Your journey begins when you land in Beijing, the starting point for this China trip. After arrival at the airport, make your way into the city center using one of the provided options: take an airport bus or use a taxi.

Once you arrive and complete check-in, the rest of the day is left open. You can use this time to relax after your flight or walk around nearby areas if you want, keeping the pace flexible on your first day.

Beijing is China’s capital and one of the country’s main international arrival cities.

Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of Beijing’s best-known open spaces. From there, continue into the Forbidden City, where large palace buildings, quiet courtyards, and detailed architecture show the long history of imperial China.

Later, explore the hutongs with your guide, walking through narrow lanes lined with traditional courtyard homes, including some that once belonged to well-known historical figures. You also enjoy a local drink while watching a Peking Opera performance.

In the late afternoon, walk along Dingfu Street, passing small alleys and everyday neighborhood scenes that reveal a more local side of Beijing beyond its major imperial landmarks.

The Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

In the morning, travel roughly two hours outside Beijing to reach the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This area is usually quieter than Badaling, with greener surroundings and many watchtowers set among forested hills.

Follow a steady walking route designed to work well for most visitors, giving you time to experience the wall at a manageable pace. Later in the afternoon, return toward Beijing and pass the Olympic sites, including the Bird Nest and the Water Cube. A stop is also made at a nearby pearl shop before heading back.

Mutianyu is one of the longest fully restored sections of the Great Wall open to visitors.

Spend the morning in a local Beijing market, where daily life feels active and close. Freshly made steamed buns add warm aromas to the setting, while food stalls and displays of seasonal fruits and vegetables create a lively, colorful market scene.

Afterwards, visit the Temple of Heaven, a large park once used by emperors for rituals connected to good harvests. Today, locals gather there to practice tai chi, play music, or write calligraphy on the ground with water. Later, travel to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Xi’an, where your local guide meets you on arrival and helps with your transfer for check-in.

The Temple of Heaven is known for its circular and square design elements, which reflect traditional Chinese ideas about heaven and earth.

Spend the day outside the city at the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang, where the Terracotta Warriors are displayed. As you move through the excavation pits, you see life-sized clay figures arranged as an ancient military formation.

These figures show the scale and skill of Qin Dynasty craftsmanship and remained buried for more than two thousand years. In the afternoon, return to Xi’an and explore the Muslim Quarter, where local street food, mixed cultural influences, and stalls offering snacks and dishes fill the streets.

Emperor Qinshihuang was the first emperor of a unified China.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. The flight takes about 2.5 hours, keeping the travel day direct while moving you from Xi’an to China’s largest city.

Upon arrival in Shanghai, your local guide meets you and assists with the transfer for check-in. The rest of the day is free, giving you time to rest after the flight or explore the city independently at your own pace.

Shanghai is one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, alongside Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing.

Begin at the Bund, where historic waterfront buildings reflect Shanghai’s colonial past and its role as a global trading port. Continue to Yu Garden and the surrounding bazaar, where traditional architecture and local stalls offer insight into classical Chinese design and silk craftsmanship.

Next, proceed to Fuxing Park, a French-style garden where local residents gather for daily leisure activities and the city’s cultural blend is easy to observe. After that, take a guided walk through the Bugaoli neighborhood to explore older residential streets, sample local snacks, and hear local stories about the area’s history. In the afternoon, visit the Shanghai Museum, home to a wide collection of ancient Chinese art and cultural relics.

The Bund became one of Shanghai’s most recognizable waterfront areas during the city’s growth as an international trading port.

After breakfast, your journey comes to an end in Shanghai. Use the final morning to prepare for departure and plan your onward travel according to your flight schedule and preferred level of convenience.

You may travel to the airport independently, keeping the departure arrangements flexible. If you prefer added convenience, you can choose to arrange a private transfer at an extra cost before leaving Shanghai.

Shanghai is one of China’s main international gateway cities, with major air connections for departures across Asia and beyond.