Day 1
Shanghai
Upon arrival in China, you will enjoy a quick welcome meeting at 6pm, before having the evening to explore as you please. This is a great time to experience this vibrant city.
Day 2
Shanghai
Your day will begin with a guided walking tour of Shanghai. First, the tour will transform you back to the 1920’s with the Bund’s art deco buildings, before hopping on the subway and finishing at the Yuyuan Gardens – a wonderful way to see traditional Chinese landscape gardening.
We’d suggest spending the afternoon exploring the nongtangs (narrow winding lanes) of the city. They’ll take you to the French Concession, an area once designated to the French, including the Luwan and Xuhui Districts, as well as the bustling shopping street of Huaihai Road. Finish up at Xintiandi and Tianzifang – two popular dining and shopping spots for travellers, before heading back to the hotel for a group dinner.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3
Luoyang
In the morning, you will have some free time to have a lie in or explore some more. Then, you will board your afternoon train to Luoyang, which will take 6 hours.
Breakfast included.
Day 4
Shaolin – Luoyang
At around 7am, you will arrive in Luoyang, where you will transfer to the hotel for a quick refresh, or head straight to Shaolin. After a three-hour trip, you will arrive at Shaolin temple – the famous birthplace of Kung Fu. A Kung Fu performance and a wander through the beautiful Pagoda Forest makes this a day to remember.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 5
Longmen – Xi’an
The morning will begin with a three-hour drive to the Longmen Grottoes, where you will spend time exploring this impressive attraction. 2,100 caves are filled with more than 100,000 statues of Buddha, some of which date back to the 4th century, and showcase the intricate art of Buddhist rock carving. You’ll spend the morning experiencing this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a local guide, before hopping on a two-hour bullet train to Xi’an for a delicious group meal at the Muslim Quarter.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6
Xi’an
Today you will get the chance to visit Xi’an’s famous site, the Terracotta Warriors. After a two-hour bus, you will explore this amazing archaeological discovery that depicts the armies of Qin Shi Huang with a number of clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots. The day will include a local lunch nearby.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 7
Xian - Xiahe
Today is nother Bullet train experience with a 3 hour journey to Lanzhou and then transferring to the train to Xiahe, a place of pilgrimage for many Tibetans.
Please note that Xiahe has an altitude of 2,800-2,900m above sea level, which may cause altitude sickness.
Day 8
Xiahe
Today you will explore the interesting Labrang Monastery, where you can watch Tibetan monks go about their daily lives. If the weather is good, you will venture to the grasslands for lunch with a Tibetan family, or you’ll visit a local family home for your meal. The afternoon will be free to spend as you wish.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 9
Xian - Beijing
This is a travel day, as you make your way back to Beijing, starting with a 4 hour drive to Lanzhou and then a flight to Beijing.There are some brilliant optional activities you could enjoy, including a Kung Fu show, a foodie tour, a bike tour, or the Lama Temple (all at an additional cost).
Breakfast included.
Day 10
Beijing – Great Wall
Day 11 will present you with a cool bucket list moment. Your visit to the famous Great Wall of China will see you exploring the Mutianyu section, adorned with guard towers that date back to the Ming dynasty. Choose to either walk or catch a cable car to the wall, and then choose to walk or take a toboggan back down. We love the toboggan!
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 11
Beijing
The impressive Forbidden City awaits you today. The former home of China’s imperial rulers, this eclectic location is abundant in beautiful palaces, gardens and courtyards. The historic Tiananmen Square – one of the world’s most expansive downtown squares - is also on the agenda, as well as wandering along hutongs (narrow streets and alleys) on a guided tour. The evening will be spent tucking into a divine farewell dinner – we’d recommend trying the sumptuous Beijing duck.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 12
Beijing
Today marks the end of your tour. You can depart at any time.
Breakfast included.
