Journey to the “Northern Capital” – a land of emperors, epic monuments and the cultural heart of China. On arrival in Beijing, you’ll be transferred to your hotel where you can relax before meeting your Travel Director for a welcome drink and appetisers at a local restaurant.

Visit the iconic Great Wall of China at Juyongguan this morning – its stone ramparts and walls snaking thousands of miles into the distance to defend the empire against nomadic invaders since 5th century B.C. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and this evening for dinner indulge in a regional dinner of succulent Peking Duck – a must during any visit to Beijing

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.

Included / Optional Experiences:
a. Foot Massage in Beijing
Indulge in a foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Centre.

b. Beijing City Tour
Gain insights into this fascinating city during a sightseeing tour of Beijing. See the Great Hall of the People and Tiananmen Square before stepping through the south gate of the Forbidden City

c. Legend of Kung Fu Show-ADD: ¥350.00
If traditional martial arts, acrobatics, Kung Fu dance and modern theatre sounds like you, then you won’t want to miss the Kung Fu artists at The Legend of Kung Fun Show. It’s the story of a boy who dreams big about being a Kung Fu master. But it’s not just about kicks and flips – it’s about him facing his fears as he fights through it all in becoming a total champ. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Navigate the ancient alleyways of the courtyard Hutong residences, weaving through lively neighbourhoods on the back of a traditional rickshaw. Stop at the home of a local family where you’ll Connect With Locals, enjoying a Be My Guest experience with lunch of traditional Chinese cuisine, then visit a nearby tea house. Here, you’ll delve into the art of chayi, joining a Local Specialist who’ll share first-hand the age-old ritual of tea-making. Leave Beijing behind, bound for Xi’an, an ancient departure point on the Silk Road.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Meet a local Family for Lunch in 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.

b. Rickshaw Ride Through Beijing’s Neighbourhoods
Hop on a traditional rickshaw and weave through Beijing’s ancient alleyways..

Start your day at the Tang Dynasty Gallery, where you’ll explore China’s artistic legacy. Dive into Culture at a traditional calligraphy class, where you’ll try your hand at Chinese writing, an art form dating back to the Han Dynasty. Then, step into history at the Yaodong cave dwellings on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience — ingeniously crafted from Loess earth, these eco-friendly homes have sheltered families for centuries. After lunch, marvel at the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors standing guard over Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Wrap up the day at a Jade factory, discovering the deep cultural significance of China’s national stone.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Visit-ADD: ¥400.00
Visit the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and see the terracotta warriors.

b. Visit a Jade Factory in Xi’an
Visit a jade factory to admire the “imperial gem” and marvel at the mineral’s historic value.

c. Visit Yaodong Cave Dwelling
Step inside 2,000-year-old Yaodong cave dwellings, built from naturally insulating, earthquake-resistant Loess earth. As modern homes replace them, your visit helps families restore their homes, keeping their heritage alive while embracing the future. Your visit also directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

d. Traditional Calligraphy Class
Give Chinese calligraphy a go in this hands-on class, learning an art form that’s been around since the Han Dynasty. With an expert to guide you, you’ll master brush techniques and create your own characters, discovering how every stroke tells a story in this timeless tradition.

e. Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner-ADD: ¥400.00
Enjoy a sumptuous Tang dumpling banquet followed by a wonderful performance of ancient music and dance which has graced the region for centuries. The show consists of 8 parts filled with vibrant costumes, colourful dances and traditional music. Under the ruling of the Tang Emperors from 618 to 907, China became
the most powerful and prosperous country in the world. During this time the economy, politics and military strength reached an unprecedented level which influenced the culture of its neighbouring countries. It was during this flourishing and peaceful period that exquisite Tang imperial feasts with music and dance emerged and developed. Step back in time and enjoy the delightful hospitality and performances of the Tang Dynasty. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

This morning, your choice of activities gives you an opportunity to join a Local Specialist in their T’ai Chi practice or embark on a cycle tour around part of the ancient City Wall of Xi’an. Get stuck in to the ancient art of dumpling making next, with an opportunity to sample the juicy results for lunch, then transfer to the railway station for your high-speed bullet train trip to Chengdu. On arrival in the hometown of the giant panda, you’ll check in to your hotel and savour the leisurely pace of local life on your terms.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Make Dumplings in Xi’an
Discover the traditions and techniques of dumpling making, indulging in an opportunity to sample them.

b. Chengdu Orientation
During your orientation of Chengdu, visit People’s Park and experience the energy of Jinli Old Street.

