Highlights of China

Upon arrival at Beijing’s Capital International Airport, meet greet and transfer to hotel

This morning, you will visit Tiananmen Square (literally known as Gate of Heavenly Peace) for a stroll on the largest public plaza on earth.

Proceed to the extraordinary Forbidden City (closed on Mondays). Center of the Chinese world for nearly 500 years, the Imperial Palace remains the most complete and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, a perfection of Ming architecture and one of the symbols of Beijing. Built in 1420, this huge site (twice the size of the Forbidden City) follows a route traversed by past emperors and their entourages in splendid procession from which the commoner had to avert his eyes

Then, hop into a traditional pedicab and explore a traditional Beijing neighborhood

In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

This morning, you will be driven to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section, enjoy a cable car ride up and a fun toboggan ride down

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Rest of the day at leisure

In the morning, you will be transferred to Beijing Airport for your flight to Xian

Upon arrival at Xian airport, meet greet and transfer to hotel

In the afternoon, visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is the second religious building to survive from the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D. – 907 A.D.)

Your exploration of ancient Xian will end today with a visit to the Ancient Gate of City Wall

You will travel overland to Lintong County, site of the single greatest archeological find of the 20th century: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Excavation.

The drive will give you the chance to view the fertile loess fields of Shaanxi; an ever replenished supply of soil which has been the foundation of civilization.

The Terra-Cotta site is made up of three distinct dig “pits ”; the Bronze Chariot Museum; and a theatre in the round, which shows a short film on the history of the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty (220 B.C. - 209 B.C.) and the construction of his mausoleum

Later on, you will be transferred to Xian Airport for your flight to Shanghai

Upon arrival in Shanghai Hongqiao, meet greet and transfer to hotel

This morning, take a walk through Shanghai’s old Chinese quarter to the lovely Yu Yuan garden

Despite Shanghai’s crowded lanes and teeming masses, the garden remains an oasis of tranquility

To conclude your morning sightseeing, proceed to The Bund. This waterfront area sweeping along the Huangpu River has became the center of Shanghai’s foreign business establishment and the symbol of Shanghai’s identity as a modern city

Rest of the day at leisure

This morning you will be met and transferred to Shanghai’s Hong Qiao Train Station where you board your High-Speed Bullet Train to Hangzhou – this train service whisks you there in just 45 minutes

Arrive Hangzhou and meet your guide who will transfer you to West Lake. From here start your cycling tour introductory sightseeing of the West Lake area and up to Lingyin Temple

You will also visit the Hu Qing Yu Tang Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine

In the afternoon you say farewell to Hangzhou when you are transferred to the train station to return to Shanghai

Transferred to the airport for your departure flight