--- title: "Slow Water, Fast City" description: "8 days from a sculling boat to a hall of drones choosing your own speed" type: "tour" route_id: "shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days" total_days: 8 price: 2350 highlights: ["Shanghai", "Yangshuo", "Shenzhen"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days" locale: "en-GB" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days"} --- # Slow Water, Fast City 8 days from a sculling boat to a hall of drones, choosing your own pace Three worlds in one journey. Yu Garden, a canal town, the Li River's peaks and Shenzhen's tech floors, with English-speaking guides in every city. - Gentle — short walks, cable cars on climbs, seating usually nearby — Flat city and village walking, one short pre-dawn stair climb at Xianggong Hill, and optional level cycling. ## Overview Three days in, a boatman sculls you under stone bridges at the speed of one oar. Four days later, a guide is decoding electronics floors where next season's gadgets are already on the counters. In between runs the Li River, on a tempo it has kept longer than any town on its banks. Most eight-day trips pick one China; this one runs three tempos in sequence: canal, river, circuit. Three nights in Shanghai, two in Yangshuo, two in Shenzhen, and one flight plus one high-speed train do all the long moving. The souvenir is a recalibration: you come home knowing that speed, in China, is a choice. LyrikTrip travel designers Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming, and if eight days is the wrong shape for you, we'll say so and redraw it. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. ## Summary - Route ID: shanghai-yangshuo-shenzhen-8-days - Duration: 8 days / 7 nights - Starting price: $2,350 - Status: active - Highlights: Shanghai, Yangshuo, Shenzhen - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/NCVhXY5h.jpg ## Hero tags - private - cultural - nature - technology ## Highlight notes - Three worlds in one journey. Yu Garden, a canal town, the Li River's peaks and Shenzhen's tech floors. ## Selling points - Board the Huangpu ferry at dusk, century-old banking halls on one bank, Pudong's towers on the other. - Sit low in a sculling boat as Zhujiajiao glides past, stone bridges overhead, kitchens at the water's edge. - Pedal the level lanes along the Yulong River, with rice paddies on both sides and limestone peaks all around. - Wake for first light at Xianggong Hill as it finds the Li River's great bend. - Walk Huaqiangbei with a guide who reads it aloud, where a sketch becomes a boxed product. - Unpack just three times in eight days, with three nights in Shanghai and two each in Yangshuo and Shenzhen. ## City highlights - Shanghai (3 days): gardens, lanes and the Huangpu - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/aNfW8RNn.webp - Shenzhen (3 days): hands-on - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1dabf6d8d82e.jpg - Yangshuo (2 days): first light on the Li River - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4LasL8DS.webp ## Experiences 8 days from a hand-sculled boat to a hall of drones. Here, speed is a choice. - The Bund & the Huangpu Ferry (Shanghai): Shanghai's riverfront row of early-twentieth-century banking halls faces Pudong's towers across the water; the public ferry crosses between them, the same boats locals commute on, and mid-river is the one spot that holds both skylines at once. Walked at dusk on day two, and on arrival evening when time allows. - Subtitle: Shanghai's riverfront row of early-twentieth-century banking halls faces Pudong's towers across - Tags: City - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: Walked at dusk on day two, and on arrival evening when time allows. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e342e5515e52.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94ac919c3f33.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b3b5bb6e77be.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c6c85a3776e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/32d19f0a4d35.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a2a8d5aca0bf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2bed2bf82423.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8b2b6a2b8939.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b74ea5dc32d6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2b6fbcc1c8fa.jpg - Yu Garden & the Old City (Shanghai): pavilions, ponds, rockeries and covered corridors, laid out in the Ming dynasty as a private family garden: "Yu" means peace, chosen by the official who built it for his elderly father. A Chinese garden works like a scroll painting: you walk it one framed scene at a time. The lanes around it keep an earlier Shanghai of small shops and food stalls. - Subtitle: pavilions, ponds, rockeries and covered corridors, laid out in the Ming dynasty - Tags: Heritage - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: The lanes around it keep an earlier Shanghai of small shops and food stalls. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/58b0b1f762b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3640847367f4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/aa7e4b7f18cb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3f4af921585.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bc088a35094.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b4ff42f10f39.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ab6fa3c88e9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/23b0b99117fe.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4c38a3352564.