Witness the ground-breaking work being done by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding this morning. Join a Local Specialist and learn how this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the non-profit research breeding facility which rescues and protects the endangered giant panda, of which fewer than 2,000 remain. Afterwards, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Visit a Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu
At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, learn how your visit contributes to their conservation efforts to rescue and protect the endangered giant panda of which fewer than 2,000 remain.

b. Jinsha Site Museum and Du Fu Cottage-ADD: ¥395.00
Take a guided tour of Jinsha Site Museum. It was built to protect, study and display the archaeological finds discovered on the Jinsha site dating back 3000 years. Precious relics including gold articles, jade objects, bronze wares, stone tools and ivory carvings are on display and signify the exquisite technical craftsmanship of the Ancient Shu people. It is a rare site museum among Chinese museums because of its combination of modern civilization and the civilization of ancient Shu State which is now known as Sichuan Province. Later visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage; a shrine to Chinese literature and commemorative museum of Du Fu, a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty. During his stay there he wrote around 270 poems which are considered to be precious national treasures and some of which are currently being taught in schools. Discover the life of this famous poet in his cottage and take a stroll around the traditional style garden. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Indulge in the bold and spicy flavours of local cuisine as you Dive into Culture and learn about regional cooking practices at the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine. Experience the art of grinding chili into powder using a Qing Dynasty pestle and mortar, and discover ancient kitchenware, books and manuscripts faithfully recording the history of Sichuan culinary cultures. Immerse yourself in the intoxicating scents wafting through Restaurant Alley, pay tribute to the Kitchen God before attempting to create your own culinary magic under the guidance of a local chef. Stomach and soul sated after a delicious encounter with Chengdu, you’ll have an afternoon to relax, explore further or perhaps take the opportunity to do some shopping.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Chengdu Cooking Class
Head to the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine and get stuck in with a cookery lesson. Try your hand at grinding chilli with a traditional pestle and mortar, explore centuries-old recipes and learn the secrets of bold Sichuan flavours. Finally, tuck in.

b. Sichuan Opera –ADD: ¥385.00
Spend the evening at the ShufengYayun Sichuan Opera House to enjoy a colourful authentic Sichuan opera performance. There are many separate performances, all of which are introduced in English and these include a comedy show, fire spitting, a puppet show and the famous face changing show where actors switch between different masks to portray different characters. There is live music featuring a host of traditional Chinese instruments and it all takes place in a beautiful semi-outdoor courtyard setting. NB. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Rub shoulders with the locals during a visit to People’s Park with its beautiful Chinese gardens, lake and tea houses. Gain insights into the day-to-day lives of the locals who spend their free time in tranquil surrounds indulging in a leisurely game of mah-jong, a quiet nap or neck massage. Venture to lively Jinli Old Street next, crossing beneath the imposing archway into a world of intricate handicraft, paintings and calligraphy. Stroll along the narrow street whose façades were modelled on the architectural style of a traditional old town in western Sichuan Province, then transfer to the railway station for a high- speed bullet train ride to Chongqing. Here, you’ll enjoy a city orientation tour with dinner before boarding your Yangtze River Cruise.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Chongqing Orientation
Enjoy an introductory orientation of Chongqing prior to boarding your river cruise.

Disembark this morning for a short visit to Shibaozhai, home to a striking 12-storey cliff-top temple built in the 19th century. Stretch your legs and climb up to the temple, passing through the red pavilion that leans against the steep peak—now an island due to the rising waters of the Three Gorges Dam. You may choose to visit Fengdu’s ‘Ghost City’ on an Optional Experience. Explore eerie temples and shrines depicting China’s vision of the afterlife and hear the legend of two officials- turned-immortals. This evening, another Optional Experience awaits. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms retells the epic battle for dominance between three dynasties, with stunts, acrobatics and cutting-edge visual effects. Feel the excitement and intensity of the Three Kingdoms era come to life in this thrilling open-air show.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Visit Shibaozhai
Visit the cliff-top temple Shibaozhai.

b. Visit Fengdu City Visit
See the mystical Ghost City of Fengdu and visit its shrines, temples and monasteries dedicated to the afterlife.

c. Fengdu’s “Ghost City” & Relocation Village-ADD: ¥320.00
For those intrigued by legend and mythology, Fengdu’s “Ghost City” offers a glimpse into China’s vision of the afterlife. The eerie temples and demon-carved statues of Mingshan Hill depict the journey of the dead, inspired by two officials-turned-immortals. Across the Yangtze, you’ll view a modern relocation village, built for families displaced by the Three Gorges Dam, a project that forever reshaped the region.

d. Evening Show “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”
This open-air show brings the epic Three Kingdoms era to life with breathtaking equestrian stunts, acrobatics and vivid performances. Stunning 3D holographic laser projections, music and sound effects immerse you in the battle between the Han, Wu, and Ming dynasties—engaging all the senses in a thrilling retelling of China’s Three Kingdoms period.

