Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and your local driver will meet you at the airport to handle the transfer to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to recover from travel and rest up. It's a good time to adjust to the time zone and get settled into your accommodations.
- Start point
- Beijing Capital Int'l Airport 北京首都国际机场 (PEK), Airport Expressway 机场高, Beijing, 100621, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Day 2
Beijing
Your guide picks you up at the hotel to start exploring Beijing's major sites. The morning begins at the Temple of Heaven, where you'll walk through the ancient architecture and watch locals practicing tai chi and other activities. After that, you're heading into the traditional Hutong neighborhoods by rickshaw and stopping to visit a local family. By midday you'll grab a la carte Chinese lunch, then spend the afternoon at Tian'anmen Square followed by the Forbidden City. Plan to spend over two hours there moving through the palace halls, gardens, and checking out the ancient art and treasures on display.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte Chinese lunch)
Included Activities
- Temple of Heaven visit
- Watch local morning exercises including Kongfu, Tai Chi, square dancing, cards, and chess
- Beijing Hutong rickshaw tour with local family visit
- Tian'anmen Square visit
- Forbidden City exploration (2+ hours)
Optional Activities
- Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater
- Acrobatic Show at night
Landmarks Temple of Heaven Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City 
- Day 3
Beijing
Leave early for the drive to Mutianyu Great Wall, about 2 hours from Beijing. The round-trip cable car ride is included, so you'll get up and around the wall without the strenuous hike. After grabbing lunch at the base, you'll drive back into the city with a photo stop at the Bird Nest and Water Cube Olympic sites before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant at the foot of Mutianyu)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
- Round-trip cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Bird Nest (National Stadium) Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Begin at the Summer Palace, China's largest imperial garden where you can see Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. If it appeals to you, take an optional boat ride or walk the famous Long Corridor. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Beijing West Railway Station for a high-speed train to Xi'an (5 to 5.5 hours). You'll check into your Xi'an hotel upon arrival.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant on the way to Beijing West Railway Station)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
- High-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an (2nd class)
Optional Activities
- Boating trip on Kunming Lake at Summer Palace
Landmarks Summer Palace 
- Day 5
Xi'an
Start your day on Xi'an's City Wall, walking along the ancient fortifications that give you a real sense of the city's historical scale. From there, head out to the Terracotta Warriors site where you'll see thousands of clay soldiers that were buried with China's first emperor. Before lunch, stop at a pottery workshop to get hands-on with traditional terracotta techniques and see how artisans craft these pieces. After grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, make your way to Bell Tower Square in the evening. It's lively here with shops and street activity, so spend some time walking around before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch at local restaurant near Terracotta Warriors)
Included Activities
- Visit Xi'an City Wall
- Stop at pottery workshop to learn terracotta warrior craftsmanship
- Visit Terracotta Warriors archaeological site
- Walk around Bell Tower Square
Optional Activities
- Bicycle ride on Xi'an City Wall
- Evening Tang Dynasty Show (arrange with local guide)
Landmarks Xi'an City Wall Terracotta Warriors Bell Tower Square - Day 6
Xi'an to Shanghai
Take a slower morning to rest up, then head into the Muslim Quarter to explore Gao's Courtyard and see how traditional residences were built. You'll also catch some shadow puppetry performances that show local cultural traditions. By noon, get to Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza for photos and stick around for the music fountain show. Later in the afternoon, you'll head to Xi'an airport for a short flight to Shanghai, so plan to leave with enough time before your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Gao's Courtyard in Muslim Quarter
- Explore shadow puppetry culture
- Photo stop at Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza
- Watch music fountain show at Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza (subject to availability)
Landmarks Gao's Courtyard Muslim Quarter Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza 
- Day 7
Shanghai
Discover modern Shanghai by walking through Shikumen alleys to see local architecture and daily life. Check out Yuyuan Garden, a classic Chinese garden downtown, plus the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar. After lunch, visit Shanghai City History Museum at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, then take the elevator up the 2nd ball for views of the city. Later, drive through Lujiazui's modern skyline and end at the Bund to see the illuminated buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walk through Shikumen alleys
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Explore Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street)
- Visit Shanghai City History Museum
- Elevator visit to Oriental Pearl TV Tower (2nd ball)
- Drive through Lujiazui
- Visit the Bund
Landmarks Shikumen Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street) Oriental Pearl TV Tower The Bund - Day 8
Shanghai to Huangshan
Enjoy free time in the morning to explore Shanghai or shop on your own. Check out at noon and head to Hongqiao Railway Station for a high-speed train to Huangshan City (about 3 hours). Meet your guide at the station and transfer to your hotel. Spend your evening on your own exploring Tunxi Old Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Explore Shanghai in the morning
- Shop in Shanghai
Landmarks Tunxi Old Street 
- Day 9
Mt. Huangshan
Your hotel pickup is at 07:30 for a coach transfer to Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area, arriving around 08:30-09:00. Take a shuttle bus and then a cable car up the mountain (you'll pay CNY80 per person per way). Spend about 5 hours walking the mountaintop, visiting White Goose Peak, Beginning-to-Believe Peak, Black Tiger Pine, Lion Peak, and other scenic spots. Buy your lunch at the top, then descend by foot or cable car and return to the city around 16:00-17:00.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area
- Shuttle bus to Yungu cable station
- Mt. Huangshan sightseeing
Optional Activities
- Yungu cable car up Mt. Huangshan
- Yungu cable car down Mt. Huangshan
- Descent on foot
Landmarks Mt. Huangshan 
- Day 10
Huangshan to Shanghai
Check out in the morning and visit Hongcun Village, the filming location for 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', known for its beautiful ancient Hui-style architecture and scenic pools with willows. Explore from 09:30 to 11:30, visiting South Lake, Chengzhi Hall, Lexu Hall, and Shuren Hall. Return to Huangshan City by noon-13:30, grab lunch, then transfer to catch the high-speed train back to Shanghai and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Hongcun Village Scenic Area
- Visit South Lake
- Visit Chengzhi Hall
- Visit Lexu Hall
- Visit Shuren Hall
- High-speed train from Huangshan to Shanghai
Landmarks Hongcun Village - Day 11
Depart Shanghai
Your driver will transfer you to the airport for your international flight home, marking the end of your China experience and your time in this ancient land.
- End point
- P2 Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport (上海浦东国际机场二号停车场), Terminal 2, Shanghai, 201207, China (Shanghai Pudong International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
