Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel. In the early evening, head out to Wangfujing Street, a busy pedestrian shopping area where you can walk around and check out the restaurants and shops. Dinner's included, then you'll head back to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Wangfujing Street
Landmarks Wangfujing Street 
- Day 2
Beijing
This is a full day exploring Beijing's main sights. You'll see the Forbidden City (or the Confucius Temple and Lama Temple if access is limited), then go to Jingshan Park for views looking back at the Forbidden City. From there, you'll check out Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Opera House, followed by the Summer Palace. A tricycle ride through the old Hutong neighborhoods lets you explore a traditional courtyard house too. Lunch is on the tour, and you'll get back to the hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit the Forbidden City (or alternative: Confucius Temple and Lama Temple if access unavailable)
- Visit Jingshan Park and Coal Hill
- Stroll through Tiananmen Square
- Visit Summer Palace
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit Siheyuan courtyard house
- Lunch
Landmarks Forbidden City Jingshan Park Coal Hill Tiananmen Square Beijing Opera House Summer Palace Hutong neighborhoods Confucius Temple Lama Temple 
- Day 3
Great Wall, Art District, Temple of Heaven
Early on, you'll head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and take a cable car up and down to see the views. After that, stop by the 798 Art District, which is housed in an old military factory and has contemporary art installations. Then you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO site where emperors used to pray. The day winds down with a foot massage and Tai Chi class, followed by dinner of lacquered duck.
- Meals
- Dinner (Lacquered duck dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section)
- Visit 798 Art District
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Foot massage
- Tai Chi class
- Lacquered duck dinner
Landmarks Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section) 798 Art District Temple of Heaven - Day 4
Beijing to Nanjing
Following breakfast, you'll head to the train station and board a high-speed train to Nanjing, covering 1,000 km in about four hours. Once there, you'll hike up Purple Mountain to see the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Linggu Temple. You'll have free time to walk around Nanjing on your own before settling into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Nanjing Central), Hotel (Hilton Nanjing Riverside)
Included Activities
- High-speed train to Nanjing
- Visit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
- Visit Linggu Temple
Optional Activities
- Explore Nanjing at your own pace
Landmarks Purple Mountain Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Linggu Temple 
- Day 5
Nanjing to Suzhou to Tongli to Shanghai
You'll travel to Suzhou, a UNESCO city famous for its classical gardens and silk production. Start at the Garden of the Humble Administrator, the city's largest and most well-known garden. Walk through Pingjiang Road with its canals, teahouses, and local shops. After lunch, continue on to Tongli, a water town with narrow canals and stone bridges where you'll take a scenic boat ride. Later, you'll travel to Shanghai and stay overnight there.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Garden of the Humble Administrator
- Scenic boat ride in Tongli water town
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Explore Pingjiang Road at your own pace
Landmarks Garden of the Humble Administrator Pingjiang Road Tongli water town 
- Day 6
Shanghai
Today you'll see Shanghai's main attractions starting in Pudong, the modern business area with high-rise skyscrapers including the Pearl Tower. Take a ferry across the Shanghai River, then head to the Old City and the Yuyuan Garden where you'll have a traditional tea ceremony. Check out Xintiandi, a trendy area with shops and cafes, and after lunch explore Tianzifang with its winding alleys and craft shops. You'll finish with a walk along the Bund, which has old colonial buildings. The afternoon is free, with an optional boat trip to see Shanghai's nighttime lights.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Pudong financial district
- Scenic ferry ride across Shanghai River
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Traditional tea ceremony
- Explore Xintiandi
- Explore Tianzifang
- Walk along The Bund
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to see Shanghai at night
Landmarks Pudong Pearl Tower Shanghai River Yuyuan Garden Xintiandi Tianzifang The Bund - Day 7
Shanghai to Luoyang
You'll head to the train station early for a 7:17 a.m. departure on a high-speed train to Luoyang, traveling 1,000 km in just over five hours through countryside. Once there, you'll see the Longmen Buddhist Caves, an impressive site with more than 100,000 Buddha statues carved into rock cliffs. You'll take a scenic boat ride along the river and then walk through the ancient city of Luoyang with its city walls and lit-up streets. Lunch is included.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Luoyang), Hotel (Ramada By Wyndham Downtown)
Included Activities
- High-speed train to Luoyang
- Visit Longmen Buddhist Caves
- Scenic boat ride along the river
- Explore ancient city of Luoyang
- Lunch
Landmarks Longmen Buddhist Caves Ancient city of Luoyang 
- Day 8
Luoyang to Sanmenxia to Xian
