Starting in Shanghai's modern skyline, this route travels by high-speed train to the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and on to historic Beijing. Shanghai brings the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden and a Huangpu River cruise, while Beijing offers the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Ten days combine modern cities with imperial heritage.
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Ten days that bring together three of China's great cities in a single trip. In Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden and a lit boat tour on the Huangpu River open the route, while Xi'an's UNESCO-listed Terracotta Army and city walls form its cultural backbone.
High-speed trains carry the trip between cities. In Beijing, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven complete the route.
Flights, accommodation, city tours and most lunches are included. Starting from Istanbul with Emirates, the route explores China's historic and modern faces over ten days.
01
The Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses and chariots from the 3rd century BC.
02
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Cable car access and a walk along the UNESCO-listed defensive wall.
03
The Forbidden City
The palace complex that housed the Ming and Qing dynasties for 500 years.
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Planning your budgetThe Chinese visa fee, Turkiye's departure tax, dinners and drinks with meals are not included in the price; a gratuity of 100 USD per person is recommended for the guide and driver. See details →
You can take a walk along The Bund, one of Shanghai's landmarks, shop on Nanjing Road, or have dinner at a restaurant recommended by our guide. Accommodation: Shanghai STARR Hotel (4-star) or similar, Shanghai. Accommodation: Shanghai STARR Hotel (4-star), Shanghai.
The line shows the order of overnight stops; it is not the actual road or flight path. Map: Natural Earth, GeoNames.
01Day 1: Istanbul to Shanghai, an Overnight Journey via DubaiEmirates flight to Shanghai via Dubai, overnight on board.
Overnight Flight to Shanghai
Our tour begins with a meeting at Istanbul Airport at 16:00. We depart on a comfortable Emirates flight at 19:35, connecting through Dubai to Shanghai. We spend the night on board.
02Day 2: Arrival in Shanghai and Free TimeHotel check-in in the city centre with free time.
Shanghai · night 1
Arrival in Shanghai
After arriving in Shanghai around noon, our private vehicle takes us to our hotel in the city centre. Once we have checked in, the rest of the day is free time.
You can take a walk along The Bund, one of Shanghai's landmarks, shop on Nanjing Road, or have dinner at a restaurant recommended by our guide.
Accommodation: Shanghai STARR Hotel (4-star) or similar, Shanghai.
Lunch and dinner not included.
03Day 3: Shanghai City Tour, Huangpu River Boat Cruise and Silk WorkshopJade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden, a silk workshop and a river cruise.
Shanghai · night 2
Shanghai City Tour
After breakfast at our hotel we begin a full-day city tour of Shanghai with our guide, a day that brings together modern and traditional China.
Our first stop is the Jade Buddha Temple, home to two precious Buddha statues carved from white jade. We then visit Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century, and the historic bazaar of souvenir shops and antique dealers around it.
Lunch is at a local restaurant with a menu rich in Chinese cuisine. Afterwards we visit a silk workshop to learn about Shanghai's traditional textile culture and see the production process firsthand.
Later in the day we reach The Bund, the area that shapes Shanghai's skyline. Along the Huangpu River, European-style buildings face the modern skyscrapers on the opposite bank in a striking contrast.
In the evening we take a lit boat tour on the Huangpu River, taking in Shanghai's night skyline. After the tour we return to our hotel.
Accommodation: Shanghai STARR Hotel (4-star), Shanghai.
Lunch included, dinner not included.
04Day 4: Free Day in ShanghaiShopping on Nanjing Road or a walk along the Bund.
Shanghai · night 3
Free Day in Shanghai
After breakfast at our hotel, your last day in Shanghai is free for shopping, exploring, or resting. You can do some final shopping on Nanjing Road or nearby markets, or take one last walk along The Bund.
Accommodation: Shanghai STARR Hotel (4-star) or similar, Shanghai.
Lunch and dinner not included.
05Day 5: Shanghai to Xi'an by High-Speed Train, City Centre TourThe Xi'an City Walls, Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
Xi'an · night 4
High-Speed Train to Xi'an
After an early breakfast we transfer, luggage in hand, to Shanghai Train Station. Our high-speed train departs at 07:00. Over this roughly seven-hour journey we watch China's countryside and cities pass by in comfort.
