China · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in China

925 tours  ·  from $5 a head

Three weeks or a stopover, the problem is the same: a country the size of Europe and one itinerary. The 15 below are the days that earn their place, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.

From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options - The 8:00 AM coach and the ride to the mountains
Great Wall Tours, Mutianyu Great Wall Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Beijing

From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options

1.Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,216 reviews · 8 - 10 hours · from $19Our pick

Join Beijing Mubus for an 8 to 10 hour Mutianyu Great Wall trip from central Beijing. Ride a direct coach, spend about four to five hours at the Wall, and choose from free exploration, a buffet lunch, a 30-minute architecture talk, a demanding 5-kilometer hike, an overnight villa, or a Summer Palace add-on. English, Spanish, and Russian guides are available.

“It was very nice trip, interesting info received while on the bus, everything well explained and enough time to explore great wall on your own, highly recommended! And make sure to include lunch, worth it.”

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Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included - Meeting Tian’anmen Square without wasting the morning
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Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

2.Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7,974 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $4

Choose a small-group or private visit to Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City, led by experienced English-speaking guides such as Mina, Miko, Maria, or Jay. Palace Museum entry is arranged for you. Longer options add the Clock and Treasure museums or Coal Hill Park, while a private booking can include hotel pickup.

“Our guide Susan spoke perfect English and had a fantastic knowledge of Chinese history. It was exactly why we booked private tour. There is no way we could navigate through tiananmen square so quick by ourselves. Lots of different queues in different places. Susan was absolutely incredible.”

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Beijing: T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour - Tiananmen Square: a one-hour introduction
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Beijing: T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour

3.T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,446 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $17

See Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with a multilingual guide such as Tony, Michael, Gary, or Song. Choose a 3-hour Forbidden City visit, a 4-hour group tour with the square, or a private day adding the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hutongs, or Great Wall. Expect security checks, brisk walking, and help with Beijing’s complicated entry process.

“Our Guide-James was really kind, helpful and has great knowledge about history of Forbidden City. He showed us some interesting objects in the museum and guided us through Tiananmen square.”

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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Tour with Ticket & Lunch - The ride from central Beijing to the mountains
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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Tour with Ticket & Lunch

4.Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Tour with Ticket & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,056 reviews · 9 hours · from $18Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at Zhangzizhonglu Subway Station at 8:00 AM for a nine-hour Mutianyu outing. Guides such as Kevin and Linda help you choose a route, arrange optional cable-car or toboggan tickets, and explain the Wall’s story. You get round-trip transport, admission, park shuttle service, and five hours around Mutianyu, with lunch available as an option.

“Definitely one of the best things you can do in Beijing. Our guide Kevin is a really nice guy, ready to help you. Choose the option which offers food, it's really good.”

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All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Walking Into the Forbidden City
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All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

5.All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,873 reviews · from $128

Spend 9 to 11 hours with a private guide such as Lucy, Wendy, or Jerry, visiting Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Hotel pickup, transport, lunch, entrance fees, bottled water, and either a cable car or chairlift and toboggan ride are included. Expect a full, active day with useful help at security points.

“Jerry was an amazing guide, catering to our interests, giving us tips that allowed us to sail thru security, and seeing the good stuff! He knew historical details that thrilled these history buffs’ hearts. This trip was clearly bucket list items, and he allowed us all the time we needed to fully appreciate our amazing time at the Great Wall! I’d recommend this tour and Jerry both!”

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MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall ENG/ESP/RUS Guided Bus Tour - Arriving at Mutianyu and using the shuttle
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MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall ENG/ESP/RUS Guided Bus Tour

6.MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall ENG/ESP/RUS Guided Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,361 reviews · from $20

Travel from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu by direct bus with an English, Spanish, or Russian-speaking guide. You get several hours on the Wall, entrance and internal shuttle tickets, plus tea and snacks. Optional extras include a rural buffet lunch, a 5-kilometer hike, cable car, and toboggan rides.

“John was very helpful. But if you plan to do west and east side the time is very short. The point 20 is very beautiful but hard to climb.”

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4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets - Tiananmen Square: important, but not always quick
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4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

7.4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · from $15

Explore Beijing’s Forbidden City with a guide in a group capped at 15 people. Hear stories of the Ming and Qing emperors, see the Meridian Gate, grand halls, living quarters, and Imperial Garden. Choose Tiananmen Square or Jingshan Park, and bring your passport for entry.

“Good and expert guide (Maria), with value for money. The pace was very relax and probably due to off peak, the group size is small. Maria was very helpful through the tour and patiently helping us taking photos. Her spoken English was good and clear.”

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Beijing: Tiananmen Square Registration Service(Ticket) - How the online registration works
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Beijing: Tiananmen Square Registration Service(Ticket)

8.Tiananmen Square Registration Service(Ticket)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,704 reviews · 30 min · from $3

Ezio’s Private Tour registers your Tiananmen Square visit online using your name and passport number. You receive confirmation by email, then show your passport and confirmation at the entrance. Tiananmen is free, while Forbidden City tickets can be bought separately at Meridian Gate. No guide accompanies you.

“Ezio saved us last minute because I had reservation for the Forbidden City which was different than the Tiananmen Square. Thanks to him in 1 hour he closed us a ticket for the same day.”

