Welcome to Beijing! When you arrive at the airport, your local guide will be there to meet you and take you to the hotel. Your guide will provide you with background on Beijing and the itinerary for the rest of your trip on your way to the hotel. Feel free to take it easy or go on an adventure for the rest of the day. Your hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city, making it easy to explore on foot.

Today is a day to travel back in time and marvel at Chinese imperial history, as you will spend the majority of your time at the Forbidden City - the Ming and Qing Dynasties Treasure.

You'll be picked up from the hotel lobby by your guide and driven to the Forbidden City. Before entering the Forbidden City, you will have the opportunity to explore Tiananmen Square. With your experienced guide by your side, you can learn the history of the Forbidden City's intricate architecture and ornamentation. Even if you're not normally into history, you'll find that you're drawn in.

Later that day, you'll journey to the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors offered sacrifices and prayed for a bountiful crop. In addition to the impressive architecture, the area is frequented by locals for sport and recreation.

Today's Highlights: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Take a private transfer out of the city this morning for about a 2-hour drive to the scenic Mutianyu Great Wall. The recommended stretch is approximately 1.4 miles long and features 22 watchtowers.

A cable car takes you to the top, where you can walk along the wall and take in the stunning panorama of the winding Great Wall and distant mountains. Eat at one of the great neighborhood eateries. Next, you'll head to the Ming Imperial Tombs along the Sacred Road.

Today's Highlights: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Imperial Tombs

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Then you will visit the Summer Palace in northwest Beijing. This iconic site, which was once an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1998 for its masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. If the weather permits, take a boat ride on Kunming Lake.

Afterward, you'll be driven to the railway station to catch a high-speed train to Xi'an (around 5 hours). When you arrive in Xi'an, your local guide will greet you and take you to your hotel for the night.

Today's Highlights: Summer Palace

Today's highlight is the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. These life-size soldiers, discovered in 1974, are among the most significant images of Chinese heritage. You'll be astounded by the sheer number of warriors when you enter the exhibition hall. Looking afar, all the warriors may appear to be the same, but each warrior has distinct facial features and styles up close. This is incredible!

Follow your private guide to learn about the Terra-cotta Army's history. Then, you'll go to the Great Mosque, one of China's largest Islamic mosques. Your tour will conclude in the bustling Muslim Quarter, where you can observe local Muslim life and try some authentic local cuisine.

Today's Highlights: Terracotta Warriors, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter

You will explore the City Wall this morning, one of China's largest and best-preserved walls. If you're interested, you can try riding a bike on it. Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and take a calligraphy class there.

After that, be transferred to the railway station, where you will board a high-speed train to Chengdu. Your guide will meet you at the train station and transport you to your downtown hotel.

Today's Highlights: City Wall, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Calligraphy Class

Travel to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early in the morning to minimize crowding; moreover, the pandas are most active around this time. The pandas may be seen eating breakfast, climbing trees, and rolling on the ground.

Later, go to Chengdu's Wenshu Temple. Sipping a cup of traditional Chinese tea in a tea house will allow you to feel the city's slower pace of life. Before returning to the hotel, take one more look at Jinli Old Street.

Today's Highlights: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Wenshu Temple, Jinli Old Street

Enjoy some free time before being transferred to the airport for your flight to the metropolis of Shanghai. When you arrive, the local tour guide will greet you and take you to your hotel.

Begin your Shanghai exploration at the Shanghai Museum, which houses a vast collection of ancient Chinese bronzes, paintings, ceramics, sculptures, etc. Immerse yourself in ancient art before visiting the Yu Garden, which was constructed during the Ming Dynasty (16th century). After that, take a stroll through the tree-lined alleys of the Former French Concession to get a sense of the city's colonial history and modern life. Then, you'll arrive at the Bund, a city landmark with hints of old Shanghai glamour from the 1920s. End today's tour at the Shanghai Tower for a bird's-eye view of the city's skyscrapers near the Huangpu River.

Today's Highlights: Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Former French Concession, The Bund, Shanghai Tower

Enjoy some free time before your guide and driver escort you to the airport for your flight home. If you prefer to spend more time in the city, please let us know, and our travel experts will adjust the itinerary to your specifications.