China Tour

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).