8 Days China Winter Tour of Beijing, Harbin, Shanghai

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Welcome to the capital city - Beijing, the starting point of your China winter tour! Your private driver will greet you at the exit of the arrival hall by holding a welcome sign and then transfer you to your Beijing downtown hotel.

   The rest of the day is yours. You can take some time to relax and recover from your trip or explore the nearby areas at your own pace. One site we would always recommend for you to spend your free time is Houhai. It’s a lively lakefront area filled with cafés, small boutiques, and local snack stalls.You can have a gentle walk here and take a first glimpse of old Beijing life.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Explore Beijing's Landmarks and Hutong Culture

   Start your winter tour in China by visiting Tian'anmen Square, an iconic landmark and the heart of Beijing. It is one of the largest public squares in the world. You will learn the stories of historical events and appreciate the iconic buildings around the square, such as Monument to the People's Heroes and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.

   Next, walk north to the Palace Museum, aka the Forbidden City. This massive imperial complex has more than 9,000 rooms, and it’s known as the best place to see China’s imperial grandeur. While walking inside, you can take a deep exploration of traditional Chinese architecture, which is characterized by its red walls, golden roofs, and a perfectly symmetrical layout. And since it had once functioned as the imperial palace during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1616-1912), it had seen 24 emperors spend their incredible lives here.

   We’ll spend around three hours here, and your guide will take you to explore some of its most iconic sites, which can offer you a vivid picture of imperial life. If you happen to visit the Forbidden City on a snowy day, make your camera ready cause your stunning photos are coming.

   

   Optionally, you can ascend Jingshan Park's hilltop pavilions for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Forbidden City and Beijing's skyline.

   In the afternoon, we head to Beijing Hutong. Enjoying the rickshaw ride through narrow alleys will be your memorable experience. You can learn about the daily life of Beijing people by visiting a local family. After that, move on to the Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, etc. In addition, you can take the option of a boat ride to enjoy Kunming Lake (optional, if the weather permits).

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Hiking
   The Great Wall Hiking and Peking Roast Duck Tasting

   Today comes the exciting visit to the Great Wall. However, before that, you will first spend some time visiting the Temple of Heaven. It is a special altar which emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would come and offer sacrifices to the heavens, in the belief that this could call for the moderate rain and a good harvest for the year. The entire Temple of Heaven is divided into two parts, the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. We will spend more time in the Inner Altar, where you will see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Echo Wall building.

   After the visit, we’ll drive to Mutianyu Great Wall. Built in the early Ming Dynasty in 1368 and stretching for 5,400 meters, it is the most scenic section of the Chinese Great Wall. Its view will be amazing as 90 percent of it is covered by thick forested surroundings. So that no matter when you come to visit it, Muyianyu is always ready to treat visitors with its unique scenery. Except for that, the stone watchtowers and gentler paths are also attractive to most visitors. And winter is especially striking, with snow outlining the ridges and making every tower look like a painting.

   

   Note: If pure hiking is too much for you, there are also options for a cable car and a toboggan to see the spectacular scenery from different angles (optional).

   On the way back to Beijing downtown, you have an exterior visit to the marvelous Bird's Nest and Water Cube, which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. You can walk around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take some pictures.

   For dinner, we will arrange for you Beijing Roast Duck, a famous palace dish, cooked with charcoal fire, crispy on the outside and tender inside. You will learn the proper way to eat it.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
4. Day 4: Beijing to Harbin by High-speed Train
   Visit the Admission-free Ice Lantern Park on Your Own

   After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to the railway station to board the high-speed train to the Ice City - Harbin. The whole journey will last 5-5.5 hours. Upon arrival, your local tour guide will give you a brief introduction of our upcoming Harbin tour and escort you to your hotel for rest. The rest of the day is free for you.

   And we strongly recommend you to visit Zhaolin Park. Every year from January 5 to the end of February, there’s going to be the fascinating Ice Lantern Show held is this site (free admission). The park becomes a glowing winter playground when the time comes. There will be some small yet intricately carved lanterns made of ice blocks, and they can actually illuminate like other forms of lanterns. Visitors can wander through various themed zones and spend a wonderful time among all the beautiful sculptures. The special atmosphere without the crowds can give you a more relaxing time in Harbin’s winter magic.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Harbin
5. Day 5: Harbin Ice Festival Tour
   Marvel at Giant Ice and Snow Sculptures

   Your guided China winter tour package in Harbin begins at Sun Island, the main venue where the annual International Snow Sculpture Art Expo is held during the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. This vast open area displays enormous and finely detailed works carved entirely from compacted snow, some reaching the height of multi-story buildings. The sculptures combine artistic creativity with engineering precision, making the island feel like a dreamy white city.

