CHINA: BEIJING – SHANGHAI: THE EASTERN CAPITALS

You have breakfast at the hotel. The tour guide takes the group to visit:
Tiananmen Square: The largest central square in the world, with 600 years of history and the pride of Beijing, together with culturally and historically significant landmarks around it such as the Tiananmen Gate, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong… Today, it is also the venue for many major cultural and political events.

Forbidden City (Palace Museum) – Located in the heart of old Beijing, it was the residence of the dynasties from the mid-Ming to the late Qing. The complex covers 720,000 m2, with 800 palaces and 9,999 rooms, and was built over 14 consecutive years. Most palace roofs are tiled with golden glazed tiles, a color symbolizing the Chinese imperial court. The palace walls are painted bright red, symbolizing solemnity, happiness and good fortune. The citadel is a symbol of the power of the emperors and the Chinese feudal dynasties. In 1987, UNESCO recognized it as the largest ancient wooden complex in the world and designated it a World Heritage Site.

Note: Due to limits on the number of Forbidden City tickets released for sale, if Forbidden City tickets cannot be secured, the replacement sightseeing spot is:
Temple of Heaven Park (Altar of Heaven): With architecture modeled on the imperial crown, this is where the Ming and Qing emperors came every year to hold the “Sacrifice to Heaven” and “Prayer for Good Fortune” rites, praying for peace across the realm and for an annual grain harvest.

Shopping at the Tongrentang store.
Summer Palace: This site was built by the Qing emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother’s birthday. It was also where imperial relatives came to relax and be entertained. It is no exaggeration to say that this was one of the earliest luxury resorts in Asia. The palace is not only a beautiful park but also an architectural masterpiece, with a tight, exquisitely refined layout based on feng shui. Here, you have the chance to admire notable structures such as the Eastern Palace Gate area, Hall of Longevity, Kunming Lake, Fragrant Buddha Pavilion,…

You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

You have breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, the group sets off for sightseeing:
Great Wall of China – A famous wonder known as the “First Wonder Under Heaven” of China, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. This famous wall was built of earth and stone from the 5th century BC to protect the country from invading armies. The most famous section was built from 220 BC to 200 BC under Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. With a history of more than 2,500 years, the Great Wall has witnessed the rise and fall of countless Chinese dynasties; it still stands majestically like a loyal guard, watching events unfold as history turns in its cycles. (The group visits Juyongguan)

Shopping at a soft rubber goods store and a jade store.
Beijing National Stadium (Beijing Bird’s Nest Stadium) – A modern cultural symbol of China with its distinctive elliptical architecture; seen from afar it looks like a giant bird’s nest, hence the name Bird’s Nest Stadium. It hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics, making Beijing the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. (Photo stop outside)

Yuyuantan Park (Yuyuantan) is the most famous cherry blossom paradise in Beijing each spring. With more than 2,000 cherry trees in full bloom, pink and pure white blossom canopies stretch along the shores of the turquoise lake, creating a poetic, picturesque scene. It offers a romantic space full of vitality, where visitors can stroll leisurely beneath flower-lined paths, admire the lake reflecting the spring colors, or capture beautiful moments amid the blossoming flowers. (Subject to weather conditions)

Free time to sightseeing and shopping on Beijing – Wangfujing Avenue – the most famous and busiest commercial street in Beijing, home to many well-known shopping centers, handicraft shops and the largest bookstores not only in Beijing but in all of China.
You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

The group has breakfast at the hotel. Then you check out and set off for Hangzhou – one of China’s major cities of culture, history and economy – by super high-speed train (380 km/h).
Arriving in Hangzhou, the group visits:
Shopping at a tea shop or household goods store.
Hangzhou Old Town is famous for its traditional architecture, narrow streets and antique houses, creating a distinctive historical and cultural space. Qinghefang – an ancient district existing for 900 years, with shops that are hundreds of years old. (Depending on the group’s actual situation, another old town will be arranged if Qinghefang is not visited).

