Shanghai: Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Shanghai, China
- 11 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
It’s possible to visit the Great Wall of China in just one day from Shanghai. On this private guided day trip, travel by bullet train to Linhai, where you’ll refuel with lunch and explore the East Lake of Linhai before visiting the Jiangnan Great Wall, also known as the Southern Great Wall. Afterwards, stroll along Ziyang Old Street before returning to Shanghai.
- A seamless way to visit the southern portion of the Great Wall in one day
- Your guide takes care of the logistics so you can just enjoy the experience
- Relax with hassle-free hotel pickup, drop-off, and transfers included
- Go at your own pace, and enjoy plenty of time to ask questions
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Private local guide
- Round-trip bullet train fare
- Southern Great Wall all in one ticket
- Gratuities
- Other personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotel pickup does not include hotels in the outskirts such as Jiading, Songjiang, Qingpu, Jinqiao, Chuansha in Pudong areas, etc. If your hotel is not in the downtown your guide will provide instructions on where to meet downtown
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
Shanghai (Pass By)
1
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Linhai
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
East Lake of Linhai
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
Jiangnan Great Wall
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
5
Ziyang Old Street
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
6
Shanghai
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Dietary restrictions? We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
- Total duration includes the travel time
- The local partner will require a photocopy of your passport before the train tickets can be booked
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 200 reviews
Olga_C, May 2026
They should know that my experience with Li Zhaochen our guide was exceptional and flawless. It started at our hotel which was at least 1/2 hour out of their meeting point and he picked us up. He made sure we had the best experience and that we arrived at our destination Shanghai: Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train on time and safe. He was very kind and went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience - he helped taking pictures, he gave us the history and customs of the places we visited in addition to the Wall - Taizhou Fucheng was one of them and since it was our first time on the bullet train he even took us out prior to us getting on it so we could video it coming into the station. We had a traditional lunch at a restaurant he had selected and he had listened to our likes and dislikes without us noticing. He had a private room for us with a spread of various custom dishes which tasted delicious and took care of our vegetarian and the person in our group who did not eat chicken nor fish. The food was freshly made and delicious. There was a person who wanted iced tea which they are not accustomed to having and he obtained it for them. He had drivers all set up who were safe and also pleasant. He even had raincoats and water for us. When we finished our tour we wanted to continue shopping and he helped us set up a ride back to the hotel. I cannot fully explain how helpful and enjoyable he made us feel and I know this is not the only tour he guides so if I were you I would ask for him without hesitation! Thank you so much LI ZHAOCHEN . I wish you the best.
Matthew_W, May 2026
A lovely day with my guide, Miao. Super nice, extremely knowledgeable and interesting It is quite a long day, but the bullet train is fune and it is good to see a bit more of ordinary Chinese life. The southern wall is a little underwhelming, I found the old town walk much more interesting and enjoyable. It is quite expensive for what it is, but I had a lovely day.
Luis_P, May 2026
Judy was incredibly sweet and made everything feel smooth and stress-free. Even though it was raining, she still went out of her way in the rain to make sure we got the best scenic views possible. She also adjusted the timing for us and made the entire Viator experience quick, easy, and seamless. We truly appreciated her effort, flexibility, and kindness throughout the experience.
Laura_G, May 2026
It was a great and scenic experience. Our tour guide, Jenny, was very good and knowledgeable. Opportunity to see some nice history without all the crowds. Would definitely recommend.
Greg_M, May 2026
Our tour of the Great Wall was absolutely fantastic! The entire trip was incredibly well-organized, starting right from the seamless hotel pickup, and we felt well taken care of the entire day. Our guide, Jordan, did an exceptional job tailoring the information and stops to our specific interests, which made the experience so much more personal and engaging. We also loved exploring the old town—the street shops were incredibly cute with lots of cool things to look at, and grabbing some tea and snacks along the way was the perfect touch. Highly recommend this tour!
Tina_F, May 2026
We spent an enjoyable day with our tour guide Summer in Linhai and the southern Great Wall, which we learned was built before the northern Great Wall (which makes it the original!)
