• Golden Triangle China Tour With Suzhou

    ★★★★★

    4.9/5 878 Latest reviews

    Tour Code: ODY-CN-2458

    Destination: Beijing, Xi’an, Suzhou, Shanghai

Duration

10 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai form the classic route for a first trip to China. This 10-day journey builds on that by adding Suzhou, offering a chance to experience the gentle charm and ease of the Jiangnan water towns.

If Beijing’s Great Wall and Forbidden City inspire awe, Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors invite reflection, and Shanghai’s energy sparks aspiration, then Suzhou’s Lingering Garden lingers in a different way – making you want to stay. Beijing and Xi’an help you understand China’s profound past, Shanghai offers a glimpse into its future, while Suzhou reveals the beauty of its refined, everyday life.

Itinerary Summary

DAYPLACEHIGHLIGHTS
1 – 4BeijingGreat Wall, Forbidden City, Rickshaw Ride in Hutongs, Temple of Heaven
5 – 6Xi’anTerracotta Warriors, Muslim Street
7 – 8SuzhouLingering Garden, Tongli Water Town, Rickshaw Ride Through Suzhou Old Town, Suzhou New Museum, Garden Night Show
9 – 10ShanghaiThe Bund, Shanghai People’s Park, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, French Concession
Quick Question

Itinerary

When you get through customs and reach the arrival hall, you will find your private tour guide waiting for you, holding an Odynovo welcoming card with your name. The guide will take care of you all the way until you settle down at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to refresh yourself from your long-haul flight.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Meet your guide at the hotel lobby to start your city tour. The first stop is Tiananmen Square, followed by the Forbidden City – the residence of China’s ancient emperors and a vast imperial palace complex. Here, you will admire its magnificent red walls and golden roofs, learn about the lives of past rulers, and view an extraordinary collection of priceless cultural relics.

Afterward, take a traditional rickshaw ride through Beijing’s hutongs, weaving along narrow, winding lanes. The whispers of history brush past your face with the breeze, while the everyday sounds of local life fill the air. It’s this seamless blend of the past and the present that makes old Beijing so uniquely captivating.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today’s itinerary begins with a two-hour drive, passing through suburban villages and mountain ranges to the Mutianyu, a section of the Great Wall known for spectacular views and smaller crowds. The smooth and dependable round-trip cable car ride will take you up the majestic rampart easily, saving your energy for hiking on its top and taking in its beautiful surrounding scenery.

After the easy hike, return to the city and enjoy an authentic Peking duck dinner. There’s even a traditional way to savor it – a little ritual that adds to the fun.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Start your morning from the Temple of Heaven, once a sacred place where ancient emperors prayed for a good harvest. From the outside, you can observe or join locals in their morning exercises, which is an enjoyable way to experience life just like a local. Then, you will witness the splendid architecture steeped in ancient wisdom.

Later on, head to the railway station for your train to Xi’an. After arriving, you will be picked up and transferred to your downtown hotel.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will meet the legendary Terracotta Army. Located in Lintong town out of Xi’an, it will take you around an hour to drive from the city to discover the archaeological wonder. Generally, you will spend at least 3 to 4 hours there, marveling at thousands of lifelike terracotta warriors and the exquisite bronze chariots. Follow your expert guide, and feel the sheer scale of thousands of warriors and horses surge toward you with overwhelming force.

After the tour, head back to the city to visit Muslim Street, brimming with stalls, offering exotic snacks that spread along the ancient Silk Road.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Check out the hotel after breakfast and meet your guide for a private transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, a private car will pick you up and transfer you about two hours to Suzhou.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Your delightful exploration of Suzhou begins from Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its exquisite classical Chinese garden design. You will experience the art of “a new view at every step”. Corridors and lattice windows divide the space into a harmonious sequence of scenes, each unfolding with subtle variation. In the late afternoon, as the sun begins to soften, ever-changing patterns of light and shadow dance across the walls and ground, creating a truly poetic atmosphere.

Then, visit the Suzhou New Museum, showcasing cultural artifacts and historical marvels. Afterward, delve into the artistry of Suzhou silk at the Silk Museum before enjoying a leisurely rickshaw tour through the Old City’s quaint streets and traditional neighborhoods. In the evening, enjoy traditional Chinese dramas and folk instrument performances at the Master of the Nets Garden.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Embark on today’s excursion to Tongli Water Town, where you’ll leisurely stroll along ancient streets, observe local life beside the canals, and enjoy a hand-rowed boat ride on the canals. After exploring the water town, head to Shanghai for the next journey.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Start your exploration of Shanghai at the People’s Park, strolling through lush greenery and tranquil lakes and experiencing China’s unique “marriage market” at the park’s matchmaking corner.

Next, delve into Shanghai’s rich history and culture at the Shanghai Museum, home to a vast collection of ancient Chinese artifacts, ceramics, and exquisite jade sculptures.

Continues to Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si), a serene sanctuary known for its two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the late 19th century. Afterward, explore the vibrant former French Concession, wander through its tree-lined streets, and soak in the European charm blended with local Shanghai culture.

Conclude the tour today at the iconic Bund, marveling at the skyline of modern skyscrapers juxtaposed against historic European-style buildings.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

It is time to say goodbye. At the appointed time, your guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Why Choose Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd.

12-Year TripAdvisor Award

Travellers’ Choice winner every year since 2013

No Commission Shopping

Zero shopping stops, zero pressure, zero hidden agendas

100% Private

Every tour is exclusively yours — no strangers, no shared buses

Expert Local Guides

Licensed, English-speaking guides with deep local knowledge

Real reviews from real travellers

  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eI highly recommend Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd. The team is very easy to work with, has excellent ideas and the guides are knowledgeable and easy to be with. Very solid itineraries and execution — flexible, high quality, and great value for money.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    James T.
    Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe visited both Xi’an and Shanghai under Jiuhong’s arrangement and received the same first-class service in both cities. The guides were knowledgeable, flexible, and happy to discuss all aspects of modern China — giving insights difficult to obtain elsewhere. Strongly recommended.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Greenfly
    Couples · Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe had a wonderful action-packed day. Fei Fei was amazing — her knowledge was very impressive and she was a real pleasure to be with. This was certainly the highlight of our stay in this beautiful city. Thanks so much.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Ludovic V.
    Couples · London, UK · Verified · TripAdvisor

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