Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll land at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) and get picked up for a transfer to your hotel. Take the afternoon to rest up and adjust to the time difference. This is mainly about settling in and getting your bearings before the trip really starts.
- Start point
- Beijing, China (International Airport, 00:00 - 23:55)
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast, head to Tiananmen Square and check out the gateway leading into the Forbidden City. The rest of your day opens up for whatever you'd like to do - whether that's relaxing at the hotel, wandering around on your own, or joining one of the optional cultural tours that showcase Beijing's history and local traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
Optional Activities
- Beijing Golden Mask Dynasty Show - 90.00 AUD
- Forbidden City Tour - 80.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Imperial Ancestral Temple - Day 3
Beijing
Travel about 60 km outside the city to reach the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. On the way back, stop at a jade exhibition to see the craftsmanship involved. Later, a local guide takes you through the hutongs, those narrow traditional alleyways with old courtyard homes, and brings you into a private residence. The evening's yours to either take it easy or catch one of the optional cultural performances happening around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Juyongguan section of Great Wall of China
- Stop at jade exhibition
- Hutong cultural walking tour including visit to private Siheyuan home
Optional Activities
- Beijing Peking Duck Dinner - 50.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China - Juyongguan Section - Day 4
Beijing to Wuxi
Begin at a Chinese herbal institute where you'll learn how Traditional Chinese Medicine actually works and what goes into it. Then head to the Temple of Heaven, an important imperial site where you might catch locals doing Tai Chi in the morning. After lunch, board a high-speed bullet train heading to Wuxi, traveling at speeds up to 300 km/h. Your local guide meets you when you arrive, and then you'll transfer to check in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chinese herbal institute to learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Visit Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven - Day 5
Wuxi to Suzhou
Start at Brilliance of Lake Lihu, a peaceful park sitting on Lake Taihu's shores with bridges, gardens, and quiet water views. Stop by a freshwater pearl farm to see how pearls actually get cultivated and harvested from start to finish. In the afternoon, continue traveling to Suzhou, which has a strong reputation for its classical gardens and traditional silk production.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Brilliance of Lake Lihu
- Stop at freshwater pearl farm
Optional Activities
- Suzhou Grand Canal Cruise - 60.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs Brilliance of Lake Lihu Lake Taihu 
- Day 6
Suzhou to Hangzhou
The day begins at the Lingering Garden, one of Suzhou's most celebrated classical gardens and a UNESCO World Heritage site with pavilions, unusual rock formations, and winding covered corridors. Visit the Suzhou Silk Factory to watch how silk threads come from cocoons. After that, you'll travel to Hangzhou, a city Marco Polo himself praised as incredibly beautiful. The evening is free or you can join an optional show if that interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lingering Garden
- Visit Suzhou Silk Factory
Optional Activities
- Romantic Show of Song-Cheng - 105.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs Lingering Garden Suzhou Silk Factory 
- Day 7
Hangzhou to Shanghai
Spend time on West Lake, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape, gliding across the calm water with pagodas and willow trees surrounding you. Stop at a tea plantation where you'll try the famous Dragon Well (Longjing) tea and learn about tea-picking techniques, brewing methods, and why it matters so much in Chinese culture. Grab lunch, then head to Shanghai, a sprawling city that mixes old Eastern traditions with modern Western influence. The evening can be spent relaxing or taking an optional river cruise if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore West Lake
- Visit tea plantation and sample Dragon Well (Longjing) tea
Optional Activities
- Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise - 80.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs West Lake 
- Day 8
Shanghai
Walk through The Bund, Shanghai's well-known waterfront area filled with colonial-style architecture and views looking out at Pudong's modern skyline across the water. After that, the day is open for whatever appeals to you - shopping on Nanjing Road, wandering through quiet back alleys, or sitting at a local teahouse to watch the city go by.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit The Bund
Optional Activities
- Shanghai Chinese Acrobatic Show - 105.00 AUD
- Shanghai Insight Tour - 70.00 AUD
Landmarks/POIs The Bund Jinmao Tower Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone Xintiandi - Day 9
Shanghai
This day is completely yours to spend however you'd like in Shanghai. Explore parts of the city you haven't seen yet, find those neighborhood spots, or just relax. There's also an optional tour available if you'd rather have someone guide you around.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Shanghai to Departure
Have breakfast, then head to the airport for your return flight. Take time to think back on what you've seen and done throughout your time traveling across China.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 11
Arrival Home
You arrive back home with plenty of stories and memories from your China journey to share and reflect on.
