11-Day Snow-Paced Shanghai Hangzhou Beijing Tour for Senior Travelers

Welcome to China. After arriving at the airport, you will see your Shanghai guide of Easy Tour China waiting for you in the arrival hall and assisting you in moving your luggage to your private vehicle. Drive for about an hour to check into your hotel in the city center or near the Bund. Spend the rest of the time relaxing in the hotel. Or you can take a leisurely walk around the hotel to experience the rhythm of Shanghai and adapt to the China time.

Meals: None

Accommodation: 4 nights luxury/comfortable hotels in Shanghai 

Today, experience ancient Chinese garden art, tea culture and the night views of Shanghai - in a leisurely setting. Enter the Yu Garden, the best classical private garden in Shanghai, featuring pavilions, towers, rockeries and water features. Within a few minutes' walk, the City God Temple and the Yuyuan Market are the old part of Shanghai. Take your time to observe traditional residences, local residents' lives and traditional shops.

Take a break and experience traditional Chinese tea-drinking etiquette at the iconic Huxinting Teahouse (Mid-Lake Pavilion), which has a history of about 250 years and is located on the central lotus pond of the Nine-Flower Bridge in the Yu Bazaar. Then, enjoy a healthy and delicious authentic Shanghai Dim sum lunch - the light flavor is suitable for the elderly.

After that, head to the Bund, featuring classic architectural landscapes - you may have seen them in countless photos/movies. Delve into the history when admiring the skyline where history and modernity converge on both sides of the Huangpu River.

Your Huangpu River cruise ship is already waiting for you - take a boat to enjoy the legendary night views of Shanghai.

Meals: B, L

Slowly and joyfully start your new day in Shanghai. Visit the Shanghai Museum, one of the best museums in China for admiring ancient Chinese culture and art. Admire the bronze artifacts, calligraphy and ceramics in a quiet environment...

After lunch, head to Shanghai Greenhouse Garden - a big botanical garden hidden in this modern city, giving you a relaxing natural experience. Afterwards, ascend to the observation deck of Shanghai Tower, and overlook the Shanghai panorama. Thanks to the direct elevators, elderly visitors can reach the current tallest building in China without any physical exertion.

Optional ERA Acrobatic Show at night: A world-class performance blending traditional skills, dance, and modern lighting effects

Meals: B, L

Drive to Zhujiajiao (about 1-1.5 hours' drive), the closest water town to Shanghai. Walk along the stone-paved roads and ancient bridges, as if stepping into a Chinese painting, composed of small bridges, flowing water and Ming-Qing architecture. If you are interested, get on a hand-rowing small boat (optional) and enjoy the scenery of the ancient town from the water - even a better way for elderly tourists.

Then return to Shanghai and arrive at the former French Concession, another place of historical interest in Shanghai. Walk along the shady streets (such as Wukang Road), indulge in the historical mansion buildings. When you feel a bit tired, walk into a coffee shop to rest for 30 minutes.

Meals: B, L

Take the high-speed train to Hangzhou (about 1 hour). We will try to arrange seats closer to the exit for elderly tourists to facilitate boarding and alighting from the train. Cruise on the West Lake, the best highlights of Hangzhou and a World Cultural Heritage site. Indulge in the classic landscapes of the West Lake, such as the Broken Bridge and the Three Pavilions Reflecting the Moon.

Then, along the Qinghefang Street, which was the cultural and economic center of the Song Dynasty, take a leisurely stroll. Discover many century-old traditional stores, such as the Hu Qingyu Tang Chinese medicine store. See the real process of the doctor prescribing and preparing medicine, as well as the pure handcrafted moxa sticks, and thus understand the history of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. 

You can also experience AI face diagnosis - the deep integration of artificial intelligence and traditional Chinese medicine's "observation, auscultation, interrogation, and pulse-taking". What's more interesting is that the ultra-modern heat-sensitive moxa AI robot allows you to experience the moxa therapy with a history of thousands of years.

Meals: B

Accommodation: 2 nights luxury/comfortable hotels in Hangzhou 

In Longjing Tea Village, you will taste the famous West Lake Longjing tea, one of the best teas in China, and witness how it is grown, picked, and processed. Moreover, enjoy a healthy tea-flavored lunch, including the signature stir-fried shrimps with Longjing tea.

Then, head to the China Grand Canal, the greatest ancient water conservancy project of the country, and Hangzhou is one of its main parts. Walk along Xiaohe Zhijie Street and the Gongcheng Bridge over the Grand Canal, and listen to your knowledgeable Hangzhou tour guide tell its history - how it runs through the north and south of China.

Optional Impression West Lake Night Tour: A large-scale outdoor live performance creates a cultural and visual feast.

Meals: B, L

Take the high-speed train to Beijing, the capital of China. As the journey takes about 5-6 hours, you can opt for the more comfortable first-class seat (which is more expensive).

In the afternoon, explore the hutongs in depth - by rickshaw, significantly reducing the amount of walking. Step into the quadrangle houses, which originated from traditional dwellings of the Yuan Dynasty over 600 years ago. Observe the local life of Beijing residents, such as the elderly gathering to play chess. You can also chat with them, who are very friendly and talkative, gaining a glimpse into the real life of Beijing.

In the evening, slowly climb up Jingshan Hill, which only takes about 15 minutes. Enjoy the illuminated panoramic view of the Forbidden City.

Meals: B

Accommodation: 4 nights luxury/comfortable hotels in Beijing

First, arrive at Tian'anmen Square, surrounded by numerous modern Chinese landmarks such as the Tian'anmen Rostrum and the People's Heroes Monument.

Then, take a leisurely walk to the Forbidden City. We can arrange a senior-friendly highlight of Forbidden City tour for you, which includes the central axis and selected palaces, lasting approximately 2-3 hours. Alternatively, you can explore the Forbidden City in depth for 3-4 hours - but this will require more walking. However, no matter what, with the detailed explanations of your knowledgeable Beijing tour guide, you will gain a deep understanding of history, as well as the architecture of the Forbidden City and the cultural relics within. 

In the afternoon, stroll along Dashila Pedestrian Street and discover Beijing's famous shops. If you come across any interesting souvenirs, feel free to buy some to give to your family or friends. Meals: B, L

It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the best section of the Great Wall for senior travelers. Take the cable car up the mountain, then walk on the gentle sections, enjoying the mountain scenery in northern China while listening to your guide telling the 2,000-year history of the Great Wall and interesting/important facts. Take the cable car down the mountain.

After lunch, arrive at the 798 Art District, where many contemporary Chinese art pioneers gather. Visit the modern art exhibition halls and rest in the coffee shops.

Meals: B, L

Exercise together with local elderly people in the Temple of Heaven in the morning. Learn the easy and gentle Tai Chi moves from your Tai Chi master and combine them with proper breathing - this is one of the ways for Chinese elders to maintain health. Then visit the magnificent buildings of the Temple of Heaven, the place where ancient emperors offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for blessings.

In the afternoon, have a cultural adventure at the Panjiayuan Antique Market, packed with antiques (require authenticity identification), calligraphy and paintings, handicrafts, old books, old coins, etc. Practice your bargaining skills and maybe you can buy one or two items that you really like.

Meals: B, L

Your private guide and driver will escort you to the airport based on the time of your flight. Your 11-day slow-paced China holiday from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Beijing comes to an end. Welcome to use the travel services of Easy Tour China again.

Meals: B