Imperial China - Shanghai, Xian and Beijing

Our tour starts today in Shanghai, China’s biggest city and home to more than 24 million people. Shanghai, shaped by foreign influence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is now one of East Asia’s leading business and financial centres. Remnants of its pre-Communist European heritage can still be seen alongside the glitz and glamour of designer shops, restaurants and a thriving nightlife. Home to one of the world’s largest collections of Art Deco architecture, the city still remains unmistakably Chinese, with futuristic skyscrapers rising above a maze of busy alleyways and traditional neighbourhoods. For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 4pm for a welcome meeting, followed by a stroll along the Bund to see the city skyline lit up at night. The name itself speaks to Shanghai’s history as British traders brought the term ‘bund’ from India to China, to describe the waterfront and embankment. If you’d like an airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive at either Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which is a 90-minute drive from our hotel. Alternatively, you can arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), located one hour from our hotel. Please note, if you’d like to join today’s walk along the Bund, your flight will need to arrive by 2pm. If you’re organising your own travel, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport, plus the transfer time. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible. While we tick off the highlights, we have limited time in Shanghai and there’s plenty more to see and do. If you want to make the most of this vibrant city, we recommend adding a pre-tour night or two to your trip.

This morning, we'll explore Shanghai on foot and using the city's metro system. We'll begin with a walk through the former French Concession, a leafy district of tree-lined avenues, historic villas and elegant architecture that reflects Shanghai's cosmopolitan past. From here, we’ll continue south to Nanjing Road, one of the world’s busiest shopping streets. Here you’ll find several of China’s oldest department stores and a pedestrianised boulevard lined with flagship stores, street performers and shopping galore. The hustle and bustle is the real attraction on this strip. After a busy morning familiarising ourselves with the city, we’ll grab some lunch at a local restaurant before we retrace our steps back to the hotel to collect our luggage. We then take the high-speed train on a quick journey to Suzhou, a city renowned for its classical gardens, picturesque canals and centuries-old silk industry. Often referred to as the 'Venice of the East', Suzhou offers a gentler pace than Shanghai, with elegant waterways, stone bridges and traditional architecture. For those who have the energy to explore more today, our tour leader will take us on a walk to a nearby night market, where we can get dinner. Throughout this tour, we cover a lot of ground on foot. We recommend bringing comfortable footwear.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll walk 10 minutes to the Master of Nets Garden to be first in line for opening time. Suzhou is home to countless intricate and well-manicured classical gardens, some like the Master of Nets, with UNESCO status. After our visit, we’ll make our way towards Pinjiang Road, a canal-side street lined with art galleries, silk stores and modern cafes. We’ll have time to explore solo and grab lunch or snacks for the train. Then, we’ll board a skiff – a traditional boat rowed by hand – to see the smaller canals and bridges. We’ll transfer to Suzhou Railway Station by private vehicle to catch the bullet train to Xi’an. Our train journey will take approximately six-and-a-half hours, arriving in Xian early evening. We’ll be making the most out of China’s clean, comfortable and efficient high-speed trains on this tour, so we’d recommend bringing a book, a podcast or some games to keep yourself entertained whilst you settle in and watch the landscape go by. For more information about the trains, please see the Transport section.

We have an early start this morning to visit one of the holiday’s most iconic sites – the Terracotta Army. Created to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China, these life-sized warriors and horses are considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the century. It’s said that there are still thousands more to be uncovered in the neighbouring mounds around the main site. The Terracotta Army is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located a one-hour journey outside of town and is visited by thousands of people every day. It's worth noting that it can be very crowded at times. We recommend bringing a hat and sun or rain protection as there may be a long queue to enter. This evening, we’ll head to the Muslim Quarter, the historic home of Xian’s Hui Muslim community and a general hub of activity. It’s a popular spot amongst hungry locals and tourists alike – this part of the city comes alive in the evening with street vendors catering to the masses. We’ll wander through the bustling streets in the Muslim Quarter before sitting down to try some of the city’s famous dishes, such as Biangbiang noodles (thick, hand-pulled wheat noodles served with plenty of garlic, chili flakes, Sichuan pepper, and oil), Xian Bing pancakes, or the crowd-pleasing dumplings stuffed with minced meat.

After breakfast, we’ll head up onto Xian’s City Walls. Covering a circumference of around 13.74 kilometres/8.5 miles, the city walls were built in 1370 AD as a military defense system during the Ming Dynasty. For those who feel more energetic, there is the option to hire bicycles (at an extra cost) to cycle the walls. Our bus will then take us to the train station to catch our high-speed train to Beijing. The journey will take around four to five hours.

Today, we have a full day to explore Beijing. We’ll begin with a visit to Tiananmen Square and the vast Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Afterwards, we’ll take a stroll through Beijing’s historic hutongs. This maze of narrow alleyways once formed the heart of the old city but have been rapidly replaced in much of Beijing by high-rise modern developments. Originating during the imperial dynasties as homes for elites and commoners alike, these courtyards were subdivided into cramped communal quarters following the social shifts of the 1950s. Walking through, you’ll see daily life unfold as residents play cards and catch up with neighbours, right alongside more revamped lanes packed with small bars, cafes and boutiques shops. This evening, there’s the option to catch an acrobatic show. Please note, while our itinerary gives us two days in China’s capital, there’s a lot to pack in. If you really want to get to grips with Beijing’s sites, we highly recommend adding additional nights to your trip post-tour.

Today, we’ll visit a renovated part of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of the city. Work on the Great Wall of China began in the 3rd century BC, orchestrated by Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Thousands of conscripted workers laboured on it, and many lie buried within its brick and stone ramparts. While the wall spans the entire country, we’ll walk this small section – covering 2 kilometres/1.2 miles – which boasts watchtowers and views of the surrounding countryside. Later this afternoon, we’ll drive back to Beijing. The rest of the late afternoon is free. For those who would like to explore more, there’s an optional visit to the Temple of Heaven. To celebrate the end of our tour of China’s Golden Triangle, our tour leader will organise a farewell dinner, where we’ll get to try Peking duck. There will be veggie options available, too.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Beijing. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from either Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) which is a 90-minute drive from our hotel or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) which is a one-hour 45-minute drive away.