Itinerary Details
1 Arrive Beijing, China
Big, bold, bewildering: no adjective is too grand for the Chinese capital. It is a living, breathing timeline, where red lanterns flicker in the narrow alleys of hutong districts, the scents of Pekinese cuisine waft over busy markets and each skyscraper looms larger than the last, while grand imperial palaces sprawl with an almost haunting majesty below.
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2 Beijing | The Great Wall & Summer Palace
Explore the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, walking remote battlements and absorbing commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Also visit the Summer Palace on a guided tour of the largest imperial garden in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a veritable museum of classical Chinese garden architecture, complete with pavilions, temples and pagodas.
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3 Beijing | From Ming Dynasty To Modern DayUnfurl the grand tapestry of China’s past on a private guided tour of the Forbidden City, the former home of 24 emperors. Delve into the history of the Ming dynasty at the vast Temple of Heaven, before discovering the tangled lanes of a traditional hutong neighborhood.
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4 Xi’an | Artifacts Of A Lost EmpireStashed away like plundered gold, Xi’an is the China of your imagination. It was once the final knot at the end of the Silk Route, its streets a raucous mix of faiths and fortunes, and even today Xi’an bristles with mystique. The Han Yangling Museum catalogues much of its rich history, with a collection of recovered imperial artifacts that whets your appetite for tomorrow’s visit with the Terracotta Warriors.
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5 Xi’an | The Terracotta WarriorsVisit the astonishing Terracotta Warriors, built in the second century BCE to guide the first Chinese emperor to the afterlife, as well as the Great Mosque, which more closely resembles a grand Buddhist temple. The Wild Goose Pagodas, a pair of towering historic landmarks, afford panoramic views of the city.
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6 Chengdu | A Taste Of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan’s capital, Chengdu, is a city of ornate bridges and rambling old teahouses, where afternoons can be spent playing chess beneath the trees of the People’s Park, and evenings browsing the night markets for a fiery introduction to Sichuanese cuisine. Step off your high-speed rail car and immerse yourself in local life at the People’s Park and Jinli Street to watch area residents play traditional Chinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage in tai chi.
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7 Chengdu | Close Encounters With Giant PandasAt the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center, meet some China’s adorable mascots, among the 100-plus giant and red pandas currently in the center’s care.
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8 Yangshuo | Dreamlike LandscapesThe iconic scenery of Yangshuo feels like the charming illustrations on traditional Chinese scrollwork, with jade-green rock outcrops towering over glassy rivers.
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9 Guilin | Cruising The Li RiverOn a day that begins with a bicycle or golf cart ride through farm villages near Yangshuo, visit the city’s charming Old Street before embarking by bamboo raft along a tributary of the Li River. Take in the reflections of the trees and peaks drifting by and, downstream from Xingping, explore the surrounding countryside on foot.
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10 Shanghai | Evolution Of An Eastern IconOnce a quiet, mysterious trading post on the East China Sea, global Shanghai glitters with sky-high ambitions. Yet, beyond the gleaming malls and five-star towers, old Shanghai still flaunts her jewels: the Bund waterfront, wooden teahouses, curved-roof pavilions and beautiful gardens with lotus-strewn ponds.
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11 Shanghai | Markets, Gardens And Tea HousesDelve into the culture of Shanghai as you stroll through the lovely Yu Yuan Garden, an oasis of tranquility amid the bustle of the modern cityscape. Browse the Shanghai Museum’s exceptional collection of historically significant art, including bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings and jade. In Zhang Yuan, admire restored buildings before continuing to the elegant French Concession, a place of distinctive character.
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12 Shanghai | Private River ExcursionStroll through Zhujiajiao, a water town in the countryside west of Shanghai, where bridges span bubbling streams flowing from Dianshan Lake. Embark by private boat along the winding river, passing beneath the eaves of historic houses. Back in Shanghai, visit the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower for a birds-eye view of the city and ride the spectacularly illuminated Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.
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13 Depart ShanghaiMeals:
