Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai

Let’s begin our adventure as we depart for Beijing.

Following our arrival in Beijing, we will be transferred with guide assistance to our hotel.

Please note:

Evening meals are included every night (10 nights) in all three cities – 6 nights in your hotels and 4 in a local restaurants. Your guide will advise you locally of dinner arrangements.

Join us on a full day's exploration as we uncover some of Beijing's most famous landmarks, including the Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City), Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven.

We’ll discover Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public spaces in the world, famous for its rallies and home to many important buildings and monuments. Let's see more as we step through the gates into the Forbidden City, which was the Chinese Imperial Palace during the Ming Dynasty and served as the home of emperors for almost 500 years. It is now under the charge of the Palace Museum and houses a huge collection of porcelain, paintings, jewels and sculptures. Impressive imperial gardens and several shrines surround the site.

Later, we enjoy more of Beijing's beauty during a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a complex of religious buildings symbolising the relationship between Earth and Heaven. Originally, it functioned as a vast stage for solemn rites and rituals. All of the buildings in the park, including the Round Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, represent conversations between the gods and mortals.

After, we explore historic Qianmen Street. This ornate pedestrian avenue has a mix of Chinese and Western shops and eateries, the most famous of which is Quanjude Chinese Restaurant which sells over 2 million of its trademark Peking Roast Duck every year.

Join us for dinner!

Dinner is included every night of your stay in China;  six at our hotel, and four at local restaurants.

This morning we discover The Great Wall, a Wonder of the World and a highlight for many on this tour. It dates back to the 7th century BC in certain sections and was built to protect the first unified Kingdom of China. The wall stretches for over 20,000 miles and we can enjoy a walk along part of it with our guide.

After lunch, we visit a Jade Factory, with precious jade jewellery and sculptures being carved. Next, we discover the Sacred Way. This walkway is part of the Ming Tombs complex, which contains the tombs of thirteen emperors. The road is lined with eighteen pairs of stone statues and an impressive gateway.  After the tour, we return to our hotel.

Let's uncover more on our full-day excursion to see more of Beijing's treasures, including the Summer Palace, a cruise on Kunming Lake and the Olympic Bird’s Nest Stadium. Step back in time as we enter the Summer Palace, overlooking a lake and surrounded by extensive gardens and once the destination of choice for vacationing emperors and empresses.

Next, we arrive at the Long Corridor located between the lake and hill and take a slow walk down to the lake, stopping to take photos along the way and enjoy the scenic surroundings. There will be free time to stop for lunch (not included) before we arrive at the Marble boat pier. We board our boat and cruise across Kunming Lake, enjoying the views of Longevity Hill and the Summer Palace.

After, we transfer by coach to Olympic Park and see (from outside) the unique Bird's Nest Stadium that hosted the 2008 Olympics.

This evening, we can indulge in shopping or sightseeing at our leisure. Our expert guide will be happy to offer advice and recommendations.

Join us as we discover more of Beijing's temples, with a trip to the Lama or Yonghe Temple, a Tibetan Buddist monastery. Lama Temple contains a 26 metre tall wooden statue of the Maitreya Buddha and unique bronze statues of the Buddhas of the Three Ages.

Later, we enjoy a walking tour around a traditional Hutong, an area of residential laneways and courtyards with ornate houses and gardens.

After lunch, we’ll have free time at the Sanlitun Village, a large complex of shops and restaurants. Time to shop till you drop, and maybe savour some tasty local dishes!

This morning we say farewell to Beijing and depart for Beijing Train Station. All aboard! We experience the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an on a journey taking approximately five hours.  Let’s enjoy the downtime, to read, relax and enjoy the scenery as we embark on our new adventure.

On arrival at our destination we transfer towards our hotel and along the way we will visit the Old City Wall of the Ming Dynasty, standing strong with its towers and defensive fortifications which protected Xi'an.

After checking in at our new hotel, we are free to discover more of this ancient city.  Our expert guide will be happy to tell us of places of interest to see and visit.

Uncover more ancient history with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Terracotta Army. This remarkable collection of life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses, arranged in battle formations, is a must-see for any trip to China! These figures were buried with the emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210-209 BC, to protect him in his afterlife. They were hidden until 1974, when they were discovered by local farmers.

Next, we visit another World Heritage site and Xi’an’s most famous landmark, the Wild Goose Pagoda. Built during the Tang dynasty it is one of China’s best examples of a Tang-style pagoda and has been renovated many times over the centuries.

After the excursion, let’s enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore Xi’an in our own time.

Today is free for some independent sightseeing in Xi’an. Explore the Muslim Quarter, where the great Mosque sits with its elaborate wooden arch, nine metres high and covered with glazed tiles dating back to the seventeenth century. Browse the shops for souvenirs and try some local specialities at one of the city’s many restaurants.

Also recommended is the Han Yang Lin Mausoleum, about 20km north of the city, which showcases exhibits from the Han Dynasty.  From its unique glass floor, you can view the underground exhibition hall below

We say goodbye to Xi’an and transfer to the airport for our flight to Shanghai, where we will spend the next two nights.

On arrival at Shanghai airport, we board the world's fastest train (Maglev) to the city centre, where our coach awaits us. We’ll see more, on a visit to the Jinmao Tower or the Oriental Pearl Tower,  offering unbeatable panoramic views of the bustling city.

Please note flight information and tickets will be given locally by your guide

The rest of the afternoon is free to relax, soak up the atmosphere and discover more of this electrifying destination. Our guide will be happy to tell us about the best places and attractions to see and experience.

We uncover more of this fascinating city with a visit to the beautiful Yu Garden, followed by a visit to the old town of Shanghai, the bustling Xintiandi Street and the Shikumen Open House Museum.

The afternoon is at leisure to explore Shanghai at our own pace. We can take in last-minute shopping for souvenirs in one of the huge shopping malls, photograph some of the remarkable architecture in this modern metropolis or perhaps make a visit to the Shanghai Museum, often regarded as one of the best museums in China.

Today we say farewell to our guide and the unforgettable city of Shanghai as we set off on our homeward journey.

We arrive home after our once in a lifetime China experience.