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Overview
Most reporting on this country arrives as one story with two halves: what it used to be, and what it is becoming. Eleven days across two river deltas take that apart. You start in Shenzhen, a city with almost no old in it, and then walk into the walled town it grew around. A short rail hop puts you in Foshan, an evening puts you in Guangzhou, and the last three nights are Shanghai. There a garden of pavilions and rockeries sits within sight of the towers. Nothing on this route is a before and an after. It is one map running two clocks at once. By about the fourth day, you'll notice you've stopped sorting what you see into old and new.
— LyrikTrip travel designers
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and which end of this route matters more to you, and we shape the eleven days around both. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. This route is not open for booking yet, so what you get from us today is the plan and a straight account of which four items are still open, not a deposit request.
Why you'll love this trip
- Two deltas, one journey. Huaqiangbei, an old walled town, Lingnan lanes and the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 11 days from a driverless taxi to a garden in the old city. See what this country chose to keep.
- Ride in a car with no one in the driver's seat, on a live city route, and watch the wheel turn itself while the sensors read the street.
- Read one building floor by floor at Huaqiangbei: components low down, prototypes above them, finished machines higher still, with your guide explaining who buys what from whom.
- Walk out of the newest city in the delta straight into the walled old town it grew around, in the same afternoon, on foot.
- Finish a travel day in the lanes of Lingnan Tiandi in Foshan, with the grey brick going warm under the evening lights.
- Stand on the Bund at night with your guide beside you: a row of century-old facades at your back, the towers of the other bank across the water.
- Spend an hour at the People's Park marriage market, where parents lay out their children's details in the open and talk terms with strangers.
- Unpack twice for six of the ten nights: three in Shenzhen at the start, three in Shanghai at the end.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Shenzhen · Day 1 - Day 3
· You land where the country is newest
Nothing scheduled today except getting you settled. The clock this trip is about starts outside the car window.
· The market and the machine
A building sold by the component, then a car with no one driving it. Today you meet how the city actually works.
· The plan, then the town it went around
The city explains itself in the morning; in the afternoon you walk the part it did not replace.
High-speed rail
Foshan · Day 4
· Half an hour of rail, six centuries of habit
The delta is close enough that a short train journey changes the century. Tonight you walk instead of ride.
Private vehicle
Guangzhou · Day 5
· An open morning, then east
Foshan's own experiences are not yet available, so this morning remains honestly empty. The drive east is the day's picture.
Flight
Hangzhou · Day 6 - Day 7
· The new centre, then a flight north
One morning in the city that was doing this before Shenzhen existed. Then you leave the delta.
· A day we are not selling you yet
The hotel and breakfast are included in the price. The daytime programme is not, and we say so rather than padding it out with words.
High-speed rail
Shanghai · Day 8 - Day 11
· Out of the lake city, into the port city
The second open morning, then a train that lands you in the final chapter.
· Height, art, and other people's arrangements
A city read from above, then at eye level, then from a park bench.
· A garden, then the two banks
The oldest thing on this route and the newest are one metro stop apart. Tonight they are in the same photograph.
· Departure from Shanghai
One last breakfast on the same river, then the airport.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Foshan
Ramada Foshan Hotel
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Foshan
Aiwei Wuxi Hotel Foshan Zumiao
Foshan
Foshan Silver Garden Hotel
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Foshan
Foshan Nanhai Xin Hu Hotel
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. A selected stay in Guangzhou.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Foshan
Ramada Foshan Hotel
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Foshan
Aiwei Wuxi Hotel Foshan Zumiao
Foshan
Foshan Silver Garden Hotel
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Foshan
Foshan Nanhai Xin Hu Hotel
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. A selected stay in Guangzhou.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Foshan
Ramada Foshan Hotel
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Foshan
Aiwei Wuxi Hotel Foshan Zumiao
Foshan
Foshan Silver Garden Hotel
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Foshan
Foshan Nanhai Xin Hu Hotel
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. A selected stay in Guangzhou.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring in Shenzhen, Foshan, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Also the road transfer from Foshan to Guangzhou on day five, your arrival transfer in Shenzhen on day one and your airport transfer in Shanghai on day eleven
- Intercity travelHigh-speed rail from Shenzhen to Foshan, domestic flight from Guangzhou to Hangzhou, and high-speed rail from Hangzhou to Shanghai, all included in the base price, with the cabin class for your booking stated in writing with your quote.
- Hotels10 nights at your chosen level, four-star, five-star or quality boutique, breakfast included
- Meals10 hotel breakfasts, one each morning from day two to day eleven
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on all touring days in Shenzhen, Foshan, Guangzhou and Shanghai, including the evening visit to the Bund
- Tickets and experiencesShenzhen urban planning exhibition admission · Shekou and Nantou Old Town · Huaqiangbei walk with guide commentary · one booked Robotaxi ride · Lingnan Tiandi · Haixinsha and Zhujiang New Town · Shanghai Tower deck · Yu Garden and the old city · the Bund evening · one Shanghai art venue · People's Park marriage market
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsYour flights into Shenzhen and out of Shanghai
- VisasVisa fees and processing, for guests who require a Chinese visa
- MealsAll lunches and dinners: your guide recommends and books around your taste each day, on your account
- Hangzhou daytime programmeGuiding, vehicle, admissions and experiences on day seven and day eight; the two Hangzhou nights and breakfasts are included in the price, but the touring content of those two days is not.
