Beijing and Shanghai Tour

Overnight flight to Beijing

Our tour begins with a meeting at Istanbul Airport at 17:00. At 20:10, we depart for Beijing with a comfortable flight on Qatar Airways, with a layover in Doha.

We will spend the night on the plane.

First steps in Tiananmen Square

Upon our arrival at Beijing Daxing Airport in the afternoon, we will be transferred to the city center by our private vehicle and check into our hotel.

After a short rest, we will begin our visit to Tiananmen Square with our guide. This vast square, located in the heart of China, is surrounded by impressive structures such as the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and the National Museum of China. Here, we have the opportunity to see significant traces of Chinese history from a panoramic perspective.

The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Guests who wish can explore local restaurants in the area for dinner.

Overnight in Beijing. Accommodation at our hotel in Beijing: JI Hotel Beijing Andingmen 4.

Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart with our guide to explore Beijing’s historic treasures.

Our first stop is the Forbidden City, which served as the home of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for 500 years. At this UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprising 890 buildings, we take a detailed tour of the emperors’ palaces, throne halls and ceremonial grounds.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, with a menu featuring traditional flavours of Chinese cuisine.

We then visit the Temple of Heaven, which emperors used to pray to the heavens and which is known for its symmetrical architecture and symbolic design. This site, reflecting Chinese concepts of faith and aesthetics, is also under UNESCO protection.

At the end of our tour, we return to our hotel. Free time is provided in the evening.

🛏️ Overnight at our hotel in Beijing: JI Hotel Beijing Andingmen 4★ or similar.

🍽️ Lunch is included. Dinner is excluded.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu

Today, we leave our hotel early in the morning to explore the Great Wall of China, the country’s most internationally recognised symbol. After a journey of approximately 1.5 hours, we arrive at the less crowded Mutianyu Route, which offers notable views.

This extensive defensive line, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dating back to the 7th century BC, is one of the leading examples of engineering in Chinese history. After taking the cable car to the top, we walk along the wall while enjoying panoramic views. Guests who wish may descend by toboggan.

After our visit, lunch is included at a local restaurant. The menu is prepared with regional, authentic flavours from Chinese cuisine.

After lunch, we visit the Pearl Workshop on our return route. Here, we receive general information about pearls, learn about different types of pearls and discover methods for distinguishing real pearls from imitation pearls. We will also have an opportunity to shop.

We return to our hotel in the evening. Free time is provided for the remainder of the day.

🛏️ Overnight at our hotel in Beijing: JI Hotel Beijing Andingmen 4★ or similar.

🍽️ Lunch is included. Dinner is excluded.

Bullet train to Xi'an

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will transfer to Beijing West Railway Station with our luggage.

We will embark on a journey to experience China's modern and comfortable railway system, departing at 07:00 on the high-speed train (Train G87). This journey will take approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes, during which we will enjoy a relaxing ride while observing the rural landscapes and city transitions of China.

Upon our arrival at Xi'an North Railway Station at 11:19, we will make a short transfer to the city center. Before our lunch, we will begin a half-day tour that allows us to feel the historical essence of Xi'an, the ancient imperial capital.

Our first stop will be the Xi'an City Walls, one of the best-preserved city walls in China. Guests who wish can enjoy a pleasant exploration here on foot or by bicycle. Next, we will have a panoramic tour around the iconic Glockenturm (Bell Tower) and Drum Tower.

After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. The evening will be free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Guests who wish can explore the surroundings for shopping, following our guide's recommendations for Chinese tea, spices, or traditional souvenirs.

Overnight at our hotel in Xi'an: Union Alliance Atravis Executive Hotel 4 (or similar).

Lunch and dinner are excluded.

The Terracotta Army

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we set off to visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, one of China's most important archaeological treasures. We reach this impressive site after approximately a 1-hour journey from the city center.

This army was created to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the 3rd century BC and consists of around 8,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots. Discovered in 1974, this unique site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by our guide, we closely examine the excavation sites, exhibits, and details of the figures.

Next, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring traditional Chinese cuisine from the region.

We will also visit the Replica Workshop, where we will have the opportunity to closely observe how the Terracotta Warriors were produced in ancient times.

After the tour, we return to our hotel. The evening is free. Guests who wish can take a short walk in the city or explore local markets, guided by our tour leader.

Overnight at our hotel in Xi'an: Union Alliance Atravis Executive Hotel 4 (or similar).

Lunch is included. Dinner is free.

Bullet train to Shanghai

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will check out and transfer to Xi'an North Railway Station.

We will embark on a high-speed train (G360 service) to Shanghai, one of the most advanced train lines in China. During this comfortable journey of approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes, we will witness the stunning landscapes that showcase China's nature, from its cities to the countryside.

Upon our arrival at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in the early afternoon, we will transfer to our hotel in the city center with our private vehicle. After settling into our rooms, the rest of the day will be free time.

Guests who wish can take a walk along The Bund, explore shopping opportunities on Nanjing Road, or enjoy dinner at restaurants recommended by our guide.

Overnight at our hotel in Shanghai: Charms Hotel Shanghai 4 (or similar).

Lunch and dinner are excluded.

Shanghai's temples and river

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we will embark on a full-day city tour of Shanghai with our guide. Today promises to be a colorful and rich day where we can experience both modern and traditional China.

Our first stop will be the Jade Buddha Temple. This sacred site is one of Shanghai's most important temples, housing two precious Buddha statues made of white jade.

Next, we will visit the Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century, which reflects traditional Chinese architecture, along with the historic bazaar filled with souvenir shops and antiques.

We will have lunch at a local restaurant featuring a menu rich in examples of Chinese cuisine.

After lunch, we will head to a silk workshop to learn about Shanghai's traditional textile culture. Here, we will observe the silk production process and take a short break for shopping.

Later in the day, we will reach The Bund, an area that shapes Shanghai's skyline. This historic region along the banks of the Huangpu River offers a unique contrast between European-style buildings and the modern skyscrapers across the river.

In the evening, we will enjoy a scenic boat tour on the Huangpu River, providing a mesmerizing view of Shanghai's night skyline. We will experience the illuminated sights of both historic buildings and financial towers along the river, creating a unique experience.

After the tour, we will return to our hotel.

Overnight stay at our hotel in Shanghai: Charms Hotel Shanghai 4 (or similar).

Lunch is included. Dinner is free time.

Last day in Shanghai

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we will check out of our rooms in the early afternoon. On our last day in Shanghai, you can go shopping in the city, take a stroll around the area, or enjoy some free time to relax.

Guests who wish to do so can make their final purchases at Nanjing Road or nearby markets with the guidance of our tour leader, or take one last walk along The Bund.

In the evening, at a time determined by our guide, we will transfer to Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) in our private vehicle. Later at night, we will have our flight to Istanbul via Doha.

Journey's end

We take Qatar Airways flight QR871, departing Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) at 00:35 for Istanbul, and spend the night on board. We arrive in Istanbul at 12:00, and our tour ends.