Travel 8 Days in China Golden Triangle Cities with the most popular and classic destinations to discover China’s past, present and future!
8 days is indeed a relatively common travel time for many tourists, especially for those visiting China for the first time. Covering the most classic Golden Triangle destinations – Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai with convenient international flights is definitely a fulfilling itinerary. Here are the most classic and surprising 8-Day China Tour itineraries for you, allowing you to experience the diversity of China. Whether you're drawn to the historical wonders of Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai, or eager to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yunnan, Sichuan or even the unique culture of Xinjiang, our tour itineraries, featured with carefully selected accommodations, convenient transportation arrangements, and a well-paced schedule will guide you through the must-see destinations across China's Golden Triangle and beyond.
For first-time travelers, China's Golden Triangle—Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai—is the perfect starting point. This route provides an exceptional blend of China’s ancient history, iconic cultural landmarks, and modern innovations, all within a manageable travel distance. If you're looking for a more immersive experience, consider exploring the Silk Road, taking a Yangtze River Cruise, or visiting stunning destinations like Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Below are some highly recommended 8-day itineraries for your China tour. Each itinerary can also be tailored to suit your specific interests and preferences.
In addition to the recommended 8-day destinations and itineraries above, we've also curated a selection of other popular destinations for you to consider. These include the Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta, Tibet, Chengdu, Dunhuang, Luoyang, Pingyao, Huangshan, Jiuzhaigou, Guizhou, Jiangxi, and many more. For each of these locations, we’ve also provided recommended tours to help you make the most of your travels. Whether you're looking for rich history, stunning landscapes, or unique cultural experiences, these destinations offer something special for every traveler.
What’s in your mind when talking about China’s Greater Bay Area? This area will become a world-class bay area, the next Silicon Valley and a united hub for economic growth, innovation, culture and living. You’ll first reach "Pearl of the Orient" - Hong Kong with distinctive culture which blends Chinese, British and indigenous influences. With a high speed train to Guangzhou, you’ll enter a land full of Lingnan culture where you can trace a history over 2200 years. Just across the Hong Kong border lies UNESCO-awarded city of design Shenzhen, a southern Chinese metropolis that has exploded in size since it became a Special Economic Zone in 1979. Known as “the Las Vegas of Asia”, Macau is best known for its gambling, but it’s beyond the casinos that you really start to discover this diverse city. No matter you are history lovers, culture seekers, foodies, architecture fans, shoppers, this tour will show you more.
Here we list out the most frequently asked questions that our former customers about tour planning, travel documents, itinerary, hotel, booking, dinning. You are also welcomed to submit your question to us, our travel experts are always ready to help. Read more tips »
All our tours are private tour packages except for some programs operated by our partners, such as Yangtze Cruise, Tibet Group Tour, etc. Private tour package means high standard of tour services and more flexibility. Travel with our tour package, you will have your own tour guide and vehicle who only serve for you. Besides, itinerary, hotels, meals and tour activities can all be customized according to your personal need. And for sure, all above services are covered in your tour price, which means you don’t have to worry about extra payment or hidden costs. While providing you the best tour service, we also ensure our tours are valuable and affordable for you.
Where to go?
For the first-timer China tour, you can go to classic destinations, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River, Tibet, etc. To add some different experience, you can travel classic destinations with some other unique destinations.
For Nature Enjoyment: Yunnan, Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu, Guizhou, Huangshan, Inner Mongolia, Yangtze River;
For Culture Exploration: Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Tibet, Xinjiang, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Pingyao, Luoyang, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Xiamen, etc.
For Family with Kids: Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc.
For Adventure: Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang, Tibet, Yunnan, etc.
When to go?
Since China is so large and diverse, you can always find suitable destinations to visit in each season, or each month. In the big metropolis, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chengdu, the season doesn't matter as much as visiting natural destinations, because their best highlights are all conveniently located in or near the city downtown, and it is always very easy to book flights, trains and hotels. But some destinations are only recommended to be visited in specific seasons.
Generally speaking, autumn is the best season to travel China when the weather is pleasant and scenery is finest. To avoid the crowds, you can avoid traveling during the festivals, such as National Holiday, Middle Autumn Festival, etc.
Unless you are qualified for Visa-free policies, such as long-term residential visa, transit visa free, or you are from specific countries, you are required to have a Tourist Visa (L Visa) for your China tour. You can apply for Chinese visa in Chinese embassies or consulates in your country. To successfully obtain a Chinese Visa, applicants need to prepare some materials to prove his/her legal identity and purpose of visiting. The most important requirements are basic documents, including your passport and a completed visa application form. And supporting documents relate to your itinerary like flight ticket and hotel booking record and visiting schedule and Invitation Letter, etc. are also very helpful.
Making a booking with us is quite simple: 1) Send an Inquiry; 2) Get a tour package with quotation from us; 3) Amend the tour according to your requirement; 4) You confirm the tour and pay a deposit; 5) Pay the balance; 6) Enjoy your tour.
You can make payment either by Wechat Pay, Alipay, or Bank Transfer, PayPal, even cash. Your travel consultant will instruct you to complete the payment.
If you must cancel your trip, please submit your cancellation in written form by email or fax with your signature as early as possible. The final refund amount depends on when we receive your cancellation notice or letter, and actual expense, such as hotel booking, tickets reservation, etc. Your travel consultant will help you with the detailed process.
It depends on your group size and budget. We have sedan car, SUV, business van (MPV), different types of buses available. No matter where you are going to visit, your vehicle is licensed, air conditioned, clean, and expertly maintained. To maximize your comfort, we use vehicles with extra space for you and your luggage.
In each destination, you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel with great location! We only use hotel with good-ratings, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices. If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
China Discovery is a leading travel agency that provides authentic and high-quality travel experiences. Our tours have attracted customers from various countries, they enjoyed a China tour including Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guangxi visits. You can read about our past customers' travel experiences in the following two stories or browse our collection of travel stories. If you've traveled with China Discovery before, we would sincerely appreciate it if you shared your experiences with us.
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
2,100+ Reviews
