Best China Tours: Discover the Golden Triangle – A Captivating 8-Day Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing Arrival

Greetings! Welcome to the iconic city and capital of China – Beijing. Our tour guide will meet you at the airport arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in a luxurious vehicle. After settling in, use the rest of the day however you wish. Should you desire to explore the local area, your guide can provide practical advice. Travelling to Beijing is a breeze as there are numerous international and domestic flights, as well as high speed trains from Shanghai (5-6 hrs), Xian (5.5 hrs), and Guangzhou (8-9.5 hr)

Day 2: Explore Beijing and uncover one of the world’s most important palaces.

After a pleasant breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and ready to explore the historical face of Beijing with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square – now the largest city plaza in the world. You’ll visit Tiananmen Gate, witnessing a true iconic site – the place where Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. You’ll then explore the Forbidden City, a huge palace complex of more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties resided. Here, you will have the chance to see one of the world’s 5 most important palaces, featuring yellow glazed tile roof, white marble base and colourful paintings. Subsequently, you’ll be taken to Jingshan Park, where you can snap a nice shot of the Forbidden City and take in panoramic views. In the afternoon, you’ll drive about 40 minutes out of Beijing and spend your time at the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. You’ll be able to stroll around this ancient area, admiring pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges, and corridors, take in the vast lotus in Kunming Lake and the coloured paintings in Long Corridor. Optional activities include taking in a Kung Fu show to trace the history of Chinese Kung Fu between 19:15~20:15, and/or an acrobatic show between 19:15~20:15.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Start your day off with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – The Great Wall of China. Visit the Mutianyu section, a less crowded preserved segment from the Ming Dynasty. This part of the Great Wall is the longest in China and is brimming with lush, natural vegetation. Take a cable car up to the wall and explore its towers and enjoy scenic views. If you have enough energy, try the traditional way of ascending the wall – it should take you about 40 minutes. After, take the cable car back down or if you are still feeling ambitious, walk down the steps. Once you’re finished, head to the 7-kilometer-long Sacred Way, leading to the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs. Admire the stunning archway and Great Palace Gate and enjoy the view of the mythical animals and officials who guard it. Then stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to view the famous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside. As a treat for yourself after the day-long tour, enjoy an optional delicious dinner of the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Beijing and an exciting High-Speed Train to Xian

After breakfast, drive to the Imperial site of the Temple of Heaven. Once a site to give thanks and pray for good harvests, it is now a place bustling with traditional activities like Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, and more. After travel back to the city centre and take a rickshaw to meander through the Beijing Hutongs – small alleys lined with neighbouring quadrangle dwellings. Explore the old Beijing way of life, peek into antique shops and small boutiques, as well as visiting a local family’s home. Once your tour here is finished, you will be taken to the Beijing West Railway Station to board a high-speed train bound for Xian, which takes around five hours. There will be a tour guide waiting to meet you at Xian North Railway Station before escorting you to your hotel in the city. The remainder of the day is at your own leisure to explore this ancient Chinese capital.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Xian: Discover one of the greatest man-made wonders.

After breakfast, head to one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world – the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, built by Emperor Qin Shihuang of China. Here, explore the 8,000-strong life-size army of warriors, horses, and chariots, buried in 3 pits for more than 2,000 years and discovered by a local farmer in 1974. Stand in awe of the ambitious feat of Qin Shihuang and talented craftsmanship of ancient Chinese artisans. After lunch, return to Xian for a leisurely stroll on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved of its kind in the country. Soaring 12 meters high and spanning 18 meters wide, marvel at the nearly 14-kilometer tour of this well-maintained structure. After that, take a wander through the lively Muslim Quarter, trying out all the snacks it has to offer and soaking up Muslim culture. Optional activities: 1) Go for a cycling excursion on the Ancient City Wall; 2) Catch a Tang Palace Dance Show (from 8pm to 9pm) over a bowl of delicious dumplings at a local restaurant.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Explore Xian & Flight to Shanghai

After breakfast, your day starts with a visit to Da Cien Temple, a famed Buddhist sutra translation site from the Tang Dynasty. Here, you can explore the renowned Big Wild Goose Pagoda, soaring 64.5 meters into the sky, constructed by Buddhist patriarch Xuanzang to preserve scriptures from India in the early Tang Dynasty. He is, of course, the inspiration for Tang Seng in the renowned Chinese novel, Journey to the West. For an extra 30 RMB, you can even climb up the pagoda! Plus, you’ll even get to wear the regal Hanfu, the traditional costume of emperors, their family, ministers and other noble persons, and snap photos to create unique memories. Next, you’ll learn about antiquity in the Shaanxi History Museum. Appreciate relics from the Zhou to Tang dynasties (1100 BC to 907 AD). However, due to the influx of tourists from July to early September and China’s National Day in October, you may opt for another activity or attraction. Please consult your travel consultant for more details. The rest of your day is free until it’s time to head to the airport for a two-hour flight to Shanghai – China’s most vibrant metropolis. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local tour guide who will take you to your hotel downtown.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Experience the past and present of Shanghai

Your sightseeing journey will begin at Shanghai Museum, one of the best four museums in China. This iconic building, with its round top and square base symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of ’round sky, square earth,’ houses collections of bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, ceramics, and jade pieces from over 5,000 years ago all the way to the Qing dynasty. An audio explanation device will be provided to explain the history and facts about the relics within. From there, you will visit Yu Garden, an exemplary example of Chinese gardens from Jiangnan. Marvelling at the jagged pavilions with elegant decorations, glittering pools with roving fish, and pine trees reaching to the sky, Yuyuan Bazaar is also nearby should you wish to explore the traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works or savour local snacks. Drive several kilometres to the top of ‘the Eye of Shanghai,’ Shanghai World Financial Centre where you can enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view of Shanghai from the 100th floor (474m). Then, stroll along the bustling Nanjing Road, renowned for its abundant shopping opportunities as well its modern atmosphere, followed by a mesmerising visit to the Bund, previously a simple towpath that is now a trading hub boasting the perfect combination of Chinese and Western cultures, all while enjoying stunning views of the Shanghai skyline.

As optional extras, you can attend an enthralling show of Acrobatics, featuring such thrilling acts as ‘balls of death’ stunts, balancing on chairs, hula hooping, jugging with benches, and walking up in the air (generally during 19:30~21:00). Alternatively, take a soothing Huangpu River night tour and witness the most important structures and streets of the city shining in the night sky (around 50 minutes).

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Shanghai Departure

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast to take you on a captivating journey. You’ll make a lovely visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, admiring the world’s largest Jade Buddha as well as an array of religious artifacts, ancient statues, and Buddhist scriptures, all hidden among modern blocks and dominating mansions. After that, you’ll be transferred to Tianzifang, an authentic neighbourhood lined with licensed restaurants, cafes, and art galleries in the French Concession area. You can leisurely explore the clean old alleys, savour a cup of refreshment at an open-air café, and find unique souvenirs in the one-of-a-kind shops to experience the international charm intertwined with the city’s culture. In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight to your next destination or home.

✓ Breakfast

To discover more of our best China tours, explore our website or contact us on

+01473356000 or enquiry@asiara-holidays.com.