8 Days Essence of China (Beijing/ Xian/ Shanghai), Beijing, China Sight-Seeing Tours

Beijing Ming Tombs

(Beijing)Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics.

Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by yourself.

Day 2:
Destination: Beijing
Service Provided: Mutianyu Great Wall, Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip), Changling tomb, Roasted Duck at Hepingmen Quanjude, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to the Great Wall - Mutianyu Section which has some unique characteristics over other sections. It is surrounded by wonderful landscape and has a rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers and the cable car provides a safe comfortable assent and decent.

Lunch is at local restaurant near the Wall. In the afternoon, we continue on to Changling the tomb of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, which is the principal and best preserved mausoleum among thirteen Ming Tombs. Our guide will provide a history of the Tombs during your stay.

Dinner is at Quanjude, which is renowned for Beijing roasted duck.

Day 3:
Destination: Beijing
Service Provided: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Be Chinese for the morning as we join with the thousand of local people as they practice Tai Chi at the Temple of Heaven before breakfast. Join in or just watch, it's your decision.

Later we continue to Tian'anmen Square, the symbol of Beijing and ranked No. 1 of the 16 scenic highlights in Beijing. Walk through - it's much bigger than you think - to check out the many points of interest.

After a real local lunch, you will be able to experience the ancient emperor's daily life at the Forbidden City from where the Emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. It is the essence and a "must see" in Beijing.

The magnificent and solemn palaces will arouse your imagination regarding the life of Chinese emperors.

Day 4:
Destination: Beijing to XianInter-city Transfer: Flight No. TBA
Service Provided: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Hutong Tours in Rickshaw, The Summer Palace, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

After experiencing royal life today there is the opportunity to take a rickshaw ride to the Hutong where we visit a local flea market which is an excellent example of typical architecture of this area.

You may find some interesting things and learn how to bargain. You will also visit with a local family and talk to the family members to gain a true understanding of life in this region and to have an experience of this unique form of community. We can guarantee you will have impressive stories to tell your friends.

Then to the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China.

On concluding your visit to the Summer Palace our guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an.

Day 5:
Destination: Xian
Service Provided: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses (include golf car), Xi'an Stele Forest Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. The repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display.

If you are interested, we can drop in to the factory where you will be introduced to the whole process of making the duplicates of the Warriors and Horses.

In the afternoon, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xi’an.

Later, we will drive to the Xi’an Stele Forest Museum which has 900 years of history and holds a large collection of the earliest stone steles from different periods from the Han to the Qing Dynasty.

Another highlight will be the evening show which presents the palace dances and sings of the Tang Dynasty when Xi'an was the capital of ancient China.

Day 6:
Destination: Xian to ShanghaiInter-city Transfer: Flight No. TBA
Service Provided: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shaanxi Historical Museum, The Bund, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

After a simple lunch at a local restaurant you’ll fly to Shanghai.

On arrival we will go directly to the Bund - the old colonial sector, which is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. It is a must-see when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.

Day 7:
Destination: Shanghai
Service Provided: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

We start the day by visiting Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which is much more interesting and impressive that its sounds. It tells the story of growth of the metropolis, explains her foundation, development and future in 2-3hours.

Then we head to the famous Oriental TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second highest viewing platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to buy a ticket to continue on to the very top.

In the afternoon, we take a relaxing walk to the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations.

It is also a shopper's paradise with many small shops, often housed in authentic historic structures, carrying everything from furniture to porcelain.

Day 8:
Destination: Shanghai to Departure CityInter-city Transfer: Flight not included
Service Provided: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai), Breakfast

Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.

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All tours are flexible and customizable to your needs.

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