   Afterward, you will be transferred to the Siberian Tiger Park, a reserve dedicated to the breeding and protection of the Siberian Tiger. It aims to provide a suitable living environment for the endangered tiger.

   

   In the evening, we’ll take you to savor the most authentic Harbin flavors, which are greatly influenced by Russian and Chinese culinary traditions. As night falls, we head to the Ice and Snow World to admire the ice sculptures illuminated by colorful lights. This enormous theme park features castles, bridges, towers, slides, and artwork sculpted from crystal-clear ice blocks taken from the Songhua River. At night, the structures light up in brilliant colors, creating an extraordinary frozen cityscape where you can walk, play, and take unforgettable photographs.

   Warm Tips:

   Be aware of the longer queues during peak hours, especially during the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year and weekends.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Harbin
6. Day 6: Harbin to Shanghai by Flight
   Get a Glimpse of Harbin's Cultural & Historical Treasures

   After breakfast, we will be going to the St. Sophia Cathedral. Built in 1907, it is one of the most well-preserved Byzantine-style buildings in China. A special thing is this church has a large, full and massive onion-head dome, which a typical Russian architectural roof form that rivals Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral. It is an iconic site for visitors to take a “Harbin photo”.

   Next, we can take a stroll along Central Street, this over 100-year-old shopping street is one of the most lively area in Harbin with classic European architecture and stores. During the Ice and Snow Festival, there will also be some interesting ice and snow sculptures, and while walking among them, you can really see how ice and snow have shaped Harbin’s fire-like soul.

   

   Afterwards, take a guided tour of Laodaowai, Harbin's historic old neighborhood with its baroque-style buildings built in the early 20th century. Jiuzhan Park is the last stop on this China Harbin tour, a strip of open riverside parks across the river from the famous Sun Island Scenic Area. It is a playground for the local elderly and children.

   After the tour, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the airport for an onward flight to Shanghai, an international metropolis known for its modern skyline and vibrant energy.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
7. Day 7: Shanghai's Essence
   Experience the Past and Present of the International Metropolis

   After a hearty breakfast, you will be transferred to Shanghai Museum, which houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings, and calligraphy works. Then, move on to Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden which was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Inside the garden, visitors will find a lot of iconic Chinese Garden’s marks like the rockeries, ponds, pavilions, zigzag bridges, and winding corridors arranged in a traditional Jiangnan style. Even in winter, the quiet atmosphere and elegant layout offer a peaceful contrast to the city outside.

   Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, where you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don't forget to haggle for a better price.

   

   The next stop will be the Shanghai World Financial Center. One interesting thing about this iconic mark is that many people would describe its shape as a bottle opener from the outside. And during this visit, you can go up to the 100th floor of the building to get a marvelous panoramic view of the Huangpu River. People who want an exciting or to say a rather adventurous experience can try to walk on its 55-meter-long transparent sightseeing corridor.

   In the late afternoon, wander around Nanjing Road to see traditional department stores and optionally try some authentic Shanghai snacks. Afterwards, stroll on the Bund. You will admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful Huangpu River, and listen to your guide explaining its history.

   Optional evening activity: If you are interested, we can arrange a wonderful Acrobatic Show for you and you will marvel at the extraordinary talent and skill of the performers (at additional cost).

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
8. Day 8: Departure from Shanghai
   Exploring Buddhist Culture and Creative Art Blocks

   Today is the last day of your 8-day China winter tour. In the morning, your guide will take you to visit the Jade Buddha Temple and Tianzifang, both are quite popular attractions that are widely included in Shanghai tours. Jade Buddha Temple enshrines two Jade Buddhas, which has made it a precious heritage of Buddhist culture and art.

   Tianzifang is a creative industry park converted from a Shikumen complex. And after all these years, this area is now packed with studios, galleries and cafes of artists and designers are gathered. This is the heaven for people who want to add an artistic touch to their journey. Strolling through the alleys of Tianzifang, you can fill your time with various art exhibitions, handicrafts and creative decorations.

   

   Your China tour of Beijing Harbin Shanghai ends here. The guide will escort you to the airport for your departure flight. Wish you a pleasant journey!

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