Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Beijing
You'll land in Beijing and have the afternoon and evening to settle in at your own pace. Depending on when your flight touches down, there's time to grab a meal, walk around your neighborhood, or just rest up before the full itinerary kicks in tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore local culture and neighborhoods
- Days 1 - 2
Beijing
You'll land in Beijing and have the afternoon and evening to settle in at your own pace. Depending on when your flight touches down, there's time to grab a meal, walk around your neighborhood, or just rest up before the full itinerary kicks in tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore local culture and neighborhoods
- Day 3
Beijing
Start the morning at Tiananmen Square, then head into the Forbidden City to see the imperial palaces and courtyards. After lunch, walk through the hutong neighborhoods to get a feel for traditional Beijing life. By evening, you'll sit down to Peking duck, a local specialty that's worth the meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Peking duck)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Explore the Forbidden City
- Stroll through hutongs
- Dinner of Peking duck
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City - Day 3
Beijing
Start the morning at Tiananmen Square, then head into the Forbidden City to see the imperial palaces and courtyards. After lunch, walk through the hutong neighborhoods to get a feel for traditional Beijing life. By evening, you'll sit down to Peking duck, a local specialty that's worth the meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Peking duck)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Explore the Forbidden City
- Stroll through hutongs
- Dinner of Peking duck
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City - Day 4
Beijing
This morning you'll walk sections of the Great Wall with views across the mountains and valleys. From there, stop at a jade factory to browse carved pieces and learn how they're made. The afternoon takes you to the Summer Palace, where you can wander through gardens and see the traditional architecture and pavilions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk on the Great Wall
- Visit a jade factory
- Explore the Summer Palace
Optional Activities
- Purchase handcrafted jade pieces
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China Summer Palace - Day 4
Beijing
This morning you'll walk sections of the Great Wall with views across the mountains and valleys. From there, stop at a jade factory to browse carved pieces and learn how they're made. The afternoon takes you to the Summer Palace, where you can wander through gardens and see the traditional architecture and pavilions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk on the Great Wall
- Visit a jade factory
- Explore the Summer Palace
Optional Activities
- Purchase handcrafted jade pieces
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China Summer Palace - Day 5
Beijing
Start your day at the Temple of Heaven, a massive complex where you can see the main hall and walk through the grounds. Later in the afternoon, head to Panjiayuan market, one of Beijing's largest antiques and crafts markets, where vendors sell everything from ceramics to scrolls to old furniture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Temple of Heaven
- Browse Panjiayuan arts, crafts and antiques market
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Panjiayuan Market - Day 5
Beijing
Start your day at the Temple of Heaven, a massive complex where you can see the main hall and walk through the grounds. Later in the afternoon, head to Panjiayuan market, one of Beijing's largest antiques and crafts markets, where vendors sell everything from ceramics to scrolls to old furniture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Temple of Heaven
- Browse Panjiayuan arts, crafts and antiques market
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Panjiayuan Market - Day 6
Beijing to Datong
You'll take the bullet train to Datong, watching rural landscapes pass by for several hours. After you arrive and settle in, head to the Yungang Caves, a UNESCO site carved into sandstone cliffs that holds thousands of Buddhist statues from over 1,500 years ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Datong
- Visit Yungang Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Yungang Caves - Day 6
Beijing to Datong
You'll take the bullet train to Datong, watching rural landscapes pass by for several hours. After you arrive and settle in, head to the Yungang Caves, a UNESCO site carved into sandstone cliffs that holds thousands of Buddhist statues from over 1,500 years ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Datong
- Visit Yungang Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Yungang Caves - Day 7
Datong to Wutaishan
Early in the day, visit the Hanging Temple, an incredible 1,400-year-old structure built right into the rock face about 50 meters up. It's a short but memorable stop. Then you'll travel onward to Wutaishan, which sits in the mountains and takes a few hours to reach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Hanging Temple
Landmarks/POIs Hanging Temple - Day 7
Datong to Wutaishan
Early in the day, visit the Hanging Temple, an incredible 1,400-year-old structure built right into the rock face about 50 meters up. It's a short but memorable stop. Then you'll travel onward to Wutaishan, which sits in the mountains and takes a few hours to reach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Hanging Temple
Landmarks/POIs Hanging Temple - Day 8
Wutaishan to Taiyuan
