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Overview
Shenzhen has transformed dramatically in just over four decades. Foshan's Ancestral Temple and martial heritage tell another chapter of the city's history. Over five days, with two nights in Shenzhen and two in Guangzhou, we'll switch cities on the high-speed rail in the afternoon of day three, day-trip to Foshan from Guangzhou, and finish with a stroll along the Pearl River. No domestic flights will be included in the itinerary.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Share your travel dates, group size, and departure point. Venue availability, experience sessions, hotel bookings, transportation, and fees will be confirmed in writing before you proceed to payment.
Why you'll love this trip
- The bay, end to end. Nantou Old Town, a 35-minute train, morning tea and the Guangzhou waterfront, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 5 days from a components market in Shenzhen to a Wing Chun stance in Foshan. Understand what new means.
- Walk a whole electronics market floor by floor, from trays of components up through prototypes to finished machines: you go home able to explain how the thing in your pocket actually gets made.
- Spend an afternoon walking an old town inside the city everyone calls new: the same afternoon that starts in a hall about the next forty years ends in streets that were here first.
- Take the first Wing Chun stance from a local instructor in Foshan, two hours of history first and hands second: this is the part of the week where nothing else gets a look in.
- Sit down to a Cantonese morning tea on your last morning, one seating each, ordered at your own pace rather than served at ours.
- Unpack twice in five days: two nights in Shenzhen, two in Guangzhou, one 35-minute train between them and no airport in the middle of the week.
Things to do
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Heritage
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Arrivals
Shenzhen · Day 1 - Day 3
· Arrival in Shenzhen
We will arrange airport or station transfer to your hotel; no sightseeing is scheduled on arrival day.
· How a machine gets made
Visit Huaqiangbei and the DJI flagship store; self-driving taxi experiences are subject to the operator's daily service availability.
· Shenzhen Planning and Old Town
In the morning, visit the Urban Planning Exhibition and explore the old town’s streets and lanes. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Guangzhou.
高铁
Guangzhou · Day 4 - Day 5
· A Day in Foshan
Take a day trip to Foshan from Guangzhou to visit the Ancestral Temple and experience Wing Chun; stay in Guangzhou tonight.
· Walk along the river after morning tea
Enjoy Cantonese morning tea and a stroll along the Pearl River, then head to the airport in time for your return flight.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou, in Tianhe District near Canton Tower, offers modern rooms close to the CBD.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Guangzhou
Novotel Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Centrally located at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service.
Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou, in Tianhe District near Canton Tower, offers modern rooms close to the CBD.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Guangzhou
Novotel Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Centrally located at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service.
Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou
The Westin Guangzhou, in Tianhe District near Canton Tower, offers modern rooms close to the CBD.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Guangzhou
Novotel Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Centrally located at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring and all land transfers on days one through five: the Shenzhen pickup, the touring in both cities and the Foshan round trip, ending with the Guangzhou airport drop-off
- High-speed railOn the afternoon of Day 3, depart from Shenzhen for Guangzhou by high-speed rail, with a journey of approximately 35 minutes. Pickup and drop-off at both stations will be handled by the vehicles listed in the itinerary; specific seat classes and train numbers are subject to the final quote and confirmation.
- Hotels4 nights at your chosen level, four-star, five-star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Shenzhen 2 · Guangzhou 2
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on every touring day, including the Foshan day trip
- AdmissionsThe Shenzhen city planning exhibition on day three · Foshan Ancestral Temple on day four. These two are the only ticketed sites on this plan
- Experiences, ShenzhenHuaqiangbei on foot for about 150 minutes with guide commentary · the DJI flagship store for an in-store visit of about 60 minutes · a Robotaxi ride of about 60 minutes conditional on the operator's service that day · Shekou and Nantou Old Town on foot for about 150 minutes
- Experiences, Foshan and GuangzhouThe lion dance and martial arts performance at the temple for about 45 minutes then the courtyards and displays · a Wing Chun session with a local instructor for about 120 minutes · Haixinsha and Zhujiang New Town on foot for about 120 minutes
- Meals4 hotel breakfasts, days two through five, plus one Cantonese morning tea seating per guest on day five. That seating is arranged on top of the day-five hotel breakfast, not instead of it
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into Shenzhen and out of Guangzhou, and any connecting leg you need to reach Shenzhen. Who issues a connecting leg is stated in writing in any quote that carries one
- VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who need a Chinese visa
- MealsBeyond the four breakfasts and the one morning tea seating: lunches and dinners are recommended and booked by your guide, on your own account
- In-venue spendingAnything bought inside Huaqiangbei or the DJI flagship store, and any shipping, customs or tax-refund cost it brings. Both are visits, not shopping allowances
- In-park transportShuttles, carts, cableways or lifts where a site charges for them separately. None is needed by this plan as written
- Optional add-onsNone on this route at present. Nothing in the included list is an upsell
- PersonalGratuities, single or extra-room difference, personal spending
Special Notes
Some arrangements are subject to confirmation based on the travel date; please refer to the written quote and confirmation form provided before payment for final details.
