BoutiqueChinaTours.com

 Day 1  

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)

Our guide will pick you up at Beijing airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

 Day 2  

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dadong Peking Duck Restaurant

- The Tian'anmen Square: The world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather. 

- Temple of Heaven: One of the most famous sites in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activity, particularly weekend mornings. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.

 - Dinner at Dadong Duck Restaurant: which have a reputation for being among the very best in the city. The new artistic decoration and the Chinese Shanshui Scroll painting style presentation make you new eating experience!

 Day 3  

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Mutianyu Great Wall, cable car or slide car,food massage
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

- Great Wall at Mutianyu: This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.

- Mutianyu Cable car: Here we offer the cable car service take you up and down in a few minutes instead of climbing more than 1,400 steps, while you can also have a bird view of the wall.

- Foot Massage: take a food massage after the Great Wall and relax like ancient chinese.

 Day 4  

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight TBA
Today's Activities: Summer Palace, Transfer to airport (Beijing), airport to hotel transfer (Xian)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

- Summer Palace : Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here, including a 10 minute boat ride. Renovations (complete in 2010) mean that an individual section or building may be closed at any one time, but this is a huge site. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Boat-transfer in the Summer Palace: It is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China with a history of over 800 years. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake by the ferry boat insteaf of walk.It takes 10 minutes.

 Day 5  

Place & Transport:Xian
Today's Activities:Terracotta Warriors, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

- Terracotta Warriors: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

- Forest of Stone Steles Museum: A fascinating collection of inscribed stone tablets (steles), from very ancient to quite modern (Han-Qing Dynasties, 206BC-1911). All kinds of calligraphies and scripts tell stories, poems, classics, reports from around the Empire. Other exhibits include early sculptures and objects from Imperial tombs. This was once a Confucian temple, and the architecture and grounds are well worth a visit on their own account.

- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.

- Evening Show at Tang Yuegong: The show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xian was the capital of ancient China

 Day 6  

Place & Transport:Xian to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities:Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shaanxi Historical Museum, The Bund
Meals:Breakfast,  Lunch

- Shanghai Museum: The biggest, and many think the best museum in China. The galleries in this outstanding building display stunning collections of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics and porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, seals, jade, coins, furniture, ethnic artefacts from minority groups, temporary travelling exhibitions from places like the Guggenheim, and so much more ... give yourself time to enjoy it.

- The Bund: Once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, the embankment has taken on a new vitality; lovely old European-style buildings mix with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!

 Day 7  

Place & Transport:Shanghai
Today's Activities:Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: it is much more interesting and impressive that its sounds. It tells the story of growth of the metropolis, explains her foundation, development and future in 2-3hours.

- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or ‘pearls’, it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture of the east bank. On a rare clear day you can see to the mouth of the Yangtze, but even in normal conditions there are great views of Shanghai＇s dramatic cityscape.

- Yuyuan Garden: In the centre of Shanghai next to the Yuyuan Bazaar, this exquisite old 5-acre garden is famous for its design. The paths wander across bridges, past rockeries and miniature lakes, and through pretty halls and pavilions. The trees and shrubs are planted with an eye to providing charming views, and a sense of peace and harmony.

 Day 8  

 Place & Transport:Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities:Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals:Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.
Note: If you choose to stay on in Shanghai for a few extra days, or arrive a few days early in Beijing, please let us know, and we'd be happy to extend your hotel bookings, or arrange additional tours for you.