Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival (No Meal)

   Upon arrival in Beijing, local driver will hold a welcome sign with your name on waiting for you at the exit. Then Transfer to the hotel. The Rest of the Day will be free at your own exploration.

   Accommodation:Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Mutianyu Great Wall, Changling Mausoleum (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: Around 6:30-7:30, the guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby (if your hotel is beyond the 2nd ring road of Beijing city, please come to the appointed downtown place to meet the group).  The first stop today is Changling, one of the Thirteen Ming Tombs. Changlingis the tomb of the 2nd Emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di and his Empress Xu. It is regarded as the grandest one among the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing.

   Then, pay a short visit of Jade Carving Factory (about 45 mins). The jade carving is very famous special local product with a long history of Chinese traditional culture, you will opportunity to purchase some fine products here.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After simple lunch, visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most famous and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Built along steep ridges, green, densely wooded deep valleys, Mutianyu Great Wall boasts spectacular view with less crowded visitors than the most popular Badaling Great Wall. If you want to reach the highest point, cable car is available and it is optional (at your own expense).

   Later on, take a short stop at the Chinese Traditional Silk Shop where you will learn the silk culture of China and have chance to buy some good silk if you like it.  At last you will be transferred back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing -Xian by Overnight Train
   Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City , Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our guide will meet you at hotel lobby at confirmed time. The first stop is Tian’anmen Square, the largest downtown city square in the world. And the square held the founding ceremony of new China in Oct 1st, 1949. Continue walking you will arrive at entry of Forbidden City which used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. 24 emperors used to live in here. As the world’s largest and best-preserved wooden structured palace complex, Forbidden City is listed among the top five palaces in the world.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Then pay a short visit to Silk Market and head to Temple of Heaven. It’s a place where emperors went each year at fixed day to worship for heaven and pray for agricultural harvest. Surrounding Temple of Heaven there are a few other buildings built in the past to prepare item needing for worshiping and prayer. Then you will enjoy lunch and pay a short visit to a Pearl Market. After that, continue the tour to Summer Palace. It is the largest existed imperial garden in China.

   Ending the tour here and you will be escorted to train station for  overnight train to Xian.

   Accommodation: Soft sleeper overnight train (4 berths sharing 1 cabin)

   

4. Day 4: Xian
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Banpo Museum ( Lunch)

   AM: Upon your morning arrival to Xian train station, our local guide will meet you at the exit. After collection, start the group tour to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum will surprise you with thousands of life-size soldiers and horses. On the way to Terracotta Warriors, we will have a short stop at a Terracotta Figures Factory where you will learn about the process of making figures and appreciate some fine artworks. There are also souvenirs like mini warriors if you are interested.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, you will head to the Banpo Museum. It is a tribal residential ruin from 6000 years ago. Here you will witness the housing ruins, daily-use articles, production tools, burial system and art facts of the primary tribe. After the whole day’s tour you will be escorted back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

5. Day 5: Xian - Shanghai by Overnight Train
   Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, Xian Museum, North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square & Muslim Street (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at hotel lobby at confirmed time. First you will be escorted to Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area. The whole scenic area looks like an ancient Chinese garden and you will also have an opportunity to visit the Xian Museum beside the Pagoda. Then we will drive to visit North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Strolling along the square, you will find all buildings are built with Tang Dynasty architecture style.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, we head to 600 years old City Wall. It was built in the Ming Dynasty as the military defensive system. Now it become a necklace circled the inner city of Xian. Optional Activity of the City Wall can be renting a bike and cycling along the Wall. The last stop is Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square & Muslim Quarter where you will have a outlook view of the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower and try many local snacks.

   Finally you will be transferred to Xian Train station for overnight train to Shanghai .

   Accommodation:Soft sleeper overnight train (4 berths sharing 1 cabin)

   

6. Day 6: Shanghai
   Jade Buddha Temple, People Square, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, The Bund, French Concession, Xin Tian Di (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at train station. The first stop is Jade Buddha Temple. This more than 100-year-old temple was built to keep two jade Buddha statues brought back from Burma by a monk named Huigen. Then you will pay a short visit to a Fresh Water Pearl Gallery to appreciate some fine pearl artworks what you can purchase as souvenirs if you have interest. Afterwards, you will stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. Next, you will head to Shanghai Museum which houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, you will move to Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden which was originally built by the owner Mr. Pan as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Then you will wander around Shanghai Old Street which combines sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and cultural exhibition. The next stop is the Bund. You will admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful Huangpu River, and listen to your guide explaining its history. After a leisure walk at the Bund, you will visit a Silk Factory to see how the silk is processed. It’s also a popular souvenir for people who wants to bring some gifts for families and friends. Then you will visit former French Concession, a perfect place to learn the history of Shanghai from 1849 to 1943. The last stop of today is Xin Tian Di, a walking street converted based on the old Shikumen building district where you can find nice bars, cafes and square. After the tour ends, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel for a good rest.

   Accommodation: Shanghai

   

7. Day 7: Shanghai - Suzhou - Zhouzhuang by Car
   Net Master Garden, City Wall, Grand Canal, Zhouzhuang Ancient Town (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our tour guide will meet you at hotel lobby at confirmed time and start ancient water town tour. You will drive for about 1.5 hours to arrive at Suzhou to visit Net Master Garden. The pretty and compact layout makes it one of the most typical private gardens in southern China. Next you will visit the City Wall. Like the city wall in Xian, it is also built in feudal society as the defensive system. Then visit the Grand Canal.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, you will visit Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. You will have a chance to take a Chinese style gondola when visiting Zhouzhuang. At last our guide and driver will escort you back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Shanghai

   

8. Day 8: Shanghai Departure (Breakfast)

   Please arrange your own way to airport for flight departing.