Starts at
Beijing
Ends at
Shanghai
Duration
10 days
Group Size
Maximum 10
Physical Rating
easy 
Style
discovery
About your trip
This sensational 10-day tour of China will introduce you to the best of the country’s culture, sites and food, as you get to learn about the history and the customs of this fascinating nation. You’ll discover some of China’s most famous cuisine as soon as you’ve arrived, with a meal of Beijing roast duck with your tour guide, before a visit to a bar to try some local craft beer.
You’ll begin your adventure the next day by taking in some of Beijing’s most iconic sites, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, before heading to the country’s most famous site, one of the seven wonders of the new world, the Great Wall, the morning after, where you’ll spend the day hiking along and seeing as much as possible of the magnificent monument.
Your time in Beijing will end the morning after a visit to the Temple of Heaven, with a bullet train trip to the Unesco heritage town of Pingyao, one of the four best preserved ancient cities in the whole of the country. There are more than 20 museums, temples and other highlights to explore there, as well as a tai chi class and the chance to try some of the famous Pingyao beef before taking an evening train to the ancient Tang capital, Xi’an. There you can ride a bike on the historic city walls, and see amazing examples of Chinese architecture, including the small goose pagoda and the drum and bell towers. You can end the evening with a night of karaoke, one of China’s favourite past-times.
The day after will include a minibus trip to see the Terracotta Warriors, the famous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang, and the thousands of statues that guard his burial chamber.
From the warriors, you’ll head straight to the train station to take the super modern bullet straight to Shanghai where you’ll try classic Shanghainese food, like soup dumplings, and visit the giant Jinmao tower, where you the bravest on the tour can try a skywalk. There’ll also be trips to amazing sites like the Yu Garden and Nanjing Road, as well as to the Zhujiajiao historic water town for a gentle boat ride through the old narrow picturesque waterways. Your trip will end with a final sailing trip back in Shanghai, along the Huangpu River, where you’ll eat more delicious local treats, drink some bubbles and watch the sunset over one of the world’s most fascinating countries.
Trip Highlights
- Meander through the hutongs and the awe-inspiring sights of China's capital Beijing, including Tiananmen Square and the imposing Forbidden City before tucking into some peking roasted duck.
- Spend the day exploring one of the wonders of the world as you hike along the fascinating Great Wall of China.
- Zip from Bejing to China's former capital Xi'an on the bullet train, where you will soak up the city's unique atmosphere on a leisurely bike ride along the top of its ancient walls.
- Learn about some of China's more recent history in the elegant and captivating French Quarter in Shanghai.
- Travel by bullet train and enjoy the amazing landscapes China has to offer
Your Itinerary
What's included
- An amazing Adventure Leader for the full tour, as well as local expert guides for the Forbidden City, Pingyao Old Town, Terracotta Warriors visit & the Shanghai walking tour.
- Walking tour (Beijing)
- Welcome dinner (Beijing)
- Day trip/hike on the Great Wall of China (Beijing)
- Temple of Heaven visit, with included tai chi class (Beijing)
- Pingyao orientation walking tour (Pingyao)
- Pingyao Old Town entry ticket – options for exploring are traveller’s own (Pingyao)
- Cycling the Old City walls (Xi’an)
- Walking tour in the Muslim Quarter, with included snacks (Xi’an)
- Day trip to the Terracotta Warriors (Shanghai)
- Walking tour, including visits to Jinmao Tower, Yu Gardens (Shanghai)
- Day trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town (Shanghai)
- Huangpu River Cruise (Shanghai)
- Farewell dinner (Shanghai)
What's not included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel Transfers (unless otherwise stated in the Included Activities section above)
- Flights to and from the destination
- Local craft beer bar visit (Beijing)
- Free time options in Beijing
- Free time options in Pingyao
- Calligraphy class (Xi’an) – this activity is prebooked with The Dragon Trip, so please email for more information. (£30)
- Karaoke (Xi’an) – this activity is booked by your Adventure Leader, so let them know if you’d like it booked! (£40 – price for room rental)
- Free time options in Shanghai
- Jinmao Tower skywalk (Shanghai) – this activity is prebooked with The Dragon Trip, so please email for more information. (£35)
- Evening cooking class (Shanghai) – this activity is prebooked with The Dragon Trip, so please email for more information. (£50)
- Rooftop bar cocktails (Shanghai)
Customer Reviews
