Duration: 8 days and 7 nights

Description: China, today, is a marvelous mix of constant urban development with awe-inspiring ancient traditions. If the opening ceremony to the Olympics in 2008 didn’t give you an idea enough about the rich culture and modernization that this country embodies, your holiday here most certainly will. From the huge business districts of Shanghai to the terracotta warriors of Xian, China has a lifetime’s worth of memories to offer against an epic landscape of rural agricultural fields and grasslands. China, essentially, is everything you ever hoped for in a developing country.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing
Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
The rest of your day will be free to acclimatize yourself to the amazing urban phenomenon that China is today.
Beijing: With its colossal flyovers and epic imperial grandeur, it’s only fitting that Beijing is the official stronghold of Communist China. From enormous communist monuments to remnants of past temples, Beijing has a history unmatched by any other capital city the world over. Of course, no visit to the capital is ever complete without a taste of the Peking duck or China’s mouthwatering cuisine.

Day 2: Beijing.
Your one-day tour of the capital city covers Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden city and the Temple of Heaven.
Tiananmen Square: This large city square, named after the Gate of Heavenly peace (Tiananmen Gate) is the site of much cultural significance from the days of the Ming Dynasty to later communist China.
Forbidden City: Forbidden, not literally, this city at the heart of Beijing is one of China’s largest best-preserved complexes of ancient buildings. The Forbidden City is, today, known as the Imperial Palace Museum.
Temple of Heaven: Dating back to the 15th century, the Temple of Heaven was the center of prayer and sacrificial ceremonies.

Day 3: Beijin-Xian
This morning, take a trip to see the iconic Juyongguang Great Wall and Summer Palace. Stop over at the National Stadium that hosted the 2008 Olympics, the Birds Nest, and Water cube on your way back to the hotel.
Later that evening, board the overnight train to Xian. Dinner onboard at your preference.
Juyongguang Great Wall: The closest section, of the Great Wall, to Beijing, the Juyongguang Great Wall protects a natural pass through the mountains. Complete with lush foliage, this part of the Great Wall also features a ‘Cloud Platform’ with a temple and other attractions close by.
Summer Palace: A horticulturalist’s delight, the Summer Palace is China’s largest and best preserved imperial garden; a virtual museum of traditional Chinese garden arts.

Day 4: Xian
Start your morning by arriving, after a comfortable train ride, at Xian.
Explore the Big Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall and Provincial Museum thereafter.
Xian: The fabled beginning and end of the Silk Road, Xian used to be one of the epicenters of early Chinese culture and trade. Overflowing with ancient history, this valley city has numerous museums and sites depicting its glorious past. From the renowned Terracotta Warriors to the Muslim Quarter and the City Walls, Xian is a modern city with reflections of magnificent antiquity.
Big Goose Pagoda: The Big Goose Pagoda is Xian’s most famous landmark, supposedly completed in 652 AD to house Buddhist sutras that were brought back from India by the monk Xuan Zang.
Ancient City Wall: One of the few cities in China that still has standing old city walls, the 12-m high walls that surround Xian have been rebuilt in certain parts so that it is now possible to walk or cycle the entirety of the wall.
Provincial Museum: The Shaanxi Museum is one of China’s best, with ancient exhibits and explanations in English that take you through the fascinating history of ancient Xian.

Day 5: Xian
Spend your day visiting the Archeological Museum with the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses as well as the Banpo Neolithic Museum. Later that evening, witness the splendid Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 6: Xian-Shanghai
Take the morning flight from Xian to Shanghai.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, tour the Bund and a silk factory.
Shanghai: The ever-changing metropolis of Shanghai is second to none the world over with its rapid urban development and soaring high-rise buildings. Imperial gardens and ancient civilizations are just faint memories of an ancient past, with fancy tree-lined neighborhoods rubbing shoulders with the fascinating skyline of Pudong. Tucked away from public view is old Shanghai with temples, street markets and Chinese gardens. A stunning city of contrasts, your time at Shanghai could be spent with tea and dumplings, gazing at the 10th century Buddhist monastery, or sipping a cocktail at one of the numerous designer bars that overlook the Bund.

Day 7: Shanghai
Spend your day discovering the second most famous city that China has to offer the world, Shanghai. Today’s city tour takes you to the Yuyuan Garden and the new district of Pudong.
A visit to Nanjing Road after lunch reinforces everything you could ever imagine about modern-day Shanghai.
Yuyuan Garden: This garden with glittering pools filled with carp, pavilions and terraces, is a fine example of classic Ming garden design. With fragrant spring and summer blossoms, the Yuyuan Garden is one of Shanghai’s finest tourist sights.
Pudong: A fairly new district across the Bund, Pudong has to be visited if anything, just to experience firsthand sights and sounds of the booming economy that China is today.
Nanjing Road: One of the world’s busiest shopping streets, Shanghai’s Nanjing Road attracts thousands of shopaholics the world over with its splendid night scene and bustling trade beating a perfect pulse of modern Shanghai.

Day 8: Departure
You will be taken to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in time for your return flight home.