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/793d4d9ec24d.jpg - Hengshan–Fuxing Streets (Shanghai): the low-rise area along Wukang, Hunan and Sinan Roads: plane trees, houses from the early twentieth century, and the cafes and small galleries that later moved in among them. This is where Shanghai lives at walking pace, one neighbourhood in from the postcard skyline. - Subtitle: the low-rise quarter along Wukang, Hunan and Sinan Roads: plane trees, houses - Tags: City - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: This is where Shanghai lives at a walking pace, one neighbourhood in from the postcard skyline. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/663612b3966d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d9f1934a607.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b1c8a477961a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/738425c31d43.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/099568dde47e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be90d55fee9f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/77f166843c72.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c33fd0b9867c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f93afc81ef60.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7e7256ca585e.jpg - Zhujiajiao by Sculling Boat (Shanghai): A canal town on Shanghai's western edge, ridden from a wooden boat worked by a single stern oar: you sit below eye level while stone bridges pass overhead and back doors open onto the water. The Venice comparison gets made; the difference is that people still live, cook and hang washing here. - Subtitle: a canal town on Shanghai's western edge, ridden from a wooden boat - Tags: Water town - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: The Venice comparison is often drawn; the difference is that people still live, cook and hang washing here. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ffe06f75f24.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ba05d6f8eb0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6f39b9e3f2ad.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94515b63e674.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/005668320458.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d12a84430083.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e1b78a762bf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/03e7d5ffdffb.jpg - A Water-Town Craft Session (Zhujiajiao): one afternoon session chosen to the group's interests: an introduction to Kunqu Opera, among the oldest forms of Chinese opera still performed; blue calico printing, the indigo-dyed cotton of the Yangtze delta; or traditional bamboo weaving. One session is included; the other two can be added, quoted separately. - Subtitle: one afternoon session tailored to the group's interests: an introduction to Kunqu - Tags: Craft - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: One session is included; the other two can be added, quoted separately. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5c949991062d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0a6404daf481.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6e21ffb1f5db.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94515b63e674.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/692d297870ba.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/005668320458.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d12a84430083.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e1b78a762bf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1d90c9271e0a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/86d1da61e1e1.jpg - Yulong River Countryside (Yangshuo): the quiet farmland side of Yangshuo, taken by bicycle, e-bike or car, whichever suits your legs: riverside paths, rice paddies and villages under the limestone peaks. This is the landscape Chinese ink painters have returned to for centuries, seen from ground level. - Subtitle: the tranquil farmland side of Yangshuo, explored by bicycle, e-bike or car - Tags: Slow - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: This is the landscape Chinese ink painters have returned to for centuries, seen from ground level. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02042b694496.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b09be4e9e978.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f08a7d5e0a6e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ed66fae24c5f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/72a0335cae15.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/47c365ccd596.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be8117047f82.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5943b2f5538d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/21642ae11f13.jpg - Xianggong Hill at Sunrise (Yangshuo): A pre-dawn start and a short climb of stone steps to the platform photographers rank among the Li River's finest: the great bend below, layered peaks turning silver, then gold, as the light comes up. Mist changes the picture by the minute, which is the point. - Subtitle: Sunrise over the Li River bend - Tags: Photo - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: Mist changes the picture by the minute. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/08e757afb5b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/16653fa18065.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ede174ee009.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7760be33afee.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7d28774a7484.