Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities: Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by yourself.

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. Then a visit to Yuanlong Silk Store. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: Leave town in the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. In the afternoon visit Summer Palace with boat ride: The palace is positioned in the west suburb of Beijing, about 12 kilometers northwest of the city center. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called'Yiheyuan'(Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting this grand imperial garden. Then visit the Panjiayuan Antique Market, you will also find many folk souvenir here. In the palace, you can also have a boat ride on the lake for about 10 minutes.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities: You will have free shopping time at Xiushui Market in the morning until being transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an which is of the oldest cities in China. Xi'an was the national capital for over 1,000 years and was also the starting point of the Silk Road. Spend the afternoon at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities: After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for the incredible 2000 year-old Terracotta warriors. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. In the afternoon we’re going to the Bell Tower where you can get a bird’s view of the city from the top. There is a music performance of the ancient music and a display of the instruments. We will continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India. A visit to Terra-cotta & pottery workshop will let you know how terra-cotta and pottery crafts are made.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Shanghai

Activities: Fly to Shanghai. On arrival we will go directly to the Bund - the old colonial sector, which is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. It is a must-see when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities: We start the day by visiting Shanghai Museum which is The biggest museum in China, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics. The museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy. Then we head to the famous Oriental TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second highest viewing platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River. In the afternoon, we take a relaxing walk to Jade Buddha Temple and the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. It is also a shopper's paradise with many small shops, often housed in authentic historic structures, carrying everything from furniture to porcelain. Silk carpets are famous at Shanghai and surrouding area, today we will also stop at a carpet store for your shopping time.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Depart from Shanghai

Activities: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.