and the smart mix of major sights with food streets, old neighborhoods, and evening walks.

I also like that the package includes nine breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners, along with airport transfers and 4-star hotels. The tradeoff is pace. Several days are packed, and the long rail journeys to Xi’an and Hangzhou leave limited time for spontaneous exploring.

Key points to know before booking

• Four very different cities: Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai each offer a distinct side of China.
• Badaling Great Wall: You get about three hours at one of China’s signature sights, though this is a popular and sometimes crowded section.
• Fast rail travel: The Beijing to Xi’an journey takes about five to six hours, while the trip onward to Hangzhou is listed at about seven hours.
• Well-covered meals: Nine breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners reduce daily planning and add practical value.
• Small-group potential, unclear group size: Group discounts are offered, but the stated maximum of 9,999 people does not promise a small group.
• A useful eastbound finish: The trip ends at Pudong International Airport after a final day focused on Shanghai’s old streets, French Concession, and riverfront.

Four cities, one fast-moving route

This tour gives you a classic first look at eastern China without asking you to arrange every train, hotel, transfer, and admission on your own. You begin in Beijing and finish in Shanghai, with Xi’an and Hangzhou filling in the middle.

That order makes sense. Beijing provides the grand imperial setting, Xi’an brings ancient China down to human scale, Hangzhou offers a slower green break, and Shanghai finishes with broad avenues, old villas, shopping streets, and high-rise views.

You should think of this as an escorted overview rather than a slow, local stay. The itinerary covers a lot, but it also keeps you moving. If you prefer to spend three days in one neighborhood and linger over every museum room, this may feel rushed. If you want a strong first introduction with transport and tickets handled, the structure is useful.

The price is $1,588 per person. That is meaningful value if you use the included hotels, meals, airport transfers, train travel, guides, and entrance tickets. The trip includes many major paid attractions, including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an landmarks, West Lake, and Huangpu River cruise.

Beijing begins with imperial scale

Your arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport includes a greeting from a local guide and a transfer to your hotel. The first day is intentionally light, with time to check in and recover. That is a sensible start after a long international flight, though the short airport activity listing means you should not expect sightseeing on arrival day.

Day 2 is the first big cultural push. At the Temple of Heaven, you see Ming-era buildings arranged around ideas of ancient cosmology. The grounds also provide a glimpse of everyday Beijing, with local people practicing tai chi in the open air. One hour is enough for a guided introduction, but not for a leisurely wander through every corner.

From there, the tour moves to Tiananmen Square. Its vast open space and surrounding government buildings make the visit more about scale and national history than intimate atmosphere. One hour here should give you time to take in the setting and see major landmarks such as the Great Hall of the People and Mao’s Mausoleum.

The Palace Museum, better known as the Forbidden City, is the day’s main event. It was once the private world of China’s emperors, and its courtyards, gates, halls, and decorative details make the imperial system feel physical rather than abstract. The listed one-hour visit is short for such a large complex, so stay close to your guide and avoid wandering off if you want the full explanation.

Wangfujing Street closes the day with a change of mood. You get modern shops, local boutiques, food stalls, and bright city lights. It is a convenient place to see how old Beijing and commercial Beijing sit side by side, though it is more of a popular city stop than a quiet local street.

Badaling and Beijing’s modern face

Day 3 focuses on the Great Wall at Badaling. You have about three hours, which is the right amount of time for a meaningful visit rather than a quick photo stop. The wall climbs over rugged mountain ridges, with steep stone steps and lookout points that make the defensive system easy to understand.

Badaling is accessible and well developed, but its popularity is also the drawback. You may encounter crowds, particularly around the most photographed sections. Wear shoes with good grip, take the stairs slowly, and keep water with you. The wall is impressive even when busy, but do not expect a remote or empty mountain experience.

The afternoon visit to Olympic Park shifts the focus to modern China. The Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube create a photogenic contrast with the old imperial sites. The area is spacious and suitable for a relaxed walk, although one hour gives you only a brief look rather than time for a full stadium visit.

Xi’an brings the ancient past close

After breakfast on Day 4, you board a high-speed train to Xi’an. The ride takes about five to six hours. That is a substantial travel day, but the train is a practical way to connect the two cities without arranging a separate domestic flight.

