China · 1-DAY TOURS
Good one-day tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Review of Hong Kong’s Lantau Island tour, with Big Buddha, Tai O, dolphin boat, cable car options, meals, costs, and practical tips.
“Grace is a great guide. She is energetic and organized. She is funny. The tour started on time and gave good directions.”
See Suzhou gardens, the Grand Canal, Panmen Gate, silk making, and Zhouzhuang by gondola on a full-day trip from Shanghai.
“The attractions were good, but the mini bus should be sent to the wreckers it was small we all had to sit sideways or if you were small legs right into the other chair, plus a bit run down, 5 hours in the van, the guide was average he fell asleep in the first hour of our trip and then on the way home, I gave him a tip and he said it wasn't enough”
Explore Suzhou from Shanghai by private car or bullet train, with gardens, canals, old streets, a guide, and optional lunch and boat ride.
“I booked a Suzhou trip via bullet train. The whole process was seamless and easy thanks to my guide Roy. Roy had a vast knowledge of Chinese culture and history was a perfect guide for day. Highly recommend this tour”
See Tai O, Chinese pink dolphins, Po Lin Monastery, and the Big Buddha on a practical Lantau day trip with an optional cable car.
“Fantastic trip with tour guide Becky. Very friendly, knowledgable on everything we needed. Took us to so fabulous places in Lantau island showing us a traditional old fishing village,Tai O before going to the monastery and big Buddha. Well worth it”
Review of a private Shanghai to Suzhou bullet train day trip, covering gardens, canals, lunch, transport, costs, guides, and practical tips.
“Great experience we had during our trip and the guide Tracy made it quite interesting and informative on the Chinese rich heritage and culture. Well done !”
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and the Summer Palace in one private Beijing day trip, with lunch, transport, guide, and cable car or toboggan included.
“Great! In addition to the wall and summer palace, the lunch spot was the best food I had the entire trip.”
Explore Shanghai in eight hours with a private German-speaking guide, from the Bund and Yu Garden to Pudong skyscrapers and Jade Buddha Temple.
Trade Shanghai crowds for Linhai’s quiet Southern Great Wall, a bullet-train day trip with local food, history, and a private English guide.
“Amazing place. Few tourists in the area. Good food. Super organisation of the trip”
Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo past karst peaks, enjoy lunch on board, explore West Street, and return by private car with an English-speaking guide.
“The river cruise was a fantastic way to see the famous Guilin karsts, and the visit to Yangshuo and the charming surrounding countryside was wonderful. Tony was a great guide, patiently answering our questions and giving us plenty of time to enjoy our walk after the cruise. Highly recommended!”
See Suzhou from Shanghai by bullet train, with gardens, canals, rickshaw streets, local lunch, and a private English-speaking guide.
“Fabulous day trip with our guide Berlin who looked after us so well all day. Highly recommended”
Ride China’s bullet train from Shanghai to Linhai for the Jiangnan Great Wall, East Lake, local lunch, and Ziyang Old Street in one long day.
“Our guide, Emma, was professional and knowledgeable with a nice sense of humor. This tour is a long day to say the least, but comprehensive and fascinating. Our 2 other guides in Shanghai never heard of the Southern Great Wall! It was built before the Beijing wall. The bullet train was fun. If there is a desire to shorten the 7 AM to 8 PM experience, I would eliminate the entertainment section of the tour.”
Build your own Beijing day with an English-speaking guide, from the Forbidden City and hutongs to the Great Wall, with transport and entry fees extra.
“I found this tour worked very well for our family group of 4. We wanted flexibility as we didn't know what we might feel like doing when I booked ahead. I liked the sound of paying as you go for costs, and many reviewers mentioned they thought they saved money that way. I would agree having seen the cost of lots of day tours. So, how did it work? Having booked on Viator, I actually did phone through to China to make sure I had reached a 'real person. I had. That person was Wendy Z. of Han Tang Tours. She was also easily reachable via email. I requested the…”
Review of Hangzhou from Shanghai, with West Lake cruise, tea ceremony, Six Harmonies Pagoda, lunch, and practical advice on value.
“Excellent tour. Very beautiful lake, boat tour was stunning, pagoda was interesting and miss joy was very informative. Would be good if the tour was slightly longer as its a 3 hour drive each way but worthwhile nonetheless.”
Review of a private Beijing day trip to Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs, with lunch, private transport, guide, and practical booking advice.
“Such a great experience! Very Safe driver and we loved Sally our guide who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The private car was very clean and extremely comfortable. Starting the tour as early as possible and leaving Beijing early helped us to avoid the traffic and long lines that we saw as we were finishing the locations. 5 stars for sure!!”
See Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall in one private Beijing day tour with transport, guide, lunch, and tickets.
“We were met in our hotel lobby by our guide for the day then taken to all the sights in a comfortable car with a safe driver. We never felt rushed and had lots of time to ask questions and see the sights. We only had one day (a Monday) in Read more”
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