China Express

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing. You will start your trip by meeting with your local guide at 6pm in the hotel lobby. They will welcome you and go over details about your trip including meeting up with your guides in each city. After that, your guide will take you on an orientation walk.

Accommodation:
•Campanile Hotel Guanganmen or similar (3 nights)
Meals Included:
• There are no meals included today
Optional Activities:
• Beijing – Temple of Heaven & Hongqiao Pearl

There will be a lot of walking today, as well as using the subway to get around some of Beijing’s most famous sights. Starting with Tiananmen Square; one of the world's largest public squares and home to the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People continue to the Forbidden City (built 1406-1420), the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for more than 500 years. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
After the Forbidden City, we will enjoy our lunch in a local restaurant, savoring authentic Chinese dumplings. Spend the afternoon strolling through the alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyards known as Hutongs, this is the best way to experience the local life of Beijing.

Accommodation:
•Campanile Hotel Guanganmen or similar (3 nights)
Meals Included:
• Breakfast

Mutianyu (about 2 hours out of Beijing) is one of the best-preserved and restored sections of the Great Wall so it is easy to climb, but you can still appreciate the difficulty and scale of its construction. A picnic lunch on the Wall is provided.
Return to Beijing in time for an overnight train to Xi’an.

Accommodation:
•Overnight on hard-sleeper train from Beijing to Xi’an (1 night)
Meals Included:
• Breakfast

Upon arrival meet your local guide and head out to the Terracotta Warriors and learn much about this incredible archaeological find. After being buried for 2,000 years it was discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well. Three main pits are open for you to view. Here just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors – each individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height and even facial expressions – stand in battle formation along with horses and chariots. The scale is incredible.
After lunch in a local village return to central Xi’an to explore the Muslim quarter and stroll through the narrow streets dotted with small shops, markets and restaurants.

Accommodation:
• Chenggong International Hotel or similar ( 1 night)
Meals Included:
• There are no meals included today

Today is a free day to explore this fantastic city. You can cycle on the ancient city wall, explore the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, or visit the Bell and Drum Towers.
Meet your guide in your hotel lobby in late afternoon before heading to the train station for an overnight train to Shanghai.

Accommodation:
•Overnight on hard-sleeper train from Xi’an-Shanghai (1 night)
Meals Included:
• There are no meals included today
Optional Activities in Xi’an:
• Xi’an –Shanxi Historical Museum, Ancient City Wall & Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Arrive Shanghai in the morning where you will be met and be transferred to your hotel. After a short break, take a walking tour through old Shanghai. First on the itinerary is City God Temple, a folk temple neighboring Yuyuan Garden. The City God Temple in Shanghai originated as the Jinshan God Temple, dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan or "Gold Mountain", an island off the coast of Shanghai. It was converted into a City God Temple in 1403, during the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty. Its popularity turns the surroundings into a large pedestrian area that hosts an array of shops, restaurants and teahouses, as well as annual temple fair events.
Later, we’ll stroll along the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of Old Shanghai where we can get a real glimpse into the locals’ daily life. Shanghai Museum is a highlight of the tour. The museum is designed is in keeping with Feng Shui principles. It houses a great permanent collection of over 120,000 pieces and also hosts many special exhibitions. In the evening, we will explore the Bund. This spectacular array of Art Deco buildings line what was once the most important financial street in Asia.

Accommodation:
•Shanghai Railway Mansion or similar (2 nights)
Meals Included:
•There are no meals included today

Today is a free day to explore Shanghai. One option is to join in a tour to Zhujiajiao, a water town near Shanghai.
This ancient water town is well-known throughout the country, with a history of more than 1700 years. Wander through the small streets and across the bridges that crisscross the town. Get lost among the maze of peaceful cobblestone streets lined with village buildings – it’s a welcome break from the bustle of modern Shanghai. While here, gliding along the waterways in a gondola is the ideal way to enjoy a real water town experience.

Accommodation:
•Shanghai Railway Mansion or similar (2 nights)
Meals Included:
•There are no meals included today

Today is your last day in Shanghai. There are no activities planned but depending on the time of your outbound flight you can spend the day exploring more of the busy city or indulging in the many cuisines that can be found here.

Meals Included:
•There are no meals included today