Totally China - 8 Days

Upon arriving at Beijing Airport, you will be greeted outside customs by your guide. From there, our driver will take you to our hotel. You can spend the rest of the day at your leisure to relax and unwind.

Meet the group in the hotel lobby at 08:00 for a short 15-minute pre-trip briefing. Your guide will introduce themselves, welcome everyone, outline the journey ahead and explain the key guidelines for travelling together.

We then head to our first stop, the vast Tiananmen Square. Surrounded by monuments of major historical significance, it remains an important setting for national ceremonies. From here, you stroll to the Forbidden City, once the political heart of China and home to the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1368 to 1911. We will guide you through the most notable sections on a focused 2 to 3-hour tour.

Our priority ticket arrangements and an expert local guide help you make the most of your time, allowing you to explore more of the palace’s highlights with ease. With us, you also step inside the Treasury Gallery, often missed on other tours. This collection holds some of the most prized imperial treasures, including the 1.29-metre Pearl-Inlaid Gold Tower crafted from 85 kilograms of gold and hundreds of pearls and gemstones. Your guide will share stories that bring the site to life, such as why the palace wells, once used for drinking water, became avoided after court intrigue led to maids and eunuchs being thrown into them. From then on, drinking water had to be brought in from a mountain more than 20 kilometres away.

At midday, we enjoy an à la carte welcome lunch at an excellent local restaurant (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included), where you can sample authentic Chinese dishes alongside the world-famous Peking Roast Duck.

In the afternoon, we continue to the Temple of Heaven, the grand ceremonial complex where emperors once prayed for good harvests. To round off a memorable first day, we arrange seats for a lively and dramatic Chinese acrobatic performance at the Red Theatre. After the show, we take you back to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Today, we will take you to experience the wonder of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, one of its best-preserved sections. A round-trip cable car ride is included, giving us plenty of time to explore the Wall at a comfortable pace. Standing atop this remarkable structure and watching it wind across the rugged landscape is truly unforgettable. To mark the occasion, we will celebrate together with a group toast of red wine after our walk along the Wall.

On our return journey to Beijing this afternoon, we will pass by the Bird’s Nest, the striking National Stadium built for the 2008 Olympic Games, where we will stop for a photo opportunity to admire its award-winning design up close.

We will then take you on a rickshaw ride through the city’s historic Hutongs, a network of narrow lanes lined with traditional courtyard homes known as Siheyuan. The 40-minute ride offers a glimpse into old Beijing life, ending with a visit to a local family’s Siheyuan, where you can experience this unique way of living first-hand. Afterward, we will return to our hotel, where you will have the rest of the day at leisiure.

Beijing - Xi'an. The first stop today is the Summer Palace, the largest surviving imperial garden in China, renowned for its harmonious landscapes and impressive historical architecture. If you are travelling in early July, you may also enjoy the sight of lotus flowers in bloom, adding a seasonal highlight to the visit.

After a lunch featuring local flavours, we conclude our time in Beijing. Your guide will escort you to the railway station to board the high-speed train to Xi’an, with a journey time of approximately 4.5 to 5.5 hours. This is an excellent chance to experience China’s modern high-speed rail network.

On arrival in Xi’an, your local guide will be waiting at the station and will transfer you to your centrally located hotel, where you check in for a comfortable two-night stay.

This morning, we will visit the extraordinary Terracotta Army, created as funerary guardians for Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 to 210 BC), founder of the Qin Empire. We will view the vast ranks of life-sized warriors in their original pits and explore a new exhibition hall showcasing 230 carefully preserved artefacts, including intricately sculpted animals and vividly painted pottery and bronze. Our guide will help us uncover the grandeur and enduring mystery of this ancient empire.

After visiting the Terracotta Army, we will visit the home of Yang Zhifa, the farmer who discovered the first warrior in 1974, where you can hear his story, see the original hoe and cart he used, and view a full-size replica. If Mr Yang is present, you may also have a chance to meet him and take photos. We will then continue to a terracotta warrior workshop, where an artisan will demonstrate the traditional crafting process before guiding you as you make your own miniature warrior to keep as a souvenir.

After, we will make our way to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 AD) to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India. The surrounding Da Ci’en Temple offers not only a strong Buddhist atmosphere but also fascinating imperial history, as it was built by Emperor Li Zhi in gratitude to his father and in memory of his late mother. In the evening, we will enjoy a dumpling dinner followed by the renowned Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. After the performance, we will return to our hotel.

Please note: As the theatre is usually closed in January, February, March and December, the show and dumpling dinner will not be included for tours during these months.

Xi'an - Shanghai. Today, we will make our way to the City Wall Park, where we can observe locals enjoying their morning activities such as singing, dancing, playing music, and chess, and you’re welcome to join in if you wish. You can also take part in a traditional Tai Chi class, a graceful practice that combines slow flowing movements to promote both physical and mental well-being.

After that, you will visit the City Wall, the best-preserved urban fortification in China, dating back to the 1300s. You can cycle along the top of this ancient structure, an experience many find unforgettable.

We will then enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Muslim Quarter, where you can sample local specialities such as Rougamo (Chinese burger), Biang Biang Mian (belt-shaped noodles), fried beef dumplings, and cold noodles with sesame paste, dishes that date back to the Qin Dynasty. We especially recommend trying the Rougamo, with its tender shredded beef served in crisp flatbread.

We will then make our way to the airport for our onward flight to Shanghai. Once you have arrived, you will be met and transferred to the hotel, where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Please note: that the bike rental fee will be at your own expense for cycling the City Qall.

This morning, we will visit the Shanghai Museum, one of China’s finest museums, known for its exceptional collection of ancient art. We will then explore the elegant Yu Garden, with its charming Nine Zigzag Bridge and mid-lake pavilion. You will also have the chance to browse the nearby bazaar for souvenirs if you wish.

After free time for lunch, we will stroll along the lively Bund before taking a one-hour cruise on the Huangpu River, offering views of Shanghai’s contrasting skyline, from historic riverside buildings to modern landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower. After the cruise, we will return to your hotel, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

After your final breakfast, depending on your departure flight time, you may have some time to further explore Shanghai, do some last-minute shopping, or relax before making your way to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!