DAY 1: BEIJING
To ensure a seamless experience, your guide will be waiting for you outside the secure customs area with a sign with your name on it. The guide will assist you in meeting up with your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.
Enjoy a private transfer between the airport and your hotel with an English-speaking guide.Accommodation: Park Plaza Wangfujing or similar
DAY 2: BEIJING
Spend the day exploring three of Beijing’s most photographed sites with your private guide and driver. Head to the center of the city and begin with a walk across the sprawling expanse of Tiananmen Square. Built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty and serving as the front door to the Forbidden City, the present square is one of the largest in the world, stretching a vast 44 square hectares. Here, walk past and featuring the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People, and the Mao Zedong Memorial. Many historically important moments have unfolded in this public setting.
From here, cross the street and enter through the towering gates of the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the largest number of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The expansive palace complex is comprised of 9,999 buildings spread across 74 hectares and protected by a 19-foot deep moat and a 32-foot tall wall, divided into two parts. The Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation, while the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Twenty-four emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties reigned over China from the Imperial Palace here until 1924. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
Next, drive to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace dates to the 12th century, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a vast imperial encampment of temples, ornate pavilions, and halls set in a park around Kunming Lake. Occupying an area of 294 hectares, three-quarters of which is water, the compound features a sprawling archetypal Chinese garden that is a masterpiece of landscape garden design, and a truly picturesque setting to explore. The Long Corridor is a must-see – this covered walkway is decorated with more than 14,000 lavish paintings. Sail around Kunming Lake on a shared boat trip before returning to your hotel.
Today’s tour involves a fair amount of walking at a leisurely pace. Comfortable walking shoes and adequate protection from the sun are highly recommended.
DAY 3: BEIJING
The Great Wall is by far China’s most iconic architectural wonder, captivating the imagination of generations of travelers intrigued by this feat of engineering. Meet with your private guide and driver at your hotel for a full day of exploration, and head northeast of Beijing with your private driver to explore the Mutinayu section, located 45 miles northeast of the city. This well-preserved section winds along lofty, cragged mountains for 1.4 miles and holds a prominent place in Chinese military history. Construction began during the 6th century Northern Qi Dynasty, and it was restored in the early years of the Ming Dynasty (spanning from the 14th to 17th century).
An abundance of natural springs in the area give this section of the Great Wall a lush verdant ecosystem, and the rolling forested hills make for an impressive panoramic photo regardless of the time of year. Take a cable car to the top of the hillside to explore the 26-foot-high granite walls. The 22 watchtowers stretch along the top of the mountain ridge as far as the eye can see, an impressive military barrier against invading forces from the north. Lunch will be at a local restaurant near the Great Wall.
Today’s tour involves a fair amount of walking at a leisurely pace. Comfortable walking shoes and adequate protection from the sun are highly recommended.
DAY 4: BEIJING – XI’AN
Enjoy a private transfer between the train station and your hotel with an English-speaking guide. Transfer from Beijing to Xi’an via the high-speed bullet train. The train ride is approximately 6 hours.
Enjoy a private transfer between the train station and your hotel with an English-speaking guide. Accommodation: Sofitel on Renmin Square or similar
DAY 5: XI’AN
The Terracotta Warriors are the most iconic site in Xi’an, an impressive marvel that went undiscovered until 1974. With your private driver and English-speaking guide, spend the day visiting the Terracotta Warriors, the Ancient City Wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses, and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin’s tomb since 210 BC. Incredibly, each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits, protected inside enormous hangars specially constructed for the archaeological dig.
Stop for a local lunch before returning to the city center to visit the Ancient City Wall. The walls, ramparts, gates, and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses are still around. Built in the 13th-century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city center you can walk, rent a bike or take an electric cart around the full 8.5-mile circuit, with great views of the city on either side and a deep moat surrounding the fortifications. Next, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. An important Buddhist site, the simple and elegant Pagoda is housed on the grounds of the attractive Da Ci’en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic world-famous 16-year pilgrimage to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals. At the end of the day, return to your hotel by private vehicle.
DAY 6: XI’AN – SHANGHAI
Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide. Board a flight with direct service from Xi’an to Shanghai. Approximate flight time is 2 hours. Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide.
Shanghai’s architecture is unique from the rest of the country. Lining the western bend of the Huangpu River, The Bund is a popular pedestrian area that parallels the river with a dramatic backdrop of majestic Shanghai buildings dating to the 1920s and 1930s. Step back in time and discover and the best of 20th-century Shanghai architecture with your private guide driver, exploring an area that was the former Shanghai International Settlement. The buildings were constructed in a wide range of European architectural styles, with a theme of restoration of ancient traditions. The resulting skyline is an eclectic mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque Revival themes, along with Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts styles. Most notable is the rich collection of Art Deco style buildings which Shanghai is well-known for. See the outside of the former Sassoon House (the current Fairmont Peace Hotel) and Broadway Mansions (now known as the Shanghai Mansions), which belong to the early modernist school of architecture. At the end of the tour, transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle. Accommodation: Sofitel Shanghai Hyland Hotel or similar
DAY 7: SHANGHAI
Spend the day visiting some of Shanghai’s most captivating sites with your private guide and driver. Start with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, treasure trove of ancient Chinese art. The museum collection features over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jade, ancient coins, paintings, seals, and sculptures. Home to eleven galleries, the collection includes several items of national importance, including one of three specimens of a “transparent” bronze mirror from the Han Dynasty.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant showcasing Shanghai’s cuisine, then drive to the Jade Buddha Temple, one of the most famous Buddhist shrines in Shanghai. The statue was brought to China from neighboring Myanmar in the late 19th century, and the temple itself was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. The current temple was erected in 1928 to protect the jade statues inside. Next, drive to the Yu Gardens, the largest of Shanghai’s ancient gardens, dating to the mid-16th century. The expansive grounds feature the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with six pavilions each with their own unique design, laid out in the Suzhou style. The Grand Rockery in the center of the garden is a popular photo stop, with replica peaks, cliffs, and caves. The Yu Gardens are a year-round delightful retreat from Shanghai’s frenetic pace, as the changing seasons offer a different experience and a moment of quiet contemplation. Adjacent to the gardens is the City God Temple, surrounded by a network of local snack vendors and souvenir shops that make for a colorful walk into the Yu Garden. At the end of the day, return to your hotel by private vehicle.
DAY 8: SHANGHAI
Your departure transfer to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) Airport is included.
Should you be interested in extending your stay or arranging for late check-out, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Depart from Shanghai international airport – end of itinerary.
Luxury Custom Tour from $2,999USD per person, land only
Please note this is a sample package only. Rates are per person based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Starting from rate based on travel in off peak months. Rates may be higher or lower depending on your specific travel dates and hotel selections. Package can be fully customized to the travelers needs. Airfare is not included but can be added. Valid US passport required for travel.
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