On arrival, you meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. The remaining time is listed for leisure, giving you a chance to rest after the rail journey. This is one of the few moments in the program with room to set your own pace.

Day 5 centers on the Terracotta Warriors. The underground army of life-sized figures is one of China’s most memorable archaeological sights, and the two-hour visit gives you enough time to see the main excavation areas and understand the scale of the discovery. Each soldier has individual features, which makes the site more compelling than a simple mass display.

Next comes Lishan Beacon. This stop connects scenic hill views with stories from the Qin period and the nearby Huaqing Hot Springs. Two hours gives the visit some breathing room, although the appeal depends on your interest in legends, viewpoints, and historic associations rather than a single famous building.

Xi’an by wall, bell, drum, and food

Day 6 is packed with city sights. The Xi’an City Wall is one of the best-preserved ancient walls in China, forming a 14-kilometer loop around the old city. You have one hour, enough for a walk and views over the city, but not enough to complete the circuit. The program mentions walking or biking as ways to explore, though the short scheduled stop may limit how far you go.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower each receive about an hour. Both are Ming Dynasty landmarks in central Xi’an. From their upper levels, you can look over the surrounding streets, while traditional bells and drum performances add sound to the visit. These stops work well because they show how Xi’an’s old center remains part of daily city life.

The Muslim Quarter is the day’s best food-focused stop. Its narrow lanes and stalls offer local choices such as lamb skewers and roujiamo, a filled flatbread. Since meals are included on much of the tour, use this hour for small tastes or snacks rather than expecting a long independent dinner.

The Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City finishes the evening. This free pedestrian zone uses lights, performances, and Tang-era themes to create a theatrical night walk. It is polished and busy, not an untouched historic district, but it gives you an energetic look at how modern Xi’an presents its past after dark.

Hangzhou slows the pace around West Lake

Day 7 includes another high-speed train, this time to Hangzhou. The schedule lists about seven hours for the transfer and sightseeing, so expect a long day with limited downtime. The reward is a change from monumental city sights to water, hills, gardens, and tea country.

West Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its combination of natural scenery and cultural landmarks. Pagodas, temples, gentle hills, and the lake’s paths create one of the most restful settings on the tour. One hour is brief, so you will receive an introduction rather than a complete exploration of the shoreline.

Hefang Street adds a historic commercial district to the day. Preserved architecture from the Ming and Qing periods, shops, food, and traditional products make it a useful place to browse. It is also a busy shopping street, so the experience is more active than tranquil. Watch your time if you stop to sample local treats or look at crafts.

Day 8 begins in the Longjing tea fields. The plantations in the hills west of West Lake are tied to Longjing, or Dragon Well, tea. This is a welcome outdoor stop and one of the tour’s more distinctive cultural experiences because it connects a famous drink with the place where it is grown.

The itinerary then shifts to Shanghai and the Oriental Pearl Tower. The 468-meter tower, with its series of spheres, is one of the city’s defining modern landmarks. The listing marks admission as free, so confirm exactly which viewing access is included before you arrive. Even from outside, the tower provides a clear introduction to Pudong’s futuristic skyline.

The Huangpu River cruise is a strong evening choice. You see the historic buildings of The Bund on one side and Pudong’s tall towers on the other. An hour on the water gives you the city’s best old-meets-new view, especially when the lights come on.

Shanghai mixes old streets with grand avenues

Day 9 is the fullest Shanghai sightseeing day. Wukang Road, in the former French Concession, offers a leafy walk among historic mansions and cafés. It is a calmer counterpoint to the big landmarks and gives you time to notice details at street level.

Sinan Mansions continues that theme with restored garden villas from the 1920s. The area is linked with figures including Zhou Enlai and Mei Lanfang, and its European-style buildings provide a different view of Shanghai’s past. One hour is enough for a walk and photos, though not a detailed architectural tour.

Nanjing Road brings you back to modern city energy. The 5.5-kilometer boulevard runs from The Bund toward Jing’an Temple and combines luxury shops, traditional businesses, and heavy pedestrian traffic. The scheduled hour is best used for a section of the road rather than trying to cover its full length.

