Day 1
Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Day 2
Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Sacred Way (Ming Tombs), Great Wall, Mutianyu, Roasted Duck at Hepingmen Quanjude
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
- Sacred Way (Ming Tombs): An attractive tree-lined walk which leads to the Ming Tombs, this is bordered by 12 sets each of animal and human statues, and includes the attractive Great Red Gate, housing a stele on the back of a tortoise, and marble memorial archway.
- Great Wall, Mutianyu: This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Roasted Duck at Hepingmen Quanjude: In the evening enjoy the Peking Roasted Duck which is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing
Day 3
Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- The Tian'anmen Square: The world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Temple of Heaven: One of the most famous sites in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activity, particularly weekend mornings. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
Day 4
Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Summer Palace, Hutong Tours in Rickshaw
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Summer Palace : Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here, including a 10 minute boat ride. Renovations (complete in 2010) mean that an individual section or building may be closed at any one time, but this is a huge site. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Hutong Tours in Rickshaw: A maze of historic alleyways and old single storey traditional courtyard houses, now fast disappearing. Dotted around the hutong are the Drum and Bell Towers, Kindergarten, Tea House, and local people's houses. Your tour includes a visit with a local family.
Day 5
Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Xi'an City Wall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Xi'an City Wall: Built in the Ming dynasty over 700 years ago, the Xian City Wall is the most complete ancient city wall in China. The wall measures around 13.9 km in circumference, 12 meters in height, 18 meters wide at its base while 15 meters wide on the top. It is a fine example of China's ancient defensive fortifications that were formed over 2,000 years ago, and continued even to the last imperial era of the Qing Dynasty. The wall reflects a brilliant beauty at night when the area is lit up by colorful lights.
Day 6
Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(include golf carts), Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(include golf carts): This incredible 2000 year-old army of life-sized warriors, each one unique, is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. Many of the figures, including soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, have been restored, and the repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. There is also an excellent museum, including bronze chariots unearthed nearby, and a film about the history and discovery of the tomb.From parking place to the entrance ,it will take you bout 15 minutes on foot,so China Highlights serve you the golf cart.This Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is about 35 km from Xian
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: The pagoda (7 floors,64.5meters high) where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his classics brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xian.
- Bell Tower: This is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in China, is 36 meters (118 feet) high. It stands on a brick base 35.5 meters (116.4 feet) long and 8.6 meters (28.2 feet) high on each side.Stand on top of the tower, you can have a bird's view of the city. There are ancient musical instrument exhibit at the entrance of the tower, and free ancient music performance every other half hour.
- Evening Show at Tang Yuegong: The show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xian was the capital of ancient China.
Day 7
Place & Transport: Xian to Nanjing, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Nanjing), Zhonghua Gate, Qinhuai River, Confucian Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Zhonghua Gate: Zhonghua Men Gate is the largest castle-style gate among the 13 ancient city gates in Nanjing. It's the best preserved and, architecturally, most complicated ancient castle in the world. The elaborately designed castle contains three closed courtyards and four arched gates serving as entrances to the city.
- Qinhuai River: The Qinhuai River is a watery slice of history which contains traces of the city's glorious past and activities of its people. The river bore witness to the many comedies and tragedies occurring in the notorious red-light area along its banks, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
- Confucian Temple: The Confucius Temple built in the Song Dynasty is dedicated to worshiping the great philosopher Confucius. This area has been the center of Confucian study for over 1.500 years.
Day 8
Place & Transport: Nanjing to Suzhou, Train No. T711 Dep 3:30PM - Arr 5:57PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Nanjing), Train station to Hotel Transfer (Suzhou), Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum, Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum: Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum, at the foot of the majestic Purple Mountain, is permeated with a solemn atmosphere. It often arouses a sentiment of respect with its glazed torii; steep, long stairways leading up to the memorial hall, and its inscribed headstone, which all attest to the great deeds of this honorable man.
- Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge: This is the first bridge independently designed and constructed by the Chinese themselves. The bridge was added to the Guinness World Records as the world's longest bridge featuring the dual functions of a highway and a railway.
Day 9
Place & Transport: Suzhou
Today's Activities: Humble Administrator's Garden, Rickshaw ride, The Grand Canal, The No.1 Silk Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Humble Administrator's Garden: The garden is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty. Focused on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby, the garden is divided into three parts: the eastern, middle and western parts.
- Rickshaw ride: Through the old streets & Hutongs in Suzhou, you will see local people's life.
- The Grand Canal: The Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in world. Cruising on the Canal, you can see the local peoples' life.
- The No.1 Silk Factory: Suzhou is also famous for its silk production. In the factory you can see how the silk is processed from the silk worm to the final woven cloth.
Day 10
Place & Transport: Suzhou to Shanghai
Today's Activities: Tongli, The Bund, Nanjing Road
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Tongli: Tongli town has a history of more than one thousand years. There are over hundreds of gardens established in Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, temples, cartilages and former residence of eminent souls. Fifteen rivers divides the town into seven island and 49 sets of historic bridges connect the town as a whole.
- The Bund: This spot in the city is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. Home to chic restaurants and shopping opportunities, the Bund is a must-see site when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance. Being the most imposing spectacle in Shanghai, the Bund has been seen as the embodiment of Shanghai for a long time.
- Nanjing Road: Shanghai's main shopping street, known as "the No.1 commercial street of China", also one of the most prosperous streets in Asia. Like a lying dragon shining day and night, stretching from the Bund east towards Hongqiao, with People's Square in the middle.
Day 11
Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Children's Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Standing by the Huangpu River with 468 meters high, Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the highest TV Tower in Asia (up to the last floor to see Shanghai scenery).It is a new landmark of Shanghai in 21st century.
- Shanghai Museum: The biggest museum in China, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics. The museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy.
- Yuyuan Garden: A traditional Chinese park decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. Yuyuan Garden is not only a famous classical garden in South China, but also a major historic and cultural site under state protection.
- Children's Palace: The Shanghai Children's Palace provides after school education for gifted children. Children participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as music, dance, art, model making, science, technology and computer science. The palace hosts many art performances and science and technology contests which attracts thousands of youngsters.
Day 12
Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast