Best of China

The prelude to your 8 days China tour starts when you meet your professional local guide at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. The driver will convey you in a comfortable vehicle to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is left for you to have a good rest or to become familiar with our capital city on your own.
 
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing - the former Sheraton

Today your memorable Beijing Xi'an Shanghai tour starts! You will meet your group members in the hotel lobby at 08:30 and have a 30-minute pre-trip meeting. Your guide will introduce herself/himself, welcome everyone, present a brief introduction to the trip and explain the guidelines that need to be followed during your tour. Please make preparations for the trip and seek this opportunity to ask questions you may have about your trip.

Then we will head to the first stop, Tiananmen Square, the biggest urban city square in the world. From there you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperors handled political affairs and lived their lives but will see numerous ancient art treasures. 

► Can't drink from the wells in the Forbidden City?
There are 72 wells inside the Forbidden City, and even more in Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD). However, the drinking water was taken from Yuquan Mountain in the suburb, more than 20 km (12.4 mi) away from the Forbidden City. The well water was just used for putting out fires primarily, and cleaning. Why? Because the well water was somewhat dirty, not for the dusts, but victims of palace intrigues. The maids or eunuchs who knew too much might be pushed down a well in the dark, and some conspirators poisoned in the wells probably. Thus, some wells were abandoned or filled soon. When visiting the Forbidden City, you can take a look at the Well of Concubine Zhen, which is famous for the concubine thrown into the well in late Qing Dynasty.

At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the most famous Peking Roast Duck.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch 

This morning we will take you to Mutianyu section to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it as it winds up and down into the boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you with a life-long memory. You will enjoy quite enough time on the wall. To celebrate and commemorate this moment, we specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall.

The restaurants nearby are not up to our serving standard, so we do not arrange lunch today. We suggest you have a hearty breakfast in the hotel and have some fast food for lunch by yourself. Our guide can show you restaurants in the vicinity. 

In the afternoon, we will drive you back to downtown and you will enjoy some free time to explore a popular local market. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

The first stop of today's itinerary is the Summer Palace - the largest existing imperial garden with a graceful landscape and magnificent constructions. If you travel in early July, summertime, lovely lotus scenery will be a delight. Then drive by the Olympic National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. You will see its unique appearance and can take photos from a distance.

Around noon, we will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy restaurant with delicious food and great atmosphere. 

In the afternoon, a trip to the old Hutongs will conclude your memorable China 8 days tour in Beijing. Taking a local rickshaw and traveling along the narrow lanes, you will be in close touch with the original Beijing lifestyle and culture. You will also have a chance to try your hand at Chinese Paper Cutting. Afterwards, your guide will see you off at the airport for the flight to Xi'an. On your arrival, your Xi'an local guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area and transfer you to the downtown area to check in at the hotel for a two-night stay.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

The visit to the magnificent Terracotta Army will start your 8 days China tour in Xi'an. In the museum, there are altogether three excavated pits exhibiting amazing warrior figures and ancient Chinese weapons. Lunch is on your own arrangement and our guide will gladly assist. 

★ Privilege of Our Guests:

► Take a Family Visit to Home of the First Discoverer of the Terracotta Army 
After the museum visit, you will have a chance to come to Mr. Yang Zhifa's home, the man who first discovered the Terracotta Army in 1974 when digging a well. You could interact with his family and visit the house. There you can see the spade he used when he accidently dug out the warriors, the wooden cart used to transport the warriors, and the replica of the first warrior that was found. If lucky enough, you will meet with Mr. Yang personally and take photos with him, since he might not be available every day for meeting visitors given his age. 

► Try to Make a Mini Terracotta Warrior by Yourself
It takes around 10 to 15 days to make a terracotta figurine replica from molds, while it takes around one month by using the ancient method in Qin Dynasty. Wonder to know how to make a terracotta figurine? Today we will take you to a traditional Chinese cave dwelling, where you will not only visit the caves in the hills, but also learn to make a mini terracotta warrior from an artisan. Since the cave is warm in winter and cool in summer, around 20 degrees all year round, it is an ideal place to make terracotta warriors. In ancient times, the artisans sealed the cave to make it as a kiln and fired the terracotta warriors that they made inside directly. You can also see a kiln there in which the terracotta warriors are fired. The artisan will explain the procedure to make a terracotta warrior and show you how to make it step by step. It is easy for you to make your own miniature warrior successfully and you can take it home, which will be an interesting and memorable experience.

In the afternoon, you will visit Xi'an Museum and then the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built about 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from ancient India. A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while partaking of the famous Dumpling Dinner.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling Dinner

The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals in the morning. There are all kinds of cultural activities including singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and playing chess. Interested in joining them? A traditional Tai Chi class will be specially arranged for you here. Tai Chi, a gentle form of Chinese martial arts, is considered the quintessential Chinese culture. After that, you will pay a visit to the City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China. Cycling on the ancient wall is an exciting experience that many people like to try (bike rental fee is at your own expense). 

You will enjoy an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) at a famous local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the airport to board the flight to Shanghai. Your local guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World

A day trip will show you the essence of Shanghai. This morning, you will visit one of the four largest museums in China, Shanghai Museum, which specializes in exhibiting art works from ancient times. After that, explore Yu Garden and its nearby traditional bazaar. The symbol of the Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion.

Around noon, an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be served to you at a very nice restaurant. 
 
In the afternoon, you will first come to experience the world's fastest elevator in Shanghai Tower. There is a modern Duoyun Bookstore on the 52nd floor, where you could take a coffee break and enjoy a wonderful panorama of this city on its viewing platform. There you can overlook the amazing scenery of Lujiazui area and Huangpu River, and also see the Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower, which are the other two landmark buildings of Shanghai.

Then wander in the prosperous Bund area and take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River, where you will appreciate the city's historical buildings on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other side. Finally, upon returning to the hotel, our guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage.  

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

After breakfast, you are free to check out from the hotel any time before 12:00 pm, and then head to the airport for your homeward flight. Your 8 days China tour package is waning to its close with wonderful memories. We suggest you reserve a taxi at the hotel reception beforehand to avoid having to wait for a taxi outside. The trip to Pudong Airport (PVG) will take about 1.5 hours and cost around CNY200. Ensure you have at least an hour drive if your flight leaves from Hongqiao Airport (SHA). The cost for the taxi there is about CNY100. Please check carefully from which airport your flight will depart. We wish you a smooth journey home.

Alternatively, should you wish to stay on rather than return home right away, we would be glad to assist you for an extension trip!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast