Tour Type: Country Explorer
Brochure Type Asia 2025 v1

Follow in the footsteps of the ancients - up the ornate steps of the Forbidden City and to the ramparts of the Great Wall, snaking its way across the rolling countryside, and through the winding ancient alleys of Beijing's hutongs to learn about Chinese traditions over a home-cooked lunch.

Be My Guest
  • Beijing Visit and have lunch with a local family in their home in one of Beijing's hutongs and gain a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lifestyle.
Dining Summary
  • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
  • 4 Lunch (L)
  • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
  • 1 Regional Dinner (RD)
  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
Dive Into Culture
  • Xi'an Discover the traditions and techniques of dumpling making, indulging in an opportunity to sample them.
  • Beijing Indulge in a foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Center.
Must-see Highlights
  • Visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall of China at Juyongguan, the Sacred Way in Beijing, Hutong residences, Great Mosque, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, the 'Bund' waterfront and Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai
  • Explore Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai
  • See local people practicing Tai Chi in the morning and the Shanghai Acrobats
Stays With Stories
  • Shanghai The year was 1988, The Kunlun Beijing opened as the first Chinese designed and built five-star hotel in Shanghai City, welcoming state and foreign dignitaries, and international clientele. Relax at The Kunlun Jing An, a landmark city hotel excep
Whats Included
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
  • Optional Experiences and free time
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Flights from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Shanghai.
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities

Call 1 (888) 828-8747 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18030301

Tour Operator
Trafalgar Tours
Duration
10 Days
Escorted
Escorted - Yes
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1BeijingSay Ni hao to China: Launch your discovery of China in its cultural heart. Transfer to your Beijing hotel where you'll meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception drink and local appetizers this evening.

Accommodations: Novotel Peace
Day 2BeijingDiscover the Icons of Beijing: Delve into Beijing's rich imperial heritage, beginning your encounter with the remnants of centuries-old dynasties in the world's largest public space, Tiananmen Square. Tread in the footsteps of emperors, passing through the south gate to the UNESCO-listed Forbidden City, the imperial palace for emperors and their households for over five centuries. Immerse yourself in the ancient rituals, traditions and history of this palace complex before lunch. Continue to the tranquil Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO Heritage Site, once visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to pray for good harvests and divine guidance. This evening, the salty, sweet flavors of succulent Peking Duck take center stage during a Regional Dinner.

Accommodations: Novotel Peace
Day 3BeijingJourney to the Great Wall: We leave the city behind, bound for the iconic Great Wall of China at Juyongguan. Standing on its ramparts, we look down on the Chinese countryside which its walls successfully defended against marauding nomadic invaders. Watch it snake thousands of miles into the distance as you imagine how these man-made fortifications were built and rebuilt from the 5th century B.C. to the 16th century. Then, walk the Sacred Way past the imposing stone statues that guard the Ming Tombs and remains of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

Accommodations: Novotel Peace
Day 4BeijingExplore Beijing Connect with Locals Dive Into Culture: A leisurely start to our morning sees us embark on a rickshaw tour around the ancient narrow alleyways of the courtyard Hutong residences. We Connect With Locals, joining a family for a delicious meal of traditional Chinese cuisine at a Be My Guest lunch, followed by a visit to a tea house, where a Local Specialist prepares and serves tea, explaining the historic tea-making ritual. This afternoon, we'll indulge in a relaxing foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Center.

Accommodations: Novotel Peace
Day 5Xi'anTravel to Xi'an: We fly to Xi'an, which reveals its role as the ancient departure point of the Silk Road. Visit the Great Mosque, one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved mosques in China. According to historical records it was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty and is a combination of Islamic art and traditional Chinese architecture.

Accommodations: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South
Day 6Xi'anUncover Xi'an's Treasures Make Travel Matter: Descend into Emperor Qin Shi Huang's subterranean tomb to see his terracotta army for the afterlife, another UNESCO-listed site. For lunch, enjoy a traditional meal of Chinese noodles, then continue with a visit to a Jade factory, the favored stone of emperors and more precious to the Chinese people than gold.

Accommodations: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South
Day 7ShanghaiOnwards to Shanghai Dive Into Culture Stays With Stories: This morning, your choice of activities gives you an opportunity to mimic the graceful movements of a skilled T'ai Chi Local Specialist, or consider joining a cycle tour around part of the ancient City Wall of Xi'an. We Dive Into Culture at a local restaurant, watching a demonstration in the art of making dumplings, with an opportunity to sample these for lunch. Savor the juicy flavors of these boiled, steamed and fried treats, transporting you back to ancient China, before transferring to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. Ascend to the 88-storey Jinmao Tower for panoramic views of the skyscrapers that loom over the most populous city on earth.

Accommodations: The Kunlun Jing An
Day 8ShanghaiExperience Shanghai Dive Into Culture: Stroll down Shanghai's famous ?Bund' with a Local Specialist, admiring the neoclassical colonial buildings that have lined this city's renowned waterfront since the early 1900s. Learn how this marshland was transformed into one of the world's most important trading hubs. Then, continue to the winding streets and vibrant markets of Old Shanghai to discover the how the customs and traditional lifestyle of this area have remained relatively unaltered. Enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in the Old Town before we Dive Into Culture during a visit to a silk museum. This evening, indulge in a performance by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.

Accommodations: The Kunlun Jing An
Day 9ShanghaiShanghai Your Way: Spend a day exploring the Paris of the East on your terms - shop for delicate Chinese ceramics, or consider joining an Optional Experience to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town founded more than 1,700 years ago. In its heyday, Zhujiajiao was a bustling market town. Today, old historical buildings such as rice shops, banks, spice stores and even a Qing Dynasty post office can still be found as you stroll down its ancient streets and wander across the many stone bridges that crisscross its canals. This afternoon, you'll have some free time at leisure before joining your travel companions for a Farewell Dinner.

Accommodations: The Kunlun Jing An
Day 10ShanghaiFarewell Shanghai: Our mystical encounter with China at its end, take a transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward flight.

Accommodations:
Dates/Pricing

Click Quote or call 1 (888) 828-8747 to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
05/09/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
05/16/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
05/30/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
06/27/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
07/25/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
08/08/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
08/29/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
09/12/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
09/19/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
10/10/2025$5,075.00* (USD) / Land PriceQuote
Disclaimer
Twin prices are per person.

- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
  
Online Agency Travel Websites