After arriving at Xi'an North Train Station at 14:22, a short transfer takes us to the city centre. Before lunch we begin a half-day tour to feel the historic texture of Xi'an, the ancient imperial capital.
Our first stop is the Xi'an City Walls, one of the best-preserved city walls in China, which you can explore on foot or by bicycle. We then take a panoramic tour around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, among the city's landmarks.
After the tour we transfer to our hotel and check in. The evening is free.
Accommodation: Xian Jian Guo Hotel (4-star) or similar, Xi'an.
Lunch and dinner not included.
06Day 6: Xi'an, the Terracotta Army and a Replica WorkshopThe Terracotta Warriors Museum and a replica workshop.
Xi'an · night 5
The Terracotta Army
After breakfast we set off to visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, one of China's most significant archaeological treasures, about an hour from the city centre.
Built to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the 3rd century BC, this army consists of around 8,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots. Discovered in 1974, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our guide we examine the excavation sites, exhibitions and the details of the figures.
Lunch is at a local restaurant serving traditional regional Chinese dishes. We then visit a replica workshop to see how the terracotta warriors were produced in ancient times.
After the tour we return to our hotel. The evening is free.
Accommodation: Xian Jian Guo Hotel (4-star) or similar, Xi'an.
Lunch included, dinner not included.
07Day 7: Xi'an to Beijing by High-Speed Train, Tiananmen SquareTrain journey to Beijing and a tour of Tiananmen Square.
Beijing · night 6
High-Speed Train to Beijing
After an early breakfast, luggage in hand, we check out and transfer to Xi'an North Railway Station.
We board a high-speed train, one of China's most advanced rail lines, and head for Beijing in the morning. Over this comfortable roughly five-hour journey we see landscapes ranging from cities to countryside.
On arrival in Beijing we begin our tour of Tiananmen Square. This vast square at the heart of China is surrounded by the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the Monument to the People's Heroes and the National Museum of China.
Here we see important traces of Chinese history from a panoramic vantage point. Afterwards we have dinner at a local restaurant.
The rest of the day is free.
Accommodation: Beijing Howard Johnson Paragon (4-star) or similar, Beijing.
Lunch and dinner not included.
08Day 8: The Great Wall at Mutianyu and a Pearl Workshop VisitCable car and a walk on the wall, plus a pearl workshop.
Beijing · night 7
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Today we set off early from our hotel to explore the Great Wall of China, the country's most recognised symbol. After about 1.5 hours we reach the Mutianyu section, known for its stunning views and smaller crowds.
Dating back to the 7th century BC and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this defensive structure is one of the most remarkable feats of engineering in Chinese history. A cable car takes us up, and we walk along the wall with panoramic views. You can also opt to descend by toboggan.
After this visit we have lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back we visit a pearl workshop, learning about different types of pearls and how to distinguish real from fake ones.
We return to our hotel in the evening. The rest of the day is free.
Accommodation: Beijing Howard Johnson Paragon (4-star) or similar, Beijing.
Lunch included, dinner not included.
09Day 9: The Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven TourA tour of both sites, then an overnight flight home.
Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven
After breakfast at the hotel we set off with our guide to explore Beijing's historic treasures.
Our first stop is the Forbidden City, home to the Ming and Qing Dynasties for 500 years. We take a detailed tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, made up of 890 structures including the palaces, throne halls and ceremonial spaces where emperors once lived.
Lunch is at a local restaurant with a menu of traditional Chinese flavours. We then visit the Temple of Heaven, known for its symmetrical architecture, where emperors once prayed to the sky. This site is also under UNESCO protection.
In the evening our private vehicle takes us to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK). Later that night we depart for Istanbul via Dubai. We spend the night on board.
10Day 10: Return to IstanbulArrival in Istanbul via Dubai, marking the end of the tour.
Return to Istanbul
We arrive in Istanbul, marking the end of our tour.
Flight details: Beijing (PEK) to Istanbul (IST), departing 00:40, arriving 14:25 (via Dubai).
STAYS IN 3 CITIES
Where will you stay?
Charms Hotel Shanghai or similar · Union Alliance Atravis Hotel or similar · Ji Hotel Beijing Andingmen or similar
