11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS - FROM BEIJING TO SHANGHAI
(BEIJING - XIAN - CHENGDU - SHANGHAI - WUZHEN - SHANGHAI)

 

DAY 1: BEIJING
Today's sightseeing  depends on  your arrival time.  Upon arrival at the Airport welcome by our local guide and transfer to your Hotel. In the afternoon you start exploring the city with a visit to the famous Temple of Heaven (Tian tan); the ancient altar complex that was used for the emperor to worship Heaven in the imperial times; it is one of the oldest and most interesting historical buildings of the capital, as much by its architecture, as by its former importance like a ritual center of the Chinese empire. Overnight in Beijing.

 

DAY 2: BEIJING
Today's sightseeing includes the visit to the Tian'anmen Square - the biggest public square in the world.  Located at the north of the Tian'ament Suare is the Forbidden City. A visit to Beijing without Gu Gong (Chinese name) is not a visit to Beijing! It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, also known as the Palace Museum. Only part of the Forbidden city can be visited (somehow always some parts of the buildings are under renovation);  But still:  it can take hours to visit this gorgeous site! After lunch visit the Lama Temple, a beautiful complex which also is often crowed with Beijingers. It is a short block away from the Yonghegong subway station. The White Cloud Temple - a Daosit temple -  is the last site on your sight seeing list and an interesting contrast to the Lama Temple. Let us know if you would book you a ticket for a Beijing Opera performance at the Liyua Opera in Qianmen.Overnight in Beijing.

 

DAY 3: BEIJING - GREAT WALL - JUYONGGUAN PASS - MING DYNASTY TOMBS (B)
After breakfast drive  to the outskirts of the city to  the Juyongguan  Pass, one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall around Beijing. This visit includes the ascent by foot of the elevated section of the wall and the visit to the ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple dated from Yuan dynasty times. Inside you find some beautiful reliefs carved on the wall with Buddhist Gods and ancient inscriptions in many languages. Continue to he ancient mausoleum of one of the thirteen  Ming emperors (Shisan Mingling). Your visit includes the Sacred Path (sheng dao) flanked by fabulous animal stone sculptures and the tomb of Ding Ling emperor (1563 D.C.-1620 D.C.) one of the few open to the public. Upon return to your hotel it is leisure time or shopping to the Silk market? Overnight in Beijing.

 

DAY 4: BEIJING - LAMASIT TEMPLE - YONGHEAGONG - HUTONG (B)
After breakfast visit the Lama Temple of Yonghegong, a very impressive Buddhist monastery of exquisite architecture, which first was an imperial residence of prince Yongzheng (1678 D.C. - 1735 D.C.). The temple belongs to the Gelug-pa school (“School of the Virtuous) of Tibetan Buddhism. This temple houses a magnificent collection of Buddhist paintings of Tibetan style (thangkas), bronze statues of bodhisattvas and a monumental set of engravings and wood statues of great beauty - the most impressive among them is the Maitreya Buddha of 18 meters of height, carved from a single piece of White Sandalwood. Later hop on a rickshaw, relax and let Old China pass your way, along the famous 'hutongs'. Afternoon free. Crate your own program. We can help you and show you how to manage to get there! Really easy! You have many choices, such as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and, and and... Overnight in Beijing.

 

DAY 5: BEIJING - XIAN  (B)
After breakfast have a  transfer to the airport to take off to Xian, once being the most important dynastic capital of imperial China, and nowadays the capital of the province of Shaanxi. In the afternoon visit the interesting Shaanxi History Museum, which houses many of important treasures of different dynastic periods, like Han murals graves, ancient Tang paintings, blue china, cooper coins and many ancient Zhou bronzes, etc. You still have enough time today to visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the most famous pagodas in China. Overnight in Xian.

