15 Guided Tours in China to Book Before You Fly

1.MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall ENG/ESP/RUS Guided Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,361 reviews · from $20Our pick

Review of the $20 MuBus trip to Mutianyu Great Wall, with direct Beijing transport, free time, guide options, lunch, and practical tips.

“This is a bare bones tour that gets you to the Wall and back, and sorts out the admin of getting tickets. That said, it served my needs. Our guide on the bus, Jili, provided some handy info on the history of the Great Wall, as well as what to expext once we got there. Once you're at the Wall, you're pretty much on your own, with well over 5 hours to explore Mutianyu.”

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2.Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,263 reviews · from $9

Review of Beijing Forbidden City tickets, passport entry, optional guides, key palace stops, costs, timing, and practical booking advice.

“Jun was very professional and his English was excellent! This tour did a great job at making everyone feel welcomed and understood. Great way to see the forbidden city! Don’t forget to book your Tiananmen Square tickets the day before so you can visit that after !”

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3.Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 995 reviews · from $11

Review of Beijing’s Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square small-group tour, with guide insights, ticket value, walking tips, timing, and booking advice.

“The Tiananmen Square and prohibited city tour has been amazing. Our guide (Snow) was incredibly passionate and shared so many stories and curiosities with us. She brought a good energy and was open to answering any questions we had. It was a truly pleasant and enriching experience!”

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4.Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 810 reviews · 3 hours - 1 day · from $12

Compare Summer Palace tickets, guided tours, boat rides, and Beijing day trips with practical advice on value, timing, and what to expect.

“The tour was wonderful, and well worth the experience! The guide was so sweet and helpful, especially when members of the group got lost. The instructions for the meet up were clear and we all had a wonderful day and learnt a lot about the amazing palace! Thanks so much!”

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5.Terracotta Army Ticket & Guided Bus Tour with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 579 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $28

Review of Xi’an’s Terracotta Army tour, with museum highlights, guide quality, transport, lunch options, ticket advice, and practical tips.

“It was a very memorable day trip. The guide and the driver were extremely dedicated and professional through out.”

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6.Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 306 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $75

Explore Beijing’s hutongs through hotpot, noodles, spring pancakes, craft beer, and a rare Muslim dish on this 3.5-hour food walk.

“Everything was great! The food was delicious and we were pretty full at the end. All the 4 restaurants had their own specialities and style. Beers, beverages and water included. Our guide TEAGAN was amazing, super friendly. It was a joy to do the tour with her. Don't miss it!”

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7.Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China’s 1st and Best Rated

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 285 reviews · from $5Best value

Explore central Shanghai on a lively four-hour walking tour with history, local food, the Bund, People’s Square, and practical city tips.

“This walking tour, guided by Dinna, exceeded my expectations in every way. The tour's seamless blend of history, culture, and entertainment made for an unforgettable experience. I wholeheartedly endorse this tour and encourage others to participate. Thank you, Dinna!”

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8.Private and Personalized Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 268 reviews · 8 hours · from $150

Review of Shanghai’s private 8-hour city tour, with Yu Garden, the Bund, French Concession, local food, flexible transport, and guide tips.

“Tom is the best tour guide ever! He designs the itinerary around what you want - using his expertise to make it perfect for you. His recommendations are spot on too- so take his suggestions! I have already booked him again for this trip! I highly recommend this if you want to get the most out of your Shanghai visit.”

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9.Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · from $99

Review of Shanghai’s private 8-hour tour, with flexible sightseeing, hotel pickup, local guides, transport choices, lunch options, and value advice.

“Unforgettable! Everything went well, the guide was great and thanks to Jenny for her many tipsAuto-translated”

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10.Shanghai One Day City Private Tour by German-Speaking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 180 reviews · 8 hours · from $158

Explore Shanghai with a private German-speaking guide, from the Bund and Yu Garden to Pudong, temples, markets, and skyline views.

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11.Guided Cycle Tour of Guangzhou

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · from $83

Cycle Guangzhou from old alleyways to Canton Tower, with local food, city history, Pearl River views, and an easy small-group pace.

“I had an amazing time. Cherry is a awesome tour guide. Her English is perfect. I’ve learned a lot about the city’s history and culture. It was so nice to cycle trough the hidden ally’s of Guangzhou, to discover the food market. And to see the people doing tai chi in the park. The best way to spend 24 hrs in Guangzhou.”

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12.Forbidden City Admission Ticket – With Guide Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · from $9

Review of Beijing’s Forbidden City ticket service, with passport entry, key palace sights, practical tips, value, timing, and guide options.

“Book for forbidden square, had no issues at all. Communication was always clear. Recommended if you don't want to struggle with finding tickets.”

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13.1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $209

Review of a private Guilin to Yangshuo Li River cruise with lunch, guide, countryside tour, West Street, and hotel transfers.

“1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat & Night Show This tour was truly amazing, made even more special by our excellent English-speaking guide, Mr. Jeff. He is caring, attentive, and took very good care of us Read more”

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14.Xi’an Terracotta Army Entry Ticket Booking – with Guide Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 122 reviews · from $23

Review of Xi’an Terracotta Army tickets, passport entry, guide options, tomb shuttle, crowds, value, and practical booking advice.

“This is a quick and easy way to purchase tickets for people who do not have a Chinese mobile number.”

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15.2-Day Beijing Highlights Small-Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 120 reviews · from $179

Review of Beijing’s 2-day small-group tour, covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, lunches, and practical tips.

“Our tour guide David was very knowledgeable about the places he brought us. Overall a very good experience would highly recommend.”

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