Modern Shanghai & Chengdu’s Giant Pandas

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a bullet train to Beijing in 2^nd class seats. Arrive in Beijing, the enormous capital of China, famed for its ancient sites such as the iconic Forbidden City, and as being the gateway to some of the most visited portions of the Great Wall. Transfer to the hotel. In the evening, we recommend an optional Peking Duck Dinner and tour.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

* Optional Peking Duck Dinner & Tour: Enjoy an evening of traditional Chinese food. 

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, enjoy a tour of the fantastic Temple of Heaven, a religious complex used by the emperors of the Quing and Ming dynasties. Here you have the opportunity to watch the locals practising Tai Chi in the tranquil surroundings. Afterwards, visit a local Pearl Factory for a fascinating insight into the production of these precious jewels. Return to the hotel and spend the afternoon at your leisure. We recommend an optional Hutong Tour.* In the evening, you have the opportunity to indulge in an evening of Kung Fu.** Overnight stay in Beijing. 

* Optional excursion to Shichahai Hutong: Hop on a rickshaw, the most popular form of transportation in recent years, and visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower from the outside before stepping into one of the local Siheyuan courtyard houses to learn about Chinese paper cutting. Enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family and finally take advantage of the shopping on Wangfujing street.

** Optional Kung Fu Show: Admire the intricacies of this martial art as you enjoy a professional show. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an exciting excursion to the best-preserved section of the Great Wall of China. The Juyongguan section is the most visited part of the wall and is the best representation of the former splendour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of unimaginable length, the wall can be seen from space. On the way, admire the countryside and stop at an impressive Jade Workshop, where artisans work with this precious stone. Arrive at the Great Wall where you have time to learn about the history of the wall and enjoy walking on this ancient relic of the past. On the way back to Beijing, visit a traditional Chinese Medicine factory. Return to Beijing and stop at the famous Olympic Park, where you can admire the beautifully architected Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Transfer to the hotel. We recommend an optional Golden Mask Show, a beautiful cultural performance.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

* Optional Golden Mask Show: Set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells the story of a queen, who wears a golden mask, and creates a splendid dynasty. It is a fabulous insight into China's history and arts. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Beijing at your leisure, visiting the sights or delving into the fabulous cuisine. Alternatively, we recommend an optional excursion to Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City* Overnight stay in Beijing.

* Optional Full Day Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City Excursion: Explore the iconic Tiananmen Square to then head to the Forbidden City, an impressive palace complex and home to the former Imperial Chinese Palace for the years spanning from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. It is the world's most visited attractions and showcases immaculate Chinese design and architecture. Also, visit the Tea House to then admire the enigmatic Summer Palace.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station for an exciting Bullet Train journey to Xi'an. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Afterwards, visit the Muslim Quarter of the city and enjoy some time to explore the area, soaking up the history and culture. Return to the hotel. We recommend an optional Tang Dynasty Show for an evening of entertainment.* Overnight stay in Xi'an.

* Optional Tang Dynasty Show: Enjoy the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with fabulous music and dancing from the era of the Tang Dynasty, China's golden age. The show is a unique way to get to know the historical culture of the ancient city of Xi'an. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover one of China's most iconic sights as you enjoy a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Approximately 8,000 sculpted figures were buried alongside Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, and today you can see this once in a lifetime sight for yourself. Each figure is impressively crafted and unique. Be blown away by the intricacy and the sheer number of the figures as you learn about their significance. Also visit the local Terracotta Factory and the Yanyuan Art Museum, to learn about the ancient art of Chinese Calligraphy, and even try it out for yourself. In the evening we recommend a night tour of the Old City Wall and the Wild Goose Pagoda.* Overnight stay in Xi'an.

* Optional Old City Wall & Wild Goose Pagoda Night-Tour: Experience the atmosphere of old Xi'an at night. Visit the impressive Old City Wall and the mighty Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the reign of the Tang dynasty (no entrances included). End the evening at the Musical Fountain, for an unforgettable light and water show.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a Bullet Train to Chengdu in 2^nd class seats. Arrive and transfer directly to Panda Base, home to the iconic and elusive giant pandas, one of the most endangered animals in the world. Here, you may be lucky enough to watch the pandas in the huge outdoor enclosures. After getting up close to these beautiful creatures, head to the Panda Museum to learn about these endangered animals. Next, enjoy a visit to the Shu Embroidery Museum, for an insight into one of China's most prestigious traditions of embroidery. Transfer to the hotel and in the evening we recommend an optional Sichuan Opera Show.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

* Optional Sichuan Opera Show: Enjoy a vibrant and colourful evening of entertainment. The Sichuan Opera involves a multitude of colourful masks, costumes and traditional performing arts. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Chengdu, walking along the riverside, delving into the stretching history of the city, which stretches back to the 4th-century BC, or sampling the local cuisine. We recommend an optional excursion to Huanglongxi Ancient Town & Leshan Big Buddha.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

* Optional Full Day Excursion to Huanglongxi & Leshan Big Buddha: First, visit Huanglongxi Ancient Town, home to more than 1700 years of history. Here you can explore old Chinese culture and customs and soak up the beautiful natural landscapes. Continue to Leshan to visit the famous Leshan Big Buddha, the largest sitting stone Buddha in the world at 71 metres high. Situated on the banks of the Dadu River, walkways enable you to get up close to the Buddha. On the way back to Chengdu, stop at a local Tea Plantation. End the day with a delicious Hot Pot Dinner. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the galleries, museums and historical monuments of Chengdu. We recommend a full-day excursion to Dujiangyan and the Sichuan Cuisine Museum.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

* Optional Full Day tour to Dujiangyan & Sichuan Cuisine Museum: Embark on an exciting tour of the ancient Dujiangyan waterworks, an impressive feat of engineerings and construction, still used today to control flooding on the Min River and to irrigate the arid regions around Chengdu. It helped to boost Sichuan to a successful and prosperous province. Afterwards, head to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum to taste and cook classic dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken. 

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flght to Shanghai*. Upon arriving to your destination, transfer to the hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure; take this time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Overnight stay in Shanghai.

* The time of departure will only be confirmed 1 month prior to the start of your trip. The departure usually takes place between 8:30 and 13:30.