Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing Arrival
Your driver meets you at Beijing airport or railway station for the drive into the city center, which takes about an hour. You'll see a mix of modern high-rises and traditional hutong neighborhoods along the way. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to walk around and get oriented to Beijing at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore downtown Beijing at leisure
- Day 2
Beijing
After hotel pickup, you'll head to Tiananmen Square to see the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Tiananmen Rostrum. Then you'll walk through the Forbidden City, where you can wander the palace grounds that span 500 years of imperial history. Next comes the Temple of Heaven and its Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Later in the day you'll take a traditional boat ride across Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, checking out the Long Corridor and Tower of Buddhist Incense.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Guided tour of Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Boat ride on Kunming Lake at Summer Palace
- Explore Summer Palace gardens and Long Corridor
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Monument to the People's Heroes Tiananmen Rostrum Forbidden City Hall of Supreme Harmony Temple of Heaven Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests Circular Mound Altar Summer Palace Kunming Lake Seventeen-Arch Bridge Long Corridor Tower of Buddhist Incense Hall of Benevolence and Longevity - Day 3
Mutianyu Great Wall
Your English-speaking guide picks you up for a trip to Mutianyu, the longest continuously preserved section of the Great Wall. You'll hike through this section with 23 watchtowers and see mountain views from the crenellated walls and arrow slits. If you want, there are optional cable car rides and toboggan descents available. Your guide will share stories about how the wall was built and the ancient Silk Road traders who passed through here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike on Mutianyu Great Wall
- Explore Great Wall watchtowers and fortifications
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride up to the wall
- Toboggan ride down the wall
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Your driver takes you to Beijing West Railway Station for a high-speed train to Xi'an, about 4 hours. You board at 9:55 a.m. and arrive at Xi'an North Railway Station around 2:05 p.m., where another driver transfers you to your hotel. By evening, your guide leads a night exploration starting at Bell and Drum Tower Square to see the illuminated historic towers, then heads into the Muslim Quarter for a food tour. You'll try lamb skewers, date cakes, steamed buns, and cold noodles.
- Meals
- Snack (Night food tour in Muslim Quarter including 3 top Xi'an local snacks: crispy lamb skewers, sticky-sweet date cakes, savory steamed buns, and cold noodles with chili oil)
Included Activities
- Visit Bell and Drum Tower Square
- Guided night food tour in Muslim Quarter
- Included tasting of 3 top Xi'an local snacks
Landmarks/POIs Beijing West Railway Station Xi'an North Railway Station Bell Tower Drum Tower Bell and Drum Tower Square Muslim Quarter - Day 5
Xi'an
Your guide and driver take you to see both ancient history and hands-on experiences. First stop is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots from 2,200 years ago. Your guide shares the story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's quest for immortality. After that you'll head to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda from 652 CE, climb to the top for city views, then finish at Datang Everbright City, a Tang Dynasty-inspired street with lantern-lit shops and snacks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Explore Datang Everbright City
Optional Activities
- Craft your own mini terracotta warrior (for an additional fee)
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum Big Wild Goose Pagoda Datang Everbright City - Day 6
Xi'an to Shanghai
Before departing Xi'an, your guide takes you through more cultural sites. You'll see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a 43-meter brick structure from the 8th century, and the Ancient Bell of the Tang Dynasty. Then you'll check out the Xi'an Museum with artifacts from 3,000 years, including Tang porcelain and Zhou bronze vessels. Next you'll walk part of the Ming Dynasty city wall, which stretches 13.7 kilometers and offers views of modern Xi'an. After that, you explore Shuyuanmen, a traditional alley with courtyard houses, calligraphy studios, and artisan shops. Then you're driven to Xi'an Airport for your flight to Shanghai, where a driver meets you for transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- See Ancient Bell of the Tang Dynasty
- Guided tour of Xi'an Museum
- Explore Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Optional Activities
- Bike rental for portion of city wall
- Browse and purchase items at Shuyuanmen cultural alley
Landmarks/POIs Small Wild Goose Pagoda Ancient Bell of the Tang Dynasty Xi'an Museum Xi'an Ancient City Wall Shuyuanmen - Day 7
Shanghai
Your guide and driver show you Shanghai's mix of old and new. You start at Yu Garden, a 16th-century Ming Dynasty garden with winding pathways, lotus ponds, zigzag bridges, and the famous Exquisite Jade Rock. Then you head to the Bund waterfront with 52 historic buildings in Gothic and Art Deco styles, looking out across the Huangpu River to Pudong's modern skyline. You'll walk Nanjing Road, one of the world's busiest shopping streets, then check out Xintiandi's restored 1920s stone-gated row houses that now hold restaurants and galleries. You'll finish at the Jade Buddha Temple, which has a white jade seated Buddha and a jade reclining Buddha.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Yu Garden
- Visit the Bund waterfront
- Walk Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
- Explore Xintiandi and Shikumen lanes
- Visit Jade Buddha Temple
Landmarks/POIs Yu Garden Huxin Pavilion Exquisite Jade Rock The Bund Huangpu River Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai Tower Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street Xintiandi Shikumen lanes Jade Buddha Temple - Day 8
Shanghai Departure
Your driver arrives to wrap up your 8-day journey through China. This final day marks the end of your trip from Beijing's imperial sites through Xi'an's ancient monuments and Shanghai's modern streets. You're heading out with memories of the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and Shanghai's busy neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
