Intrepid Travel

Explore China

Explore China

Capture the spirit of China on this 12-day trip from Shanghai to Beijing. From fast-paced modern cities to the well-preserved remnants of a long and storied history, this adventure reveals the many sides of one of the world’s great cradles of civilisation. It’s important to contrast the big and the bold with quiet moments and real connections. That’s why the tour of the Terracotta Warriors finishes with lunch at a local family home and why time at Shaolin temple, the birthplace of kung fu, is contrasted with boisterous Beijing. Whether you’re scaling the Great Wall or sharing crispy Peking duck with your fellow travellers, this trip is packed with unforgettable moments.

Activities

  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Shanghai – Yuyuan Gardens
  • Shanghai – Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Hangzhou – Leader-led Orientation walk
  • Shanghai – Bullet train to Hangzhou
  • Hangzhou – Tea Experience in a local farm
  • Hangzhou – Lingyin Temple
  • Hangzhou – West lake visit
  • Hangzhou – lunch at local restaurant
  • Luoyang – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Luoyang – Longmen Grottoes
  • Shaolin – Buddhist vegetarian lunch
  • Shaolin – Temple, Pagoda Forest & Kung Fu show
  • Xi’an – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Xi’an – Terracotta Warriors Tour – leader led
  • Xi’an – Home-cooked lunch
  • Beijing – leader-led Orientation walk
  • Beijing – Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
  • Mutianyu – Lunch at Local Restaurant
  • Beijing – Forbidden City entrance
  • Beijing – Leader-led Hutong walking tour
  • Beijing – Tian’ammen Square
  • Beijing – Peking duck dinner

Highlights

  • Explore the Longmen Grottoes and wonder at the thousands of Buddha statues carved directly from the limestone cliffs, including the 17m high Vairocana.
  • Take a walk along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and see towers that date back to the Ming dynasty about 600 years ago – and perhaps opt for a toboggan ride back down.
  • Fall in love with Chinese food during a vegetarian feast at a Buddhist temple, a home-cooked lunch with a family in rural Xi’an and a Peking duck dinner in Beijing.
  • Check out the mind-blowing Terracotta Army, then head to a local’s house for lunch and some insight into how life has changed since farmers discovered the vast mausoleum.
  • Experience the art of tea in Hangzhou by visiting a local tea farmer’s home, where you can learn about the tea growing process and enjoy a hands-on demonstration during harvest season.

04/15/2025 through 10/12/2027
04/15/2025 through 10/16/2027

Day 1 Also known as “The Paris of the East,” Shanghai is a youthful and cosmopolitan city with a tantalizing blend of Eastern and Western culture. Across the Huangpu River you will see Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, including Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The gorgeous Yu Garden has traditional pavilions, towers and ponds and definitely lives up to its nickname, "Garden of Happiness."
Day 2 Also known as “The Paris of the East,” Shanghai is a youthful and cosmopolitan city with a tantalizing blend of Eastern and Western culture. Across the Huangpu River you will see Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, including Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The gorgeous Yu Garden has traditional pavilions, towers and ponds and definitely lives up to its nickname, "Garden of Happiness."
Day 3 Located on scenic West Lake. Tourist attractions include the West Lake, the 3rd Century Ling Yin Monastery, Pagoda of Six Harmonies.
Day 4 Located on scenic West Lake. Tourist attractions include the West Lake, the 3rd Century Ling Yin Monastery, Pagoda of Six Harmonies.
Day 5 Repository of splendid Buddhist sculptures. Also visit the Longmen Grottoes, dating back more than 400 yeaers and renowned as one of the three great treasure houses of the legendary Chinese art of stone sculpture.
Day 6 Repository of splendid Buddhist sculptures. Also visit the Longmen Grottoes, dating back more than 400 yeaers and renowned as one of the three great treasure houses of the legendary Chinese art of stone sculpture.
Day 7 Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi (Shen-hsi) Province, and the cultural center of the historic and agriculturally rich Wei River valley. Historical interests include the tomb of China's first emperor, Shih 0Huang Ti; Shaanxi Provincial Museum; the Big and Little Goose Pagodas; and the Great Mosque. Other points of interest include the tombs of the Tang emperors (618-906); four tumuli (burial mounds); Xi'an Hot Springs; and Banpo, a Neolithic village.
Day 8 Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi (Shen-hsi) Province, and the cultural center of the historic and agriculturally rich Wei River valley. Historical interests include the tomb of China's first emperor, Shih 0Huang Ti; Shaanxi Provincial Museum; the Big and Little Goose Pagodas; and the Great Mosque. Other points of interest include the tombs of the Tang emperors (618-906); four tumuli (burial mounds); Xi'an Hot Springs; and Banpo, a Neolithic village.
Day 9

Visit Beijing, China’s capital! This majestic city offers plenty of grand monuments, ancient landmarks, and breathtaking sights for you to explore.

Begin your Beijing adventure in the heart of the city. Beyond Tiananmen Square, the city’s austere (and infamous) political center erected by Chairman Mao, lies the remarkable Forbidden City. This imperial palace, perhaps the most famous attraction in Beijing proper, will amaze you with its bright red façade and impressive museum, home to beautiful pieces of Chinese art. Nearby Tian Tan or Temple of Heaven, the imperial center for prayer over many dynasties, is fashioned in the same exquisite Chinese architectural style and bursts with lavish reds and golds. Travel mere steps from Tiananmen to gaze in wonderment at the National Center for the Performing Arts, whose illuminated glass dome sparkles over a mirror-like pool of blue water.