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f728d8c37b0a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2d6fd62c3ee4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2ee126c13fe9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7159e7fa6afd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/56823258cae1.jpg - Li River Afloat (Yangshuo): the Xingping stretch of the river, taken by bamboo raft or cruise boat; which one depends on the season and water level, and either way the same scenery does the work: peaks, riverside villages, the working river between them. Xingping Ancient Town's stone streets, grown on river trade, come first. - Subtitle: the Xingping stretch of the river, taken by bamboo raft or cruise - Tags: Nature - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: Xingping Ancient Town's stone streets, grown from river trade, come first. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/78dd69d4ec0c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bfc408c4bfc4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/36707e4edf21.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d487482a71ef.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6c5367f53386.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/876ec4ec8b81.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/111916249320.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6b549bed65b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7eea69cfad11.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3fe4bfb22c5b.jpg - DJI Flagship Visit (Shenzhen): drones, gimbals and imaging gear in a Shenzhen flagship store or technology showroom, with the story of how research and engineering here become products on shelves worldwide. - Subtitle: drones, gimbals and imaging gear in a Shenzhen flagship store or technology - Tags: Tech - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: drones, gimbals and imaging gear in a Shenzhen flagship store or technology showroom, with the story of how research and engineering here become products on shelves worldwide. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d0bbe1fc4cd5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8d862e73a11c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/76daeb9e8394.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ad929d5749de.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4b1f75911213.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6216b1a8b87c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3ae80730f099.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0d0a642abbfa.jpg - Urban Planning Exhibition (Shenzhen): scale models, architectural displays and development plans that lay out how a small border town grew into a major metropolis within living memory. Twenty minutes here reframes everything else you see in the city. - Subtitle: scale models, architectural displays and development plans that lay out how a - Tags: City - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: Twenty minutes here reframes everything else you see in the city. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0cb198f8a49d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ba54eb84471.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/009bf8a44425.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8c27862fb181.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/699fd01ecc67.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e2a1a6331692.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d05c249a3e39.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2ebecbe69dba.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e0e571633d3d.jpg - Huaqiangbei, Read Aloud (Shenzhen): one of the world's best-known electronics districts, walked with a guide who decodes it: which counters sell components, which sell prototypes, and how the district fits into China's technology supply chain. It is a reading tour, not a shopping stop; buying anything stays your own choice. - Subtitle: one of the world's best-known electronics districts, walked with a guide who - Tags: Tech - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: It is a reading tour, not a shopping stop; buying anything remains entirely your own choice. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/84a8c5aa1d3a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b95d821b66b3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/403ff3a81a73.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b0f4ce04c70d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f76fb233d39d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/258e0b643fa8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e2603c21ec0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/92c50a687090.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/558b654212a5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2b75b575be01.jpg - Drone Show or City Lights (Shenzhen): on scheduled dates, a drone formation performance over the city; on dates without one, the lit towers around the Civic Centre stand in. We check the calendar for your dates before you fly. - Subtitle: on scheduled dates, a drone formation performance over the city; on dates - Tags: Night - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: We check the calendar for your dates before you fly. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d4f9d4920b83.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1f99331e79c6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3eb2213db0ed.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f3d195d73129.