Highlights of China

Day 1

Beijing
Our intrepid adventure begins in the bustling capital Beijing. We will receive a warm welcome from our guide at the airport before transferring to the hotel. We then have the rest of the day at leisure to settle into our new surroundings. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Beijing (Breakfast & Lunch)
Discover Beijing’s rich heritage as we step back in time to an era when mystery and incredible power reigned. We start at Tiananmen Square and get an overview of China’s communist history. This is the symbolic heart of China and it can accommodate one million people.
We then embark on an in-depth exploration of the Forbidden City, the power base of Chinese emperors for centuries. This contains the Imperial Palace Museum which details the history of each dynasty, represented in four palatial halls with antiques and treasures from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. This was the ceremonial and political centre of government for almost 500 years.
After local lunch, continue with Temple of Heaven which was founded in the 15th century. This features a complex of fine buildings set in gardens, surrounded by pine woods. The layout and the individual buildings symbolize the relationship between heaven and earth – the god’s world and the human world – and the special role played by emperors within this association. The temple provides a unique opportunity to see the capital’s past and present exist in cohesion side-by-side.
Breakfast is at the hotel. Peking Duck Lunch is at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Beijing (Breakfast & Lunch)
We embark on a 90 minutes scenic drive to the Mutianyu section of the wall (Cable car is excluded), which is less visited than the famous Badaling stretch.
Mutianyu is more rugged and covered in expansive greenery. Built as a form of defence by millions of soldiers and peasants, the wall is a remarkable feat of engineering and archaeologists estimate that it once spanned nearly 10,000 km. Construction continued over the centuries, with the most impressive portions built during the Ming Dynasty. The Mutianyu section holds a prominent place in Chinese military history and this area is now equipped with cable cars to offer a different perspective (surcharge applies) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Breakfast is at the hotel. Lunch is at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Beijing - Shanghai (Breakfast)
We head to the train station and embark on a four-hour-plus train journey from Beijing to Shanghai, travelling in second class. Discover Shanghai’s rich treasure chest of architectural styles in China’s most dynamic city. We board a train to Shanghai “Pearl of the Orient” - a bustling metropolis that is both futuristic and deeply traditional. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel with the rest of day at leisure. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 5

Shanghai (Breakfast & Lunch)
Visit the Mandarin Yu Garden, a 16th-century masterpiece in Ming style that recreates the typical southern Chinese landscape with ponds, rocks, and streams. Visit the nearby Bazaar for a souvenir shopping time.
Continue to Jade Buddha Temple, home to revered white jade statue brought from Myanmar. Finally, the famous Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront promenade. Return to hotel, with dinner free at leisure Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Shanghai (Breakfast)
All good things must come to an end and today sees our 6 day adventure draw to a close. Before transferring to the airport for our onward flight, we may have time to embark on some, independent, solo sight-seeing.