You'll explore Wutaishan, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, checking out the Bodhisattva Summit Temple and Xiantong Temple that sit in the alpine valley. Later you'll travel to Taiyuan and visit the Twin Pagoda Temple, built centuries ago during the Ming Dynasty.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bodhisattva Summit Temple
- Visit Xiantong Buddhist Temple
- Visit Twin Pagoda Temple
Landmarks/POIs Wutaishan (Five Terrace Mountain) Bodhisattva Summit Temple Xiantong Buddhist Temple Twin Pagoda Temple - Day 8
Wutaishan to Taiyuan
You'll explore Wutaishan, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, checking out the Bodhisattva Summit Temple and Xiantong Temple that sit in the alpine valley. Later you'll travel to Taiyuan, visit the Twin Pagoda Temple, and finish with a noodle-making lesson to learn how locals prepare this regional specialty.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bodhisattva Summit Temple
- Visit Xiantong Buddhist Temple
- Visit Twin Pagoda Temple
- Shanxi noodle-making lesson
Landmarks/POIs Wutaishan (Five Terrace Mountain) Bodhisattva Summit Temple Xiantong Buddhist Temple Twin Pagoda Temple - Day 9
Taiyuan to Pingyao
This morning you'll spend time at Jinci Temple, exploring the grounds and seeing the architecture. Then you'll travel to the old town of Pingyao, where you can walk around and participate in a paper cutting workshop, an art form that goes back to the 6th century and is still practiced today.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Jinci Temple
- Traditional Chinese paper cutting experience
Landmarks/POIs Jinci Temple Pingyao Old Town - Day 9
Taiyuan to Pingyao
This morning you'll spend time at Jinci Temple, exploring the grounds and seeing the architecture. Then you'll travel to the old town of Pingyao, where you can walk around and participate in a paper cutting workshop, an art form that goes back to the 6th century and is still practiced today.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Jinci Temple
- Traditional Chinese paper cutting experience
Landmarks/POIs Jinci Temple Pingyao Old Town - Day 10
Pingyao to Xian
You'll wander through Pingyao's old town on the cobbled streets, checking out the ancient city walls and the Rishengchang Financial House Museum. There's also the Yamen government building from the Qing Dynasty to see. Later you'll catch the bullet train heading east toward Xian.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Pingyao old town and city walls
- Visit Rishengchang Financial House Museum
- Visit the Yamen
- Bullet train to Xian
Landmarks/POIs Pingyao Ancient City Walls Rishengchang Financial House Museum Yamen - Day 10
Pingyao to Xian
You'll wander through Pingyao's old town on the cobbled streets, checking out the ancient city walls and the Rishengchang Financial House Museum. There's also the Yamen government building from the Qing Dynasty to see. Later you'll catch the bullet train heading east toward Xian.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Pingyao old town and city walls
- Visit Rishengchang Financial House Museum
- Visit the Yamen
- Bullet train to Xian
Landmarks/POIs Pingyao Ancient City Walls Rishengchang Financial House Museum Yamen - Day 11
Xian
Spend the morning viewing the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers that guard the emperor's tomb. After that, stop at a ceramics and lacquer workshop to see how these crafts are made. You'll walk on the ancient city walls, then have dinner with Shui Jiao dumplings paired with a Tang Dynasty dance performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Shui Jiao dumplings with Tang Dynasty dance performance)
Included Activities
- View the Terracotta Army
- Visit Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Workshop
- Walk on ancient city walls
- Dinner of Shui Jiao dumplings with Tang Dynasty dance performance
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Xian Ancient City Walls - Day 11
Xian
Spend the morning viewing the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers that guard the emperor's tomb. After that, stop at a ceramics and lacquer workshop to see how these crafts are made. You'll walk on the ancient city walls, then have dinner with Shui Jiao dumplings paired with a Tang Dynasty dance performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Shui Jiao dumplings with Tang Dynasty dance performance)
Included Activities
- View the Terracotta Army
- Visit Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Workshop
- Walk on ancient city walls
- Dinner of Shui Jiao dumplings with Tang Dynasty dance performance
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Xian Ancient City Walls - Day 12
Xian
Begin at the Xian Museum to see ancient artifacts and pottery. Next, visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and head to Shuyuanmen Ancient Culture Street for a calligraphy demonstration and to watch artists at work. The afternoon takes you through the Muslim Quarter, where narrow alleys are packed with food stalls and shops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Xian Museum
- Visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda
- See calligraphy demonstration
- Explore the Muslim Quarter
Landmarks/POIs Xian Museum Little Wild Goose Pagoda Shuyuanmen Ancient Culture Street Muslim Quarter - Day 12
Xian
Begin at the Xian Museum to see ancient artifacts and pottery. Next, visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and take part in a calligraphy demonstration where you can try your hand at Chinese brush work. The afternoon takes you through the Muslim Quarter, where narrow alleys are packed with food stalls and shops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Xian Museum
- Visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda
- Participate in calligraphy demonstration
- Explore the Muslim Quarter
