10-Day China in Four Acts: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu & Shanghai

Arrive in Beijing, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, join your fellow travelers for a relaxed welcome dinner, a convenient first meal after the journey and an easy introduction to the days ahead. Guests arriving later will be assisted according to their confirmed flight time.

Begin at Tiananmen Square, then pass through the monumental gates of the Forbidden City, the palace complex from which the Ming and Qing emperors ruled. Later, visit the Temple of Heaven, where imperial ceremonies once sought harmony between heaven and earth and blessings for a good harvest. This evening, enjoy one of Beijing’s best-known culinary traditions with a Peking Duck dinner.

Travel to Mutianyu, a scenic and well-preserved section of the Great Wall set among forested hills. Round-trip cable car access brings you to the ramparts, leaving more time to walk between watchtowers and take in the mountain views at a comfortable pace. Continue to the Summer Palace, where imperial architecture and landscaped gardens reflect the Qing court’s vision of retreat. The order and exact route may be adjusted according to traffic, visitor levels, weather, and local operating conditions. Guests who prefer the chairlift and toboggan option may request it when booking.

Board a high-speed train for Xi’an and watch northern China unfold beyond the window. After arrival and lunch, explore the Ming City Wall, one of the country’s best-preserved historic fortifications. Where weather, operating conditions, and personal comfort allow, ride a bicycle along the broad ramparts; guests who prefer not to cycle may explore on foot.

In the evening, enjoy free time in the Muslim Quarter and surrounding old city, with the opportunity to sample local specialties at your own pace. The sequence of activities may be adjusted to suit the confirmed train schedule and local conditions.

Few archaeological sites match the first view of the Terracotta Army, where thousands of life-sized figures have guarded China’s first emperor for more than two millennia. Return to the city to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area, a landmark of Xi’an’s Buddhist and Silk Road heritage. As night falls, explore Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City, a lively contemporary celebration of Tang-era culture, and enjoy a Shaanxi-style dinner.

Travel by high-speed rail to Chengdu, where the pace shifts from ancient capitals to the easy rhythm of Sichuan life. After arrival, join local tea drinkers at a traditional teahouse in People’s Park, then take a guided walk through Kuanzhai Alley, where historic courtyards meet contemporary city life. This evening, enjoy a Sichuan Opera performance featuring the celebrated art of face-changing.

Begin the day with a timed morning arrival at Dujiangyan Panda Valley, planned for the hours when the pandas are at their most active. Far quieter than the city-center panda facilities, Panda Valley offers the chance to observe giant pandas from as close as 3 to 5 meters in a natural conservation setting. At the red panda free-ranging habitat, follow a shaded stone path through bamboo and woodland. The reserve’s naturalistic setting offers the chance to look for red pandas among the trees and foliage, making this a memorable and unexpected part of the visit. Continue to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an extraordinary feat of ancient engineering that has sustained the Chengdu Plain for more than two millennia. Return to Chengdu for a Sichuan-style dinner.

After breakfast, fly to Shanghai and feel the journey’s tempo change from Chengdu’s teahouses to Shanghai’s Art Deco streets and modern skyline. Depending on the confirmed flight time, explore Wukang Road and the former French Concession, known for tree-lined avenues, historic residences, and layers of modern Shanghai history. Later, continue to The Bund around dusk, when the waterfront’s historic architecture faces the illuminated towers of Pudong across the river.

Begin at Yu Garden and Shanghai’s Old City, where classical garden design and traditional streets reveal an earlier side of the metropolis. Continue to the Shanghai Museum, one of China’s leading museums of ancient art, with exceptional collections spanning Chinese bronzes, ceramics, painting, calligraphy, and decorative arts. Together, they offer a fascinating window into the craftsmanship and artistic traditions that have shaped Chinese culture across the centuries.

This evening, gather for a Shanghai-style farewell dinner before boarding a Huangpu River night cruise. As the boat glides between The Bund’s historic facades and Pudong’s illuminated skyline, the journey reaches a fitting final scene, with old and new Shanghai unfolding on opposite banks of the river.

After breakfast, transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), according to your flight schedule. You leave with more than a list of landmarks: the Great Wall underfoot, Xi’an’s warriors in memory, Chengdu’s teahouse rhythm, and Shanghai’s skyline after dark. Thank you for traveling with us, and we wish you a pleasant onward journey.