Classic China

Day 1: USA - Beijing

Overnight flight to Beijing (not included).

Day 2: Arrive Beijing

Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel

Welcome to Beijing! Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in before meeting your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception drink and local appetizers. Dining: Welcome Reception

Day 3: Beijing Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel

Begin your visit to this great capital city by exploring one of the world’s largest public areas, Tiananmen Square, home to the National Museum of China, the mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Great Monument to the Peoples’ Heroes. Pass through the south gate to the magnificent Forbidden City, a 180 acre complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens, which served as the imperial palace for emperors and their households for more than 500 years. After lunch continue to another UNESCO Heritage site - the stunning Temple of Heaven, visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to heaven. Later, indulge in a relaxing foot massage, a cultural insight, at the Foot Reflexology Center. This evening, enjoy a succulent Peking Duck Regional Meal – a must during any visit to Beijing.

Day 4: Beijing & the Great Wall

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel

Travel outside the city and look down upon the Chinese countryside from your perch on top of the Great Wall, which is actually a collection of fortifications built and rebuilt from the 5th century B.C. to the 16th century to defend against nomadic invaders like the Mongols. Walk the Sacred Way to the remnants of the Ming Tombs, the once-lavish burial chambers of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Both places are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Day 5: Beijing Sightseeing & Free Time

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel

Spend the morning at leisure, before embarking on a unique tour by rickshaw around the ancient alleyways of the courtyard Hutong residences. Stop at the home of a local family for a delicious Be My Guest lunch of traditional Chinese cuisine followed by a visit to a charming tea house, where a local specialist prepares and serves tea, while explaining the historic tea making ritual.

Day 6: Beijing – Xi’an

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Begin your day by greeting the famed Chinese giant pandas at Beijing Zoo. In the afternoon, bid farewell to Beijing and fly to the city of Xi'an.

Day 7: Xi'an Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

During term-time, meet the children and teachers at a local primary school. Perhaps learn a few words of Chinese from the kids who in turn will be happy to practice their English. Afterwards, visit the legendary army of Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Emperor Qin Shi Huang's subterranean tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For lunch enjoy a delicious Regional Meal of traditional Chinese noodles. Visit a Jade factory and then continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks and one of the Silk Road UNESCO listed sites.

Day 8: Xi’an – Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hilton Shanghai

This morning your choice of activities gives you the chance to participate in a Tai Chi Class, with a skilled local specialist, or take a cycle tour around the ancient City Wall of Xi'an. Continue on to a local restaurant to watch a demonstration in the art of making dumplings, a cultural insight, and afterwards enjoy sampling these for lunch. There are 21 different kinds of dumplings with a variety of fillings and different ways of cooking them. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. This evening take a relaxing cruise along the Huangpu River and admire Shanghai's illuminated skyline; a great introduction to the city.

Day 9: Shanghai Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hilton Shanghai

With a local specialist, take a stroll along Shanghai's famous 'Bund', the city's renowned waterfront, lined with former colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers. Learn how marshland was turned into one of the most important trading hubs in the modern world. Continue to Old Shanghai, a little known treasure trove of winding streets and vibrant markets. Despite the rapid pace of development in the rest of the city, the established customs and lifestyle of this area have remained relatively unaltered. Enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in the Old Town before continuing to visit a silk museum and shop. This evening enjoy a performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.

Day 10: Shanghai Free Time

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hilton Shanghai

Today is yours to explore Shanghai further, do some last minute shopping or take an optional experience to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town founded more than 1,700 years ago. In its heyday, Zhujiajiao was a bustling market town well known throughout the country. Today, old historical buildings such as rice shops, banks, spice stores and even a Qing dynasty post office can still be found when strolling down the ancient streets and exploring the many bridges that crisscross its canals. In the afternoon enjoy some free time back in Shanghai before joining your travel companions for a Farewell Dinner.

Day 11: Shanghai – USA

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continue your vacation with our popular Hong Kong extension.