8 Days China At Glance
Ni hao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China. On arrival, our private driver will transfer you to your hotel. Checking into your accommodation and you will have the rest of the day to relax, or if desire and time permits, you will be taken to explore the 798 Art District, a former industrial area that has been transformed to a neighborhood with shops and galleries with works by both established and budding artists. Overnight in Beijing.
After your heaty breakfast at hotel you will begin your day with a visit to the Tia’anmen Square, the symbol of new China and the largest city square in the world where the ancient imperial palaces with 500 years history have been best-preserved and well-kept. You will get inside to watch close-up the impressive Hidden Halls to understand deeply of the history. Stop over at a local restaurant to sample your luch with the famous Peking Duck. Watch the exquisite cutting skills of the chef, taste crispy duck skin, and learn how to eat it in the correct way. After lunch, you’ll be chauffeured around traditional hutongs in a pedicab, or rickshaw. Hutongs are narrow alleys with stone shophouses and courtyard mansions, best explored at a leisurely rickshaw pace. Finish with a calligraphy lesson, taking time to appreciate the meditative qualities of this ancient art. Return to your hotel and you will stay in Beijing tonight.
Breakfast at your hotel. A sightseeing tour in China would not be complete without a trip to the Great Wall and today we will head North of Beijing to visit the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, one of the less crowded and best preserved sections of the over 10,000-mile-long wall. You have the opportunity to hike along this amazing UNESCO-designated monument with your private tour guide. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall before heading back to Beijing. After lunch, we will visit the Temple of Heaven, a sacrificial altar built in the Ming Dynasty. This UNESCO World Heritage site features the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests – a three-gabled wooden building constructed without nails. You may arrive early to see the locals practicing martial arts and doing other activities that you may never see in your country. An option to visit the Summer Palace and enjoy sunset views over Kunming Lake. Overnight in Beijing.
Breakfast at your hotel and you will be transferred to the airport or train station to take a flight/hi-speed train ride to Xi’An, home to several historic landmarks and the last city on the Silk Road. Upon arrival you will see the Muslim Quarter with its teeming markets and 14th-century Great Mosque; a blend of classic Chinese temple architecture and central Asian embellishments make it one of the most fascinating sites in Xian. Finish your day with a dumpling-making demonstration followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Xi’An.
Breakfast at hotel and today you will be accompanied by an experienced tour guide to explore the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, built by the first Emperor of China in the third century BC, another UNESCO-listed site. After touring the mausoleum, head back to Xian, where you can ride a bicycle around the city walls, more than 50 feet wide in places. Enjoy lunch before heading to the impressive Shaanxi Museum and the towering Wild Goose Pagoda. Return to your hotel, with time to relax. Overnight in Xi’An.
Breakfast at hotel and today you will continue your journey south with a flight to Shanghai, located on China’s central coast, is the country’s biggest city and a global financial hub, and begin with a historic tour of the city’s Art Deco architecture. Met by a local tour guide on arrival and you will be taken to hotel in the city centre. Checking in to your accommodation and relax for a while. Later, set off on a guided walking tour of the Bund, the famous waterfront area where magnificent views of the skyline await. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Shanghai.
Breakfast at hotel and today is spent with an interesting day tour to see the best of Shanghai. You will visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its picturesque pavilions and streams, and stroll in Old Town. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the French Concession Area, popular for its cafés, tree-lined avenues and Tudor houses. Next you’ll pay a visit to Shanghai Museum where you will see a rare collection of Chinese art and antiquities, spanning more than 5,000 years. Tonight, attend a performance by acrobats, experiencing thrilling feats of strength and extraordinary athleticism from your seats. Return to hotel. Overnight in Shanghai.