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/79bcfe785a3d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b90df3c9c091.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0fc248c9fe3c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/261215800b11.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6dcea358212.jpg - OCT Loft (Shenzhen): former factory floors turned studios, galleries and cafes: Shenzhen's version of a converted warehouse district, and proof the city can also do slow. An option for the final morning, fitted to your departure time. - Subtitle: former factory floors turned into studios, galleries and cafes: Shenzhen's version of a - Tags: City - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: An option for the final morning, tailored to your departure time. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1dabf6d8d82e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/79a7f2add0d9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8dbe7af7edd7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/72bd4331d121.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a9a6950d866e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/783f0f03d287.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a17c37aed278.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2ac003862b5d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/087ee21d89ea.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/84b25b4561fe.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Water and old streets - 3 days Shanghai #### Shanghai (3 days) - Subtitle: gardens, lanes and the Huangpu - Recommendation: Begin with three nights across a garden, neighborhood streets and a lived-in canal town. - Transport: Flight - Transport mode: airplane Keep the arrival day light and cross the Huangpu at dusk. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/aNfW8RNn.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/13x1KtnS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Q9afrZn.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Riqjj0n.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1VrlDwIi.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vYpI6NZ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3PEjxTGx.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4EbDdFHb.webp ##### Day 1: Shanghai: arrival - (transport) — Your guide will meet you at arrivals and a private vehicle will take you to the hotel. - (sight) — Optional first walk along the Huangpu waterfront when arrival time allows. - (dining) — A nearby Shanghainese restaurant recommended by the guide; on your account. ##### Day 2: Shanghai: gardens, lanes and the Huangpu - (sight) — Walk the Ming garden one framed scene at a time. - (sight) — Stroll small shops, food stalls and neighbourhood streets around the garden. - (dining) — A local Shanghainese lunch is included. - (sight) — Walk Wukang, Hunan or Sinan Road. - (transport) — Cross between the Bund and Pudong at dusk. ##### Day 3: Zhujiajiao: the town at oar speed - (transport) — Drive from Shanghai to the canal town and return by evening. - (sight) — Ride below street level under stone bridges in a wooden boat worked by one stern oar. - (sight) — Visit the merchant's garden and the town's great stone arch. - (dining) — A Jiangnan-style lunch is included. - (sight) — One session of Kunqu Opera, blue calico printing or bamboo weaving is included. ### River country - 2 days Yangshuo #### Yangshuo (2 days) - Subtitle: first light on the Li River - Recommendation: Give two nights to the Yulong countryside, Xianggong Hill and the Li River. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Let water levels decide the vessel and keep the river section fixed. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4LasL8DS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3RSDiQUA.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43ER0eM0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4iXf7Jvh.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51gauczC.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5Pv2GT5l.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5zFw5FSH.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/629OKLgJ.webp ##### Day 4: South to the Karst - (transport) — Fly south in the morning and continue by private vehicle. - (note) — Time to rest before the afternoon programme. - (sight) — Travel by bicycle, e-bike or car through riverside paths, paddies and villages. - (sight) — A flexible evening walk or dinner booking. ##### Day 5: First light on the Li River - (sight) — Take a pre-dawn drive and short stair climb to the Li River overlook. - (sight) — Walk the stone streets and wharves of the river-trade town. - (sight) — Travel the Xingping section by bamboo raft or cruise boat depending on conditions. - (dining) — One riverside meal or tea is included. - (note) — An easy river walk and time to rest and photograph. ### City at working speed - 3 days Shenzhen #### Shenzhen (3 days) - Subtitle: hands-on - Recommendation: End with two nights of planning models, electronics counters and the bay skyline. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Keep Huaqiangbei as the fixed anchor and check the drone-show calendar. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1dabf6d8d82e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8AH70UD0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/h4WopDz7.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/j3OhqX9B.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0540e86e5dd0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/09971fb8ed55.