Trace the arc of five thousand years across three of China’s most storied cities — from the imperial grandeur of Beijing’s Forbidden City to the futuristic waterfront of Shanghai’s Bund, with the ancient Terracotta Army standing guard in Xi’an between them.
Your Journey at a Glance
Days 1–3: Beijing
Arrive in the capital and settle into your hotel near the historic hutong quarter. Over two full days, walk the vast courtyards of the Forbidden City, ascend a restored section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu where the crowds thin and the views stretch to the horizon, and stand beneath the soaring eaves of the Temple of Heaven. Evenings bring Peking duck and an optional Kunqu opera performance.
Days 4–6: Xi’an
A high-speed rail journey deposits you in Xi’an, the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Spend a morning among the eight thousand clay warriors of Emperor Qin’s burial complex, then cycle the intact Ming Dynasty city wall at sunset. Explore the Muslim Quarter’s spice-scented lanes, sample hand-pulled biang biang noodles, and visit the Wild Goose Pagoda at dusk.
Days 7–9: Shanghai — Board the bullet train east through the Yangtze Delta’s patchwork farmland. Shanghai unfolds in contrasts: the Art Deco facades of the Bund face off against the neon towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Wander the classical Yu Garden, browse the antique stalls of Dongtai Road, and take the elevator to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower for a panorama that stretches into the East China Sea haze. Your final evening is reserved for a farewell dinner on a Huangpu River cruise.
Day 10: Departure — A leisurely morning before your airport transfer, with time for a last walk along the French Concession’s plane-tree-lined boulevards.
What’s Included
- All domestic flights and high-speed rail tickets (Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai)
- Nine nights in handpicked four-star hotels with daily breakfast
- Private English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle in each city
- All entrance fees — Forbidden City, Great Wall (Mutianyu), Terracotta Army, Temple of Heaven, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower
- Three signature meals: Peking duck dinner, Muslim Quarter food walk, farewell Huangpu River cruise dinner
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
- Comprehensive travel insurance
China rewards the traveler who lingers. This itinerary is designed not to rush — each city receives three nights so that temples, markets, and neighborhoods reveal themselves at walking pace rather than tour-bus speed.
Learn Travel and Tours Itinerary Team
Group departures run monthly from March through November, with private departures available year-round. Contact our planning desk for custom extensions — add a Yangtze River cruise, a Chengdu panda encounter, or a bullet train detour to Hangzhou’s West Lake.