Wake up to another day on the Yangtze. This morning, choose one of two Optional Experiences: visit the White Emperor City, where rulers and poets once admired Qutang Gorge, or head to Chijia Mountain’s peak for sweeping views from the top of the Three Gorges. Return to your cruise and journey through Qutang Gorge’s towering cliffs, past Wu Gorge’s misty peaks, and into Xiling Gorge’s dramatic landscapes. Swap the ship for a small motorboat this afternoon and explore the Goddess Stream, gliding past sheer limestone cliffs covered in lush greenery—you’ll gain another perspective on this mighty river.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Cruise the Goddess Stream
Cruise on a small motorboat through the magical landscape of the Goddess Stream.

b. Top of the Three Gorges-ADD: ¥400.00
Stand atop Chijia Mountain at 1,388 metres for breathtaking views where the mighty Yangtze squeezes through the towering Kuimen Gate. Sheer cliffs stand tall on either side, carving a dramatic path through the gorge. The river adds to a mesmerising scene with its rushing waters next to soaring peaks, showcasing the raw power of nature.

c. White Emperor City-ADD: ¥320.00
Explore White Emperor City, perched above the Yangtze at the entrance to Qutang Gorge. Walk in the footsteps of poets like Du Fu, who found inspiration in these breathtaking views. Discover ancient walls and a 1,950-year-old temple, built after a soldier-turned-emperor claimed his throne here in a legendary rise to power.

View the engineering marvel that is the world’s largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Dam, before disembarking your cruise ship and transferring to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival into China’s biggest city, check into your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Included Optional Experiences:
Overnight at The Kunlun Beijing, Shanghai’s first Chinese-designed five-star hotel
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 exceptionally located in one of Shanghai’s most fashionable and commercial districts, only a short walk from the famous Jing An Temple and West Nanjing Road.

Shanghai’s famous ‘Bund’ waterfront is the first stop on a day of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Admire the ornate neoclassical colonial buildings and skyscrapers that have sprung up from this former marshland, then Dive Into Culture during a visit to a silk museum. Embrace the tranquillity of the famous Yu Garden next, with its pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters. Then, enjoy some free time for a local lunch of soup dumplings perhaps and shopping in the Old Town, a treasure trove of winding streets and vibrant markets that was once enclosed by the ancient walled city of Shanghai. Our final stop this afternoon is a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1928 after the original temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Admire the beauty of its precious jade Buddha statues made out of crystal-clear white jade, before you settle into an evening performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Shanghai City Tour
Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of Shanghai. See the famous Bund waterfront and Yu Garden.

b. Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe Show
Enjoy a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.

Ascend to the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower for panoramic views of the skyscrapers that loom over the most populous city on earth. Then embark on a walking tour with a Local Specialist through the Shanghai French Concession, for an exhilarating encounter with the opulent age of French colonial China. Wander through the narrow alleyways, past elegant villas and apartments dating back to the early 1900s when the territory was proclaimed a French settlement. Later this morning, you’ll see where the First Conference of the Communist Party took place in Xin Tian Di, whose charming antique façades hide a 21st century world of bars, cafes, boutiques and theme restaurants. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, letting the sights and sounds of Shanghai infuse every sense or consider joining an Optional Experience. Say a fond farewell to newfound friends this evening during dinner.

Included Optional Experiences:
a. Ascend Jin Mao Tower
Visit Jin Mao Tower and take in panoramic views of Shanghai from 88 floors up.

b. Guided Stroll Through Shanghai
Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through the Shanghai French Concession and Xin Tian Di district.

c. Visit the Shanghai Museum and Former Jewish Ghetto-ADD: ¥380.00
Visit the Shanghai Museum; a large museum divided into eleven different galleries which cover most of the major categories of Chinese art. Your Travel Director will give a brief introduction to the museum and then take some free\ time to walk around the museum and visit your choice of galleries with the help of a personal Audio Guide. Afterwards visit the Shanghai Ghetto; an area of approximately one square mile and home to about twenty thousand Jewish refugees from Europe before and after WWII. Walk the streets of the former Jewish neighbourhood where local people now live and visit the Jewish Refugee Museum. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Our epic encounter with China at its end, take a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.