Itinerary
- Day 1
Shanghai
You'll arrive in Shanghai with a welcome meeting set for 4 pm, so there's time to get settled and walk around if you land early. Later in the evening, your leader takes you on a walking tour along the Bund where you can see the city lights reflecting off the water. After that, you'll head out to try some of Shanghai's food scene with dinner spots your leader recommends.
Optional Activities
- Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre visit
- Yuyuan Garden visit
- Shanghai Museum visit
- Leader-led walking tour on the Bund
Landmarks The Bund 
- Day 2
Shanghai to Wuxi to Shanghai
This morning you'll catch the bullet train for about 30 minutes to Wuxi. Once there, your leader guides you through Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area, checking out historic sites and traditional gardens. You'll see the Jichang Garden, which is one of the finest traditional gardens in China and protected as a national heritage site. The train back to Shanghai leaves you free in the evening to grab a drink at one of the rooftop bars overlooking the Bund if you want.
Included Activities
- Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area walking tour
- Jichang Garden visit
Landmarks Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area Jichang Garden - Day 3
Shanghai to Xi'an
You're heading out on the bullet train this morning to Xi'an, the old imperial centre where the Silk Road began. After arriving, your leader takes you on a walking tour past the Bell and Drum Towers, which according to local legend were built to control dragons causing earthquakes. From there, you'll wander through the Muslim Quarter with its shops and markets, sampling street snacks from local vendors. For dinner, try local dishes like pao mo, hand-pulled noodles, and meat skewers.
Included Activities
- Bell and Drum Towers walking tour
- Muslim Quarter walking tour and snack sampling
Optional Activities
- Great Mosque visit
- Bell & Drum Towers entrance fee
Landmarks Bell Tower Drum Tower Muslim Quarter Great Mosque 
- Day 4
Xi'an
Today is all about the Terracotta Warriors, one of the greatest discoveries in archaeology. You'll see around 1,000 individually sculpted warriors that were buried for 2,000 years, each with different uniforms, heights, and faces. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi had these clay soldiers, horses, and chariots made for his mausoleum. Back in Xi'an later, your evening is free, so consider heading to Tang Paradise near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for some local nightlife.
Included Activities
- Terracotta Warriors tour
Optional Activities
- Big Goose Pagoda visit
- Little Wild Goose Pagoda visit
- City Wall bike hire
- Tang Dynasty Show
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors Big Wild Goose Pagoda Little Wild Goose Pagoda Tang Paradise - Day 5
Xi'an to Beijing
Today involves a lot of travel, so pack snacks and bring something to read. You'll head to the railway station and take the high-speed train to Beijing, watching the scenery shift from farmland and small villages to industrial cities. Once you arrive, a private vehicle takes you out to the countryside to a family-run guesthouse near the Great Wall. If the timing works, a short hike up to the Wall at sunset is really worth doing.
Included Activities
- Sunset hike to Great Wall section
Landmarks Great Wall of China 
- Day 6
Great Wall
You'll spend the day exploring the Great Wall itself, specifically the Jinshanling section, which is less crowded and still very original. The hike takes about 2 hours as the wall winds through the hills, and you might feel like you have the place almost to yourself. After taking in the views and the history, you'll head back to Beijing for the final part of your trip.
Included Activities
- Great Wall hike (approximately 2 hours on Jinshanling section)
Landmarks Jinshanling section of Great Wall of China 
- Day 7
Beijing
This morning you'll go into central Beijing to see Tiananmen Square, which is considered the largest downtown square in the world and the symbolic heart of Chinese power. The Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao's Mausoleum, and the Great Hall of the People frame the square. From there, you enter the Forbidden City, built over 500 years ago and kept off-limits to regular people for most of its history. Walking through the halls and courtyards shows you how grand the Imperial court was. You'll have free time in the afternoon, then gather with the group for a farewell dinner featuring Beijing duck.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner with Beijing duck)
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square visit
- Forbidden City exploration
Optional Activities
- Temple of Heaven visit
- Hutong family visit
- Lama Temple visit
- Acrobat show
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Gate of Heavenly Peace Mao's Mausoleum Great Hall of the People Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Lama Temple - Day 8
Beijing
Your China trip ends today with no scheduled activities. If you want to keep exploring Beijing or extend your stay, there's plenty more to see and do around the city.
