Great Wall of China
Classic China
08 Days
Beijing • Xi’an • Shanghai
China unfolds through three remarkable chapters on this journey. Begin in Beijing, where imperial avenues, monumental palaces and the Great Wall reveal the scale of the country’s historic civilisation. Continue by high-speed rail to Xi’an, the ancient capital whose extraordinary Terracotta Army preserves one of China’s most remarkable archaeological legacies. The journey concludes in Shanghai, where historic waterfront architecture, traditional neighbourhoods and a spectacular modern skyline reveal a very different face of China. Together, the three cities create a compelling introduction to China’s imperial heritage, archaeological treasures and contemporary urban culture.
Highlights
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City in Beijing
Great Wall at Juyongguan
Beijing’s Olympic architecture
High-speed rail
Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Bund waterfront
Jade Buddha Temple
DAY 1 — ARRIVAL IN BEIJING
Arrive in Beijing, China’s historic capital and the opening chapter of the journey. Meet your local representative and transfer into the city. After settling in, the remainder of the day is kept at an easy pace, allowing time to rest after the international journey and begin absorbing the atmosphere of Beijing.
Overnight: Beijing
DAY 2 — BEIJING — TIANANMEN SQUARE & FORBIDDEN CITY
Begin with Tiananmen Square, the immense ceremonial heart of central Beijing, surrounded by some of the country’s most significant civic and historic landmarks.
Continue through the monumental gateway into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Move through its sequence of grand courtyards, ceremonial halls and richly detailed traditional architecture, gaining an impression of the scale and sophistication of China’s imperial court.
The afternoon is left relatively open, providing an opportunity to experience Beijing at a more personal pace or explore further independently.
Overnight: Beijing
DAY 3 — BEIJING — GREAT WALL & OLYMPIC LANDMARKS
Today brings one of China’s defining landmarks: the Great Wall. Travel beyond the central city towards Juyongguan, a historic mountain pass where the Wall follows the contours of the surrounding landscape.
Walk along its ancient ramparts and towers, taking in the changing relationship between stone fortifications, mountain ridges and deep green vegetation. The experience is as much about the surrounding landscape as the architecture itself.
Return towards Beijing and pause at the National Stadium — the Bird’s Nest — and the Water Cube, striking reminders of the city’s transformation into a contemporary global capital.
Overnight: Beijing
DAY 4 — BEIJING → XI’AN BY HIGH-SPEED RAIL
Leave Beijing behind and travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, following one of China’s principal modern rail corridors.
Xi’an was once the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and served as the capital of several important Chinese dynasties. On arrival, transfer into the city and settle in before having time to explore at a relaxed pace.
As evening approaches, Xi’an offers the opportunity to experience a very different urban atmosphere, where remnants of the ancient capital meet lively neighbourhoods and contemporary city life.
Overnight: Xi’an
DAY 5 — XI’AN — TERRACOTTA WARRIORS
Travel beyond the city to one of China’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses.
The vast collection of life-sized figures was created to accompany Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in the afterlife. Explore the archaeological complex and its excavated formations, where ranks of warriors, horses and military figures provide an extraordinary insight into the organisation, craftsmanship and ambitions of ancient China.
Return to Xi’an later in the day. Depending on pace and interest, the evening can be spent exploring the city’s historic quarters, including the atmospheric Muslim Quarter, known for its distinctive streets, architecture and local character.
Overnight: Xi’an
DAY 6 — XI’AN → SHANGHAI BY HIGH-SPEED RAIL
Transfer to the railway station for another high-speed rail journey, this time eastward towards Shanghai.
The journey provides a fascinating transition from the historic heartland of China to one of the country’s most dynamic metropolitan centres. On arrival, transfer into Shanghai and settle in.
The remainder of the day is deliberately unhurried, allowing the city to reveal itself gradually — from its dense urban fabric to its striking mixture of historic buildings and contemporary architecture.
Overnight: Shanghai
DAY 7 — SHANGHAI
THE BUND, JADE BUDDHA TEMPLE & HISTORIC QUARTERS
Begin along The Bund, Shanghai’s celebrated waterfront promenade. Here, historic buildings line the Huangpu River opposite the extraordinary skyline of Pudong, creating one of China’s most recognisable urban contrasts.
Continue to the Jade Buddha Temple, a quieter setting where traditional Buddhist architecture and religious practice provide a counterpoint to the intensity of the modern city.
Later, explore the characterful streets around Fuxing Park and the former French Concession, where tree-lined avenues, historic shikumen residences and intimate lanes reveal another side of Shanghai.
The remainder of the day offers time to experience the city independently — whether through its historic streets, contemporary neighbourhoods or waterfront atmosphere.
Overnight: Shanghai
DAY 8 — SHANGHAI — DEPARTURE
Your journey through China comes to an end today. At the appropriate time, transfer to Shanghai’s airport for your onward international flight, carrying with you a journey that has moved from imperial Beijing through the archaeological legacy of Xi’an to the contemporary energy of Shanghai.