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0cb198f8a49d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ba54eb84471.jpg ##### Day 6: The gear change - (note) — Choose a gentle walk, local market or rest. - (transport) — Direct to Shenzhen North when available, otherwise change at Guangzhou South. - (sight) — Walk beneath the lit skyline after arrival. ##### Day 7: Shenzhen, hands-on - (sight) — See drones, gimbals and imaging gear. - (sight) — Read Shenzhen's growth through scale models and development plans. - (sight) — Walk component and prototype counters with a guide who explains the supply chain. - (sight) — See the skyline in late light. - (dining) — A modern Cantonese or contemporary Chinese dinner is included. - (sight) — A scheduled drone formation, or Civic Centre lights when no show runs. ##### Day 8: One more look, then home - (sight) Shenzhen Bay Park — Walk beside the water with Hong Kong's hills across the bay. - (sight) — Walk former factory floors turned studios, galleries and cafés. - (transport) — Transfer to Bao'an Airport, Shekou Cruise Home Port or a Hong Kong land crossing. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Shanghai: arrival Land, check in, slow down. The city will still be there at dusk. - Arrival transfer: your English-speaking guide meets you at arrivals and a private vehicle takes you to the hotel; nothing heavy is planned for landing day, so jet lag gets a fair landing too. - The Bund, if you land early: a first walk along the Huangpu waterfront: a row of stone banking halls from the last century on your side, the lit towers of Pudong across the water. - Dinner nearby: your guide points you to a Shanghainese restaurant close to the hotel; on your account, and worth the short walk. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: On your own tonight; your guide recommends ### Day 2 — Shanghai: gardens, lanes, two banks of one river The whole city in one arc. Start in a Ming garden, end between two skylines. - Yu Garden: pavilions, ponds, rockeries and covered corridors, laid out in the Ming dynasty as a private family garden: "Yu" means peace, chosen by the official who built it for his ageing father. You walk it the way it was designed to be read: one framed scene at a time. - The Old City: the lanes around the garden keep an earlier Shanghai: small shops, food stalls, neighbourhood life at street level. Lunch is Shanghainese, at a local restaurant, included today. - Hengshan–Fuxing walk: an afternoon on Wukang, Hunan or Sinan Road: plane trees, low-rise houses from the early twentieth century, and the cafes and small galleries that moved in among them. - The Bund & the ferry: return to the waterfront as the lights come up, then cross the Huangpu on the public ferry that locals use: both skylines at once, from the middle of the river. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; Shanghainese lunch included ### Day 3 — Zhujiajiao: the town at oar speed A town that still runs at the speed of one oar. Sit low and let it pass you. - Out of the city: a private vehicle takes you to Zhujiajiao on Shanghai's western edge, where the streets narrow, the bridges hump, and the houses put their back doors on the water. - The sculling boat: you board a wooden boat worked by a single stern oar and ride the canals below eye level: stone bridge after stone bridge passing over you, kitchens and laundry lines at the waterline. Ten minutes in, you'll notice your voice has dropped to match the oar. - Kezhi Garden & Fangsheng Bridge: a merchant's garden named for its owner's two rules, study and farm; then the town's great stone arch, Fangsheng Bridge, "setting life free", named for the Buddhist practice of releasing fish beneath it. A Jiangnan-style lunch follows, included. - One craft, chosen with you: an afternoon session in one water-town art: an introduction to Kunqu Opera, blue calico printing or bamboo weaving, picked to the group's interests; the other two can be added. - Back by evening: return to Shanghai in the late afternoon; the evening is yours. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; Jiangnan-style lunch included ### Day 4 — South to the karst Change provinces before lunch. By afternoon, the mountains stand around your handlebars. - Morning flight: fly from Shanghai to Guilin, then drive straight on to Yangshuo by private vehicle; outside the window, the city gives way to rivers, farmland and the first limestone peaks of Guangxi. - Check in, ease off: time to rest at the hotel before the afternoon; the pace here is deliberately more relaxed than in Shanghai. - The Yulong River countryside: by bicycle, e-bike or car, whichever suits your legs: riverside paths, rice paddies, villages under the peaks. This is the landscape Chinese ink painters have returned to for centuries, and you are inside it at ground level. - Evening in town: a stroll along West Street, or dinner at a quiet riverside restaurant; your guide books to your taste. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 5 — First light on the Li River The one early alarm of the trip. The river spends the whole day paying it back. - Xianggong Hill at sunrise: a pre-dawn drive and a short stair climb to the platform photographers prize; below you, the Li River draws its great bend, and the peaks step out of the dark in ranks, nearest first. Somewhere in that slow reveal, you'll forget the alarm clock entirely. - Xingping Ancient Town: after breakfast, the stone streets of a town that grew on river trade; your guide reads its shopfronts and wharves back into the days when everything here moved by water. - The Li River, from the water: afloat by bamboo raft or cruise boat; which one depends on the season and water level, and either way the same scenery does the work: peaks, riverside villages, the working river between them. A riverside lunch or afternoon tea is included. - A slow afternoon: an easy walk along the river, time to rest and photograph; back at the hotel by late afternoon. