The 13 Day Trips from 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. Visit Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O fishing village, and the Ngong Ping area, with snack tastings and a light vegetarian meal. Guide Grace earns especially warm praise for her energy and clear directions. Check your booking carefully for cable car and boat inclusions.

“We loved visiting the big buddha, fishing village, and taking the cable car back into HK. This is an experience you can't miss! The Big Buddha area was breathtaking, it was so worth climbing to the top for some nice views but also to see the Read more”

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2.Hong Kong Day Tour: City Landmarks & Highlights

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

See Hong Kong Central and Kowloon with guides such as Gary, Joe, or Monica. Walk through Tai Kwun, PMQ, Man Mo Temple, Cat Street, and Sheung Wan, then ride a tram and Star Ferry. Choose a shorter route or continue to Tsim Sha Tsui’s Clock Tower, with snacks and optional dim sum lunch.

“Very interesting. The tour guide knew the history well. My only complaint is that the meeting point was far away from the hotel. To return to the hotel, we needed to take the ferry and a taxi. Also, we had to paid fare and we did not know in advance.”

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

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

Ride from central Beijing to Mutianyu on a clean, air-conditioned bus with admission and the park shuttle included. English-speaking guides such as Maggie, Dao, and Lina explain the route, help arrange optional cable car or toboggan tickets, and keep the return schedule clear. You get five hours to explore independently.

“A wonderful trip from an excellent guide. It’s stunning and gorgeous and a great start into the history of the Great Wall! Easy process and comfortable bus ride too. Only 2 notes, when exposing the options please slow down and maybe have a paper copy so people can actually see the options or send them before hand. 2 drop off point was not the same as pick up which was very confusing. A lovely experience though, thank you!”

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4.Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai

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

Spend about 10 hours visiting Suzhou and Zhouzhuang from Shanghai with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees, and a canal boat ride. You’ll see the Master-of-Nets Garden, Grand Canal, Panmen Gate, a silk workshop or museum, and Zhouzhuang’s old waterways. Guides have included Elena, Tom, Frank, and Aleena.

“Tom was a Shanghai native and knows the city and its environs like the back of his hand. The town of Souzhou and the water village are definitely worth seeing!”

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

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

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou with a private guide such as Annie, Roy, Melinda, or Sammi. Choose a private car, bullet train, or both, then visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill, Qianqian Street, and Shantang Street. Add lunch, garden admission, and a canal boat ride with the all-inclusive option.

“The whole trip was comfortable, hassle free! Suzhou is a must visit place! Enjoyed the trip! My tour guide Lea was very helpful and knew the place very well- we visited all the top spots! Beautiful views! Master of Nets garden was exquisite indeed! Thanks to the team at Sunny Tours!”

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

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Tung Chung MTR Station, then travel by public transport to Tai O fishing village, take a dolphin-watching boat, visit Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha, and finish near the cable car and MTR. Guides such as Grace, Angela, Linda, and Ben are praised for clear directions and lively commentary.

“San was an excellent guide and we were very lucky to score a tour bus for the day. San gave informative narrative along the way. Enjoyed all of the sights - Tai O fishing village, boat trip, lunch and big Buddha. Recommend the cable car return trip to train station, breathtaking views!”

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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 high-speed train on an 8 to 9 hour private day trip. Your guide meets you at your downtown hotel, handles the station transfers, and leads you through the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Panmen Gate, the Grand Canal, and Shantang Street. The all-inclusive option adds tickets, a boat ride, and a rickshaw trip.

“Queena provides a very interactive trip which gives us an deeper insight of Suzhou. The only concern might be the rush during the trip which can be very tiring.”

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

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

Choose a small-group bus trip, private car transfer, or guided tour to Badaling’s unrestored wall. English-speaking guides such as Amy, Evelyn, Betty, and Yoyo help with tickets, routes, history, and return transport. The ancient section is quieter than the main cable-car area, though crowds and long cable-car lines can appear on busy days.

“It was amazing seeing the great wonders of the world. Amy was very helpful and very kind her support was amazing would recommend you to allow her to guide”

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9.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

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

Ride China’s high-speed train from Shanghai to Linhai, then walk the Southern Great Wall, visit East Lake and Ziyang Old Street, and eat a local lunch with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Summer, Emma, Jenny, and Jordan are praised for smooth transfers, clear history, translation, and thoughtful pacing.

“Very well organised prior to pickup and throughout the day. The whole experience of train ride through the countryside, the Great Wall, walk through ancient town and lunch was made all the more enjoyable with our delightful guide Emma. She not only took great care of us two men but kept my wife, back home, up to date with what was happening. All that was included would be difficult to arrange on your own and if all guides are as good as Emma this day trip is a must. Brian Marcroft”

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10.All-Inclusive Suzhou Day Trip by Bullet Train

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

Travel from your central Shanghai hotel to Suzhou by fast bullet train, then explore the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road by private rickshaw, Panmen Gate, and Shantang Street. Your private English-speaking guide handles trains, cars, tickets, lunch, and canal travel. Guides may include Caroline, Berlin, Lulu, Nini, or Queena.

“Thank you very much for the day ! Tracy, our guide was very interesting and giving us a lot of insides. I recommend this experience for everyone who wants to discover Suzhou. Everything was very well organised by Alana before and during the day :)”

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11.Chengdu: Giant Panda and Leshan Buddha Day Trip

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

Join a small group of up to 15 for a 12-hour Chengdu day trip to the Panda Research Base and Leshan Buddha. Guides such as Mark and Chris lead the day in English or Chinese, with hotel pickup inside Chengdu’s 2nd Ring Road. Expect early pandas, a quick lunch stop, temple visits, and a Tianfu Square finish.

“highly recommended tour, in one day you can see the two main attractions of chengdu. Mark my guide was very knowledgeable and knowledgeable and spoke excellent English.”

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

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

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by 30-minute bullet train, then explore a UNESCO-listed garden, canal streets, Tiger Hill, and the Grand Canal by boat with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Melinda, Roy, Shirley, Annie, and Sammi are praised for clear explanations, flexible planning, and thoughtful local restaurant choices. Entrance fees and lunch cost extra.

“Melinda our guide was extremely professional yet personable. Definitely more than 5 stars We got to see everything and more on the itinerary. This is a must see tour. Please ask for Melinda. The scenery was beautiful and captured the lifestyle of the culture of the people who lived along the canals. This short trip would not have been memorable if we hadn’t met Melinda. We were only here for two nights and with Melinda’s expertise, we were able to gain a lot with such little time. Thanks Melinda. We will definitely recommend your company to our friends who are other airline employees.”

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13.Suzhou and Zhujiajiao Private Guided Day Trip from Shanghai

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

Leave your Shanghai hotel in a private air-conditioned car for Zhujiajiao’s canals, stone lanes, shops, and boat ride. After lunch, continue to Suzhou for one garden, canal-side sights, and optional stops. Guides including Melinda, Annie, Lea, Shirley, and Aries have adapted visits to weather, family needs, and personal interests.

“Guide’s flexibility when invited to a local quigong class.”

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