13 Day Trips in China Worth the Early Start

1.Lantau Island Day Trip – Big Buddha & Tai O

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,328 reviews · from $48Our pick

Spend about seven hours exploring Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide such as Grace, Calvin, Becky, or Lok Lok. Visit Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O fishing village, and a dolphin-watching area, with snack and meal options. Cable car and boat inclusions vary, so check your booking carefully.

“Grace is a great guide. She is energetic and organized. She is funny. The tour started on time and gave good directions.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Hong Kong Day Tour: City Landmarks & Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 798 reviews · from $48

This 7-hour Hong Kong tour links Central, Sheung Wan, and Kowloon on foot, by tram, and by Star Ferry. You’ll see Tai Kwun, PMQ, Man Mo Temple, markets, Avenue of the Stars, and more, with snack tastings and optional dim sum. Guides include Gary, Joe, Monica, Helen, and Lok Lok.

“We really enjoyed this trip. Gary was an excellent guide very friendly, funny and informative. We learned so much from him. This is a walking tour with a ride on a tram and then boat back over the harbour. Lunch was extra and very enjoyable. We were with a nice group 😊 I would definitely recommend this trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Day Trip by Bus with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 658 reviews · from $20Best value

Take a direct Zanbus from central Beijing to Mutianyu, with admission and the park shuttle included. English-speaking guides such as Maggie, Dao, and Lina explain the route and help with optional cable car or toboggan tickets. You get five hours on the Wall, then return to Beijing near Lama Temple.

“Very nice. I recommend this tour. They were professional.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 426 reviews · from $135

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Master-of-Nets Garden, Grand Canal, Panmen Gate, and silk museum, then ride a Chinese-style gondola through Zhouzhuang. Lunch, entrance fees, and central hotel transfers are included.

“We were picked up at our hotel at exactly he arranged time Meet by a delightful guide Annaliese, On the 29th July my wife & I decided to do Suzhou & Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai. We were picked up at exactly our pre-arranged time and meet by our delightful guide Aleena. We booked a group tour but due to changes became a personal tour, which turned out to be in our favour. Our very informative guide made it a day to remember. Our trip to Suzhou garden and Zhouzhuang village, a walk through the Village, then cruising on a gondola through the beautiful waterways made fun with…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Suzhou Private Day Trip from Shanghai with Bullet Train Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · from $193Top rated

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by private car, bullet train, or both, with guides such as Annie, Roy, Melinda, and Sammi. Visit a classical garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill, Qianqian Street, and canal-side Shantang Street. Add lunch, entrance fees, and a boat ride with the all-inclusive option.

“The trip to Sushou was wonderful. The garden is very beautiful and the boat ride us very intersting. The car was very confortable and the guide was especilly good.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Hong Kong: Big Buddha & Lantau Island Day Trip w/Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 333 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $35

Spend 6 to 7 hours exploring Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide such as Grace, Angela, or Becky. Visit Tai O, cruise for Chinese pink dolphins, see the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, and choose an optional vegetarian lunch and cable car ride.

“our guide Ben was very attentive and sweet! we felt safe with him :) overall it was a great experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Private Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train with All Inclusive Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $220

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private guide such as Caroline, Jane, Berlin, or Queena. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Panmen Gate, Shantang Street, and the Grand Canal. Choose lunch only or add all entrance fees, a boat ride, and a rickshaw trip.

“What a great day in Suzhou, very well planned , everything went very well, Jane was a great tour guide and we had fun in the tour and had a great lunch. Thanks Jane”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Beijing: Badaling Ancient Great Wall of China Day Trips

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 208 reviews · 8 hours · from $22

Visit the original Badaling Ancient Great Wall on an eight-hour trip from Beijing. Choose a group bus, private car, or guided option. English-speaking guides such as Alice, Evelyn, Amy, and Betty help with tickets, directions, and the steep, sometimes crowded site.

“The guide is really kind and helps you a lot trough the experience. Kept in touch with her with WhatsApp and everithing went smoothly. The wall is crowded at the arrival points of the cableway but by following her path you can reach calmer sections.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Shanghai: Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 179 reviews · 13 hours - 1 day · from $399

Travel from Shanghai to Linhai by bullet train with a private English-speaking guide such as Summer, Emma, Jenny, or Jordan. Walk the Southern Great Wall, visit East Lake or Donghu Park, eat local dishes, and browse Ziyang Old Street. Expect a long but well-organized 13-hour day with stairs and plenty of train time.

“The most amazing day. Our guide Emma was brilliant and was so informative. It was great to see the Wall and have pretty much no crowds, which made the whole experience incredible. We also went to a local place for lunch and it is hands down the best food I’ve had in China..!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Shanghai: All-Inclusive Suzhou Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 9 hours · from $288

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private English-speaking guide, then explore the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Panmen Gate, and Shantang Street. Your day includes private transport, lunch, canal and rickshaw rides, entrance fees, and hotel transfers.

“Berlin was incredible! She explained everything in so much detail, and was incredibly helpful throughout the entire day. We feel very fortunate to have spent our day with such a knowledgeable and patient guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Chengdu: Giant Panda and Leshan Buddha Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 56 reviews · from $109

Visit Chengdu’s Panda Base and Leshan’s giant Buddha in a 12-hour small-group tour for up to 15 people. Guides such as Mark and Chris lead the day in English or Chinese, with hotel pickup inside the 2nd Ring Road and a finish near Tianfu Square.

“The trip was well orgnized, and despite the long trip. we managed to spend enough time at the Panda research center and Leshan to view the Buddha.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Suzhou Private Guided Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 9 hours · from $218

Travel from central Shanghai to Suzhou in about 30 minutes by bullet train, then explore UNESCO gardens, canal streets, Tiger Hill, and the Grand Canal with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Melinda, Roy, Sammi, Shirley, and Annie can tailor the day to your interests.

“Melinda my guide was amazing, she went above and beyond to make sure my experience was top notch, and she is an amazing photographer.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Suzhou and Zhujiajiao Private Guided Day Trip from Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 9 hours · from $243

Spend nine hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver visiting Zhujiajiao and Suzhou from downtown Shanghai. Walk old lanes, ride a canal boat, choose one famous Suzhou garden, and adjust the day around your interests. Guides including Melinda, Annie, Lea, and Shirley have helped guests make the most of changing weather and family needs.

“great experience. Melinda was perfect, she gave us a lot of advices for our stays in China. I would totally recommend it”

Check availability →Read our full review