Start early with a visit to the White Horse Buddhist Monastery, a large Buddhist learning center outside Luoyang. Continue on to Sanmenxia to see the Yellow River and visit the Baolun Temple with its tall pagoda. You'll explore the Guo Museum to see ancient funeral carriages from the former State of Guo. As you travel, you'll pass by Mount Hua, one of China's most sacred mountains. You should arrive in Xian by late afternoon. Lunch is included.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit White Horse Buddhist Monastery
- Visit Baolun Temple
- Visit Guo Museum
- Pass by Mount Hua
- Lunch
Landmarks White Horse Buddhist Monastery Yellow River Baolun Temple Guo Museum Mount Hua 
- Day 9
Xian
You'll visit the Terracotta Army, an incredible archaeological site with thousands of life-sized clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China's first emperor. Return to Xian to see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist structure that's over 1,000 years old. Walk through the historic walled city center and the Muslim Quarter, visiting the Great Mosque. There's a short performance of traditional Chinese music at the Drum Tower, then you'll have free time to explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army Museum
- Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Explore historic walled center
- Visit Great Mosque in Muslim Quarter
- Performance of traditional Chinese music at Drum Tower
Optional Activities
- Explore Xian at your own pace
Landmarks Terracotta Army Small Wild Goose Pagoda Muslim Quarter Great Mosque Drum Tower - Day 10
Xian to Dunhuang
You'll go to the airport to catch a flight to Dunhuang, an oasis town in the Gobi Desert. After arriving and checking into your hotel, you'll head out to the desert for a camel ride across the Singing Sand Dunes. You'll reach the Crescent Moon Spring, a crescent-shaped lake at the base of the dunes, traveling by electric car to get there. Then you'll head back to Dunhuang for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Huandong International), Hotel (Silk Road Yiyuan)
Included Activities
- Flight from Xian to Dunhuang
- Camel ride across Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan)
- Visit Crescent Moon Spring
- Electric car transport to desert sites
Landmarks Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan) Crescent Moon Spring 
- Day 11
Dunhuang to Turpan
You'll explore the Mogao Caves, carved into a mountainside and containing up to 18 monasteries. After lunch, you'll watch the Youjian Dunhuang Show, a local cultural performance. Later, you'll go to the station and board a high-speed train to Turpan, departing at 5:12 p.m. and arriving at 8:45 p.m. Turpan is in the Turpan Depression, the lowest point in China at 500 meters below sea level.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meizhou Turpan)
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Caves
- Attend Youjian Dunhuang Show
- High-speed train to Turpan
- Lunch
Landmarks Mogao Caves 
- Day 12
Turpan
You'll visit several key Silk Road sites. Start at the Ancient City of Gaochang and the Astana Tombs. Then check out the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, rock-carved caves that were once part of an old monastery. You'll also see the Jiaohe Ruins, an ancient adobe city that was strategically important along the Silk Road. The day ends at the Flaming Mountains with their distinctive red sandstone ridges formed by volcanic activity. Lunch is included, and you'll return to Turpan for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meizhou Turpan)
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Gaochang
- Visit Astana Tombs
- Visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- Visit Jiaohe Ruins
- Visit Flaming Mountains
- Lunch
Landmarks Ancient City of Gaochang Astana Tombs Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Jiaohe Ruins Flaming Mountains - Day 13
Turpan to Urumqi
Start by seeing the outside of the Su Gong Ta Mosque in Turpan, which has the Emin Minaret, China's tallest minaret built during the Qing dynasty. Visit a local vineyard and then explore the Karez irrigation system, one of China's greatest engineering achievements. Walk through the busy bazaars of Daban District. After lunch, you'll travel to Urumqi to see a salt lake and wind farms, one of the world's largest wind energy projects. You'll stay in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province. Lunch is included.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Huaming Accor Mgallery)
Included Activities
- Exterior visit to Su Gong Ta Mosque and Emin Minaret
- Visit local vineyard
- Visit Karez irrigation system
- Stroll through Daban District bazaars
- Visit salt lake in Urumqi
- Visit wind farms in Urumqi
- Lunch
Landmarks Su Gong Ta Mosque Emin Minaret Karez irrigation system Daban District bazaars 
- Day 14
Tianchi Lake
You'll go to Tianchi Lake, also called Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake at about 2,000 meters altitude that's recognized as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. After lunch, you'll return to Urumqi to visit the Grand Bazaar, which keeps alive the ancient spirit of the Silk Road. You'll stay overnight in Urumqi.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Huaming Accor Mgallery)
Included Activities
- Visit Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake)
- Visit Grand Bazaar
- Lunch
Landmarks Tianchi Lake Grand Bazaar - Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, you'll be taken to the airport where the tour services end, leaving you with your memories from the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
