Itinerary
- Day 1
Shanghai
You'll arrive in Shanghai and head to your hotel to settle in. This city has over 15 million people and serves as China's largest commercial port and most international hub, so there's plenty to explore once you're ready.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
- Day 2
Shanghai
Start in Pudong's financial district and see the Pearl Tower, then take a ferry across the Huangpu River. Walk through the Old City and check out Yuyuan Garden where you'll have a traditional tea ceremony. From there, head to Xintiandi and Tianzifang to browse art galleries and craft shops. By evening, stroll along The Bund to see the colonial-era buildings. You'll have a free afternoon if you want an optional night boat tour instead.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pudong financial district
- Scenic ferry ride across Huangpu River
- Visit to Yuyuan Garden
- Traditional tea ceremony demonstration
- Stroll through Xintiandi neighborhood
- Exploration of Tianzifang district
- Walk along The Bund
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to see Shanghai at night
Landmarks Pearl Tower Yuyuan Garden Huangpu River The Bund 
- Day 3
Shanghai to Luoyang
Board a high-speed train at 07:17 a.m. heading 1,000 km through countryside to Luoyang, arriving after five hours. Visit the Longmen Buddhist Caves, a massive complex with over 100,000 Buddha statues carved into cliffs stretching a kilometer long. Take a scenic boat ride to see the full site, then explore Luoyang's illuminated streets and traditional areas before settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Luoyang), Hotel (Ramada By Wyndham Downtown)
Included Activities
- Visit to Longmen Buddhist Caves
- Scenic boat ride along river at Longmen Caves
- Exploration of ancient Luoyang city
Landmarks Longmen Buddhist Caves 
- Day 4
Luoyang - Sanmenxia - Xian
Start early at the White Horse Buddhist Monastery on Luoyang's outskirts, an important historic center of Buddhist learning. Travel to Sanmenxia to see the Yellow River, then visit Baolun Temple with its tall pagoda and the Guo Museum with ancient funeral carriages. You'll pass Mount Hua, one of China's holiest mountains, before arriving in Xian by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit to White Horse Buddhist Monastery
- Viewing of Yellow River
- Visit to Baolun Temple
- Exploration of Guo Museum
Landmarks White Horse Buddhist Monastery Yellow River Baolun Temple Mount Hua - Day 5
Xian
Morning visit to the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers guarding China's first emperor's tomb. Next, see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, standing for over a thousand years. Walk through the walled city center and the Muslim Quarter to visit the Great Mosque, then catch a short traditional Chinese music performance at the Drum Tower. Free time afterward to explore however you like.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit to Terracotta Army
- Visit to Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Exploration of walled city center
- Visit to Great Mosque
- Entrance to Drum Tower with traditional Chinese music performance
Landmarks Terracotta Army Small Wild Goose Pagoda Great Mosque Drum Tower - Day 6
Xian to Dunhuang
Fly to Dunhuang, an oasis in the Gobi Desert that was crucial along the Silk Road. After checking into your hotel, ride a camel across the Singing Sand Dunes and reach the Crescent Moon Spring, a crescent-shaped lake at the dunes' base. You'll travel by electric car to access everything comfortably before returning to town for the night.
