Shanghai Tours & Trip Packages

Shanghai Tours & Trips

118 Shanghai trips. Tours from 59 tour companies. 206 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

118 Trips match your criteria (1 - 20 shown)

China Natural Wonders Discovery
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Shanghai, Xian

Highlights

  • Discover the Hidden Halls in the Forbidden City.
  • Walk on a Delicate Mixture of the Restored and Wild Great Wall
  • Meet the Terracotta Army and Make Your Own Terracotta Warriors
  • Witness the Closest Things on Earth to the Hallelujah Mountains
  • Walk on the World's Longest and Highest glass-floored bridge
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Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Generous cancellation

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China Golden Triangle with Chengdu and Tibet
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By Odynovo
premier
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
They are able to handcraft custom trip plans in over 70 different destinations worldwide.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shanghai, Xian

Highlights

  • Explore the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, Great Wall, and local Hutongs in Beijing.
  • Visit the ancient Terracotta Warriors and Ancient City Wall in Xi’an.
  • Explore the well-known Potala Palace and delve into the heart of Tibetan spirituality.
  • Go to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and meet the cute Pandas.
  • Experience the enchanting contrast of old and new along the Bund in Shanghai.

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"I cannot say enough good things about Odynovo, both on the coordination end (we worked with Laura Li, who was fantastic!) to the on-site people (shout out to our airport contact in Cairo Hassan, our skilled driver Ahmed, our fun Cairo guide Mai, and our knowledgable Aswan/Luxor guide Hazem - BEST crew EVER!!!) who make your trip a seamless, safe, exciting, educational, and all-around transformative life highlight. This experience was seriously a bucket-list one for my husband and me, and I can NOT emphasize enough how important the Odynovo team was to making Egypt an infinitely easier context to navigate. If you've watched travel vloggers and social media influencers attempt to navigate Egypt on their own and complain about a negative experience, fear not - if you go with Odynovo, every. single. thing. will be taken care of. There is NOTHING to worry about, and the experience was entirely positive. The people, the food, the culture, the historical sites and stories - with Odynovo taking care of all the logistical details, these are the only things you need to focus on. I am full of gratitude for the experience I had in Egypt, and I credit Odynovo for it. I will absolutely use them in the future for other destinations, and I urge you to do the same. I know my Egypt experience would not have been nearly the same had I not gone with Odynovo. Check out our adventure here: https://youtu.be/vMlAmVk7vBY Also, a passionate recommendation from my experience: DEFINITELY make the trip to Abu Simbel!! It was a major highlight (we went in a private car that left Aswan around 9am since we'd flown in from Cairo that morning). We stopped at the High Dam first, so by the time we arrived at Abu Simbel, the tour busses were on their way back to Aswan, and we had the whole of the site almost entirely to ourselves. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. Do it. Stay the night in Abu Simbel if you can in order to avoid the crowds. It was amazing. ✨"

Trip dates & details
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Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Three Gorges, Yangshuo

Highlights

  • See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
  • Visit a quieter section of The Great Wall
  • Cruise down the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges Dam
  • Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base near Chengdu
  • Discover rural Yangshuo and its limestone karst scenery

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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North China Getaway
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Huangshan, Shanghai

Highlights

  • China is a land of contrasts. From soaking up the bright city lights of Shanghai’s waterfront to exploring the unearthed Terracotta Warriors outside of Xi’an, you’ll get to see it all for yourself!
  • Spend two nights at the base of the Great Wall in a locally run guesthouse, and follow in the footsteps of soldiers from hundreds of years ago when you trek the lesser-visited Gubeikou to Jinshanling section.
  • This adventure offers plenty of opportunity to get active among the wonders of China. Explore city laneways on walking tours, climb the steps of the Yellow Mountain, trek the Great Wall and cycle countryside lanes in Hongcun.
  • Two overnight trains means you'll maximise your time in each destination, get to know your fellow travellers over a game of mahjong, and have a real sense of the vast size of the country.
  • We’re all about authentic experiences, so go local every step of the way with an experienced local leader, public transport, and family-run guesthouses and lodgings wherever possible.

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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China Express
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

Highlights

  • Trek along the great wall
  • Visit the forbidden city in beijing and the canal town of suzhou
  • Experience a local meal and the terracotta warriors in xi'an
  • Witness an exciting acrobatic performance in shanghai

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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China Explorer's Family Vacation
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Guilin, Shanghai, Xian

Highlights

  • Discover the Mythical Animals in the Forbidden City
  • Walk on the Great Wall and Slide Down from It
  • Be Like an Imperial-Era Chinese Child in the Hutongs
  • Practice a Family Morning Excercise in the Temple of Heaven
  • Make Your Own Terracotta Warriors in A Local People's Cave Dwelling
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Family Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Generous cancellation

More

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China Tour with Panda Experience
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
By Odynovo
premier
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
They are able to handcraft custom trip plans in over 70 different destinations worldwide.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Shanghai, The Forbidden City, Xian

Highlights

  • Wander along the Bund to experience the old and new in Shanghai.
  • Immerse in the scenic karst landscape on a Li River cruise in Guilin.
  • Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see the cute pandas in Chengdu.
  • Marvel at the mysterious Terracotta Warriors and City Wonders in Xi’an.
  • Explore the iconic Great Wall and ancient Forbidden City in Beijing.