- Foshan experiencesThe old-house morning tea, the Wing Chun session and the lion dance: not included in the price and not yet bookable
- Guangzhou car factory visitNot included in the price; cannot be booked until the plant's visitor date is confirmed
- Meetings with local practitionersThis route does not promise arranged conversations with local practitioners in any of the five cities
- Optional add-onsQuoted separately when you choose them; nothing optional is added by default
- PersonalGratuities, single supplement, personal spending and anything not named above
Special Notes
Several things on this route are still being settled. Here they are, told straight.
- Not open for booking yet — This route is a plan, not a product on sale. Four things must be finalised first: the Hangzhou ground partner, the Guangzhou to Hangzhou flight timing, the car factory visitor date, and the cabin class for the three intercity legs. Until all four are confirmed, we take no orders and accept no deposits. You can talk to us about it now, and we will tell you where each item stands.
- The two days in Hangzhou — hotel and breakfast for both nights are included in the price; the daytime programme is not, and is being arranged with a ground partner. The alternative is to shorten the route and move those days to Shanghai. Whichever it becomes is written into your plan before you pay.
- Guangzhou to Hangzhou flight — The evening departure is being checked against this season's timetable. If it moves to the following morning, day six includes the city centre only and day seven starts later; the fixed running order is provided in writing with your quote.
- Robotaxi — the ride is booked by date in advance and reconfirmed on the ground. Service availability sits with the operator, not with us. If it is suspended on your date, your guide extends the Huaqiangbei walk instead, at no extra charge and with nothing added to your price.
- The three Foshan experiences — the morning tea, the Wing Chun session and the lion dance are designed into day five but have no confirmed supplier schedules, so they are neither in the price nor orderable. We will not list them as highlights of this route until they are.
- Guangzhou car factory — the plant admits visitors only on its own calendar. Until a visitor date is secured, the visit is not sold, not quoted and not part of day six.
- The Shanghai art venue — one venue is included in the price and will be named in your written confirmation; we are finalising which one with our partners.
- National holiday week — departures between 1 and 7 October 2026 are not quoted until visitor limits and transport capacity are checked point by point for this route. From 8 October onward, quotes are provided as normal.
- Departure dates and the visa window — the current visa-free policy runs through December 31, 2026. Because this is an 11-day plan, departures on or before December 20, 2026 finish inside that window; later departures are quoted once the official renewal is announced.
- Hotels and venues — named in your confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.
Is Eleven Days Your Length?
Fewer than 11 days?
Fewer than 11 days?
The two ends of this route stand on their own: Shenzhen with the delta, or Shanghai with the lake city. Tell us your dates and which end interests you more, and we shape backward from that.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Ports
- Shenzhen in, Shanghai out; you do not return to the entry city. Arrival transfer and departure airport transfer both included
- Visas
- The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for stays days; so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm your dates fit that window before you pay. This route is not sold to US guests
- Language
- English-speaking licensed guides in Shenzhen, Foshan, Guangzhou and Shanghai
- Intercity travel
- Two high-speed rail legs and one domestic flight, all included in the price; the cabin class for your booking is stated in writing with your quote
- Payment
- A 10% deposit (minimum $399) secures your dates; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility
- The change and refund terms for your dates are set out in writing with your quote; this route comprises one flight, two rail legs and five separate hotel bookings, so any date changes affect all of them.
- On the Bund
- Strangers sometimes approach visitors to practise their English or invite them to a tea tasting; your guide stays with you for the whole evening visit
- Season
- October to December in the delta is mild and dry, though Shanghai and Hangzhou turn cold in December; outdoor walks are best taken during the warmer part of the day.
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Not yet, and we would rather say so. Four items are still open: the Hangzhou ground partner, the Guangzhou to Hangzhou flight timing, the car factory visitor date and the cabin class for the three intercity legs. Until all four are closed we take no order and no deposit. Talk to us now and we will tell you where each one stands and when we expect it to close.
The two nights and both breakfasts are included in the price; the daytime programme is not, because no ground partner is in place there yet. We are doing one of two things: placing that partner and writing the two days in, or shortening the route and moving those days to Shanghai. Either way you see the final version in writing before you pay, and we do not describe those hours on this page until they are real.
It is a booked ride on a live commercial route, reserved by date in advance and reconfirmed on the ground. What we cannot promise is the operator's service on any given day: suspensions are their call to make, not ours. If your date is affected, your guide extends the Huaqiangbei walk instead, at no extra charge. That building is where most of the day's understanding comes from anyway.
Two reasons, both practical. There is no direct air service from the US into Shenzhen, which is where this route starts. And this is an 11-day plan, which is longer than the stay allowed by the visa-free transit policy US passports would otherwise use. Entering through Hong Kong and crossing the land border is not an approved selling route for this product, so we do not offer it. Whether to open the route to US guests holding a Chinese visa is under review, and we will say so here when it is decided.
No, and it is worth saying plainly. This route holds no Great Wall, no Terracotta Warriors and no pandas; it spends its eleven days on two river deltas and on how this country runs its oldest and its newest ground side by side. If the classic first-visit list is what you want, tell us and we will point you at the route built for it.