Chenghuang Miao, or the Temple of the Town God, sits in Shanghai’s old city. This Taoist temple is known for ornate decoration and long religious importance. The surrounding area can feel commercial, but it remains a useful stop for seeing the older character of Shanghai.

The Bund is the natural finale. Colonial-era buildings line the river, facing Pudong’s modern towers. You get one hour, enough for the main promenade and skyline photographs. I would treat this as a signature view rather than a museum visit. The real pleasure is standing at the water and seeing two eras of Shanghai facing each other.

On Day 10, you have breakfast and some free time before transfer to Pudong International Airport. The schedule does not promise a final guided activity, so your available free time depends on your flight and transfer arrangements.

Meals, hotels, trains, and the real value

The package includes 4-star hotels, nine breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners. That removes much of the daily guesswork, especially on transfer days when finding a restaurant can be inconvenient. It also makes the $1,588 price easier to assess.

The downside is reduced choice. Included group meals may not suit every appetite or dietary preference, and the information does not describe menus or restaurants. If you have a medical dietary need, communicate it clearly before departure. One family received a reminder card for diabetes-related dietary care, which suggests that the operator has handled special needs thoughtfully, but you should still confirm arrangements in advance.

Airport pickup is offered at Beijing Capital International Airport, with the listed starting point at Capital Airport in Shunyi. The departure transfer is to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Since the cities are different, this is not a round-trip airport package, and your international flights need to match the Beijing arrival and Shanghai departure plan.

The tour uses high-speed trains for the long intercity connections. That is a major advantage over arranging separate transport yourself, but the rail days are long. Pack a small day bag with medication, a charger, water, and anything you need during a five to seven-hour ride.

A mobile ticket is offered, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Group discounts may help families or friends traveling together, but the stated maximum of 9,999 people tells you little about the actual departure size. Ask about the expected group size if that matters to you.

The cancellation terms are strict close to departure. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead receives 50 percent, while cancellation less than two full days ahead is nonrefundable.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this tour if you want China’s major first-visit highlights without managing internal transport, admissions, hotels, and meals on your own. It suits people who enjoy a full schedule and like having a local guide explain what they are seeing.

It also works well for families and friends who value straightforward logistics. The airport transfers, included meals, and 4-star hotels reduce the number of small decisions that can wear you down on a long trip.

You should think twice if you want long museum visits, free afternoons, or a small, intimate group. Beijing’s Forbidden City, Xi’an’s city wall, West Lake, and Shanghai’s old neighborhoods all deserve more time than the schedule allows. Badaling and the major shopping streets may also feel busy.

The service side appears to be a strong point. Tia is identified as a responsive trip consultant, while Jason is praised for helping make the journey memorable and for bringing destinations to life. Another family received a useful dietary reminder card and a travel gift, details that suggest attention to personal needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The published rating is five stars from four reviews, a positive sign, but still a small sample.

Should you book the 10 Days Enchanting Tour?

Book it if you want an efficient China sampler with the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, West Lake, Longjing tea fields, and Shanghai’s riverfront all in one route. The price looks reasonable when you count the included meals, hotels, trains, transfers, guides, and admissions.

Skip it if your priority is slow travel. Ten days across four major cities means early starts, long rail rides, and short visits at several important sites. For a first trip, though, the range is hard to beat. You see imperial power, archaeological wonder, tea country, and modern city life in one carefully connected journey.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 days, beginning with arrival in Beijing and ending with departure from Shanghai.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed starting point is Beijing Capital International Airport in Shunyi, Beijing. The start time is listed as 8:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The final airport transfer is to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Which cities are included?

The route includes Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered at Beijing Capital International Airport, and the final day includes a transfer to Pudong International Airport.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes nine breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners.

Are train journeys included?

The itinerary includes high-speed train travel from Beijing to Xi’an and from Xi’an to Hangzhou.

How far in advance is the tour usually booked?

It is booked an average of 21 days in advance.

What is the cancellation policy?

A full refund is available when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days before departure receives a 50 percent refund. Cancellations less than two full days before the start time are nonrefundable.