Destinations: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou
This leisure tour balances classic Chinese cultural sightseeing with two curated, voluntary shopping stops of world-famous Chinese-made products: DJI smart imaging technology and premium Suzhou handmade silk. It showcases China's powerful modern manufacturing alongside timeless traditional craftsmanship, with no forced shopping. Private English-speaking guide, private vehicle, 4‑star accommodation, high-speed rail tickets and professional tax-refund guidance are all included.
For electronic products: Please confirm your home country's drone import rules, voltage requirements and manufacturer global warranty before purchase. For silk goods, they are lightweight and suitable for carry-on luggage. Tax refund eligibility follows official Chinese rules, including minimum spending thresholds and unused condition requirements
Day 1 | Arrival in Beijing
You arrive at Beijing Capital or Daxing International Airport, where your private guide and driver will meet you directly at the baggage claim area, helping with luggage and completing airport transfer to your centrally located 4‑star hotel. After check‑in, you will have time to freshen up and rest from the long flight. Your guide will hold a detailed welcome briefing covering the full tour schedule, travel safety notes, basic mobile payment guidance, foreign currency exchange tips, and an introduction to China's manufacturing transformation. The briefing also explains the official departure VAT tax-refund rules, document requirements, and key reminders for the tech and silk purchases planned later in the journey. In the evening, take a relaxed walking tour along Wangfujing Street, Beijing's iconic commercial pedestrian street. Wander past local snack stalls and boutique shops, sample classic Beijing street food, and soak in the lively city atmosphere. The welcome dinner serves authentic northern Chinese dishes, creating a casual setting for you to ask questions and get ready for your China discovery trip.
Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel
Day 2 | Beijing: Imperial Heritage & Ancient Craft Manufacturing
Morning starts with a guided visit to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing. Your English guide shares the historical background and architectural layout, helping you understand the cultural significance of this landmark. Then you enter the Forbidden City, the grand imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will walk along the central north‑south axis, observe the carefully arranged halls, roof sculptures, timber structures and decorative craftsmanship. The guide explains how ancient Chinese construction techniques, bronze casting, lacquerwork and porcelain production formed China's early sophisticated manufacturing system, linking imperial craft traditions to today’s industrial strength. After lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, travel to Jingshan Park on the north side of the Forbidden City. Climb the main pavilion hill for the famous panoramic overlook of the whole Forbidden City complex, perfect for photos. Late afternoon, transfer to Nanluoguxiang, a well-preserved ancient hutong neighbourhood. Meander along narrow brick alleys lined with courtyard homes, small craft studios and local handicraft shops. You can watch artisans making paper cuttings, clay figurines and hand-painted fans. All purchases here are optional casual souvenirs, not mandatory stops. Dinner features the world-famous Peking duck, served with traditional pancakes, spring onion and sweet bean sauce.
Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel
Day 3 | Beijing → Shanghai by High-speed Train
In the morning, explore the Summer Palace, China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden. Wander the 728-metre Long Corridor decorated with thousands of hand-painted paintings, stroll along Kunming Lake and cross the elegant Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The guide talks about garden design, stone carving and ancient landscape craftsmanship, and how imperial demand drove skilled handicraft industries for hundreds of years. After finishing the garden tour, transfer to Beijing railway station for your high-speed train to Shanghai. The bullet train ride takes roughly 4.5–5 hours; you can relax, enjoy the changing rural and city scenery outside the window and have lunch on the train. Upon arrival at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, your local Shanghai driver and guide meet you and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, walk along the Bund waterfront. Admire the historic European-style colonial buildings on one bank and the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower. Continue a short walk to Nanjing Road for casual window shopping. There is no arranged purchase task here; you may simply enjoy the neon-lit shopping street at your own pace.
Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel
Day 4 | Shanghai + Core Shopping Stop 1: DJI Flagship Store (Smart Electronics)
Morning: Visit Yu Garden and the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar. Step inside the classical Jiangnan garden to view ancient rockeries, ponds and pavilions. Then wander the bustling bazaar lanes filled with traditional Chinese handicrafts: teaware, carved wood, cloisonné and handcrafted ornaments. Your guide explains how Shanghai grew from a trading port into today’s global manufacturing and tech hub. You will have time to taste local snacks such as xiaolongbao soup dumplings. After lunch, the highlight shopping experience of this day: visit the official DJI Flagship Store in Xintiandi. DJI is one of China’s most successful global tech manufacturers, beloved by overseas travellers for its drones, action cameras, portable gimbals and innovative imaging gear. Inside the store, you get hands-on product testing; trained store staff demonstrate flight performance, camera functions and accessory bundles. Your tour guide will help you compare specifications, clarify global warranty coverage, international voltage compatibility and customs import limits for your home country. Most importantly, the guide assists you in preparing all required tax-refund receipts and official forms if you decide to buy. All purchases are fully optional, no sales pressure. In the evening, take a leisurely walk through Xintiandi, a trendy district blending preserved shikumen stone-gate houses with modern cafes, restaurants and boutique shops.
Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel
Day 5 | Suzhou Day Trip + Core Shopping Stop 2: Handmade Silk Workshop
After an early departure from Shanghai, you travel by private coach to Suzhou, the ancient water town famous as the home of Chinese silk culture. The morning tour focuses on the Humble Administrator's Garden, the largest UNESCO-listed classical garden in Suzhou. Follow your guide through ponds, bamboo groves, winding corridors and pavilions, learning about Chinese garden aesthetics and Suzhou's long history of silk trade dating back to the ancient Silk Road. After local Suzhou-style lunch, visit a professional, family-run silk workshop, our second featured shopping stop. You will watch the complete silk-making demonstration: starting from silkworm cocoons, cocoon boiling, silk reeling, thread spinning and traditional loom weaving. Artisans show the difference between raw silk, mulberry silk and blended fabrics, and explain Suzhou embroidery techniques. You can touch the lightweight, smooth silk scarves, silk pillowcases, bedding sets and tailored silk garments on display. Many international visitors select silk goods as elegant, easy-to-pack gifts. If you choose to buy silk products, the guide will help collect tax-refund paperwork and confirm packing guidance for international flights. Again, buying is completely voluntary. Later, take a canal boat ride along Pingjiang Road Ancient Canal. Glide slowly past old white-washed houses and stone bridges, and stroll the pedestrian street lined with tea houses and small craft stalls before returning to Shanghai by coach.
Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel
Day 6 | Shanghai Free Exploration & Optional Casual Shopping
This flexible free day lets you tailor your experience according to your interests. Your guide remains on call all day for translation, payment help and direction support. Popular optional activities: Visit the Shanghai Museum to see ancient bronze, porcelain and textile relics; take a walking tour of the former French Concession to view tree-lined streets and heritage villas; or visit large modern shopping malls to browse popular Chinese domestic brands including sportswear, luggage and home goods. You can also choose to revisit shops you liked on previous days, or simply relax at the hotel. In the evening, we host a farewell dinner featuring Shanghai regional cuisine, to recap your journey through China's ancient craft and modern manufacturing stories.
Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel
Day 7 | Departure from Shanghai
After breakfast, your guide and driver transfer you to Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao International Airport with plenty of time before your flight. Before check-in, your guide will double-check all tax-refund invoices and goods, walk you through the airport VAT refund counter process, and remind you of customs declaration rules for electronic and silk items. Your China Manufacturing & Shopping Discovery Tour concludes here.
