Day 1
Arrive in Beijing
Begin your Chinese adventure in the cultural epicentre. Arrive at your Beijing hotel and join your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception. Enjoy an evening of conviviality, featuring drinks and a selection of local appetizers, setting the tone for your upcoming journey of discovery.
Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace or similar
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
Day 2
Beijing
Explore Beijing's imperial past starting at Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public space. Journey through the south gate into the UNESCO-recognized Forbidden City, home to emperors for 500 years. Absorb its history before lunch. Visit the serene Temple of Heaven, a site of imperial rituals. Tonight, savour a regional dinner featuring Peking Duck.
Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Regional Dinner
Day 3
Beijing
Departing Beijing, we journey to the Great Wall of China at Juyongguan. From its ramparts, gaze across the countryside it protected. Imagine the wall's construction from the 5th to 16th centuries. Later, stroll the Sacred Way, lined with statues guarding the Ming Tombs, final resting places of 13 emperors.
Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Beijing
This morning, we leisurely explore Beijing's historic Hutongs by rickshaw, weaving through ancient alleyways. Experience local life with a family hosted Be My Guest lunch, savouring traditional Chinese dishes. Later, a Local Specialist demonstrates tea-making rituals at a tea house. The afternoon brings relaxation with a soothing foot massage at the Reflexology Centre.
Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 5
Beijing- Xi'an
Arriving in Xi'an, a pivotal Silk Road city, we delve into its rich history. We explore the Great Mosque, a remarkable fusion of Islamic art and Chinese architecture, established in 742 during the Tang Dynasty. This site stands as one of China's oldest, largest, and best-preserved mosques.
Accommodation: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6
Xi'an
Explore Emperor Qin Shi Huang's underground tomb, home to the UNESCO-listed terracotta army, crafted for his afterlife. Relish a traditional Chinese noodle lunch, then visit a Jade factory, understanding why this stone, esteemed by emperors, holds more value for the Chinese than gold.
Accommodation: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Xi'an- Shanghai
Choose between a T’ai Chi session with a Local Specialist or a cycling tour around Xi'an's ancient City Wall this morning. Then, Dive into Culture at a local restaurant, learning the art of dumpling making and savouring these delights for lunch. Later, fly to Shanghai and ascend the 88-storey Jinmao Tower for breathtaking city views.
Accommodation: The Kunlun Jing'An Shanghai or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8
Shanghai
Walk along Shanghai's iconic Bund with a Local Specialist, marvelling at the early 20th-century colonial architecture. Discover its transformation from marshland to major trading hub. Explore Old Shanghai's bustling streets and markets, revealing preserved customs and lifestyles. After free time in the Old Town, visit a silk museum, and later, enjoy a performance by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.
Accommodation: The Kunlun Jing'An Shanghai or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9
Shanghai
Explore Shanghai, the 'Paris of the East,' at your leisure. Shop for exquisite Chinese ceramics or opt for a trip to Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town. Stroll through its historic streets, cross stone bridges, and see ancient buildings, including a Qing Dynasty post office. Enjoy free time and a Farewell Dinner with your group.
Accommodation: The Kunlun Jing'An Shanghai or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Day 10
Shanghai
Your China journey comes to a close, take a transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward or homebound flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
