Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities: You'll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to the hotel, your guide will explain tomorrow's arrangements. Spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jetlag. 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.

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. Enjoy a spectacular Chinese kung fu performance this evening.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: Leave town at 8am 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.Today's lunch will be arranged at Commune by the Great Wall. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Road, 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 Restaurant, where you'll taste some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities: Your last stop in Beijing is a trip through the Hutongs by rickshaw. This maze of narrow alleyways winding around the Forbidden City is fast disappearing, and you'll get a precious glimpse into their distinctive culture as you zigzag through them, drop into a primary school and a flea market, and have lunch with a local family featuring delicious Chinese dumplings. Those who are interested can learn how to make this traditional Chinese food. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an, and then a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. (Bikes can be rented for around 20 yuan/hour).

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities: Spend today visiting some marvelous historical sites in and around this most ancient citiy, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city, and you'll enjoy visiting the Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Then out to see the incredible Terracotta Warriors. Tang Dynasty Show & Dinner: The fantastic show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xi'an was the capital of ancient China.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Guilin

Activities: Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Guilin

Activities: Guilin is famous for its stunning scenery, and the best way to see it is from the deck of a Li River Cruise boat. The boats leave from various wharves, according to river height at different times of the year, and you'll be transferred to the appropriate pier for an unforgettable trip downriver to the lovely old town of Yangshuo. You can spend the afternoon exploring the little town, or take an optional excursion to the local villages, before enjoy the fantastic show of Impression Liusanjie in the evening.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Guilin to Shanghai

Activities: Today you'll see a little more of Guilin. Elephant Trunk Hill (which really does look like an elephant drinking from the river), and Reed Flute Cave, which is a vast and impressive cave system, are two of the best attractions in this gentle city. Then you fly on 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: You'll be delighted by this, the largest city in China, with its phenomenal mixture of space-age buildings, gorgeous shops, and the remnants of the old Concession areas Nanjing Road and the Bund. Shanghai has a buzz that is all its own! 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 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. At night enjoy a wonderful Acrobatis Show.

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.