- Booking & Confirmation — This route is currently open for bookings based on your travel date. Hotel details, venue opening hours, experience session times, train schedules, and final costs will be itemized in a written quote and confirmation prior to payment.
- Travelers Departing from the United States — If departing from the United States, please provide your departure city, passport nationality, and travel dates when inquiring. We will review flight connections to Shenzhen and current entry requirements, and outline feasible arrangements before providing a quote.
- Departure dates — No departures are scheduled during the National Day holiday week, from October 1 to 7. Hotel availability in Guangzhou may be affected by the Canton Fair in October and November; we will check room availability for your travel dates during the fair and specify the room type and costs in our quote.
- The Shenzhen exhibition's closing day — Check the Shenzhen Planning Exhibition's open days against your travel dates. If it is closed on Day 3, the itinerary will focus on walking tours of Shekou and Nantou Ancient City, with train times to Guangzhou adjusted accordingly; any changes will be noted on the confirmation.
- The Robotaxi ride — Autonomous taxis are provided by commercial operators, and availability depends on same-day service. If an operator suspends service, this stop is canceled; the Huaqiangbei and DJI Flagship Store visits proceed as usual. Any price impact will be noted on the quote before payment.
- The temple performance times — Lion dance and martial arts performance slots must be confirmed based on your travel date and venue; specific arrangements will be listed on the quotation before payment.
- The morning tea house — Your itinerary includes a Cantonese-style morning tea session; the specific tea house, location, and time slot will be confirmed in writing before payment. If the return flight affects the Day 5 schedule, an adjustment plan must also be agreed upon during the quotation.
- Foshan is a day trip — This itinerary includes two nights in Shenzhen and two in Guangzhou; Foshan is a day trip, with lodging in Guangzhou remaining unchanged. Actual travel times are subject to route and traffic conditions.
- Visa window — the 30-day visa-free policy currently runs through December 31, 2026. Because this is a 5-day plan, departures on or before December 27, 2026 finish inside that window; later dates are quoted only after the official renewal is announced.
- Confirmation and changes — the confirmation-time commitment and the change and refund terms are being finalized with our ground partners. Until they are settled, each quote states in writing its own confirmation deadline and its own change and refund conditions.
Is Five Days Your Length?
Fewer than five days, or more?
Fewer than five days, or more?
The two halves come apart cleanly: the Shenzhen side stands on its own for two or three days, and the Foshan and Guangzhou side does the same. This plan also runs as the closing segment of a longer China trip. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we cut days rather than cut the pace.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Pace
- Two bases in 5 days: Shenzhen 2 nights, Guangzhou 2 nights, with Foshan as a day trip. One 35-minute train, no domestic flight
- Effort
- Two long walking days on city streets, up to about 12,000 steps. No climbs on this plan and no cable cars
- Ports
- Enter in Shenzhen, exit in Guangzhou. Airport or train station pickup on Day 1; airport drop-off in Guangzhou on Day 5.
- Visas
- Entry requirements vary by passport nationality, route, and date; please verify each item against the current official policy before making payment.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking guides throughout, in both cities and in Foshan
- Payment
- Minimum booking is 1 guest. Pay a 10% deposit (minimum $399) to secure your dates; the balance is due 14 days before departure. “Or similar” does not imply a downgrade in hotel category.
- Season
- Selling window October to December 2026. No departures October 1 to 7. October and November dates have Guangzhou rooms confirmed in writing first
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
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%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
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
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
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.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
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.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
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.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
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.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
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.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
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.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
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.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
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 traveler.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Not yet, and we would rather tell you than take your money. This plan was packaged ahead of its own internal review, and seven things are settled before we take a first order. Those include the ground confirmations, the exhibition's opening calendar, the temple's performance times and the review itself. No orders and no deposits until then. Send us your dates now and we will write to you the day it opens, with the named hotels and the confirmed times in that first email.
Not as written, and here is the reason. Shenzhen is where this plan starts and there is no nonstop service into Shenzhen from any United States hub, so we would be selling you a connection we have not planned. This plan ends in Guangzhou, which does have nonstop service to San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Send us your dates anyway: rebuilding the entry side is a planning job, and we would rather redraw the plan than sell you the wrong one. A Chinese tourist or business visa applies for United States passports in any case.
No, and we will not pretend otherwise. It runs on a commercial operator's live service lines, so the operator decides whether it runs on your day. We book it by date before you arrive and reconfirm it after you land. Where it is suspended, the ride comes out of day two and your quote states in writing what that does to your price. What you still get that day: the whole of Huaqiangbei floor by floor with your guide explaining the trade, and the flagship store. The technology story of the day does not depend on the ride, which is why the ride is never sold as the reason to come.
No. Two hotels in five days: two nights in Shenzhen, two in Guangzhou. Foshan is a day trip from Guangzhou, about forty minutes each way, and your Guangzhou room stays yours that night. The only move between cities is one 35-minute train on the afternoon of day three, and your vehicle runs both ends of it.
Most guests on this route do not. British and most European passports enter visa-free for stays days; Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ones do too. We check your 5 days plus any other days in China against that window before you pay. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so departures on or before December 27, 2026 finish inside it; for later dates we quote once the official renewal is announced. United States passports are a separate case: see the question above.
