China is a perpetually fascinating destination, rich in ancient history, important UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beautiful landscapes, fantastic cuisine and ultra-luxury hotels and resorts. Beijing and Shanghai are two must-visit cities that are included in most of our luxury China tours.

Both cities offer incredible insight into China’s rich history and culture and allow travelers to experience China’s ancient traditions, modern innovation and wealth of iconic experiences. Some favorite travel experiences that we arrange in Beijing and Shanghai include:

Tourin historic sites in Beijing such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace

Our local expert guides bring Beijing’s rich history to life during private tours of the city’s iconic historic sites, such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are renowned for their exquisite architecture, landscape design and significant cultural heritage.

Exploring Beijing’s traditional hutongs

Beijing’s atmospheric hutongs, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are narrow streets filled with centuries-old courtyard residences. These historic neighborhoods offer travelers a glimpse of daily life in Beijing and traditional architecture that can be founded in cities across China. Hutong districts are also a great spot to stop for lunch–many existing hutongs have been converted into restaurants and boutiques.

Private excursions to the Great Wall of China

A private excursion to a well-preserved and atmospheric section of the Great Wall of China is a bucket-list experience for many travelers. We arrange for travelers to ascend to one of the watch towers by cable car and walk on top of a restored, quieter section of the wall.

Experiencing regional Chinese cuisine

Chinese cuisine is rich in flavor and steeped in regional culinary traditions. Whether sampling street food snacks, trying vegetarian temple food, taking a private cooking class with a local chef or enjoying Michelin-starred restaurants serving Peking duck, the local cuisine is a highlight of any private China tour.

Experiencing Luxury at the Best Hotels in Beijing and Shanghai

Our favorite luxury hotels and resorts in Beijing and Shanghai are known for their world-class service, modern luxury, sophisticated dining options and incredible style, which captures an elegant and unique sense of place.

Seeing architecture of The Bund, French Concession and Pudong in Shanghai

The contrasting architectural styles in Shanghai are a wonderful illustration of the city’s storied past and modern present.

We take travelers to explore the Bund, a waterfront district that reflects the city’s colonial history with elegant European-style architecture.

Another highlight of visiting Shanghai is also to see the architecture of Pudong, known for its futuristic skyscrapers.

A favorite neighborhood to explore is the leafy French Concession, with its elegant villas, tree-lined streets, and upscale shops and restaurants in buildings. 

Exploring Shanghai’s Old Town, including historic teahouses, beautiful gardens and legendary food shops

A highlight of exploring Shanghai’s Old Town, which dates to the Middle Ages, is visiting Yu Yuan, a beautiful 16th-century Chinese garden that reflects the landscape design of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The area is also home to some of the city’s best food shops and traditional teahouse.

Shopping in upscale districts and at markets

Beijing and Shanghai have a wealth of shops and markets selling everything from traditional items such as jade and tea ware to cutting-edge fashion. 

Visiting Arts Districts, Galleries and Notable Museums

Beijing and Shanghai are home to world-class museums, contemporary art galleries and thriving arts communities. Some of our favorites include the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archeology at Peking University and the Beijing Capital Museum (where we can arrange a private tour with a curator) and the West Bund Shanghai, a thriving arts and cultural complex in a former industrial warehouse district with contemporary art galleries and major museums like the West Bund Museum (which collaborates with the Centre Pompidou in Paris).

Attending a concert at Shanghai’s Legendary Peace Hotel jazz club

A legendary address for jazz in Shanghai, the Fairmont Peace Hotel is home to the renowned Old Jazz Band that plays every night in the Jazz Bar, a nostalgic setting evocative of Old Shanghai.

Seeing Gardens and Architecture in ancient water towns near Shanghai

One of our favorite private excursions from Shanghai is to ancient water towns like Suzhou, Xitang, Tongli and Zhujiajiao, known for their well-preserved historic architecture, classical gardens and elegant stone bridges that crisscross canals. Suzhou is a longstanding favorite, renowned for its exquisite UNESCO-listed gardens, beautiful architecture and centuries-old silk industry.

Hands-on traditional cultural activities and meeting local artisans

We arrange immersive, hands-on lessons in traditional crafts like calligraphy, woodblock printing, kite making, tai chi lessons and more, a wonderful way to engage with China’s cultural heritage. Other favorite insider experiences include meeting with local artisans and taking part in a private tea tasting experience.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to plan a private China tour featuring the highlights of Beijing and Shanghai in addition to other favorite destinations such as Xian, Hangzhou, Giulin and Hong Kong.