After visiting the city’s historic landmarks, unwind by browsing unique markets and enjoying some delicious culinary treats. Restaurants throughout Beijing serve savory and crispy peking duck, a staple in the city, but be sure to sample sweet cakes and rice desserts on bustling Wangfujing Snack Street. From lovely jade beads, to vintage tea pots, to distinctive souvenirs, the Panjiyuan Antique Market is the quintessential stop for shopping in Beijing.

Venture just north of the capital to see the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic man-made wonders. This vast landmark, whose twisting steps are set upon lush hilltops, is an absolute must-see on any trip to Beijing. The Great Wall’s overwhelming immensity is guaranteed to leave you awestruck.


Day 10

Visit Beijing, China’s capital! This majestic city offers plenty of grand monuments, ancient landmarks, and breathtaking sights for you to explore.

Begin your Beijing adventure in the heart of the city. Beyond Tiananmen Square, the city’s austere (and infamous) political center erected by Chairman Mao, lies the remarkable Forbidden City. This imperial palace, perhaps the most famous attraction in Beijing proper, will amaze you with its bright red façade and impressive museum, home to beautiful pieces of Chinese art. Nearby Tian Tan or Temple of Heaven, the imperial center for prayer over many dynasties, is fashioned in the same exquisite Chinese architectural style and bursts with lavish reds and golds. Travel mere steps from Tiananmen to gaze in wonderment at the National Center for the Performing Arts, whose illuminated glass dome sparkles over a mirror-like pool of blue water.

After visiting the city’s historic landmarks, unwind by browsing unique markets and enjoying some delicious culinary treats. Restaurants throughout Beijing serve savory and crispy peking duck, a staple in the city, but be sure to sample sweet cakes and rice desserts on bustling Wangfujing Snack Street. From lovely jade beads, to vintage tea pots, to distinctive souvenirs, the Panjiyuan Antique Market is the quintessential stop for shopping in Beijing.

Venture just north of the capital to see the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic man-made wonders. This vast landmark, whose twisting steps are set upon lush hilltops, is an absolute must-see on any trip to Beijing. The Great Wall’s overwhelming immensity is guaranteed to leave you awestruck.


Day 11

Visit Beijing, China’s capital! This majestic city offers plenty of grand monuments, ancient landmarks, and breathtaking sights for you to explore.

Begin your Beijing adventure in the heart of the city. Beyond Tiananmen Square, the city’s austere (and infamous) political center erected by Chairman Mao, lies the remarkable Forbidden City. This imperial palace, perhaps the most famous attraction in Beijing proper, will amaze you with its bright red façade and impressive museum, home to beautiful pieces of Chinese art. Nearby Tian Tan or Temple of Heaven, the imperial center for prayer over many dynasties, is fashioned in the same exquisite Chinese architectural style and bursts with lavish reds and golds. Travel mere steps from Tiananmen to gaze in wonderment at the National Center for the Performing Arts, whose illuminated glass dome sparkles over a mirror-like pool of blue water.

After visiting the city’s historic landmarks, unwind by browsing unique markets and enjoying some delicious culinary treats. Restaurants throughout Beijing serve savory and crispy peking duck, a staple in the city, but be sure to sample sweet cakes and rice desserts on bustling Wangfujing Snack Street. From lovely jade beads, to vintage tea pots, to distinctive souvenirs, the Panjiyuan Antique Market is the quintessential stop for shopping in Beijing.

Venture just north of the capital to see the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic man-made wonders. This vast landmark, whose twisting steps are set upon lush hilltops, is an absolute must-see on any trip to Beijing. The Great Wall’s overwhelming immensity is guaranteed to leave you awestruck.


Day 12

Visit Beijing, China’s capital! This majestic city offers plenty of grand monuments, ancient landmarks, and breathtaking sights for you to explore.

Begin your Beijing adventure in the heart of the city. Beyond Tiananmen Square, the city’s austere (and infamous) political center erected by Chairman Mao, lies the remarkable Forbidden City. This imperial palace, perhaps the most famous attraction in Beijing proper, will amaze you with its bright red façade and impressive museum, home to beautiful pieces of Chinese art. Nearby Tian Tan or Temple of Heaven, the imperial center for prayer over many dynasties, is fashioned in the same exquisite Chinese architectural style and bursts with lavish reds and golds. Travel mere steps from Tiananmen to gaze in wonderment at the National Center for the Performing Arts, whose illuminated glass dome sparkles over a mirror-like pool of blue water.

After visiting the city’s historic landmarks, unwind by browsing unique markets and enjoying some delicious culinary treats. Restaurants throughout Beijing serve savory and crispy peking duck, a staple in the city, but be sure to sample sweet cakes and rice desserts on bustling Wangfujing Snack Street. From lovely jade beads, to vintage tea pots, to distinctive souvenirs, the Panjiyuan Antique Market is the quintessential stop for shopping in Beijing.

Venture just north of the capital to see the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic man-made wonders. This vast landmark, whose twisting steps are set upon lush hilltops, is an absolute must-see on any trip to Beijing. The Great Wall’s overwhelming immensity is guaranteed to leave you awestruck.


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