Golden Autumn Odyssey
The phrase "Autumn in Beijing, Night in Shanghai, Fog in Chongqing, and Rain in Guilin" captures the unique charm of four major travel destinations in China. This sample itinerary is designed for travelers who wish to experience the fleeting yet splendid autumn in Beijing.
In addition to the famous Xiangshan Mountain, known for its stunning maple leaves, we have crafted a special route to enjoy the ginkgo leaves in the Forbidden City. We've also included a hidden gem favored by locals for its autumn views. At the end of the trip, you will relax in a traditional northern Chinese village at the foot of the Great Wall, where you can admire Beijing's most beautiful season.
We are happy to customize an itinerary based on your preferences for this tour.
Note: This itinerary is only available from October 25 to November 5, when the trees turn yellow and red. The dates may vary slightly from year to year.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Explore Forbidden City in Autumn Glory
Wander through the imperial palaces of the Forbidden City, where golden ginkgo leaves dance around the courtyards of some palaces. Capture timeless photos of crimson walls against a tapestry of amber foliage—a sight reserved for autumn .
Marvel at the Fragrant Hill's Fiery Maple Spectacle
Ride the dual-track cable car to the summit of the Fragrant Hill, where maple forests blaze in hues of crimson and gold.
Practice a Spiritual Autumn Ritual at Hongluo Temple
Join locals at Hongluo Temple, one of Beijing's most revered Buddhist sites, to light incense and make autumn wishes.
Immerse in the Gubei Water Town's Autumn Reverie
Stroll through Gubei Water Town, a Venetian-inspired village where lantern-lit canals reflect golden trees.
Enjoy Dreamy Night Views of the Great Wall
See the Simatai Wall lit up along a mountain ridge at night. Sense its history in a new light. The tasteful illumination is both romantic and atmospheric.
Learn to be a Traditional Chinese Craftsman
Try out a handpicked cultural experience (tie-dyeing, kite making, or Buddhist text tracing).
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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3 days in Beijing
What an incredible start to our 2 week trip across China. We spent 3 days in Beijing. Mark is an incredible guide. His english skill excellent. He is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, flexible, and adept problem solver. He knows Beijing and the history of China and was unfazed by any and all questions that we could throw at him. We are a family interested in history, and the anecdotes he provided brought additional insight to the sights we visited, beyond what we could get out a tour book. Mark managed our trip and logistics like a pro. Wind was an issue for our first couple of days, and he was able to make changes so our trip did not miss a beat. He juggled our itinerary like a pro, and was able to make changes on the fly. We took a daytrip out to the Great Wall in Jinshanling, which was a bit of a haul. We were totally blown away by the scenery, and spent a bit extra time on the wall. He never rushed us as we took in the sight, and he also managed some of the physical limitations of our group by arranging for extra transportation to and from the base of the wall, as the gondola was on wind hold. He was able to arrange for food at the restaurant to be ready when we arrived, and because of traffic getting back to Beijing, we were going to miss our acrobat show. Without hesitation, he juggled our schedule for the following day and added the acrobatics show for the following night. I could go on and on about what a wonderful host Mark was. Forbidden City, Tienamen Square, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven were also on our list. He expertly guided us through all the queues, and took care of all the tickets. He took us into a HuTong neighborhood as well to take a chinese calligraphy lesson. While not a long visit, it was one of the highlights as we got to spend some time with some locals doing something interactive. If you are spending any time in Beijing, we could not recommend China Hightlights any more highly, and specifically ask for Mark. HE IS THE BEST! more
Apr 2025, Hu daniel jui-hsien
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Really Great Driver and Guide
Mark, our guide, and Ima, our driver, did a great job of showing us Beijing. Some highlights Mark knows how to navigate the crowds...and trust me...there are crowds. Lunches at nice restaurants with good food. Perfect English and funny Overall really nice time. more
Apr 2025, trudeau bradford lawrence
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Amazing time in Beijing
My family and I spent three days in Beijing, and we had an amazing time. Our tour guide, Mark, was simply the best. He made our time in the city completely stress free and incredibly fun. He took care of everything from transportation, to arranging all of our tickets to various sites in city, and our meals. He was extremely knowledgable about the history of China and also was able to answer all of our random questions about the city today. On top of all that, he was just genuinely nice person who was extremely professional. If you are planing a trip to China, I would highly recommend China Highlights and request Mark for the Beijing portion of the trip. more
Apr 2025, Susan andrea
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your private guide will meet you in the arrivals hall at the airport or at the train station's exit. You will be taken in a private, professionally chauffeured car directly to you hotel. Your guide will help you to check in.
Begin with the magnificent views of the iconic Tian'an Men Square, where autumn crispness sharpens the sense of history.
Continue to walk to the Forbidden City. Explore the main halls and the hidden courtyards like Cining Palace (Empress Dowager's retreat) and Yanxi Palace, where ginkgo leaves carpet the paths.
After lunch, your guide and driver will take you to the Temple of Heaven - a place where emperors used to pray for a good harvest. The Circular Mound Altar, Echo Wall, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven are rated as key sights there, and you will see them all.
Explore the royal garden, the Summer Palace in the morning. Marvel at Dehe Garden's autumn garden, where lotus ponds mirror maple-leafed bridges.
Ascend via a chair lift to enjoy panoramic vistas of scarlet forests on Fragrant Hill. Walk down the hill and take in the lovely autumn views created by the plants, elegant buildings, and gardens.
Visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu. This section is ranked top among all parts of the Great Wall on TripAdvisor due to its picturesque scenery and beautifully restored architecture.
Participate in a Buddhist autumn prayer session in Hongluo Temple, blending incense swirls and rustling leaves.
Drive to Gubei Water Town. Wander lit sections of the Simatai Great Wall, where lamps cast warm glows on ancient stones.
Enjoy your time at Gubei Water Town, which is in a traditional courtyard style. If you are an early bird, it is nice to walk around the water town when there are fewer people in the morning. Your guide will be happy to show you some selected places in Gubei Water Town that highlight the authentic Chinese style. Take the most pictures there, if you'd like to.
Afterward, we can arrange for you to have a "one out of three" experience in Gubei Water Town (lasting for about 45 minutes): tie-dyeing, kite making, or Buddhist text tracing. Try one of these Chinese cultural experiences to make your own unique souvenir.
Your will have some free time in the afternoon to explore the town by yourself or just enjoy the hot spring.
Say goodbye to Beijing and you will be transferred to the airport or train station according to your schedule. Your private guide will help you to check in.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price Includes: