The 15 Best 1-Day Tours in China

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

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

Spend about seven hours on Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide, visiting Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O fishing village, and Ngong Ping. The day may include a vegetarian meal, local snack, dolphin cruise, and Ngong Ping 360 cable car, depending on the option you book. Guides such as Grace are praised for clear directions and lively storytelling.

“First, this was a very fun tour. I highly recommend it. Second, Grace was terrific, very animated, very informative in a light-hearted way, and very organized. She even sent us a video of exactly how to proceed step by step to the meeting lace to start the tour. We were in good hands and had a very enjoyable day.”

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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 such as Tom, Elena, Frank, or Aleena. Visit the Master-of-Nets Garden, Panmen Gate, a silk museum, and Zhouzhuang’s canals. The $135 shared tour includes transport, lunch, entrance fees, a gondola ride, and city-center hotel transfers.

“It was great to get away from the glass and steel towers of Shanghai and see the real beauty of Chinese gardens. The highlight was the water village, despite being busy it still felt peaceful and unspoiled.”

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

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

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou with a private guide such as Annie, Roy, Melinda, or Sammi. Choose a private car, bullet train, or both, then see Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill, and Shantang Street. Add lunch, garden admission, and a canal boat for a more complete day.

“We have a great guide, Annie. She is knowledgeable. We learnt a lot from her, especially the meaning behind the beautiful Chinese language and China history.”

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

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

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private guide such as Caroline, Jane, Berlin, or Queena. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Panmen Gate, Shantang Street, and the Grand Canal. The all-inclusive option adds entry fees, a rickshaw ride, and a canal boat trip.

“Very enjoyable tour. Caroline explained a lot about Suzhou and broader China history. She was very reactive to our questions and went all the way to answer them, be that about the historical site or useful tips for our later days in Shanghai.”

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

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

Spend 8 to 9 hours with a private guide and driver visiting Mutianyu Great Wall and the Summer Palace. You get hotel pickup, lunch, entrance fees, cable car or chair lift access, and a toboggan ride down. Guides such as Kelly, Violet, and Pietro have been praised for clear explanations and smooth timing.

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

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

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

Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Shanghai with a private German-speaking guide such as Sarah or Boris, a private driver, and hotel pickup. See the Bund, Old Town, Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, People’s Square, and Pudong, then adjust the plan for shopping, museums, or city views.

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7.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

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

Travel from Shanghai to Linhai by high-speed train for a private day of wall walking, East Lake views, local food, and old-town streets. Your English-speaking guide, often guides such as Summer, Emma, Jenny, or Jordan, handles the train, transfers, lunch, and translation. Expect a long but well-organized 13-hour day with stairs and plenty of walking.

“Excellent service from hotel pick up to hotel return. Emma had a lot of relevant info to share and is fluent in english.”

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

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

Start with hotel pickup in Guilin, then cruise four hours down the Li River past famous karst peaks. Your private English-speaking guide, such as Tony or Jeff, helps explain the scenery. Lunch is served aboard, followed by Yangshuo’s West Street, countryside touring, and a private transfer back to Guilin.

“The river cruise was a fantastic way to see the famous Guilin karsts, and the visit to Yangshuo and the charming surrounding countryside was wonderful. Tony was a great guide, patiently answering our questions and giving us plenty of time to enjoy our walk after the cruise. Highly recommended!”

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9.All-Inclusive Suzhou Day Trip by Bullet Train

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

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private English-speaking guide, then visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, take a canal boat and private rickshaw, eat a local lunch, and explore Panmen Gate and Shantang Street. Guides such as Caroline, Berlin, Lulu, and Nini are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing.

“The day to Suzhou was fantastic. The weather this time of year was raining and cold; however the day trip was really good. Caroline was a great guide! Caroline explained the history and significance of many things in the Garden and Suzhou. Our lunch was amazing - the best meal I have had in China. I highly recommend this tour, I had a great time!”

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10.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

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

Travel from Shanghai to Linhai by bullet train on a private day trip with hotel pickup, lunch, a local guide, and return transfers. Visit East Lake, walk the Jiangnan Great Wall, and explore Ziyang Old Street. Guides including Summer, Emma, Jordan, Jenny, and Li have earned praise for their care and flexibility.

“This is a wonderful way to learn and understand some historical and meaningful information about chinese culture and philosophy of life. Great day with many detail informations and a very well organized tour! Its a must!!! Thank you!!”

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

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

Plan an eight-hour private Beijing day around your interests, from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square to hutongs, temples, pandas, or the Great Wall. An English-speaking guide such as William, Cora Lin, Gale, or Jackie Lee may lead the day, but guide assignment is not guaranteed. Hotel pickup is offered. Transport, meals, and many entrance fees may cost extra.

“great guide. very professional and knowledgeable. we enjoyed every minute of this tour.”

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

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

This 10-hour Hangzhou day trip leaves Shanghai around 7:30 a.m. and includes hotel pickup, lunch, entrance fees, a West Lake cruise, Meijiawu Tea Village, and Six Harmonies Pagoda. Expect about three hours each way by air-conditioned coach, with guides such as Tom, Frank, Alina, Rita, or Joy assigned according to availability. It is a scenic introduction, not a relaxed Hangzhou stay.

“I really love meeting small villages and Im a tea lover, so I was very excited to visit a tea field. Unfortunately it wasn’t harvest season, but still was great to be there. Alina guided us through it all, including the temple, the lake and the boat trip, telling us about the history of the places and counting us the local legends and folkores.”

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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. Start with an 8:00 a.m. hotel pickup, walk the restored wall, then enjoy a local lunch before choosing the Sacred Way, Chang Ling, or Ding Ling. Cable car and toboggan tickets cost extra.

“Such a great experience! Very Safe driver and we loved Sally our guide who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The private car was very clean and extremely comfortable. Starting the tour as early as possible and leaving Beijing early helped us to avoid the traffic and long lines that we saw as we were finishing the locations. 5 stars for sure!!”

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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 Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, lunch, and the cable car or chairlift and toboggan option are included. Guide Jerry has earned special praise for his history storytelling.

“Jerry our guide was very enthusiastic despite the bad weather. He taught us a lot about the whole history of Beijing. The Chinese architecture is fascinating. A good guide is a must have if you really want to enjoy the tour. At the end of the day, a great tour to have an overall look of what Beijing has to offer!”

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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 handle park buses, tickets, photo stops, and timing. Pickup, private transport, bottled water, and guide service are included, but confirm your ticket option before booking.

“Well organised tour, could not recommend it more. Arianna my tour guide was an absolute star! Very helpful and full of local travel tips!”

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