Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
Your private guide and driver will be waiting at Beijing Airport to meet you. The transfer to your hotel takes about an hour depending on traffic, so you'll have the rest of the day to settle in, freshen up, and adjust to the time change. Take it easy and get some rest before your sightseeing begins.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel )
- Day 2
Beijing
Start the morning with a buffet breakfast at the hotel, then head to Tiananmen Square where your guide will show you around this historic gathering place. From there, you'll spend a few hours exploring the Forbidden City, walking through palaces and courtyards that date back centuries. Grab lunch at a restaurant, and after you eat, spend the afternoon at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once performed important ceremonies.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel), Lunch (A la carte meal at a decent restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel )
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Guided tour of the Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven 
- Day 3
Beijing
This morning takes you to Mutianyu Great Wall, about two hours north of Beijing. The round-trip cable car ride gets you up the mountain easily, so you'll have good time to walk along the wall and take photos. Bring your own lunch or grab something simple from nearby, as the restaurants on-site are pretty basic. Back in the city that afternoon, stop by the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium and then wander through a local market to pick up any souvenirs or snacks.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel )
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
- Round-trip cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
- Visit Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium
- Visit local market
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) - Day 4
Beijing to Xian
Start with the Summer Palace in the morning, checking out the temples and lakeside gardens. Later, hop on a rickshaw to tour through the original Hutong alleys, where you'll see traditional Beijing neighborhoods. That evening you'll head to the railway station for a high-speed train to Xi'an, which takes about 4.5 hours. Your new guide and driver will meet you when you arrive and take you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
- Rickshaw tour of Hutong alleys
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace Hutong alleys 
- Day 5
Xian
Your guide will drive you about an hour east of Xi'an to see the Terracotta Army. You'll walk through the excavation pits seeing thousands of clay soldiers, horses, and bronze chariots that were buried over 2,000 years ago. It's a massive site and worth taking your time there. After lunch, head to the Provincial History Museum to see more artifacts and get more context about this period of Chinese history.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army
- Visit Provincial History Museum
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Provincial History Museum 
- Day 6
Xian
Rent a bike to cycle along the City Wall, which gives you a different perspective on Xi'an's layout and history (you'll pay for the rental yourself). Next, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi'an Museum. By late afternoon, make your way to the Great Mosque on the bustling Muslim Street. You'll have free time to explore the bazaar, try different local foods, and pick up anything you might want before evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda)
Included Activities
- Visit City Wall
- Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit Xi'an Museum
- Visit Great Mosque
Optional Activities
- Bike riding on City Wall (rental fee at your expense)
Landmarks/POIs City Wall Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xi'an Museum Great Mosque Muslim Street - Day 7
Xian to Dunhuang
After breakfast, you'll head to the airport for your noon flight to Dunhuang. Your local guide will pick you up there and drive you to the hotel. Once you've rested a bit and freshened up, you'll ride a camel out to Echoing-Sand Dune and Crescent Lake. Spending time at sunset on the desert is pretty special, with the sand glowing in the evening light.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Hotel Building No. 8)
Included Activities
- Camel ride on desert
- Visit Echoing-Sand Dune
- Visit Crescent Lake
Landmarks/POIs Echoing-Sand Dune Crescent Lake 
- Day 8
Dunhuang to Turpan
Spend the morning visiting Mogao Grottoes, about 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang. These caves contain incredible murals and Buddhist statues carved into the rock over centuries. After exploring there, your driver will take you to Liuyuan Railway Station where you'll board a high-speed train heading to Turpan, a 3.5-hour journey. Your guide for this next part will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel in Turpan.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel), Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown )
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Grottoes
Landmarks/POIs Mogao Grottoes - Day 9
Turpan
Today focuses on Turpan's ancient sites. Start with the Ancient City of Jiaohe, which is the largest and best preserved raw soil city from that era. Next, visit Karez Well, an underground irrigation system that's considered one of ancient China's three greatest engineering projects. End the day at Sugong Pagoda, which has a distinctive conical shape and a unique brick staircase design inside.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel), Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown )
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Jiaohe
- Visit Karez Well
- Visit Sugong Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Ancient City of Jiaohe Karez Well Sugong Pagoda - Day 10
Turpan to Urumqi
Head out to the Ancient City of Gaochang, an important settlement from as far back as the first century BC. Then visit Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves with their faded frescoes and carved statues. You'll also see Flaming Hill, known for its dramatic red-colored cliffs. That evening, transfer to Urumqi and check in at your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel), Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Excemon Xinjiang Yilite Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Gaochang
- Visit Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- Visit Flaming Hill
Landmarks/POIs Ancient City of Gaochang Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves Flaming Hill 
- Day 11
Urumqi to Shanghai
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Shanghai. Your guide will greet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel. Take the rest of the day to rest and relax after traveling. By evening, you can grab dinner somewhere nearby, but there's no scheduled activities, so it's really up to you how you want to spend the time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sunrise On The Bund)
- Day 12
Shanghai
Visit Shanghai Museum first, then head to Yu Garden, a beautifully designed Ming Dynasty garden with rock gardens and pavilions. Browse the nearby bazaar to find souvenirs. After lunch at a popular restaurant, spend an hour on a cruise along the Huangpu River at the Bund, where you'll see Shanghai's skyline from the water. You'll have some free time to explore the Bund area on foot, then check out an old street before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel), Lunch (A la carte meal at a popular restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sunrise On The Bund)
Included Activities
- Visit Shanghai Museum
- Visit Yu Garden
- One-hour cruise tour on Huangpu River
Optional Activities
- Explore bazaar near Yu Garden
- Explore Bund area
- Visit old street
Landmarks/POIs Shanghai Museum Yu Garden Bund - Day 13
Shanghai
Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your homebound flight. Make sure to pack the night before and leave yourself enough time to get to the airport without rushing.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Western buffet breakfast at hotel)