Included Activities
- Camel ride across Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan)
- Visit to Crescent Moon Spring
- Electric car transport to desert site
Landmarks Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan) Crescent Moon Spring 
- Day 7
Dunhuang to Turpan
Explore the Mogao Caves carved into a mountainside, home to as many as 18 monasteries built into the rock. After lunch, watch the Youjian Dunhuang Show, a local cultural performance. Later, head to the train station for a 05:12 p.m. departure to Turpan, arriving at 08:45 p.m. This city sits 500 meters below sea level in the Turpan Depression, the lowest point in China.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Mogao Caves
- Youjian Dunhuang Show attendance
Landmarks Mogao Caves 
- Day 8
Turpan
Visit the Ancient City of Gaochang and Astana Tombs, then check out the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves with rock-carved structures from an ancient monastery. After lunch, explore the Jiaohe Ruins, an ancient adobe city that held strategic importance along the Silk Road. End the day at the Flaming Mountains with their distinctive red sandstone ridges, then return to Turpan.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Ancient City of Gaochang
- Visit to Astana Tombs
- Exploration of Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- Visit to Jiaohe Ruins
- Visit to Flaming Mountains
Landmarks Ancient City of Gaochang Astana Tombs Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Jiaohe Ruins Flaming Mountains - Day 9
Turpan to Urumqi
Start with an exterior look at the Su Gong Ta Mosque in Turpan and the Emin Minaret, the tallest in China from the Qing dynasty. Tour a local vineyard and explore the Karez irrigation system, one of China's greatest engineering achievements. Stroll through bustling bazaars in Daban District before lunch. After that, travel by bus to Urumqi to see a salt lake and wind farms, then stay overnight in Xinjiang's capital.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Exterior visit to Su Gong Ta Mosque and Emin Minaret
- Visit to local vineyard
- Exploration of Karez irrigation system
- Stroll through Daban District bazaars
- Visit to salt lake
- Viewing of wind farms
Landmarks Su Gong Ta Mosque (Emin Minaret) 
- Day 10
Urumqi
Head to Tianchi Lake, also called Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake around 2,000 meters high and a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. You'll have lunch there, then return to Urumqi to walk through the Grand Bazaar, which keeps the ancient Silk Road spirit alive. Stay overnight in Urumqi.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake)
- Visit to Grand Bazaar
Landmarks Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake) Grand Bazaar - Day 11
Urumqi to Beijing
After breakfast, fly to Beijing, China's capital. Once you arrive and check into your hotel, you'll head to Wangfujing Street in the late afternoon, a busy pedestrian avenue packed with shops and restaurants. Grab dinner there before returning to rest.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit to Wangfujing Street
Landmarks Wangfujing Street 
- Day 12
Beijing
Spend the day exploring Beijing's major sites. Visit the Forbidden City, the massive architectural complex where 24 emperors ruled for nearly 500 years. Head to Jingshan Park and Coal Hill for views of the Forbidden City if weather cooperates. Walk through Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public spaces, and see the Great National Theater. After lunch, go to the Summer Palace with its gardens and serene lakes. Take a tricycle ride through historic Hutong neighborhoods to experience traditional Beijing life, shop, and visit a classic courtyard house. Note: Forbidden City access isn't always guaranteed due to capacity, so if it's unavailable you'll visit the Confucius Temple and Lama Temple instead.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit to Forbidden City (subject to availability)
- Visit to Jingshan Park and Coal Hill
- Stroll through Tiananmen Square
- Visit to Summer Palace
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit to Siheyuan courtyard house
- Alternative: Visit to Confucius Temple and Lama Temple (if Forbidden City unavailable)
Landmarks Forbidden City Jingshan Park Tiananmen Square Great National Theater Summer Palace Confucius Temple Lama Temple 
- Day 13
Beijing
Take a cable car up to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the most scenic stretches with views spanning centuries of history. Return to Beijing and explore the 798 Art District, a former military factory turned contemporary art hub with galleries and studios. Visit the Temple of Heaven, a large sacred complex where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Finish with a foot massage and Tai Chi class to experience traditional Chinese balance, then enjoy a lacquered duck dinner, a local specialty.
- Meals
- Dinner (Lacquered duck dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit to Great Wall of China, Mutianyu section
- Cable car access to Great Wall
- Visit to 798 Art District
- Visit to 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 14
Beijing to Nanjing
Board a high-speed train after breakfast, traveling at 300 km/h and covering nearly 1,000 km to Nanjing in less than four hours. This city of eight million is considered one of China's most pleasant. Explore Purple Mountain to visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, a grand tribute to the founding father of modern China, and the Linggu Temple, a serene Buddhist site surrounded by greenery. You'll have free time to explore the city on your own, then stay overnight.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Nanjing Central), Hotel (Hilton Nanjing Riverside)
Included Activities
- Visit to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
- Visit to Linggu Temple
Landmarks Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Linggu Temple 
- Day 15
Nanjing - Suzhou - Tongli - Shanghai
Travel to Suzhou to see its classical gardens, all designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Garden of the Humble Administrator, the largest and most famous with winding pathways, quiet ponds, and greenery. You'll have free time to explore Pingjiang Road with its canals, traditional teahouses, and artisan shops. After lunch, continue to Tongli, a charming water town with narrow canals, stone bridges, and traditional houses. Take a scenic boat ride through the waterways before traveling to Shanghai to check in.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Entrance to Garden of the Humble Administrator
- Free time on Pingjiang Road
- Scenic boat ride through Tongli
Landmarks Garden of the Humble Administrator Pingjiang Road Tongli 
- Day 16
Shanghai
After breakfast, your journey through China comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful memories from your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
