Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll meet your local leader and group at 6 pm for your first evening in Beijing. After introductions, you'll head out to dinner at a traditional roast duck restaurant to try authentic Peking duck, a classic dish that's been prepared the same way for generations in the capital.
- Meals
- Dinner (Peking duck at traditional kaoyadian (roast duck restaurant))
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting with local leader and group
- Peking duck dinner at traditional kaoyadian (roast duck restaurant)
Landmarks Beijing 
- Day 2
Beijing
This morning starts at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, where you can walk through centuries of Chinese imperial history. After grabbing lunch, you'll head to Niujie Street in the Muslim community to sample halal street food, then check out a traditional hutong neighborhood before ending at Fayuan Temple. There's an optional Beijing hot pot dinner if you want to continue exploring local flavors.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square visit
- Forbidden City tour and exploration of gardens, halls, courtyards and art
- Niujie Street food sampling - halal snacks including niurou bing (meat pie) and sticky rice cakes
- Traditional hutong visit in Muslim community area
- Fayuan Temple visit - one of Beijing's oldest Buddhist temples
Optional Activities
- Classic Beijing hot pot dinner
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Niujie Street Fayuan Temple 
- Day 3
Beijing
You'll drive out to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the better-preserved stretches. Your leader will share how this engineering achievement came together while you take in the mountain views around you. Back in Beijing by late afternoon, you'll have free time to relax and explore on your own, whether that's checking out a hutong market or sitting down at a traditional teahouse.
Included Activities
- Great Wall visit - Mutianyu section
- Watchtower exploration and history learning
Optional Activities
- Hutong market exploration and observation of traditional tofu and dumpling preparation
- Traditional Chinese tea ceremony at teahouse
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Mutianyu Section 
- Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Early morning high-speed bullet train takes you to Xi'an, arriving in the early afternoon. You'll participate in a noodle-making class run by a local couple in their apartment, learning dough prep and noodle cutting before enjoying their home-cooked meal. After class, you can optionally walk the Xi'an City Wall or explore the Drum and Bell Tower nearby.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked noodle-making class feast with steaming soup and stir-fried dishes)
Included Activities
- High-speed bullet train to Xi'an
- Noodle-making class in local apartment with home-cooked feast including steaming soup and stir-fried meat and veggie dishes
Optional Activities
- Stroll along Xi'an City Wall
- Explore Drum and Bell Tower
Landmarks Xi'an City Wall Drum and Bell Tower - Day 5
Xi'an
You'll travel out to the Terracotta Warriors archaeological site to see thousands of life-sized clay warriors arranged in battle formation. Lunch is plant-based fare at a local farm. Back in Xi'an, you'll learn calligraphy at a Ming dynasty mansion, then spend the evening food crawling through the Muslim Quarter trying various local specialties.
- Meals
- Lunch (Plant-based lunch at local farm), Dinner (Muslim Quarter food crawl - barbeque skewers, biang biang noodles, soup-filled dumplings and hammered candy)
Included Activities
- Terracotta Warriors archaeological site tour
- Local farm visit with plant-based lunch
- Traditional calligraphy class at Gao Jia Da Yuan historic mansion
- Muslim Quarter food crawl including barbeque skewers, biang biang noodles, soup-filled dumplings and hammered candy
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors Gao Jia Da Yuan Muslim Quarter - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
Early morning bullet train brings you to Chengdu, Sichuan's capital and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Once you arrive, your leader will walk you through Tianfu Square and People's Park, where locals gather to relax, sip tea, and play mahjong. The day wraps up with a communal Sichuan hot pot feast, your introduction to the region's bold flavors.
- Meals
- Dinner (Communal feast of Sichuan hot pot)
Included Activities
- High-speed bullet train to Chengdu
- Orientation walk including Tianfu Square and People's Park
- Sichuan hot pot dinner
Optional Activities
- Chinese baijiu (distilled grain spirit) tasting
- Local beer
Landmarks Tianfu Square People's Park 
- Day 7
Chengdu
You'll get up early to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and watch the pandas play, munch bamboo, climb around, and lounge. Later, you'll go to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum to explore the province's spicy heritage through displays and tastings of ancient cooking tools. Then you'll learn to cook kung pao chicken, mapo tofu, and panda-shaped dumplings.
Included Activities
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base visit
- Sichuan Cuisine Museum visit including interactive displays and cooking class with professional chef
Landmarks Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Sichuan Cuisine Museum 
- Day 8
Chengdu to Hong Kong
Morning bullet train takes you to Hong Kong, which is a long travel day but the modern, comfortable carriages make it manageable. You'll arrive in late afternoon, and your leader will give you a walking tour to experience the city's energetic skyline and neon-lit streets. Before dinner, you'll wrap up at Victoria Harbour for the Symphony of Lights show, with optional Cantonese dinner afterwards.
Included Activities
- High-speed bullet train to Hong Kong
- Leader-led orientation walking tour
- Victoria Harbour and Symphony of Lights show
Optional Activities
- Dinner with group for Cantonese classics including wonton noodles, sweet and sour pork or claypot rice
Landmarks Victoria Harbour Symphony of Lights - Day 9
Hong Kong
You'll start with a special dim sum breakfast, a Cantonese brunch tradition with small plates of steamed and fried dumplings, buns, rice noodle rolls, and egg tarts paired with hot tea. After eating, you'll walk through the cultural heart of the city visiting Man Mo Temple and Tai Kwun heritage centre, then stroll Graham Street Market. An optional group dinner featuring more Cantonese dishes is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Dim sum - Cantonese brunch tradition with small plates of steamed and fried dumplings, buns, rice noodle rolls and egg tarts with hot tea)
Included Activities
- Dim sum breakfast experience
- Walking tour through cultural heart of city
- Man Mo Temple visit
- Tai Kwun arts and heritage centre visit
- Graham Street Market stroll
Optional Activities
- Final group dinner with Cantonese fare
Landmarks Man Mo Temple Tai Kwun Graham Street Market 
- Day 10
Hong Kong
Your China Real Food Adventure comes to an end today with no activities scheduled. If you'd like additional accommodation in Hong Kong, reach out to your booking agent ahead of time to see what's available, as options depend on what's open.
