Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll land at Beijing Capital Airport where your local guide will meet you for the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to do what works for you. Some people prefer to rest after the flight, while others head out to walk around and get a feel for Beijing's busy streets right away.
- Start point
- Capital Airport Hotel Beijing, Beijing Airport Chao Yang District Beijing China, Beijing, 100621, China (Pick up at Beijing Capital Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Capital Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Explore Beijing city at leisure
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll head to the Temple of Heaven to see its distinctive triple-tiered blue roofs up close. Lunch comes next, then it's off to explore Tian'anmen Square with all its historical significance. By afternoon you'll be at the Forbidden City, the grand imperial palace from the Ming and Qing dynasties that dominates so much of Beijing's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Capital Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Explore Tian'anmen Square
- Tour Forbidden City
Landmarks Temple of Heaven Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City 
- Day 3
Beijing
You'll travel north about 80 km to the Mutianyu Great Wall after breakfast, where fewer crowds mean a more peaceful experience. There you can either hike or take the cable car if you want (that costs extra). After lunch nearby, you'll return to Beijing and visit the Summer Palace, then check out the Olympic sites like the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch nearby Mutianyu Great Wall)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Capital Hotel)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Mutianyu Great Wall
- Visit Summer Palace
- Visit Olympic sites (Bird's Nest and Water Cube)
Optional Activities
- Cable car ascent/descent at Mutianyu Great Wall (available for additional fee on site)
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Summer Palace Bird's Nest Water Cube - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Breakfast is at the hotel, and you'll have the morning free to do what you want. In the early afternoon, head to the Railway Station to board a high-speed train heading to Xi'an. When you arrive, your local guide meets you, transfers you to your hotel, and the evening is left for you to settle in and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Xi’an High Tech Zone Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Morning free time in Beijing
- Day 5
Xi'an
After breakfast, the whole day is yours to explore Xi'an however you'd like. Check out the Xi'an Museum, walk through the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and its gardens, or bike along the ancient city wall for views across the city. If you'd prefer a structured experience, there's an optional full-day tour that includes the city wall, traditional morning exercises, Gao Family Residence, puppet and opera performances, Great Wild Goose Pagoda, and a Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with dumplings.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Xi’an High Tech Zone Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit Xi'an Museum
- Explore Small Wild Goose Pagoda and gardens
- Bike or walk along ancient city wall
- Full-Day Xi'an City Tour with Tang Dynasty Dinner Show (includes visit to park for traditional morning exercises, climb ancient city walls, visit Gao Family Residence with puppet show and Qinqiang opera performance, lunch at local restaurant, Great Wild Goose Pagoda with Chinese calligraphy lesson, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with dumpling banquet)
Landmarks Xi'an Museum Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xi'an Ancient City Wall Gao Family Residence Great Wild Goose Pagoda - Day 6
Xi'an
You'll start with breakfast at the hotel, then visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum where around 2,000 warriors have been excavated since 1974 (an estimated 8,000 remain). After on-site lunch, you'll head back to Xi'an to visit a jade workshop and wander through the Muslim Quarter, finishing at the Great Mosque with its unique blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch on-site at Terracotta Warriors Museum)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Xi’an High Tech Zone Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warriors Museum
- Visit jade workshop
- Explore Muslim Quarter
- Visit Great Mosque
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors Museum Xi'an Muslim Quarter Great Mosque - Day 7
Xi'an to Chengdu
After breakfast you'll transfer to the train station for a high-speed train to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province famous for its chilli peppers and food culture. Your guide will take you through People's Park where you can sit in a tea house and have some tea to relax. Then you'll visit Wenshu Temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple built in Sichuan style, explore the pedestrian area around it, and finally check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tibet Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit People's Park and enjoy tea at a tea house
- Visit Wenshu Temple
Landmarks People's Park Wenshu Temple 
- Day 8
Chengdu to Chongqing (Yangtze River Cruise)
Breakfast at the hotel comes first, then you're off to the Chengdu Panda Research Base to see giant pandas, including the young and playful ones. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll head to the train station for another high-speed train, this time to Chongqing. You'll meet your English-speaking guide there and go straight to the port to board your 3-night Yangtze River cruise heading to Yichang.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Victoria Anna)
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Panda Research Base
Landmarks Chengdu Panda Research Base Yangtze River - Day 9
Yangtze River Cruise
After breakfast on the cruise ship, you can visit Shuangguishan Park depending on water levels. There's also an optional trip to Fengdu, the legendary 'ghost town', where you can explore temples on Mingshan Mountain (paid separately). You'll cruise through rural landscapes of southern China, enjoy buffet lunch on board, and in the evening there's a welcome dinner from the captain and entertainment from the ship's staff.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Buffet lunch on board), Dinner (Welcome dinner hosted by the captain with special performance by ship's staff)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Victoria Anna)
Included Activities
- Visit Shuangguishan Park (depending on water level conditions)
Optional Activities
- Visit Fengdu 'ghost town' with temples on Mingshan Mountain (to be paid on spot)
Landmarks Shuangguishan Park Fengdu Mingshan Mountain - Day 10
Yangtze River Cruise (Three Gorges)
Following breakfast, there's an optional visit to 'White Emperor City' to learn about China's Sanguo period history (paid on site). Around noon the boat passes through Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges, followed by Wu Gorge with its dramatic mountains and verdant hills. After buffet lunch you'll disembark for an excursion along the Shennong River in a traditional wooden boat, then continue through Xiling Gorge and enjoy buffet dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Buffet lunch on board), Dinner (Buffet dinner on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Victoria Anna)
Included Activities
- Pass through Qutang Gorge
- Pass through Wu Gorge
- Excursion along Shennong River in traditional wooden boat
- Pass through Xiling Gorge
Optional Activities
- Visit 'White Emperor City' (to be paid on spot)
Landmarks White Emperor City Qutang Gorge Wu Gorge Shennong River Xiling Gorge 
- Day 11
Yichang to Shanghai
After breakfast on board, your Yichang guide joins you to visit the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydraulic dam. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant in Yichang before boarding a train to Shanghai. Dinner during the train journey is on your own (buying something before boarding is a good idea). You'll arrive in Shanghai in the evening and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant in Yichang)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hengshan Garden Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Three Gorges Dam
Landmarks Three Gorges Dam 
- Day 12
Shanghai
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll take a tour that shows you both old and new Shanghai. Start at the Mandarin Yu Garden with its intricate pavilions, koi ponds, and rockeries. Wander through Shanghai's Old Town to see traditional architecture and history. After lunch at a local restaurant, check out silk-making at a silk workshop, then visit the Jade Buddha Temple with its jade statues. Finish with a detailed look at the Bund where old colonial buildings stand alongside modern skyscrapers along the Huangpu River.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hengshan Garden Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Mandarin Yu Garden
- Explore Shanghai Old Town
- Learn silk-making at silk workshop
- Visit Jade Buddha Temple
- Tour the Bund
Landmarks Mandarin Yu Garden Shanghai Old Town Jade Buddha Temple The Bund - Day 13
Shanghai
You'll have one last breakfast at the hotel and some free time before your driver takes you to Shanghai International Airport for your departure flight.
- End point
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) 上海虹桥国际机场, 2550 Hongqiao Rd 虹桥路2550号, Shanghai, 200335, China (Drop off at Shanghai International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Optional Activities
- Free time in Shanghai