You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you check out. The tour guide takes the group to explore Hangzhou:
Enjoy a cruise on West Lake – A tranquil jewel located in the west of Hangzhou city. Measuring 3.3 km long and 2.8 km wide, the lake is famous for its romantic scenery and unique culture. In 2011, West Lake was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, and it is the only lake in China to appear on this heritage list.

Duan Bridge – Broken Bridge: Famous as a filming location for the film Butterfly Lovers (Liang Shan Bo – Zhu Ying Tai), this scenic spot lies at the foot of Gem Hill near Bai Causeway. The Broken Bridge is 8.8 m long, 8.4 m wide and was built in 1921. With its unique architecture and romantic scenery, you have the chance to explore a mysterious space full of enchantment, as in a movie.

Hangzhou Botanical Garden is a majestic “green oasis” spanning more than 247 hectares, nestled poetically right on the northwest shore of West Lake. Stepping inside, visitors are overwhelmed by a real-life ancient-style world, with lush green bamboo forests and simple, quiet paths shaded by trees. Beyond its wild nature, the garden also offers stunning “backdrops” for photos, such as the brilliant Lingfeng plum blossom forest, the ancient-carp Yuquan pond, and especially a 6-meter Buddha head statue with a pristine, mysterious serenity.

When spring arrives, Taiziwan Park lights up with the white-pink color of cherry blossoms, creating a picture-like scene. Amid the flowers drifting lightly in the wind, you are immersed in a pure and romantic beauty that is hard to forget.

You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you check out and set off for sightseeing:
Wuzhen is the largest water town in China, with more than 1,300 years of history, expressed through ancient stone bridges, stone-paved roads and delicately carved wooden buildings. Through the ups and downs of history, this place has kept its architecture and living customs for more than 1,000 years, making it a destination everyone wants to visit at least once. (The group visits the Xisha area)

Shopping at a silk store.
The tour guide takes the group to explore the bustling city of Shanghai – the most dynamic metropolis, known as the financial and cultural heart of China.
City God Temple is located in Huangpu District, built in the early 15th century and rebuilt many times since. It attracts many visitors from everywhere who come to sightsee and worship, and it is now one of Shanghai’s leading historical relics.

Free time to visit and shop on Nanjing Road – you will experience the energetic rhythm of Shanghai’s most famous commercial street, along with a pedestrian shopping area offering options from luxury to traditional.

You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

You have breakfast at the hotel and check out. Then the tour guide takes you to explore the prosperous city of Shanghai – where modern life harmoniously intertwines with historical imprints:
North Bund Park – North Bund is known as the secret balcony for panoramic views of modern Shanghai.

Union Church and the Shanghai Post Museum are a “sacred place” for those who love classic photography, with red-brick arched doorways and European-style clock towers. Here you can easily capture the blend of the quiet charm of the past and the dazzling modernity of the Oriental Pearl Tower in one frame.

The intersection of Changzhi Road and Jiulong Road is a check-in spot that has “taken social media by storm” thanks to its cinematic viewpoint. It is an ideal spot to capture the unique blend of nostalgic beauty and the forward-looking spirit of Shanghai.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Rising high beside the Huangpu River, it is a standout landmark of Shanghai, with unique architecture of silver and pink spheres joined gracefully. In spring, you can stroll under romantic cherry trees and capture the delicate pink blossoms as a backdrop to the modern structure, creating an interesting contrast between pristine nature and man-made architecture. (Photo stop outside)

Lujiazui is often described as the “modern heart” of Shanghai, where iconic skyscrapers such as the Shanghai Tower and the Jin Mao Tower gather. Lujiazui is not only an economic hub but also an architectural showcase of China’s strength and pace of development.

You have lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Then the bus takes the group to the airport to check in for the return flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Expected flight: VJ3901 PVG – SGN 01:55 – 05:20/VJ5011 02:15 - 05:40
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, the Gateway group leader bids you farewell and looks forward to welcoming you on your next journeys.
(The order of the program may change depending on the actual conditions of the tour, but all sightseeing spots in the program will still be ensured)