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 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. Today's itinerary includes a visit to the old Beijing handicraft workshop.

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. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Dingling (one of the Ming Tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Way , bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. During the day a visit to Jade Caving Factory or Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop is included. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Rstaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: Summer Palace : Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here, including a 10 minute boat ride. Renovations (complete in 2010) mean that an individual section or building may be closed at any one time, but this is a huge site. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather. Hutong Cultrual Tour in Rickshaw: A maze of historic alleyways and old single storey traditional courtyard houses, now fast disappearing. Dotted around the hutong are the Drum and Bell Towers, Kindergarten, Tea House, and local people's houses.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities: You will be free in the morning until being transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an which is one 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. On arrival we will take a visit to 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: Terracotta Warriors and Horses: This incredible 2000 year-old army of life-sized warriors, each one unique, is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Many of the figures, including soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, have been restored, and the repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. Big Wild Goose Pagoda: The pagoda (7 floors,64.5meters high) where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his classics brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xian. Bell Tower: This is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in China, you can have a bird's view of the city.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Nanjing

Activities: We will take a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall to familiarize ourselves with this fascinating cross cultural city. For the energetic we recommend a ride bike along the top of the wall (Bikes can be rented for around 20 yuan/hour). Late afternoon or evening fly to Nanjing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Nanjing to Suzhou

Activities: Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum: Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum, at the foot of the majestic Purple Mountain, is permeated with a solemn atmosphere. It often arouses a sentiment of respect with its glazed torii; steep, long stairways leading up to the memorial hall, and its inscribed headstone, which all attest to the great deeds of this honorable man. Zhonghua Gate: Zhonghua Men Gate is the largest castle-style gate among the 13 ancient city gates in Nanjing. It's the best preserved and, architecturally, most complicated ancient castle in the world. - Qinhuai River: The Qinhuai River is a watery slice of history which contains traces of the city's glorious past and activities of its people. - Confucian Temple: The Confucius Temple built in the Song Dynasty is dedicated to worshiping the great philosopher Confucius. This area has been the center of Confucian study for over 1.500 years.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Suzhou

Activities: Garden of Humble Administrator : The garden is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty. Focused on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby, the garden is divided into three parts: the eastern, middle and western parts. - The Grand Canal: The Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in world. Cruising on the Canal, you can see the local peoples' life. - The No.1 Silk Factory: Suzhou is also famous for its silk production. In the factory you can see how the silk is processed from the silk worm to the final woven cloth.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Suzhou to Shanghai

Activities: Before transferring to Shanghai, we visit the ancient Water Village Zhouzhuang where you can choose to cruise the town through many small streams and canals which surround the village. The waterways are criss-crossed with stone bridges and old residence with black tiles and white wells line the banks.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities: Today you visit the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the Shanghai Museum, which rivals the Shaanxi Museum in Xi'an and is well worth a visit, the Jade Buddha Temple, and the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second-highest platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to buy a ticket to continue on to the very top.

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.