Explore China: 10-Day Tour from Istanbul in

Our tour begins with a meeting at Istanbul Airport at 16:00. We will depart for Shanghai via a comfortable Emirates flight at 19:35, with a layover in Dubai. You will spend the night on the plane.

Upon our arrival in Shanghai at noon, we will transfer to our hotel in the city center with our private vehicle. After settling into our rooms, the remainder of the day is free time. Guests who wish can take a walk along The Bund, one of Shanghai's iconic landmarks, shop on Nanjing Road, or enjoy dinner at the restaurants recommended by our guide. Overnight stay at our hotel in Shanghai: Shanghai STARR Hotel 4 vb. Lunch and dinner are excluded.

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, featuring 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, and the historic bazaar filled with souvenir shops and antiques surrounding it. 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. In the later hours of the day, we will reach The Bund, an area that shapes the skyline of Shanghai. This historic region along the Huangpu River presents a unique contrast between European-style buildings and the modern skyscrapers on the opposite bank.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, you can spend your last day in Shanghai shopping, exploring the surroundings, or relaxing during your free time. Guests who wish can follow our guide's recommendations to do some last-minute shopping on Nanjing Road or in nearby markets, or take a final stroll along The Bund. Overnight stay at our hotel in Shanghai: Shanghai STARR Hotel 4 vb. Lunch is excluded. Dinner is excluded.

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will transfer to Shanghai Train Station with our luggage. We will embark on a journey to experience China's modern and comfortable railway system, departing at 07:00 on a high-speed train. During this approximately 7-hour trip, we will enjoy a relaxing journey while observing the rural landscapes and city transitions of China. Upon our arrival at Xi'an North Train Station at 14:22, we will have a short transfer to the city center. Before our lunch, we will start a half-day tour to feel the historical texture 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. Following this, we will have a panoramic tour around the Glockenturm (Bell Tower) and Drum Tower, which are among the city's landmarks. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. The evening will be free for leisure. Guests who wish can explore the area for shopping for Chinese tea, spices, or traditional souvenirs based on our guide's recommendations.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we set off to visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, one of China's most significant archaeological treasures. We reach this impressive site with approximately a 1-hour journey from the city center. This army, created to protect the tomb of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang in the 3rd century BC, 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, exhibitions, and the details of the figures. Next, we enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant featuring delicacies from the region's traditional Chinese cuisine. A visit to the Replica Workshop will take place, 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 with the guidance of our guide. Overnight at our hotel in Xi'an: Xian Jian Guo Hotel 4 (or similar) Lunch is included. Dinner is free.

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will check out and transfer to Xi'an North Railway Station. We will board a high-speed train, one of the most advanced train lines in China, and set off towards Beijing in the morning. During this comfortable journey of approximately 5 hours, we will witness the beautiful landscapes that showcase the nature and rural areas of China. Upon arrival in Beijing, we will begin our tour of Tiananmen Square. Located in the heart of China, this vast square 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 will have the opportunity to see important traces of Chinese history from a panoramic perspective. Afterwards, we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. The remainder of the day is free time for you to explore at your leisure. Overnight stay at our hotel in Beijing: Beijing Howard Johnson Paragon 4 (or similar). Lunch and dinner are excluded.

Today, we set off early in the morning from our hotel to explore the Great Wall of China, the most recognized symbol of China worldwide. After approximately 1.5 hours of travel, we arrive at the Mutianyu section, known for its stunning views and fewer crowds. This massive defensive structure, which dates back to the 7th century BC and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most remarkable engineering feats in Chinese history. We take a cable car to the top and enjoy a walk along the wall with breathtaking panoramic views. Guests who wish can also opt to descend via a toboggan. After this impressive visit, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The menu is designed to feature regional and authentic flavors of Chinese cuisine. On our return journey, we will visit a Pearl Workshop, where we will learn general information about pearls, get to know different types of pearls, and discover how to distinguish between real and fake pearls, along with the opportunity to shop. In the evening, we return to our hotel. The remainder of the day can be enjoyed as free time. Overnight at our hotel in Beijing: Beijing Howard Johnson Paragon 4 (or similar) Lunch is included.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we set off with our guide to explore the historical treasures of Beijing. Our first stop is the Forbidden City, which served as the home to the Ming and Qing Dynasties for 500 years. We will take a detailed tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, which consists of 890 structures, including the palaces, throne halls, and ceremonial areas where emperors once lived. For lunch, we will enjoy a menu featuring traditional flavors of Chinese cuisine at a local restaurant. Next, we will visit the Temple of Heaven, famous for its symmetrical architecture and symbolic structure, where emperors prayed to the heavens. This area is also protected by UNESCO and is a magnificent example of Chinese beliefs and aesthetic understanding. In the evening, at a time determined by our guide, we will transfer to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in our private vehicle. Later at night, we will embark on our flight to Istanbul via Dubai. Overnight will be on the plane.

Arrival in Istanbul. End of our tour. Departure: 00:40 - Beijing Capital (PEK) Overnight flight.