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; riverside lunch or afternoon tea included ### Day 6 — The gear change Leave at the river's pace. Arrive at Shenzhen's. - A morning with no agenda: breakfast, then a gentle riverside or countryside walk, a local market, or nothing at all: the morning is shaped to the group. - High-speed rail south: after lunch, board the afternoon train towards Shenzhen; limestone countryside empties out of the window in the first hour, and by the last it is ports, campuses and towers. A direct service to Shenzhen North is booked when one runs on your date; otherwise your guide arranges an easy change at Guangzhou South. - Shenzhen Bay at night: this morning, the loudest thing you heard was water moving over stone. Tonight, an unbroken line of lit towers runs the full curve of the bay, and the walkway beneath them is busy with evening joggers. Same country; the same day. When someone back home asks what China is like, you can answer with this one day. - Stay: Shenzhen - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 7 — Shenzhen, hands on A city that treats the future as a working day. Spend one inside it. - DJI flagship: drones, gimbals and imaging gear in a flagship store or technology showroom, with the story of how research and engineering here become products on shelves worldwide. - Urban planning exhibition: scale models and development plans lay out how a small border town grew into a major metropolis within living memory; twenty minutes here reframes the rest of the day. - Huaqiangbei: one of the world's best-known electronics districts, walked with your guide reading it aloud: which counters sell components, which sell prototypes, and how a sketch turns into a boxed product in weeks. Somewhere between the component counters, you'll realize the sculling boat was four days ago, and it will feel like another trip. - The bay in late light: Shenzhen Bay or Talent Park for the skyline before dinner; tonight's included dinner is modern Cantonese or contemporary Chinese, booked for the group. - After dark: a drone formation performance over the city on dates when one is scheduled; on other dates, the lit towers around the Civic Center stand in. - Stay: Shenzhen - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; modern Cantonese dinner included ### Day 8 — One more look, then home The last morning bends to your flight. Choose the bay or the lofts. - Shenzhen Bay Park: a walk along the water with the towers behind you and Hong Kong's hills across the bay. - OCT Loft: former factory floors turned studios, galleries and cafes: Shenzhen proving it can also do slow. - Onward: a private transfer to Bao'an International Airport, Shekou Cruise Home Port or the Hong Kong land crossing, timed with room to spare. - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ## Hotels ### Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort) - City: Shanghai - Description: Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a07e8f886100.jpg ### Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel - City: Yangshuo - Description: A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hHS5RgEc.webp ### Artyzen Habitat Taopu Shanghai - City: Shanghai - Description: Lifestyle hotel in Shanghai’s Taopu area with modern design and comfort. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jcnnQH43.webp ### Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen - City: Shenzhen - Description: A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2mFLzVk5.webp ### Rezen Meili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund) - City: Shanghai - Description: Rezen Meili Hotel: classic European style in central Shanghai, steps from People's Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/842LWuH4.webp ### CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel, Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, Shanghai - City: Shanghai - Description: CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel: a vibrant stay in Shanghai's Jing'an Temple district, three minutes from Metro Line 14. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/lyfOP6lc.webp ### Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel - City: Shanghai - Description: Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5xOD9FRB.webp ### Yangshuo Mountain Retreat - City: Yangshuo - Description: A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2R0KYRQ9.webp ### Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen - City: Shenzhen - Description: Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/lNzYq6FP.webp ### Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean - City: Shanghai - Description: Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ciHY2Qvs.webp ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Private vehicles: Air-conditioned private vehicles for all listed sightseeing and transfers, with airport and station pick-ups. - Hotels: 7 nights in selected four-star, five-star or quality boutique stays, breakfast daily. - Guides: Licensed English-speaking guides in Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shenzhen. - Tickets and experiences: All listed attractions, plus the Zhujiajiao