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I cannot say enough good things about Odynovo, both on the coordination end (we worked with Laura Li, who was fantastic!) to the on-site people (shout out to our airport contact in Cairo Hassan, our skilled driver Ahmed, our fun Cairo guide Mai, and our knowledgable Aswan/Luxor guide Hazem - BEST crew EVER!!!) who make your trip a seamless, safe, exciting, educational, and all-around transformative life highlight. This experience was seriously a bucket-list one for my husband and me, and I can NOT emphasize enough how important the Odynovo team was to making Egypt an infinitely easier context to navigate. If you've watched travel vloggers and social media influencers attempt to navigate Egypt on their own and complain about a negative experience, fear not - if you go with Odynovo, every. single. thing. will be taken care of. There is NOTHING to worry about, and the experience was entirely positive. The people, the food, the culture, the historical sites and stories - with Odynovo taking care of all the logistical details, these are the only things you need to focus on. I am full of gratitude for the experience I had in Egypt, and I credit Odynovo for it. I will absolutely use them in the future for other destinations, and I urge you to do the same. I know my Egypt experience would not have been nearly the same had I not gone with Odynovo. Check out our adventure here: https://youtu.be/vMlAmVk7vBY Also, a passionate recommendation from my experience: DEFINITELY make the trip to Abu Simbel!! It was a major highlight (we went in a private car that left Aswan around 9am since we'd flown in from Cairo that morning). We stopped at the High Dam first, so by the time we arrived at Abu Simbel, the tour busses were on their way back to Aswan, and we had the whole of the site almost entirely to ourselves. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. Do it. Stay the night in Abu Simbel if you can in order to avoid the crowds. It was amazing. ✨"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Essential China
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Chengdu, Shanghai

Highlights

  • Visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan Park in Beijing
  • See giant pandas at Chengdu Breeding & Research Centre
  • Marvel at one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
  • Admire the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
  • Discover the Bund waterfront area and French Concession of Shanghai

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

More
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Shanghai Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
206  Reviews
See all Shanghai tour reviews
Excellent
85
Great
23
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

imperial china and yangsie river cruise

Peter Wong was a very good guide. He explained in detail the history of China from the early ages until the present day. I found the trip very educational. The fas...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

So much included

This was my first trip outside of Europe, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to step outside their travel comfort-zone and immerse themselves in a completely d...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A great way to see all the great things in China

Have low expectations and be positive was the motto of our guide. My own expectations were exceeded! We got to see so many great things Pandas! I booked this trip ...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Hints and tips

This is not a restful trip. It is full on from the start but it gave us everything we wanted to see in China and our guide Kris made it very easy for us. She had a...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A great trip, who have interest and energy

Kris was an excellent guide with detailed knowledge on the Nation and people of China. Answered questions with a easily to understand words. There is little rest s...

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Shanghai Tour Selection Trips

  • Shanghai is usually a single stop on an extended tour of China, and it usually falls at the start or the end of the tour. If you want a tour exclusively of Shanghai, you may want to consider booking a private tour of just the city, or pick a tour which ends in the city so you can spend a couple of extra days there on your own.
  • Tours in Shanghai are primarily cultural and historical, and one way to capitalize on this experience is to go on a tour with a homestay or cultural immersion element to it.
  • Because of the language barrier, may solo travellers prefer to travel to China (and even it’s big cities) with a tour. It is easy to compare solo traveler friendly tours here on Stride.

Additional details

Best Time to Visit Shanghai

One generally touted piece of advice when traveling to Shanghai is to visit in the autumn. Temperatures are still comfortably warm between September and October (with highs on average 81F in September and a still pleasant 72F in October), and you will be avoiding the high prices and crowds of the summer.

The spring weather is also a good option, temperatures are in April around 65F, and May 74F. Shanghai tour packages at this time of year are also the best time to catch the city’s gorgeous cherry and peach blossoms.

The best time to visit certain tourist attractions can also vary. If you are a multi day tour of the city, your tour guide will likely make sure that certain attractions are experienced during the week. For example, the gorgeous and historic water town of Zhujiajiao is usually quite crowded with tourists during the weekend, so it’s recommended that you visit during the week.

What to wear in Shanghai

If you do decide to travel during Shanghai’s winter, bring a good jacket and warm clothing. Otherwise, you can feel free to dress as you might at home, though perhaps a bit more formally -- much of Shanghai dresses in Western fashions, and is very trendy.

You are expected to wear more formal clothing when eating out to dinner at night, and you may be looked down upon if you wear anything too revealing.

Also, it is important to note that Chinese clothing sizes are smaller than typical Western ones -- so if you need to replace an article of clothing, buy a couple of sizes up!

If you are a man, do not wear any green hat! In China, this is associated with being a cheat or adulterer, due to how linguistically similar the words sound in Chinese.

Is air pollution a problem in Shanghai?

Although air pollution is a more well known problem in Beijing, it is also a problem (on a lesser scale) in Shanghai. For this reason, you will still see many Chinese wearing face masks. It is not necessary for you to wear these since you are only spending a short portion of time in the city. If you are very asthmatic, it is recommended you avoid intense, outdoor exercise.

Shanghai Travel Tips

  • Despite the very modern appearance of Shanghai, you will soon find that most bathroom are still squat-toilets. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
  • You will have to purchase a step down converter and travel adapter plug -- most Western devices aren’t designed for the shape and voltage of Chinese plugs.
  • Don’t drink the tap water, although it is safe to brush your teeth with.
  • In Shanghai, taxi drivers prefer to be given coins over small bills anyday.
  • If you are dining outside of tourist areas, you may have to ask for rice immediately. The Chinese consider rice a cheap way to get full at the end of your meal, so asking for mifan mashang (rice immediately) is your best way to get some.

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