Everything was on schedule and well-timed with transportation and the pace of the tour. Summer took us to lunch and ordered food from the region, which was very authentic. We were traveling with someone who had mobility issues and Summer was very sensitive to that since it appears there is not a lot of accessibility for those who are disabled in China. Could not have done this trip on our own.
VITA_J, May 2026
Emma was an amazing tour guide for us. She have a lot of knowledge of the history and the locations we visited. Highly recommended tour. Also location is closer to Shanghai. It’s a southern part of the wall, that is easy accessible, right in the city.
Manh_P, May 2026
This is a very good experience to see the Great Wall if you haven't done so in Beijing. The train ride is too long and options for upgrade on bullet train should be made available. Also the tour guide we had, though very nice and attentive, was not very knowledgeable or informative on Chinese history. Improvement there would make this trip more enjoyable and exciting.
Agnieszka_B, May 2026
Great trip, absolutely worth the 3-hour ride on the bullet train. The weather was challenging, but even the pouring rain didn’t take away from the joy of exploring the Garden and the Wall. Our guide, Miao, was fantastic - well-organized, knowledgeable, fluent in English and incredibly kind.
Val_B, May 2026
Well planned tour! All the places we went were wonderful! Summer catered the tour to me and was fabulous! I really loved this tour and it exceeded my expectations!
Allison_B, Apr 2026
This was a great tour. Be prepared for a long day as it is 3 hours on the bullet train each way - not 2 hours. So 6 hours of travel plus pick up and drop off transfer times.
Meal is vegetarian. Best to go in Feb for the flowers. Tour guide was helpful and friendly.
Pick up areas are more flexible than the website suggests.
MaryPatricia_T, Apr 2026
Our guide Taaffy” was wonderful and helped us so much. She gave us explanation of everything she took us to see.
I would let other travelers know that this tour is very demanding physically. I’m proud of myself for making it. The wall was incredible to see and the garden was beautiful and worth it.
Angela_C, Apr 2026
Amazing day with an amazing tour guide! The trip to the Southern Great Wall was excellent. We were immersed in culture and beauty. We learned amazing history along the way. Emma, our tour guide, was the best ever! She was so knowledgeable, friendly and kind. She really knows her stuff and she made the day perfect!. I totally recommend this trip for anyone looking for a great experience in China. And if you get Emma as a guide, you will be lucky!
Julia_B, Apr 2026
This tour was thoroughly enjoyable!
Our tour guide, Jerry, was knowledgeable, polite and went above and beyond for us.
We enjoyed the peacefulness and beauty of this area. We could tell this area is less known and appreciated it. We didn’t have to fight crowds and were able to enjoy the area at our leisure rather than be pushed by a crowd like other areas.
We highly recommend this tour.
Steve_P, Apr 2026
Had a great day with Taaffy! We took the bullet train from Shanghai, walked about 3 miles along the Jiangnan Wall and into the old town, and had a huge lunch. We finished the afternoon with a leisurely walk through the Dongu Lake garden before the train ride back to Shanghai. The excursion is a bit pricy but well organized for a long day. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised with the experience and happy I decided to go ahead with the booking. If you have an extra day in Shanghai and want to see something outside the city, this is a perfect day trip!
Kimberly_B, Apr 2026
Thank you for a very nice day ! You made us feel welcome and appreciate you sharing your insights throughout the tour !
Rachel_H, Apr 2026
Taaffy was friendly, polite and knowledgeable. Was a really enjoyable day and lunch was amazing. 100% recommend.
Mary_D, Apr 2026
Great tour - very interesting. Our tour guide, Judy (her English name!) was very sweet and we learned a lot from her. Would recommend this tour to others!
abby_w, Apr 2026
Was a great day to experience a special part of history. Jordan was knowledgeable and customised the tour to suit my needs. Was well organised.
Sharon_S, Apr 2026
Emma was a great guide. The trip was well planned, informative and enjoyable. The included lunch was also delicious, great choice of restaurant by Emma. We were able to tell Emma what we wanted to do more of, or less of depending on our fitness levels and likes.
Elena_S, Apr 2026
From pick up to drop off, everything ran smoothly. Emma was a fantastic guide, friendly and knowledgeable. It was a really wonderful trip.
Kevin_D, Mar 2026
Emma was our guide for the day and it was amazing! From meeting us on time first thing in the morning the trip was flawless.