sculling boat, one water-town craft session, Yulong countryside by bike, e-bike or car, Xianggong Hill sunrise, Li River raft or cruise, and the urban planning exhibition. - Featured meals: Four featured meals, a Shanghainese lunch, a Jiangnan-style lunch in Zhujiajiao, a riverside lunch or afternoon tea in Yangshuo, and a modern Cantonese dinner in Shenzhen. ### Not Included - Long-haul: International flights to Shanghai and onward travel from Shenzhen. - Internal legs: The Shanghai to Guilin flight and Yangshuo to Shenzhen rail tickets are quoted with your confirmation. - Meals: Beyond breakfasts and the four featured meals, lunches and dinners remain flexible and are at your own expense. - Personal: Visas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending, and optional items not included in your confirmation. ### Special Notes A few things on this route depend on weather, seasons or operators. - Afloat on the Li River: Whether you take a bamboo raft or a cruise boat depends on the season, water level and the day's operating rules; either way, you'll explore Xingping's streets and enjoy a riverside meal. - Xianggong Hill sunrise: The light depends on the weather; the platform, the river bend and the ranked peaks remain the highlight of the visit in any sky. - Water-town craft session: The available session is subject to venue schedules and the group's interests; one of the three sessions is included. - Day 6 train: A direct service to Shenzhen North is booked when one runs; otherwise the guide arranges a change at Guangzhou South with sufficient connection time. - Drone show: This is scheduled rather than nightly; dates without a show use the Civic Center's lit towers instead. - Robotaxi and company visits: These depend on operator or company approval and are promised only after written confirmation. - Day 8: The final morning follows the departure time and mode. - Hotels and venues: Named in the confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location. ## Is Eight Days Your Length? Tell us your dates and who's coming; the length can be shaped around you. ### Have a few more days? Add nights in Yangshuo or a Guilin chapter without changing the pace. ### Shorter still? The Shanghai leg can be condensed to two nights. ### Travelling with older parents or kids? Cycling can become a car ride, the boat rides remain, and sunrise stays optional. ## Good to Know - Group: Private; from 1 guest, no minimum. - Arrival: Day 1 is a deliberately light landing day; the full programme begins on Day 2. - Language: English-speaking guides throughout. - Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here. - Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay. - Payment: A 10% deposit, minimum $399, locks dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure. - Flexibility: Walking and cycling distances adapt to the group's pace. - Ports: Arrive in Shanghai, depart from Shenzhen; travel on to Hong Kong by air, sea or overland. - Gateway markets: Lead country marker: FR. Gateway markets from inventory: WEU, SEU. No United States direct-flight fit in the current inventory. ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### Step 01: Tell us what excites you Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there. - 24h: First concept delivered ### Step 02: We design it around you Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else. - 100%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### Step 04: Travel. We handle the rest. Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for. - 24/7: Support throughout your journey - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - What's blocked: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN. - Download before you leave: It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working. - Hotel Wi-Fi tip: Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops. - Good news: WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - China is cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities. - International cards now work: Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning. - Carry some cash: We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns. - Booking this trip: Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - Do you need a visa?: Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval. - 240-hour visa-free transit: Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight. - Processing time: Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates. - What we provide: Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - Is China safe?: China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence. - Emergency numbers: Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary. - Health & medications: Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically. - Language: English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller. ## Before You Book Everything worth knowing before you book. ### Three regions in eight days: is that rushed? No. The line has two long moves, every stay is at least two nights, and Day 1 carries no heavy program. ### Is the Li River trip guaranteed? The Xingping river section is fixed; the vessel is not. Raft or cruise boat follows season, water level and operating rules. ### Can we go inside DJI or BYD? The DJI flagship or technology showroom is part of the standard day. Headquarters and company visits require written approval for the group and date. ### Why aren't all meals included? Breakfasts and four featured meals are included. The rest stay flexible and are recommended and booked around the group.