China offers an incredible journey through 5,000 years of history, from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to ultramodern Shanghai skyscrapers. Experience diverse landscapes ranging from karst mountains in Guilin to the Tibetan Plateau, savor world-renowned cuisine, and witness the fusion of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art technology.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Simatai West & Gubei Water Town
Highlights: Authentic less-visited Great Wall section with evening illumination · Ancient water town with Ming-Qing architecture · Misty mountain scenery · Night visits allowed (rare for Great Wall sections)
Chengde Imperial Summer Resort
Highlights: Largest imperial garden in China (Bishu Shanzhuang) · Eight Outer Temples including Putuo Zongcheng resembling Potala Palace · Cooler mountain climate · UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tianjin
Highlights: Italian, French, British and German concession colonial architecture · Ancient Culture Street with traditional crafts · Goubuli steamed buns restaurant (140 years old) · Five Great Avenues of colonial mansions
Mutianyu Great Wall (full day)
Highlights: Best-preserved Wall section with toboggan descent · 23 watchtowers along 2.5 km · Dense forest setting for spectacular autumn colors in October · Cable car ascent option for families
Shanhaiguan - Where the Great Wall Meets the Sea
Highlights: Laolongtou (Old Dragon Head) where Great Wall enters the Bohai Sea · First Pass Under Heaven historic gate tower · Jiao Mountain - first inland mountain section of Wall · Seaside beach near Wall terminus
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from $35-80 per person including transport, guide, and entry fees; book through hotels, hostels, or Trip.com; Mutianyu Wall tours from Beijing most popular at $50-65
- Private
- Car hire with driver from $80-150/day for Beijing day trips to Great Wall sections; essential for reaching rural areas not served by trains
- Public
- High-speed trains connect major cities and permit genuine day trips - Suzhou from Shanghai, Tianjin from Beijing easily done independently; buses serve major tourist sites
- Rental
- Car rental not practical (foreign license not valid); bicycle rental excellent for Yangshuo countryside at $5-10/day; scooter rental in Yangshuo for karst countryside exploration
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book high-speed train tickets at least 1-2 weeks in advance during peak seasons (May, Oct) through Trip.com or Ctrip - popular routes sell out
Start early: leave by 7-8 AM for Great Wall day trips to arrive before tour groups and have the morning with fewer crowds
Join organized tours for sites like Terracotta Warriors where having a guide adds enormous value to the historical context
Download offline maps for day trip destinations - Gaode Maps works offline and is essential when venturing outside cities
Carry cash and hotel address card in Chinese for day trips to areas with limited English speakers