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Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Three hours inside the Forbidden City
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Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall

9.Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,634 reviews · from $99

This 10 to 11-hour small-group outing links Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Expect hotel pickup within Beijing’s Third Ring Road, an English-speaking guide such as Helen or Rocky, entrance fees, buffet lunch, water, and a cable car or chairlift and toboggan ride. It is an efficient first-day introduction, but expect a long, active schedule.

“Mary is our tour guide! Thank Mary for sharing her expertise, food and experience! She has been great Great way to go to all the places! May not be the best to come to China or any East Asian countries during summer. Otherwise, well worth it to not go through the hassle of doing all of them yourselves.”

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Hong Kong: Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour - Searching for dolphins in open water
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Hong Kong: Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour

10.Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,512 reviews · 7 hours · from $35

Spend seven hours exploring Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide such as Grace, Lok Lok, or Eva. Ride local transport, cruise for pink dolphins, visit Tai O’s stilt houses and floating market, climb to the Big Buddha, and choose the cable car for wide mountain and water views. Lunch and cable car access may depend on your booking option.

“Lok Lok was a wonderful guide. Though we did not see any dolphins, we had a great trip!”

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Ngong Ping 360: Cable Car Return Tickets & Combos - Choosing between Standard, Crystal, and Crystal+
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Ngong Ping 360: Cable Car Return Tickets & Combos

11.Ngong Ping 360: Cable Car Return Tickets & Combos

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,431 reviews · 1 day · from $30

You’ll ride the 5.7 km Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping Village in about 25 minutes. Choose a Standard, glass-bottom Crystal, or floor-to-ceiling Crystal+ cabin, then walk to Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, and Wisdom Path. Optional tickets add Motion 360, the Cable Car Discovery Centre, or a Three Kingdoms exhibition.

“We loved the glass windows from floor to ceiling and with buying the Crystal+ package with return ticket we were able to skip the large line for standard tickets and get right down. We took the subway out from downtown which was very easy. Walked around to see all the sights at the top.”

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Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai - Meeting at Huangpi Nan Road and entering Xintiandi
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Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

12.Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,382 reviews · from $79

Join Shanghai Foodie for a three-hour walking tour through Xintiandi, the Former French Concession, and People's Square. Guides such as Jade, Kurt, TJ, Jim, and Wang Jian lead small groups to local restaurants for soup dumplings, noodles, pork, duck, tea, and dessert. Morning, lunch, evening, and late-night departures are available.

“Great food and a behind-the-scenes look at the food that the city is known for. Plenty of good samplings from Friendly local vendors. Jim, our guide, was very attentive.”

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Lantau Island Day Trip - Big Buddha & Tai O - Ngong Ping 360 and the first look at Big Buddha
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Lantau Island Day Trip – Big Buddha & Tai O

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

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

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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Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar - Lunch and the practical value of the package
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Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar

14.Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,320 reviews · from $49

Spend about 9 to 10 hours exploring Xi'an with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, transport, museum tickets, and a Chinese buffet lunch advertised as included. Visit the Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, ancient City Wall, and Muslim Quarter with a group of about 12. Guides such as Lily, Roger, Rita, Tracy, and Carol are frequently assigned.

“Unique and Unforgettable Moment in the Terracotta Warriors Xi’an and our guide Roger I recommend him!”

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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours - Entering the Forbidden City with ticket assistance
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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

15.Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,288 reviews · from $4

Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with ticket help or a guided group tour. Choose English or Spanish, morning or afternoon departures, and select options that include the Royal Treasures Museum. Guides such as Linda, Vanessa, Mary, Snow, and Icy are praised for clear stories, crowd help, and patient care in the heat.

“The meeting point could be closer to the entrance, because it's a lot of walking inside the palace anyway.”

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New in Tour Reviews

★ 4.4Sichuan: Big Panda Volunteer Day tourFrom $34710 reviews
★ 4.93-Hour Old Shanghai City TourFrom $7545 reviews
★ 4.8Night Market Haggling Adventure with an English Guide!From $687 reviews
★ 4.8Mutianyu Wall, Summer Palace & Old Summer Palace Day TourFrom $2234 reviews
★ 5.0Must-See Attractions in One Day+Customized ItineraryFrom $1983 reviews
★ 4.0Night Cruise on Outer Qinhuai River for AdultsFrom $214 reviews
★ 5.0Mutianyu Great Wall Ticket with Roundtrip Cable CarFrom $3920 reviews
★ 4.9BusDa-Mutianyu Great Wall&Forbidden City Full-day Coach TourFrom $1511 reviews
★ 4.9Mutianyu Great Wall Entry Ticket Chairlift Up Toboggan SlideFrom $508 reviews
★ 4.7Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Trip+Ticket 7/8/9/10/13/13:30/15:30From $1224 reviews
★ 3.6Mutianyu Great Wall Admission TicketFrom $177 reviews
★ 4.8Mutianyu Great Wall 5-KM Guided Hike with Uphill Cable CarFrom $5416 reviews
★ 5.0Mount Qingcheng Tour: Explore Serene and Sacred Taoist SiteFrom $10512 reviews
★ 5.0Mount Huangshan: Highlights Tour in Huangshan full-dayFrom $1983 reviews
★ 4.5Morning Bus Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall + Entry TicketFrom $2026 reviews

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Great Wall Tours171Forbidden City Tours80Terracotta Warriors Tours46Chinese Food Tours48Giant Panda Tours41City Highlights Tours53
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