9-Day China Private Highlight Tour of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai

Attractions:Tian’anmen Square, Exterior of the National Centre, Forbidden City, Tea ceremony, Temple of Heaven
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Over night in Beijing

Today we start to explore this city treasure by a visit to Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest city center square, the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. You will also be able to have a photo stop at The National Centre for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the National Grand Theatre, and colloquially described as The Egg. Afterwards, a few walk to Forbidden City, the world’s existing largest and most complete ancient wooden structure buildings. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there.

Lunch is served at a local Indian restaurant. Enjoy a tea ceremony in a tea house en route.In the afternoon, we will Temple of Heaven, the existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven and a place where the emperors prayed for a year of abundance. In the visit of Temple of Heaven, you will be astonished by the exquisite ancient Chinese architectures.

Attractions: Juyongguan Great Wall, jade carving factory, Exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube, National Museum of China
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Over nighijing

It will be an exciting day today. In the morning, guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby. We will visit the essential part of Beijing great wall—Juyongguan Great Wall, ranked as one of the eight splendid sceneries in Beijing 800 years ago. In Chinese, “guan” means mountain pass, so Juyongguan Section is a part lying through mountains as a wall to prevent the enemies. It is a national cultural protection unit enlisted in the World Heritage Directory in 1987. It takes about 1 hour driving from the downtown of Beijing to Juyongguan Great Wall. You could walk up and down on the Great Wall to enjoy the terrific view.

A la carte lunch will be arranged in a picked local restaurant at the foot of Juyongguan Great Wall.Drive back to downtown of Beijing. We will have a stop at a jade carving factory en route. When we reach Beijing, we will have a photo stop (around 0.5hour) outside the Bird Nest and Water Cube, which were the famous sites constructed for 2008 Beijing Olympic.

Afterwards, we visit the famous National Museum of China, one of the largest museums in the world, playing an important role in displaying systematically Chinese culture, cultivating national spirit, leading the development of the cultural relics and museum field. The number of collections in the museum is more than 120 million pieces, being the richest museums with the largest number of collections. There are a total of 48 exhibition halls and there are exhibitions showing the collections and Chinese culture often. It is closed on Monday. (We will take a short walking along Hutong alley instead of the National Museum of China on Monday.)

Attractions: Summer Palace
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Xi’an

In the morning, check out from hotel and start to visit the last spots in Beijing — Summer Palace, the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. The Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake are regarded as the representative of Summer Palace. In the park, you could choose to take a boating trip on the lake, enjoying the beautiful royal garden view. Walk along the Long Corridor— the longest corridor in the world, admiring the extremely rich and prestigious paintings on the beams of the corridor.

A la carte lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant on the way to Beijing West Railway Station to take high speed train (2nd class seat, duration: about 5-5.5 hours) from Beijing to Xi’an. Our guide will wait at the exit of Xi’an train station with our signboard and transfer you to check in hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the time.

Attractions: Terracotta Warriors, pottery workshop, North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Xi’an

Today we will drive to the highlights in Xi’an —the Terracotta Warriors. On the way to Terracotta Warriors, we will have a stop at a pottery workshop, where you will have chance to learn how to make a pottery figure as a gift made by yourself. We will have enough time to visit this world wonder — Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation.Afterwards, we drive to downtown and walk on the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda for a while. You will also have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show. Lunch will be arranged in a local Indian restaurant nearby.

In the afternoon, we drive back to visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You may choose to ride a bicycle(optional) on the wall to go around. (We will visit the Bell Tower instead of the city wall if the weather does not permit.)

The tour finishes by dropping-off at the hotel lobby. You could ask your local guide for some information about evening entertainment or night show, such as Tang Dynasty Show.

Attractions: Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Jianfu Temple, Xian Museum
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Shanghai

Have a leisure morning, we will drive to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the most well-preserved Tang Dynasty Buddha temples. It is reputed as the Tang Dynasty elaborate and valuable Buddhist architectural heritage. While visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have chance to watch the traditional shadow play and visit Jianfu Temple as well as Xi’an Museum. Lunch will be arranged in a local Indian restaurant before driving to the airport.

Take a short flight from Xi’an to Shanghai, one of the main gateway cities in China.