Discover China

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing. Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred straight to the hotel. Your tour begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in your hotel lobby where your guide will go over more details about your trip including meeting up with your guides in each city. After that, you will take an orientation walk followed by a Beijing Duck dinner.

Beijing

There will be a lot of walking today as well as using the subway to get around some of Beijing’s most famous sights. Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares, is home to the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From here enter the Forbidden City (built 1406-1420), the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for more than 500 years. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
After the Forbidden City, we will stroll through the alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyards known by Hutong and experience the local lifestyle of old Beijing.

Beijing / Jinshanling / Gubeikou

We leave in the early morning for the Great Wall at Jinshanling. You will hike 8km (4.7 miles) on the mostly paved ground though there are a few stretches of unrestored pathways with stairs and steep gradients. Along this route, you will see both original and restored sections of the Wall and enjoy the classic postcard views of watchtowers snaking across the mountain so keep your camera handy.
Then we will head to a local farmer’s house in time for a dumpling dinner. Your host will explain and show you how to make this famous and traditional meal, sharing the culture behind the food.
After dinner, we will drive on for 45 minutes to Gubei Water Town where you will spend the night. The water town surrounds the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir and possesses an old-fashioned simplicity and elegance. River channels are scattered between streets and rows of old residential houses. When night falls, the town presents a tranquil and cozy atmosphere.

Gubeikou / Beijing / Xi’an

Spend the morning strolling around the ancient town, a unique experience. The town is characterized by the northern architectural style, and the history and culture of the late Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911) and the Republic of China (1912 -1949) historic period. Most buildings are reconstructed the courtyard style. Return to Beijing in time for a fast train to Xi’an (5.5 hours).

Visit The Terracotta Warriors & Big Wild Goose Pagoda

This morning set off to visit the Terracotta Warriors. Marvel at this incredible archaeological find, discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well, after being buried for 2,000 years. Three main pits are open for you to view, where just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors –each individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expression –stand in battle formation. After lunch in a local village visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Once, the pagoda held Buddhist relics and classics brought from India by the hierarch Xuan Zang. If you are lucky you may catch a fantastic musical fountain show in the temples’ north square.

Xi'an / Shanghai

Today’s adventure starts with a cycling tour on the ancient City Wall. This is the most significant and best-preserved city wall extant in China, running over 8 miles around Xi’an. Then we will take a walk around the popular Muslim quarter and stroll through the narrow streets dotted with small shops, markets, and restaurants.
In the afternoon take a flight to Shanghai (2.5 hours), arriving late afternoon, in time for an orientation walk.

Shanghai

Today’s walking tour will take you back in time. The first stop is the City God’s Temple area; a folk temple neighboring Yuyuan Garden. It originated as the Jinshan God Temple, dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan or "Gold
Mountain", an island off the coast of Shanghai and was converted into a City God Temple in 1403. Its popularity turns the surrounding area into a large pedestrian area hosting an array of shops, restaurants, and teahouses, as well as annual temple fair events. Yuyuan Garden is an extensive ancient garden with Ming and Qing architectural styles. Later, stroll along the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of old Shanghai where you get a real glimpse into the locals’ daily life. Shanghai Museum is a highlight of the tour. The museum design is in keeping with Feng Shui principles. It houses a great permanent collection and hosts various exhibitions with over 120,000 pieces. In the evening, explore the Bund -a spectacular array of Art Deco buildings lining what was once the most important financial street in Asia.

Day trip to Suzhou

It’s about 40 minutes journey from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train. Our tour starts with a visit to the Master of Nets Garden. This is one of four famous gardens in Suzhou and the one with the most artistic features and cultural aspects. Originating in the C12thit was restored in the C18thas the private home of a retired official and is particularly celebrated for its use of space and a labyrinth of courtyards which give the illusion of a much greater area.

From here continue to the ancient riverside pedestrian street, Shantang Street. Enjoy the fascinating scenery of small arched bridges, wooden boats, numerous old residences, and shops on the bustling street. After lunch, take a leisurely walk along the Grand Canal to explore the life of Suzhou locals. You will see not only the typical architectural elements of a China water town but also the daily life of the Suzhou people. Later make the short trip back to Shanghai by bullet train (40 minutes).

Shanghai (Departure)

Today is your last day in Shanghai. There are no activities planned but depending on the time of your outbound flight you can spend the day exploring more of the busy city or indulging in the many cuisines that can be found here. A private transfer to the airport is included.