Past & Future
Beijing · Great Wall (Mutianyu) · Aranya · Nanjing · Suzhou · Hangzhou · Shanghai
What Awaits You
The China most people imagine — Beijing, the Great Wall, the classical cities of the east, Shanghai — but built as a journey rather than a checklist. Along the way, two stops take you somewhere less expected: a village beside the Great Wall and Aranya, an extraordinary experiment in contemporary Chinese architecture on the Bohai coast.
Begin with three nights in Sanlitun, giving Beijing enough time to unfold beyond the headline sights. Then spend a night at Mutianyu — just 300 metres from the Great Wall entrance, before continuing north to Aranya on the Bohai Sea — a striking, carefully designed coastal community unlike anywhere else on the route.
From there, the journey turns south through Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou, before finishing with four nights in Shanghai — enough time to slow down, explore properly, and let the whole journey settle.
Seven stops. Seventeen nights. A journey from imperial China to the country it is becoming.
The Journey
Beijing to Shanghai, with the Great Wall, Bohai coast and China’s historic Jiangnan cities in between.
You Want the Full China Story
For first-time travellers who want the essential China — Beijing, the Great Wall, classical gardens, historic cities and Shanghai — without following a standard checklist.
It also works for returning travellers who want to see how dramatically the country changes between its imperial past and its contemporary present.
This is the route for people who want both: the China they came expecting, and the China they didn’t.
What You’ll See
- Beijing – Sanlitun & the hutongs; the Forbidden City at 8am; 798 Art District
- Mutianyu Great Wall – stay overnight, wake early, and be first on the wall at sunrise. No queues. No crowds. Just the watchtowers and the light.
- Aranya – Seashore Library, the Chapel, UCCA Dunes museum
- Nanjing – Qinhuai River, Confucius Temple quarter, Purple Mountain
- Suzhou – Humble Administrator’s Garden, canal streets at night
- Hangzhou – West Lake at dawn, Longjing tea terraces
- Shanghai – The Bund, Former French Concession, M50 creative park
What the trip itself costs.
All prices are in Euro (€). Solo pricing is based on single occupancy. Duo pricing is per person, based on double occupancy.
Based on what we actually spent on our own travels.
Curated Design & Boutique Stays
No generic corporate chains or dead-end districts. Every hotel in the pack is hand-picked for its architectural character, neighbourhood vitality, and seamless direct booking links across all seven stops (direct Trip.com links provided inside the guide).
- Beijing (2 curated options): Contemporary design stays choice — either directly in Sanlitun’s vibrant dining district or inside a character-filled boutique property near the historic Houhai lakes and hutong alleys.
- Mutianyu Great Wall: An atmospheric lodge located right at the Great Wall entrance, built for stepping onto the watchtowers at sunrise before the tourist buses arrive.
- Aranya (2 curated options): Minimalist coastal retreats and design-led wellness lodges positioned steps from the famous Seashore Library and UCCA Dunes Museum on the Bohai coast.
- Nanjing: An atmospheric heritage stay nestled right inside the historic Confucius Temple and Laomendong canal quarter.
- Suzhou: A sleek, modern designer hotel centrally located within walking distance of the classical gardens and historic canal streets.
- Hangzhou (2 curated options): A Light-filled retreat by West Lake, or — for esports fans — a base right by Hangzhou’s fast-growing gaming and esports scene, with live events and matches steps away.
- Shanghai (2 curated options): High-design lifestyle stays and boutique retreats hidden in central Shanghai, perfect for exploring the French Concession, art quarters, and the Bund.
Everything you need to follow the route.
- 11 curated hotel recommendations with direct Trip.com booking links across all seven stops
- High-speed rail logistics for all legs, plus private transfer notes for the Great Wall and Aranya
- Bilingual address cards in Chinese characters for every stop
- The full Chinese Digital Kit — Alipay, WeChat Pay, VPNs, eSIMs, 12306, DiDi, and troubleshooting — included free
- Regional dining guide — curated local favourites across all stops
- Golden Hour Clock — exact times and places for the best light at every stop
- Troubleshooting playbook — common problems and fixes
Start Your Journey
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