David_W, Mar 2026
I had a free weekend in Shanghai and opted to do this day trip to Linhai. Emma arranged everything for me from picking me up at my hotel and getting me to the train station. The South Great Wall trip was amazing. Had a perfect day with sun and no clouds. Emma was my guide and she was great! Very knowledgable and her English was perfect. We opted to do the stairs first and loop around. Glad we did it that way as there were a lot of stairs. Great views, and great history lessons. After walking the wall, Emma arranged lunch prior to our arrival. She selected 4 great dishes that gave a great tasting. And the beer was cold. Bonus points! We then walked around the city a little taking in the old buildings. And then of to the lake. Great views, old architecture and even more history. Overall well worth the trip! And as a bonus we had some time to spare before heading back to the trainstation, the driver took us up to a great spot to over look the city.
I would definetly recommend this if you want to fill a day, and Emma works on the weekends only. If you happen to book and get Emma as your guide, you will have a great trip!
Anthony_H, Mar 2026
Very good trip! Everything was fun and interesting. Lots of history and great fun. The tourguide waa excelent.
Kim_W, Mar 2026
Very well organized, an English speaking guide with you the whole way. Didn't feel rushed. Plenty of food which was really good. Lots to see.
Svetlana_J, Mar 2026
Excellent organization, adapting to the needs of the user, the guide is kind and very responsive. The tour is dynamic and designed for an adequate introduction to the traditions and sights of this part of China.
Denis_R, Mar 2026
Amazing full service door to door with everything taken care of. Emma was really friendly and picked me up at the hotel on time and then we made our way to the train station. The train ride was really easy and the visit of the wall and the garden was amazing. Emma was a treasure trove of information and she is eager to share her knowledge about the sites; super friendly and the the food was amazing. Definitely recommended for anyone wanting an immersive adventure. Emma was also very flexible and even added an extra secret view spot. It’s worth the time and money, would do it again in a heart beat.
Kirsten_G, Mar 2026
My tour was organized very well. The guide Emma was great. She made the day very fun. It is a long trip. We were gone for 13 hours. There’s a lot of walking and a lot of stairs involved, which I like, but didn’t know. It’s good to know for people who are not super fit and might have a problem.
We had a very nice lunch at a funky restaurant, we saw the beautiful lake and the train ride was super convenient, nice and clean.
However, the reason why I’m giving this only two stars: this is not the Great Wall of China!!!!!
This is a wall in China. In the description, I find it misleading because they are calling it the Great Wall. This is a very different wall in a very different area. My day was very nice, but I would not have booked this tour if I had known that this is not the Great Wall. In the description, it looks like this is the southern part of the Great Wall, but it is not.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the seamless organization, the "funky" local lunch, and especially the service from our guide, Emma. We will definitely pass your compliments to her!
Regarding the location, we sincerely appreciate your feedback. For many travelers, the "Great Wall" is synonymous with the Ming Dynasty sections near Beijing. However, we would like to clarify that the Jiangnan Great Wall (Linhai Ancient City Wall) you visited is a genuine, historical "Great Wall" with over 1,600 years of history—predating much of the northern stone walls. It is famously known as the "Southern Great Wall" and served as the architectural blueprint for the famous towers in the north.
We aim for full transparency by listing the specific city (Linhai, Taizhou) and the 2.5 hour bullet train journey from Shanghai in our itinerary. We understand that Chinese geography can be complex for international visitors, and we will take your advice to make this distinction even more prominent in our descriptions to manage expectations.
We are glad that, despite the surprise, you found the day "very nice" and the scenery beautiful. We hope to welcome you back to discover more of China's hidden historical gems!
Frances_V, Feb 2026
Jordan was a great tour guide full of information and interesting conversation. All connections were made smoothly and the day was very enjoyable. Sites are amazing and nice to see the countryside from the bullet train.
Vivianne_A, Feb 2026
This is a beautiful day out learning about history and culture. My guide Emma was very knowledgeable and had a genuine desire to teach you about this wonderful town's beautiful culture and she made sure everything was taken care of so that I could just relax and have a nice time. Lunch was also yummy. I had a fantastic time!
From $399.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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