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City-Hopping Tour of China's Ancient and Modern Marvels

Beijing's Forbidden City was completed in 1420 after about 15 years of construction carried out by more than a million workers. China's emperors ruled from this palatial fortress, which was closed to the outside world for more than 500 years. Step behind the palace walls with this Getaway from China Travel, which includes nonstop, roundtrip flights on Air China from Los Angeles. New York City, or San Francisco as well as luxury hotel accommodations, transportation to all tour points, and some meals. You must purchase two vouchers to travel with a friend; a single supplemental surcharge of $600 will apply to those traveling alone. Click here for a full day-by-day itinerary.

Day 1: Travel from LAX, SFO, or JFK.

Days 2–4: After arriving at Beijing Airport, you’ll meet your tour guide and head to the Beijing Traders Upper East Hotel, where you can rest up after the marathon plane ride. Day 3 includes a full-day tour of China's capital city, with stops at the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Summer Palace, which was built along a lake in the 18th century. Its imperial grounds are filled with Qing-style pavilions, grand temples, and gardens. The next morning, you’ll hike along the Great Wall and later, drive by the Olympic National Stadium and National Aquatics Center, a marvel of ultramodern architecture and the stage on which swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals for his performance in a 2008 Wheaties commercial.

Days 5–6: In the morning, your group will fly to Shanghai, where you’ll visit the Jade Buddha Temple and see magnificent Burmese Buddha statues carved from white jade. Then it's off to the 2,500-year-old city of Suzhou, nicknamed the "Venice of the East” for its labyrinthine canals lined with stone sculpture gardens. On day 6, the group will tour a silk-spinning factory before taking a detour to the city of Hangzhou, along with a boat trip on West Lake—a serene waterscape dotted with islands that has had a lasting influence on Chinese landscaping. Customers will stay at the Renaissance Shanghai Putuo Hotel, named the 25th best hotel in Shanghai by TripAdvisor.

Days 7–9: A visit to the Green Tea Village and Six Harmony Pagoda concludes your stay in Hangzhou. That night, you and the group will drive to Shanghai, a flickering, frenetic mega-metropolis and a pillar of China’s staggering growth. As a group, you’ll tour bustling commercial districts such as the Bund and Nanjing Road, but you’ll also have some time to explore Shanghai on your own.

Days 10–11: On the morning of day 10, you’ll fly to Hong Kong, a densely populated region known for its expansive skyline. Spend the rest of the day exploring Hong Kong’s modern boulevards and towering skyscrapers on your own. After a stay at TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2012 Winner Langham Place Hong Kong, the following morning a half-day bus tour brings the group to the Floating Market and Victoria Peak, which rises to an altitude of 1,811 feet (552 m) and offers sweeping views of the central business district and Victoria Harbour.

Day 12: You’ll be escorted to the Hong Kong airport for your return flight to LAX, SFO, or JFK.

Staff Q&A: Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai

Shelby B. is a Deal Qualifier for Groupon Getaways. She likes trail mix and Paul Rudd. Below, she shares her thoughts on street food in Hong Kong, tobogganing in Beijing, and getting around in Shanghai.

Describe your perfect day in Hong Kong.

My perfect day would start off with a boat ride around the harbor. Then I’d walk around downtown Hong Kong, visiting all of the small shops and markets. Street vendors here sell some pretty crazy and delicious items: steamed buns filled with various meats, live seafood, soups with noodles and dumplings, and freshly made waffles. At night, I’d take a bus (the city’s public transportation is fantastic) up to The Peak to get great views of the Victoria Harbour as the sun sets. Then, I’d stick around for the lights show, which brightens the skyline every single night and attracts tons of people.

Describe your most interesting encounter in Beijing. I took the toboggan track on the way down from the Great Wall. You sit in individual toboggans and speed down a metal track with tons of twists and turns. Not only did it feed my need for speed, but the views were absolutely amazing. It's a must-do.

What was the most stressful part of your visit, and how can others avoid it?

The most stressful part of my visit was not knowing the language. If and when you're traveling without the tour group, bring along a book with common phrases written out in Chinese so that you can show them to cab drivers, waiters, or anyone on the street you may need to ask for directions.

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