On arrival into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), you will be met by your dedicated tour guide outside the baggage claim area. On the way to your pre-booked four or five star inner city hotel, your guide will point out the highlights and history of Beijing. Spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.

Meals included: None

After breakfast today explore Beijing with your guide who will collect you from the hotel. Visit the world’s largest city square, Tiananmen Square. Make your way across the road to the magnificent Forbidden City, a culturally historic landmark in China, which was the former residence of Chinese royalty and courtiers for five centuries. After the Forbidden City tour, exploration continues with a visit to the Summer Palace. Appreciate the beautiful gardens and imagine the lifestyle of royalty and courtiers who enjoyed this summer resort during imperial times. A stopover at Beijing’s stadium and pool – the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube – built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – provides a modern contrast to China’s ancient history. Return to the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Note: Your tour guide may adjust your itinerary due to closure of the Forbidden City each Monday.

In the morning, commence the day’s adventure with exploration of the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less frequented part of China’s 1,400-year-old iconic landmark, located approximately 70 kilometres from Beijing. Take a pleasant and comfortable round-trip cable car transfer over the picturesque scenery, then walk the wall to take in the Ming dynasty guard towers and sensational views. On return to the city in the afternoon, exploration continues with a visit to the Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. Stroll through the hutongs nearby and experience local life as you wander through quaint shops, enjoy a coffee, and gain an insider’s view of a real Beijing community.

Meals included: Breakfast

Start today with a visit to the remarkable Temple of Heaven, where emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties performed ceremonies and rituals to pray for good harvests and blessings for the country. Watch locals as they practice Tai Chi, sing, and dance while others practice water calligraphy. Farewell Beijing at the Beijing West railway station where your guide will assist with check in for the bullet train trip to Pingyao. On arrival in Pingyao, your local tour guide will be there to meet you and escort you to your inner city four or five star hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, your guide will collect you from the hotel and take you to Rishengchang Draft Bank, recognized as the forerunner to China’s modern bank. Preserved in its original style, it creates a clear image of how banking operated in previous eras. Take a leisurely walk along Ming and Qing Street to sample street food snacks, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the traditional architecture of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue the day’s exploration with a visit to the Tongxinggong Escort Agency and learn how the armed escort service operated in ancient Chinese dynasties and supported the Pingyao County Government for over 600 years. Depending on the timing, you may catch an old Court Trial re-enactment. Finally, climb the Ancient City Wall dating from 1370 and take in the fabulous views of the ancient town.

Meals included: Breakfast

Start your day with a one hour drive to the Wang Family Mansion, a grand Qing-dynasty residential compound which took over half a century to complete. Follow your guide through seemingly endless courtyards and marvel at the elaborate and unique architectural design. Ascend to the very top of the wall where the view provides the true perspective of the mansion’s size. Move on to the 1400-year-old Shuanglin Temple where you’ll be surrounded by the smell of incense as you explore the exquisite collection of more than 2000 colored sculptures and wall paintings that vividly depict how Sakyamuni (Buddha) achieved enlightenment. In the afternoon, your guide will escort you to the railway station for your bullet train ride to Xi’an. After being met by your guide and driven to your hotel, enjoy free time or rest before the next day’s activities.

Meals included: Breakfast

Today’s tour highlight is the world-renowned Terracotta Army. Recognized as the largest underground military base in the world, take in this extraordinary archaeological discovery, which houses thousands of unique life-sized figures. Return to the city and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two iconic Buddhist pagodas in Xi’an. You may have a chance to explore the top of the pagoda and look out over Xi’an’s 1,400 years of history, before enjoying a contemplative walk through the temple and gardens. Continue on and take in the quiet of Xi’an’s Great Mosque, located in the middle of the city’s old block. Built mid seventh century, the Great Mosque is the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in China. Mix with locals and find food of every flavor in Muslim Quarter, which is bustling with authentic eateries and travel souvenirs. Today’s final destination is Xi’an’s famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening or book a dinner, show, or both for an evening of entertainment.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast and check out from your hotel, the tour guide will take you to Xi’an’s ancient City Wall, currently the largest and best-preserved wall of its type in China. Enclosing China’s former capital city and almost 14 kilometers long, enjoy your free time by exploring on foot or bicycle. Following on from the morning’s activities, you’ll be driven to the Xi’an airport for your flight check in to Shanghai. On arrival in Shanghai, your local guide will meet you and transfer to your hotel, providing a brief introduction to Shanghai on the way.

Meals included: Breakfast

Commence your tour of Shanghai with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, a massive museum housing over 140,000 artifacts, presenting the full history and culture of this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a walk along The Bund, iconic and prestigious, one of the most well-preserved examples of old Shanghai glamour. Walk Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping precinct in China. Change tempo and visit Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the artistically designed traditional Chinese gardens; then stroll around the nearby Yu Garden Bazaars. Make the most of your afternoon by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession, where you will find the essence of classic Shanghai.

Meals included: Breakfast

Note: As the Shanghai Museum is closed to public on Mondays, a visit to the Shanghai History Museum is arranged as an alternative.

Check out from the hotel and end your tour with a private transfer to the railway station or airport for your departing train trip or flight.

For small group tour travelers, a transfer service from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport can be arranged on request.

Meals included: Breakfast