 

DAY 6: XIAN - TERRACOTTA WARRIORS - GRAND MOSQUE - MUSLIM QUARTER  (B)
After breakfast have a transfer to the airport to take off to Xian, once being the most important dynastic capital of imperial China, and nowadays the capital of the your morning will be totally dedicated to the magic of the Terracotta Soldiers and their horses. Lunch will take place at one of the restaurants nearby. Drive back to the center of Xian, and wonder in the compound of the Great Mosque which rather looks like a Chinese Temple than a Mosque. Its artistic fusion of styles harmonizes the traditional Chinese architecture combined with the doctrines of an Islamic mosque. The entrance of the Mosque is in the middle of the market, - rather a Bazaar, where you can shop till you drop and and make use of your bargaining skills... Overnight in Xian.

 

DAY 7: XIAN - CHENGDU - HUANG LONG XI   (B)
After breakfast you will be transferred straight to the airport for a take off to Chengdu. Just an hour flight. On your sightseeing list will be one of the most interesting towns of the old Sichuan: Huang Long Xi is one of the few towns in Sichuan that still conserves much of its original charm and traditional local architecture. Relax at a tea house and have a stroll at one of Chengduh's old parks. By the way... Sichuan cuisine is superb and we highly recommend to try the excellent Sichuan food. Chinese Opera for your evening entertainment? Yesss! This one, the Sichuan Opera spectacle, is full of local color and flavor, and is famous for its combination of music and acrobatic performances. Don't miss it! Overnight in Chengdu.

 

DAY 8: CHENGDU - THE PANDAS AT YA'AN - SHANGHAI (B)
After breakfast you will head for meeting the Pandas. After the earthquake in May 2008 most of the Pandas from Wolong have been transferred to Bi Feng Xia. A less than 2 hours drive, via Ya'an - a city located near Chengdu - will bring you to the new Panda Research Center. It's a beautiful scenic place in the Bi Feng Gorge. You will be able to have the opportunity to see the cute Pandas in their natural environment. Play 'touch and feel' ! After cuddling a Panda, time has come to continue your journey and drive back to Chengdu to the airport. By the way: This excursion is not 'only' about viewing Pandas, but also includes a very enjoyable visit to the pleasant country park. There the plane will bring you to Shanghai. Overnight in Shanghai

 

DAY 9: SHANGHAI (B)
After breakfast you have a full day visit of Shanghai. In the morning take a Jewish tour illustrating the remarkable history of Jewish people in Shanghai. You will start with the Peace Hotel, built by the Sassoon family in 1920. Continue to Hongku district (known as the Shanghai ghetto) visiting various places including the Ohel Moshe, the monument and Chinese (former Jewish refugee) home and ending in the Children's palace (Sir Kadoorie's former home). After lunch (maybe at the Vegetarian Life Style Restaurant for a taste of veggi food?), enjoy the tea ceremony in Song Yuan Tea House. A Visit to the Shanghai Museum is a MUST - it is one of the best in China. At night? You may enjoy your time in Xintinadi, Shanghai's most popular entertainment complex. Overnight in Shanghai.

 

DAY 10: SHANGHAI - WUZHEN - SHANGHAI (B)
After breakfast you will stat your excursion day. A two hour ride will bring you to Wuzhen which is the prettiest and best preserved among many water towns surrounding the Grand Canal in Zhejiang province. Most of the many ancient buildings of the city were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Besides its ancient and beautiful channels and bridges, the town was famous in imperial times for its cultural tradition. For so many years the town was a kind of university town with student from all over the country. Lots of sightseeing: You may stay stop to your guide if it is too much for you! Just to name some: the Taoist temple of Xiuzhen, the Bay and the Temple of the God of the Fortune, the former Residence of Mao Dun, the Chinese Shades Theater or the old pharmacy of the Perfumed Mountain, the Museum of Old Beds of the South of China, Museum of old wood statures, and, and, and...more after lunch...where you visit many other ancient buildings and channels such as the Tower of the White Loto, the Zhaoming Academy, the old Water Scene, the Temple of General Guam, the traditional fluvial market and the Museum of the History of Foot Binding! Overnight in Shanghai.

 

DAY 11: SHANGHAI DEPARTURE
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the departure flight with a good memory of your China journey! Should you have some time left, then why not visit the Oriental Pearl TV TOWER and the National Museum in the base?