Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary:
Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis that successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.
After arriving in Beijing, you will be met and transferred you to your Hotel. The guide will give you tips on local restaurants that we recommend and shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or explore Beijing on your own.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Treasure Houses, Short Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Lizexiang Pearl Store
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Courtyard 7 Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary:
After breakfast visit Tian'anmen Square, the symbol of Beijing and one of highlights of any Beijing tour. A walk in the Square will help discover the many points of interest. There is much to see.

The Forbidden City is the destination for the afternoon. The Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed China for over 500 years for this the largest palace in the world. It is the "must see" in Beijing. The Treasure Houses hold all kinds of treasure owned by Qing dynasty royalty and give great insight into the daily life of the royal families.

Lunch is at Courtyard 7 Restaurant near the Hutong area. Its rustic Chinese design gives it real charm. This serves restaurant provides new modern French dishes as well as Chinese cuisine.

Then make the short trip back to the Hutong area where a rickshaw awaits to ride through the narrow alleys and passages. A visit to a local family is included then a walk over the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) to hear the explanation about the different thresholds that mark the entry to the courtyard houses.

Located in Huairou County about 45 miles from Beij

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car), Cloisonne Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang
Detailed Itinerary:
First visit Temple of Heaven. It is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. You can see thousand of local people doing morning exercises including Tai Chi, dancing and Shuttlecock kicking.

Lunch is at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant near Mutianyu Great Wall. This garden style restaurant serves farmhouse dishes, specializing in rainbow trout, sturgeon and salmon.

After that we will visit the Great Wall - Mutianyu Section which is less crowed than other sections. It is surrounded by wonderful landscape and has a rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers and the cable car provides a safe comfortable assent and decent. Dinner is at Quanjude, which is renowned for Beijing roasted duck.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Summer Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Beijing Ba guo bu yi Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary:
The Summer Palace is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. A much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the beautifully landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are designed to be in harmony with the lake and rivers in which they are set.

Lunch is at Beijing Ba guo bu yi Restaurant in the city center. It serves some of the heartiest and most authentic Sichuan fare in town and has traditional Chinese style decoration.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Xi'an after lunch. Upon arrival in Xi'an, transfer to hotel.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch)
Detailed Itinerary:
After breakfast in the hotel, set off to the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. There are well over 7000 figures in full battle array and battle formation in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. The repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display.

Lunch is at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant nearby the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. It specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine and has a nationwide reputation for the quality of their food.

In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts originally brought from India. It is the symbol of the ancient capital city - Xi'an.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xian City Wall with Bicycle, Muslim Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Qianzhou Restaurant(Xiao Yanta Branch)
Detailed Itinerary:
Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China - the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Lunch is at Qianzhou Restaurant in the city center. The specialties are of ancient origin from the Tang Dynasty and leave customers with great culinary memories.

After the lunch, drive to the old City Wall. The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still in existence. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City, it surrounds the city center. Walk, rent a bike or take an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, which has great views of the city on either side.

Later, drive to the Muslim sector. A 500 meters long avenue paved with bluestones is dotted with unique stalls, souvenir shops, café and bars. After that, fly to Shanghai and on arrival in Shanghai, transferred to the hotel.

The Bund of Shanghai

Day 7

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Shanghai World Financial Center, Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Shanghai Hua Ling Silk Exhibition Hall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Old Shanghai Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary:
Start the day by visiting Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which is much more interesting and impressive than its sounds. It tells the story of growth of the metropolis, explains her foundation, development and future in 1 to 2 hours.

Then head to the Shanghai World Financial Center, which is the tallest structure in China with a height of about 490 meters. It gives a panoramic view of Shanghai.

Lunch is at the Old Shanghai Restaurant which is an old famous local restaurant. It serves traditional Shanghai Food as well as different flavors from other parts of China.

In the afternoon, take a relaxing walk to the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. You will pass the Yuyuan Market. It is also a shopper's paradise with many small shops, often housed in authentic historic structures and selling everything from furniture to porcelain.

After that, we will go directly to the Bund - the old colonial sector, which is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. It is a must-see when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary:
Transfer to the airport ready for your departure. We wish you have a pleasant journey home and thank you for using with China Highlights - Discovery your way.