Landmarks/POIs Xian Museum Little Wild Goose Pagoda Muslim Quarter - Day 13
Xian to Luoyang
You'll take the bullet train to Luoyang, a city that served as the capital during more than a dozen different dynasties. This afternoon, you'll visit the Longmen Grottoes, carved limestone cliffs that hold tens of thousands of Buddhist statues and sculptures created over centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Luoyang
- Visit Longmen Grottoes
Landmarks/POIs Longmen Grottoes - Day 13
Xian to Luoyang
You'll take the bullet train to Luoyang, a city that served as the capital during more than a dozen different dynasties. This afternoon, you'll visit the Longmen Grottoes, carved limestone cliffs that hold tens of thousands of Buddhist statues and sculptures created over centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Luoyang
- Visit Longmen Grottoes
Landmarks/POIs Longmen Grottoes - Day 14
Luoyang to Dengfeng to Zhengzhou
You'll travel to Dengfeng to visit the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kung fu. Walk through the Pagoda Forest where 228 stone pagodas stand, built over more than a thousand years. Before heading to Zhengzhou, you'll watch monks perform kung fu demonstrations, showing off martial techniques passed down through generations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Shaolin Temple
- Walk through Pagoda Forest
- Witness kung fu demonstration by Shaolin Monks
Landmarks/POIs Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest - Day 14
Luoyang to Dengfeng to Zhengzhou
You'll travel to Dengfeng to visit the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kung fu. Walk through the Pagoda Forest where 228 stone pagodas stand, built over more than a thousand years. Before heading to Zhengzhou, you'll watch monks perform kung fu demonstrations, showing off martial techniques passed down through generations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Shaolin Temple
- Walk through Pagoda Forest
- Witness kung fu demonstration by Shaolin Monks
Landmarks/POIs Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest - Day 15
Zhengzhou to Shanghai
You'll take the bullet train to Shanghai, a fast-paced city that blends modern skyscrapers with historical neighborhoods. Once you've checked into your hotel and had time to freshen up, you'll board a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the city lights and skyline reflecting off the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Shanghai
- Scenic cruise on Huangpu River
Landmarks/POIs Huangpu River - Day 15
Zhengzhou to Shanghai
You'll take the bullet train to Shanghai, a fast-paced city that blends modern skyscrapers with historical neighborhoods. Once you've checked into your hotel and had time to freshen up, you'll board a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the city lights and skyline reflecting off the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Shanghai
- Scenic cruise on Huangpu River
Landmarks/POIs Huangpu River - Day 16
Shanghai
You'll walk through Yu Garden, a classical garden with traditional pavilions and landscaping, then check out the old town area with its narrow streets. After that, head to the Bund to see colonial-era architecture and modern buildings side by side. By evening, you'll catch the ERA acrobatic show with its incredible performances and stage effects.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden
- Explore the old town
- See colonial architecture on the Bund
- ERA acrobatic show
Landmarks/POIs Yu Garden The Bund - Day 16
Shanghai
You'll walk through Yu Garden, a classical garden with traditional pavilions and landscaping, then check out the old town area with its narrow streets. From the Jin Mao Tower you'll get panoramic views across the city. After that, head to the Bund to see colonial-era architecture and modern buildings side by side, then catch the ERA acrobatic show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden
- Explore the old town
- View from Jin Mao Tower
- See colonial architecture on the Bund
- ERA acrobatic show
Landmarks/POIs Yu Garden Jin Mao Tower The Bund - Day 17
Shanghai
Wander through Xintiandi, where 1920s buildings have been converted into restaurants and shops. You'll spend time at the Shanghai Museum looking at paintings, ceramics, and sculptures. Later, visit a silk factory to see how silk is produced and finished. Dinner features traditional Shanghainese cuisine with local flavors and cooking styles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Shanghainese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Explore Xintiandi area
- Visit Shanghai Museum
- Silk factory tour
- Dinner of traditional Shanghainese cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Xintiandi Shanghai Museum - Day 17
Shanghai
Wander through Xintiandi, where 1920s buildings have been converted into restaurants and shops. You'll spend time at the Shanghai Museum looking at paintings, ceramics, and sculptures. Later, visit a silk mill to see how silk is produced and finished. Dinner features traditional Shanghainese cuisine with local flavors and cooking styles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Shanghainese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Explore Xintiandi area
- Visit Shanghai Museum
- Silk mill tour
- Dinner of traditional Shanghainese cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Xintiandi Shanghai Museum - Day 18
Shanghai to UK
You'll fly from Shanghai heading back to the UK, arriving home either the same day or the following day depending on your flight time and the time zones you're crossing.
- Day 18
Shanghai to UK
You'll fly from Shanghai heading back to the UK, arriving home either the same day or the following day depending on your flight time and the time zones you're crossing.
