Highlights of China

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12 or 14 days

Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Shanghai, extension to Hong Kong

Step into a world where old meets new and people meet pandas. This experiential voyage spans the best of China, from the hustle and bustle of Beijing to the tranquility of tai chi. Marvel at the Great Wall from a special vantage point, and stand in awe of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an—a sea of stone soldiers protecting their emperor in the afterlife. Ready for things to get fluffy? Head to a panda research center in Chengdu to learn about its adorable occupants.

Image displaying map describing the itinerary of the Highlights of China tour

Day 1: Fly overnight to China

Day 2: Beijing

Meet your Tour Director at the airport

Day 3: Beijing

Take a guided tour of Beijing

With your expert local guide you will visit:

Tiananmen Square [tyahn-ahn-men]
Forbidden City
Summer Palace

Enjoy a dragon boat ride (Available April–October only)

Participate in a tai chi lesson

Enjoy a Peking duck dinner

Day 4: Beijing

Take a day trip to Mutianyu

Visit one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall of China that’s less traveled by tourists

Take a cable car ride for a scenic view of the Great Wall

See the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium

Take a walking tour of a traditional Beijing neighborhood

Enjoy an authentic Chinese meal with a local family

Day 5: Beijing • Xi'an

Fly to Xi’an [shee-ahn]

Take a bike ride on Xi’an’s ancient city wall

Add this in-depth excursion:

Dumpling class

Make dough. Fold dumplings. Repeat. (Then, eat!) Learn the fine art of Chinese dumpling-making from an expert chef in this hands-on cooking class. Come away with authentic techniques, an understanding of different dumpling types and shapes, and, most importantly, full bellies.

Day 6: Xi'an

Tour Xi’an with an expert local guide

Visit the Terracotta Army archaeological dig site

Participate in a calligraphy class

Visit a street food market in the city’s Muslim Quarter

Day 7: Xi'an • Chengdu

Travel by high-speed train to Chengdu [chung doo]

Tour Chengdu’s most famous pedestrian street

Take a guided tour of Chengdu

With your expert local guide you will:

Learn about the city’s ancient history
See why it’s a modern-day economic, transportation, and communication hub

Enjoy a family-style hot pot dinner

Add this in-depth excursion:

Sichuan Opera “face-changing” performance

Don’t let the “opera” in the title fool you. This tea-house performance is all spectacle, complete with acrobats, fire-breathers, puppeteers, and actors skilled in the art of “face-changing,” or rapidly swapping intricate masks depicting different emotions. (Like, 10-masks-in-20-seconds fast.)

Day 8: Chengdu

Spend a half day at a giant panda research center where you will:

Learn about the center’s research and conservation efforts to save giant pandas
Observe pandas as they carry out daily activities—everything from eating to sleeping to playing

Bike within a tea farm and try your hand at picking tea leaves alongside local farmers

Day 9: Chengdu • Dujiangyan

Take in the Chinese countryside on a day trip to a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Explore the Dujiangyan [doo jee-ang yenn] Irrigation System, a feat of engineering dating back to 256 B.C.

Enjoy a cable car ride and short hike to the top of Mount Qingcheng [ching chung]

Day 10: Chengdu • Shanghai

Fly to Shanghai

Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center

Walk along the Bund, a colonial-era center for international banking and trade

Add this in-depth excursion:

Chinese acrobatics show

This evening performance by traditional Chinese acrobats will have you gasping in awe, laughing out loud, and applauding wildly with its unique blend of comedy, magic, theater, and “did they really just do that?” stunts.

Day 11: Shanghai

Take a guided tour of Shanghai

With your expert local guide you will visit:

Jade Buddha Temple
Yu Garden, whose name literally means “happiness”

Take a walking tour of Nanjing Road

With your Tour Director you will:

Explore one of the world’s busiest shopping streets
Interact with locals as you navigate the bustling crowds

Day 12: Depart for home

Add 2 more days

Day 12: Shanghai • Hong Kong

Fly to Hong Kong

Ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island

Explore the Temple Street Night Market

Take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor

Enjoy dinner in Kowloon

Watch the cityscape come alive in a dazzling light show

Day 13: Hong Kong

Add this in-depth excursion:

Lantau Island

Lantau Island—the largest of Hong Kong’s 230 islands—is yours to explore. Begin with a 25-minute cable car ride that offers panoramic views of the South China Sea. Visit the Po Lin Monastery and then climb stairs to the island’s main attraction: the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha, who stands 111 feet tall and weighs over 250 tons!

Enjoy a dim sum tasting

Day 14: Depart for home