Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Your private guide and driver will be waiting outside airport customs to pick you up and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and recover from travel.
- Day 2
Beijing
Start in Tiananmen Square and walk over to the Forbidden City, which has more than 8,000 pavilions spread across its grounds. After grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, you'll head to Yonghe Temple, one of Beijing's best-preserved lamaseries. Later in the day, visit the Temple of Heaven, an old royal altar from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast), Lunch (A la carte Chinese food at one of the best local restaurants)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Guided tour of Forbidden City
- Visit Yonghe Temple
- Tour Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Yonghe Temple Temple of Heaven - Day 3
Beijing
Take a cable car up to Mutianyu Great Wall for the round-trip ride and photos. From there, stop by the Olympic National Stadium (the Bird's Nest) before heading into the Shichahai area for a 40-minute rickshaw ride through the hutongs and along the water. You'll also check out a preserved Siheyuan courtyard to learn how traditional families lived.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
- Round-trip cable car ride at Great Wall
- Photo stop at Olympic National Stadium
- Rickshaw ride through Shichahai (approximately 40 minutes)
- Visit preserved Siheyuan
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall Olympic National Stadium Shichahai - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Spend the morning at the Summer Palace, an old royal retreat with beautiful grounds. In the afternoon, board a high-speed train heading to Xi'an that takes about 4.5 hours, so bring snacks and something to keep occupied. Your Xi'an guide will meet you at the station and drive you to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace - Day 5
Xi'an
Visit the Terracotta Army museum to see the famous Qin Warriors and Horses along with ancient weapons on display. You'll meet the farmer who found the first terracotta warrior back in 1974. Take part in a DIY class making your own mini terracotta figure, which runs about 40 minutes. The afternoon includes the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and time to try on Hanfu costumes at Great Tang All Day Mall.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army museum
- Meet farmer who discovered first terracotta warrior
- DIY terracotta figure making class (approximately 40 minutes)
- Visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Wear Chinese Hanfu costume experience at Great Tang All Day Mall
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Great Tang All Day Mall - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
Start at City Wall Park where locals hang out, then explore the Ming Dynasty City Wall that's still well-preserved (you can rent a bike if you want). Check out the Great Mosque and try local snacks on Muslim Street before lunch at a well-known restaurant. After eating, head to the high-speed train station for the 4-hour ride to Chengdu. Your Chengdu guide meets you at the station and takes you to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast), Lunch (Featured Xi'an snacks for lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit City Wall Park
- Tour Ming Dynasty City Wall
- Visit Great Mosque
- Experience Muslim Street
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental on City Wall (at your own expense)
Landmarks/POIs City Wall Park City Wall Great Mosque Muslim Street - Day 7
Chengdu
The morning takes you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding where you'll see China's national treasures. In the afternoon, spend time at Xiaojiahe Community to get a feel for daily life there. Lunch is on your own at Yongle Restaurant (been serving the neighborhood for over 20 years). Wander through a vegetable market, then walk about 15 minutes down to the Xiaojia River where you'll find locals gathered playing mahjong, cards, drinking tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Visit Xiaojiahe Community
- Visit vegetable market
- Walk to Xiaojia River bank
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Yongle Restaurant at your own cost
Landmarks/POIs Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Xiaojiahe Community Xiaojia River - Day 8
Chengdu to Shanghai
Fly from Chengdu to Shanghai, a 2.5-hour flight. Your Shanghai guide picks you up at the airport. Head to the Bund on the west bank of the Huangpu River to see all the Western-style buildings from Shanghai's early 1900s boom. Take a one-hour cruise on the Huangpu River, then go to the hotel where you'll stay for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit the Bund
- One-hour cruise trip on Huangpu River
Landmarks/POIs The Bund Huangpu River - Day 9
Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden to see what they have on display. Have a farewell lunch at a top-notch restaurant with a la carte options. Spend the afternoon in Zhujiajiao Water Town, known as the 'Oriental Venice' for its homes built along rivers and preserved older architecture that you don't see much in modern Shanghai.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at a superb restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Shanghai Museum
- Visit Yu Garden
- Visit Zhujiajiao Water Town
Landmarks/POIs Shanghai Museum Yu Garden Zhujiajiao Water Town - Day 10
Departure
Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and get you to the airport on time for your international flight. If you're interested, there's an option to ride the maglev train to Pudong Airport instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Maglev train ride to Pudong Airport (can be arranged)
