The 6 Best 3-Hour Experiences in China, Side by Side

1.3-Hour Private Tour to Jewish Ghetto and Shanghai Bund

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · from $90Our pick

Spend about three hours tracing Shanghai’s Jewish story from the Ohel Moishe Synagogue and refugee museum to old stone-gate homes and the Bund’s Sassoon buildings. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Mason, Sunny, Lea, or Annie, provides private transport, hotel pickup in central Shanghai, and a flexible morning or afternoon start.

“Very interesting museum. Learned a lot about China and about Europe in our visit. Mason was incredible. He is very familiar with the museum and the history. He also let us take our time in the museum to explore the photographs and artifacts at our own pace. Great tour and fantastic guide. Thank you.”

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2.3-Hour Private Night Tour: Beijing Foodie Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · from $79

Meet your private guide at your central Beijing hotel and head to Dongsi Hutong for three hours of local food. Try lamb kabobs, jianbing, sesame cakes, baozi, Yunnan rice noodles, flower cakes, drinks, and optional bamboo worm. Guides such as Lucy, Kevin, Miko, and Roy have helped visitors order, walk, and understand the dishes.

“We really enjoyed this tour and our guide was great! We tried many different foods which we would not find in Europe and would not search out. There was plenty of food for really big eaters so make sure you are hungry before going. The only suggestion would be to offer different food tours as we understand there are also a couple 'snack' streets which would be a nice option as well.”

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3.Private 3 hour bike tour with coffee break

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · 3 hours

Ride through Shanghai with a private English-speaking guide such as Jill or Chris, using easy city bikes and a route shaped around your interests. See the French Concession, the Bund, parks, riverside paths, markets, and lesser-known streets, with time for photos and a 30-minute café break. Bikes are included, but helmets, food, and drinks are not.

“Jill was a wonderful guide, kept us informed throughout and was sure we all felt comfortable with the bikes and her instructions. Great way to see the city. Would highly recommend.”

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4.3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $80

Meet guides such as Sunny, Annie, Sunni, or May at your downtown hotel for a private visit to Yu Garden, Old Town, and Yuyuan Old Street. Expect about two to two and a half hours of walking, local transport, garden admission, and a tea tasting. Pickup outside central Shanghai costs extra.

“My guide Sunni met me at the hotel and we headed off to Old Town to see the shops and visit Yu Garden. The Qing dynasty garden is an amazing collection of pond, pavilions and bonsai, I spent a short time there but you easily spend hoRead more”

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5.3-Hour Xi’an Muslim Street Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $122

Join a private English-speaking guide, including Kelly on some departures, for three hours of Xi’an food and city sights. Sample lamb and pita soup, kebabs, dumplings, liangpi, sticky rice cake, and sour plum drink around Muslim Street. Transport, bottled water, hotel pickup, and food are included.

“I would have never guessed that such a vibrant ethnic market existed in Xian, much less have had the ability to explore it successfully without the help of our local guide. She was able to take us through a plethora of back alleys and introduce us to the most local food one could ask for on holiday.”

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6.Summer Palace 3 Hours Guided Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews · 3 hours · from $33Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Xiyuan Subway Station for a three-hour walk through the Summer Palace. See the painted Long Corridor, Marble Boat, Kunming Lake, and Longevity Hill while learning about Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing royal life, and Chinese garden design. Gary and Yang are among the guides praised for their warm, detailed explanations.

“We had an incredibly special day with Gary on our very first day in Beijing. It was absolutely worth it and even more than we hoped for. Gary is a true fan of history, and you can really feel that in everything he shares. His knowledge goes deep, and he takes the time to explain even the smallest details. We could ask him anything, and every question was met with thoughtful, passionate answers. A perfect way to start our time in Beijing. Highly recommended.”

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