Board your fight to Beijing. Cross the Int’l Date Line.

Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China. Our tour guide will greet you at the airport arrival hall and then transfer to your luxury hotel for a good night’s rest. 

Start your city tour with a visit to the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Next sto pills p is the Forbidden City, the largest and most intact conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace ever built in the world. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, which was used by emperors to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvest during ancient times. Your welcome banquet includes the local delicacy, Peking Roast Duck. 

The highlight today is to visit the astonishing Great Wall. Much anticipated by our guests, the Great Wall serves as one of the most famous images of China. It is the only manmade object visible from the moon and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! After lunch, see skilled artisans at work at a Cloisonné Factory. Back to city, walk along the New Qianmen Street and have an outside view of the beautiful Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, both of which are national stadiums built for the 2008 Olympics. Visit one of the largest Jade Centers in Asia and learn Chinese jade culture before enjoying famous Peking Zha Jiang Mian (Handmade Noodle with special soy paste sauce and vegetables) at a Lao Beijing style restaurant. Cap off the day by watching a traditional Chinese Kung-fu Show—the Legend of Kung-Fu. 

Tour the exquisite Summer Palace (Imperial Garden), the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer resort for Dowager Cixi. A shopping visit to a Silk Carpet Shop followed by an Imperial Banquet Lunch at the Bai Family’s Courtyard Restaurant. This afternoon is at leisure. Walk on the Wang-fu-jing pedestrian street or join our optional program at your own expense: Hutong (Old Alley) Life Experience Tour by Rickshaw to see local people’s life styles and have a relaxing time at the Houhai Park ($80pp). 

Fly to Xi’an in the morning. Xian was the first Chinese city to open its doors to the world during the Tang Dynasty; it served as the Chinese capital for eleven dynasties, a period of more than 2,000 years. Upon arrival, visit the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. See the life-sized defending army to the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. This site is regarded as “the Eighth Wonder of the World” and is among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century. Stop at an Art Ceramics Factory on the way back to the city and enjoy the Imperial Dumpling Banquet Dinner and the traditional Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show in the evening.

Visit the fascinating Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum. Enjoy lunch before a visit to the Ancient City Wall, the most complete ancient city wall surviving in China. It also is one of the largest and most complete ancient military defense systems in the world. Stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter and explore the Islamic food markets. 

Fly to Shanghai. Enjoy juicy and tasty steaming dumpling Dim Sum for your lunch. In the afternoon, your city tour starts by walking along the famous Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River. Lined by the colonial architectures of European design, this area is the best place to capture the western influences of the old days. Continue on to visit the Ming Dynasty Yuyuan Garden which is considered to be one of the four greatest Chinese gardens. After a local cuisine dinner, enjoy an exciting Chinese Acrobatic Show. 

Visit the Shanghai Museum to see the ancient Chinese art, furniture and jade. After ample time admiring the numerous exhibits, visit an Emerald Exhibition Center. Enjoy your lunch at the famed Lu Bo Lang restaurant for most classic Shanghai flavors. This afternoon is at leisure. 

Free day today. You can spend your day to explore the city by yourself or join one of our optional tours: one day tour to the  best garden city of China, also called the “Oriental Venice”, Suzhou and the ancient water town Tongli ($110pp). 

Transfer to airport and fly back home.