Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Shanghai
Day two is completely yours to spend however you like. Shanghai's a huge city with plenty to do, so you can explore at whatever pace feels right. Check out different neighborhoods, try some local food, wander the streets, or take things easy if you need to catch up on sleep.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Shanghai - Day 3
Shanghai (Christmas Day)
Start the morning at Yu Gardens, which is nice and peaceful even though it gets busy. From there, walk through the narrow, twisting alleys of the old town and get lost a bit. Later head to the Bund to see the colonial-era buildings line the river. You'll visit a silk factory to see how they work, grab lunch at Lost Heaven restaurant, then stroll through the Christmas markets. Before dinner, take a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the city from the water. Tonight you're having a German-style feast with the rest of your group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Lost Heaven, inspired by indigenous recipes and cooking techniques from Yunnan region), Dinner (German-style feast with drink to toast with travel companions)
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Gardens
- Explore old town alleys
- Stroll along the Bund
- Visit silk factory
- Lunch at Lost Heaven restaurant
- Wander through Christmas markets
- Cruise on Huangpu River
Landmarks Yu Gardens Bund Huangpu River - Day 4
Shanghai to Chengdu
This morning check out Xintiandi, which has those distinctive 1920s-style shikumen buildings that are really worth photographing. After you've had time to look around, head to the airport for your 3.5-hour flight down to Chengdu. It's the capital of Sichuan Province and where you'll get to see giant pandas up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Xintiandi
Landmarks Xintiandi - Day 5
Chengdu
You'll spend your morning at the Panda Conservation Centre seeing the bears and learning about the conservation work they do there. Later on, head to People's Park where you can spend an hour or two walking around. You'll visit a teahouse and check out Matchmaker's Corner, a fascinating spot where parents come looking for partners for their adult children. For dinner, try a traditional hot pot meal, which is what Sichuan is famous for.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Sichuanese hot pot meal)
Included Activities
- Visit Panda Conservation Centre
- Explore People's Park
- Visit teahouse
- Visit Matchmaker's Corner
Landmarks Chengdu Panda Conservation Centre People's Park - Day 6
Chengdu to Xian
Board the bullet train to Xian early in the day for a 3.5-hour ride. Xian's the former ancient capital of China, so there's a lot of history here. That evening after you arrive and get settled, you'll have a dumpling banquet called Shui Jiao and watch a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Shui Jiao dumpling banquet with Tang Dynasty dance performance)
Included Activities
- Watch Tang Dynasty dance performance
Landmarks Xian - Day 7
Xian
The main event today is seeing the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. These clay figures were made over 2,000 years ago to be buried with Emperor Qin Shihuang for the afterlife. After that, visit the Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Workshop where you can see artisans making smaller models. Later, walk along Xian's city walls, which date back to the 14th century and are in really good shape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warriors
- Visit Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Workshop
- Stroll on 14th century city walls
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors Xian City Walls - Day 8
Xian to Beijing
Head to the train station and board the bullet train to Beijing, which takes about 5.5 hours. Once you arrive in the afternoon, take a walk through the Hutongs, which are the old residential neighborhoods with narrow lanes and traditional courtyard houses. That evening, you'll have dinner with a local family, which gives you a different perspective on how people actually live here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with a local family)
Included Activities
- Stroll in Hutongs
- Dinner with a local family
Landmarks Hutongs - Day 9
Beijing to Gubei Watertown (New Year's Eve)
Start your morning at the Summer Palace, which was where the Qing emperors used to go for vacation. It's got beautiful gardens, lakes, and pavilions. Then you'll travel about 2 hours to Gubei Watertown, a recreated ancient town right near the Simatai section of the Great Wall. The afternoon is free, so you can walk along the canals, relax at a hot spring resort, or sit in a teahouse. As the sun sets, take a cable car up to the Great Wall itself to watch the lights come on. You'll walk along the top for a bit before heading back down to town for a New Year's Eve dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (New Year's Eve dinner)
Included Activities
- Explore Summer Palace
- Visit Gubei Watertown
- Cable car ride to Great Wall
- Stroll on Great Wall
- New Year's Eve dinner
Optional Activities
- Wander Gubei Watertown canals
- Relax at hot spring resort
- Visit local teahouse
Landmarks Summer Palace Gubei Watertown Simatai Great Wall - Day 10
Jinshanling Great Wall (New Year's Day)
After a relaxed morning, head out to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall for a walk. This part doesn't get nearly as crowded as the famous sections closer to Beijing, so you'll have a chance to really experience it and think about all the people who walked here centuries ago. You'll toast the New Year with champagne while standing on top of the wall. After returning to Beijing by road, your evening is free to do whatever you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk Jinshanling section of Great Wall
- New Year champagne toast on Great Wall
Landmarks Jinshanling Great Wall - Day 11
Beijing to Harbin
Go to Tiananmen Square in the morning, then walk into the Forbidden City, the massive palace complex where emperors lived. You'll enter through the Gate of Supreme Harmony and see rooms filled with imperial treasures and artifacts. After exploring for several hours, head to the train station for a 5-6 hour bullet train to Harbin, which is known for its International Ice Festival.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Explore Forbidden City
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City - Day 12
Harbin (Ice Festival)
Visit the Songhua River where you'll watch people ice swimming, ice windsurfing, and doing other winter sports. Then go to Sun Island in the middle of the river, a popular park area that covers 38 square kilometers where locals come to relax. Tonight is the Ice Lantern Festival, so head out to see thousands of ice sculptures carved into animals, plants, and buildings, all lit up beautifully. You'll meet people from all over the world celebrating together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Songhua River for winter activities observation
- Visit Sun Island
- Attend Ice Lantern Festival
Optional Activities
- Ice water swimming
- Ice windsurfing
Landmarks Songhua River Sun Island Harbin Ice Lantern Festival - Day 13
Harbin (Ice and Snow World)
Spend the day at Ice and Snow World, where you'll see large ice sculptures based on traditional Chinese stories and famous landmarks from around the world. There are optional activities like an ice maze, ice bars, and skating if you want to try those, plus free time to explore on your own. Later in the afternoon, tour the city center and see the European-style architecture, including Central Avenue and Sophia Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ice and Snow World
- Tour Harbin city centre
- View Sophia Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Ice maze at Ice and Snow World
- Ice bars at Ice and Snow World
- Skating at Ice and Snow World
Landmarks Ice and Snow World Central Avenue Sophia Cathedral - Day 14
Harbin to Beijing
Head to the train station for the 5-6 hour bullet train ride back to Beijing. Once you're back and settled this evening, you'll have a farewell dinner with your group featuring Peking duck, one of the city's most famous dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Peking duck farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Farewell group dinner with Peking duck
- Day 15
Depart Beijing
Get to the airport for your flight back to the UK. Depending on your flight time and which direction you're traveling, you'll either arrive home today or tomorrow.
