15 1-Day Tours in China That Fill Up First

1.Lantau Island Day Trip – Big Buddha & Tai O

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,328 reviews · from $48Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide, often Grace or another Memory Tours guide, for a seven-hour Lantau Island outing. Visit Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O fishing village, and a dolphin-watching area, with local snacks and a vegetarian meal. Check whether your booking includes the cable car and boat ride.

“Trip was paid for tram experience but last minute tour guide notified us tram was on scheduled maintenance and not operating. If was scheduled Viator should not be selling tour priced for tram experience. Reached out to Viator for $ adjuRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 426 reviews · from $135

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Master-of-Nets Garden, Grand Canal, Panmen Gate, and a silk museum, then cruise Zhouzhuang’s canals by Chinese-style gondola. Lunch, entrance fees, and central hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Tom was a Shanghai native and knows the city and its environs like the back of his hand. The town of Souzhou and the water village are definitely worth seeing!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Suzhou Private Day Trip from Shanghai with Bullet Train Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · from $193Top rated

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by private car, bullet train, or both, with a personal guide such as Annie, Roy, Melinda, or Sammi. Visit Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill, and Shantang Street, with optional lunch, garden entry, and canal boat ride.

“Our guide Melinda English speaker was very attentive and knowledgeable. We were happy and the meal was great . To be honest I would do it over again with stay overnight to explore more , but not during summer time. The canal was beautiful, It’s little too hot now however in overall , It’s highly recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Private Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train with All Inclusive Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $220

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Suzhou with a private guide such as Caroline, Jane, Berlin, or Queena. Ride the bullet train from Shanghai, visit a UNESCO-listed garden, take a rickshaw and canal boat, eat a local lunch, and return by train. Choose the all-inclusive package for simpler budgeting.

“We visited Suzhou from Shanghai for a day trip, and Caroline made the experience absolutely wonderful for both me and my mom. She was extremely warm, patient, and knowledgeable, and explained everything in a very clear and engaging Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 209 reviews · from $185

Travel by private vehicle from your Beijing hotel to Mutianyu Great Wall, ride a cable car or chair lift, hike the ramparts, and return by toboggan. After lunch, explore the Summer Palace with your guide. Kelly, Violet, or Pietro may lead the tour, depending on availability.

“Great! In addition to the wall and summer palace, the lunch spot was the best food I had the entire trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Shanghai One Day City Private Tour by German-Speaking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 180 reviews · 8 hours · from $158

Explore Shanghai for 8 hours with a private German-speaking guide such as Sarah or Boris, a driver, and hotel pickup. Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, Old Town, Jade Buddha Temple, and Pudong, then adjust the plan for shopping, museums, or sunset views.

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 179 reviews · 13 hours - 1 day · from $399

Spend 13 hours traveling from Shanghai to Linhai by bullet train, then explore East Lake, the Southern Great Wall, and Ziyang Old Street with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Summer, Emma, Jenny, and Jordan help with history, food, translation, photos, and transport.

“The guide Summer was excellent. 10/10. We saw everything we wanted to see and were kept informed all the way . Summer also arranged a taxi for us for the next day for another trip. The food was excellent at the restaurant. Would definite use the same company again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $209

You’ll cruise four hours from Guilin to Yangshuo, passing the Li River’s famous limestone peaks with an English-speaking guide nearby. A Chinese buffet lunch is served on board, followed by a guided countryside tour and free time on West Street. Private transfers make this a practical full-day choice.

“1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat & Night Show This tour was truly amazing, made even more special by our excellent English-speaking guide, Mr. Jeff. He is caring, attentive, and took very good care of us Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.All-Inclusive Suzhou Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 9 hours · from $288

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou with a private English-speaking guide such as Caroline, Berlin, Lulu, or Nini. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, ride a rickshaw on Pingjiang Road, enjoy lunch and canal scenery, and explore Panmen Gate and Shantang Street.

“Very nice day spent together with Berlin! Excellent good, interesting places, overall a good activity!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · from $399

Meet guides such as Summer, Emma, Jordan, or Jenny at your Shanghai hotel, then ride to Linhai for the Jiangnan Great Wall, East Lake, lunch, and Ziyang Old Street. The private format lets you adjust the pace, ask questions, and get help with trains, food, and local customs.

“Great day! It was beautiful and historical with great shopping and eating after walking the wall. Summer is an excellent tour guide/ definitely recommend her!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Private Custom Tour or Private Tour: Beijing in One Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 119 reviews · from $75

Shape an eight-hour Beijing day around your priorities with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, pandas, or the Great Wall. Guides such as William, Gale, and Cora Lin have helped guests plan around public transport, local food, and tight schedules.

“William was great. I am confident that he saved us more money than he cost. He negotiated deals for us on whatever we wanted to do and steered us clear of any problems. He was knowledgeable and easy going. His English was excellent and he got us off the beaten path. Highly recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 115 reviews · from $169

Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou by air-conditioned coach for West Lake, Flower Harbor, a tea ceremony at Meijiawu, and Six Harmonies Pagoda. Guides such as Tom, Frank, Alina, Rita, and Joy have led this route, though guide quality can vary. Lunch, tickets, cruise, and hotel transfers are included.

“Good trip, bad driver he rode as he would be in a rally”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Private Beijing Day Trip: Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · from $176

Spend about nine hours with a private guide and vehicle visiting Mutianyu Great Wall and one Ming Tombs site. Guides such as Coco, Kelly, Rita, Jily, and Lina are praised for clear history, photo help, and flexible plans. Lunch and hotel transfers are included, but cable car and toboggan rides cost extra.

“Rita picked me up timely from my hotel for the drive to Mutianyu. She was very conversational and informative about visiting Beijing. The car was clean and the drive from location to location was smooth and safe. Going up to the Wall, Rita Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Full Day Trip Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Sq.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · from $99

Spend 9 to 10 hours with a private English-speaking guide and chauffeur, visiting Tiananmen Square, the 600-year-old Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Hotel pickup, admission, lunch, and the round-trip cable car or chairlift and toboggan are included.

“Our private guide was nice, knowledgeable, and spoke English very well. Had no problem taking all our photos. We were given our own Audi car and personal driver. Make sure to take the dragon boat at the Summer Palace. Be prepared for Beijing traffic. Wear comfortable shoes, lots of walking.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.1-Day Private Zhangjiajie Tour to Avatar Mountain & Glass Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · from $129

Spend 9 to 10 hours exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, the Bailong Elevator, and the Glass Bridge. A private guide such as Dora, Wendy, Max, or Fiona helps you manage park buses, photo stops, weather changes, and ticket arrangements.

“We did the private tour with Wendy and all I can say is WOW! Her level of professionalism and knowledge about Zhangjiajie National Park was next level and she went above and beyond our expectations. Wendy picked us up from our Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review