China Highlights Express
The essential first-time itinerary: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and futuristic Shanghai, linked by high-speed rail.
★★★★★4.9 218 reviews
From US$1,290 US$1,490/per person
Stopover · 3 days
Shanghai Stopover Discovery
Designed around the 240-hour visa-free transit window: three days that actually work with your flight times rather than against them.
The short version
Shanghai Stopover Discovery is a 3-day private tour designed for travellers using China's 240-hour visa-free transit. It covers the Bund, Yu Garden, the French Concession and Zhujiajiao water town, and is scheduled around your actual arrival and departure times. From US$460 per person.
- Built for the 240-hour transit window — no visa needed from 55 countries.
- Pickup and drop-off timed to your exact flight numbers.
- Includes the one thing most layovers miss: a canal-side water town.
- Works from 48 hours up; tell us your times and we rebuild the plan.
Day by day
Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- Two nights 4-star hotel with breakfast
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking guide and private vehicle
- All listed entrance fees
- Water-town boat ride
Not included
- International flights
- Most meals
- Chinese visa if you do not qualify for transit
Destinations on this route
Shanghai
Shanghai Municipality · 7 tours
Shanghai rewards two days: one for the colonial Bund and the museums, one for old-town gardens, food and the French Concession. Add a third for a cana
Hangzhou
Zhejiang · 2 tours
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is built around West Lake — willow banks, causeways and pagodas that poets have been writing about for 1,2
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View tourFrequently asked questions
Do I qualify for visa-free transit in Shanghai?
If you hold a passport from one of 55 countries, enter via Shanghai with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, and stay under 240 hours, yes. We check your nationality and routing before you book.
What if my flight is delayed?
Your guide tracks the flight number and waits. Nothing is prepaid for a fixed hour, so a three-hour delay costs you nothing.
Can I do this in 48 hours?
Yes. Cut the water town and you still get the Bund, the old town and the French Concession comfortably in two days.
Where do I leave my luggage?
At the hotel, or in left luggage at the airport or the maglev station. Your guide handles whichever suits your routing.
Explore next
Day tours
Practical guides
- Do I Need a Visa for China? Requirements, Costs and How to Apply
- China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How It Works
- Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards and Cash
- China's High-Speed Rail: How to Book, What It Costs, How Fast It Goes
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Honest Risks and How to Avoid Them
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
Tell us your dates.
We'll do the rest.
Free itinerary design, a revised plan within one working day, and nothing charged until you approve the final version.