China: Beijing, the Great Wall & Terracotta Warriors — 9 Days

You arrive at Beijing airport and are met by your guide for transfer to your hotel. The welcome meeting convenes at 6 p.m. in the hotel lobby, where your guide will outline the itinerary and introduce logistics for the following cities. After the briefing, an orientation walk takes you through parts of central Beijing before dinner of Peking Duck.

The day unfolds across Beijing's central monuments. Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public plazas, houses the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From here you enter the Forbidden City, constructed from 1406 to 1420 and serving as the ceremonial and political hub of Chinese government for more than 500 years. UNESCO lists it as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world, a designation it received as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The afternoon moves through the Hutongs—narrow alleyways formed by lines of traditional courtyards—where you observe the rhythm of local Beijing life. Expect significant walking and use of the subway to reach these sites.

An early departure takes you to Jinshanling on the Great Wall. You hike 8 kilometers across mostly paved terrain, though several stretches wind through unrestored sections with stairs and steep gradients. Along the route you encounter both original and restored portions of the Wall, with watchtowers—some flat-roofed, others rounded, others pitched with upturned eaves—snaking across the ridgeline. The landscape affords views typical of postcard representations of the Wall. By late afternoon you arrive at a local farmer's home for a dumpling-cooking dinner, where your host demonstrates the preparation and explains the cultural significance of the dish. A 45-minute drive follows to Gubei Water Town, which surrounds the Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir. The town's architecture—northern style from the late Qing Dynasty and Republican eras (1644–1949)—features rows of reconstructed courtyards separated by water channels that create a tranquil atmosphere after nightfall.

Begin with a morning walk through Gubei Water Town, an ancient settlement characterized by northern architectural style and the reconstructed courtyards that defined the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China periods. The town's reservoir-side setting and well-preserved historic fabric provide a distinct sense of place before you depart. By midday, return to Beijing and board a 5.5-hour fast train heading south to Xi'an. Your local guide will meet you upon arrival at the station and transfer you to the Manxin Hotel Bell Tower or similar property, where you'll spend the next two nights.

The morning is devoted to the Terracotta Warriors site. Discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well after lying buried for 2,000 years, the pits hold just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors. Each figure is individually sculpted from clay, with distinct costume, height, and facial expression, and they stand in battle formation across three main open pits. After lunch in a local village, you visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which once housed Buddhist relics and classical texts brought from India by the monk Xuanzang. If timing allows, you may witness the musical fountain show at the north square of the adjacent temple complex.

The morning begins with a cycling tour on the ancient City Wall, the most significant and best-preserved wall extant in China, running over 13 kilometers around Xi'an. A walking tour of the Muslim Quarter follows, moving through narrow streets dotted with small shops and markets. In the afternoon you board a flight to Shanghai, approximately 2.5 hours. You arrive in late afternoon for an orientation walk through central Shanghai.

A walking tour traces Shanghai's layered history across several distinct neighborhoods. The City God Temple area, adjacent to Yuyuan Garden, originated as the Jinshan God Temple dedicated to an island spirit and was converted to a City God Temple in 1403. The surrounding pedestrian zone has evolved into a lively marketplace hosting shops, restaurants, teahouses, and annual temple fair events. Yuyuan Garden itself spans an extensive area with Ming and Qing architectural styles—a testament to classical Chinese garden design. From here you move through the longtangs, narrow winding lanes of Old Shanghai where daily local life remains visible and unchanged. The Shanghai Museum, designed according to Feng Shui principles, merits a substantial visit. Its permanent collection and rotating exhibitions house over 120,000 pieces spanning art, ceramics, bronzes, and historical artifacts. The evening visits the Bund, a waterfront stretch lined with Art Deco buildings that once anchored Asia's most important financial center. The architectural ensemble—a mix of colonial and early modern styles—offers a tangible sense of Shanghai's position as a global trading hub.

A 40-minute bullet train carries you to Suzhou. The Master of Nets Garden, one of four famous gardens in the city and celebrated for its artistic and cultural features, anchors the morning. Originating in the twelfth century and restored in the eighteenth as a private official's residence, it is particularly noted for its use of space and labyrinthine courtyards that create an illusion of greater area than the footprint allows. Shantang Street, an ancient riverside pedestrian lane, offers scenes of small arched bridges, wooden boats, old residences, and shops. After lunch, a walk along the Grand Canal reveals the typical architectural elements and daily life of a Suzhou water town. The return to Shanghai by bullet train takes 40 minutes.

Your final morning in Shanghai is unscheduled, offering flexibility based on your outbound flight time. Use these hours to visit additional neighborhoods, revisit favorite spots, or sample more of the city's varied cuisines. Breakfast is included. A private transfer to the airport is arranged for your departure.