Day 1 Arrival Beijing (-/-/SD)

Upon your arrival, you will be met by your expert guide who will privately transfer you to Olympic Green. Your tour in Beijing will start with a visit to the Bird's Nest(National Stadium) and the Water Cube. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at Quanjude Restaurant and taste the famous Roast Duck. Check in the luxury 5-star Raffles Beijing Hotel for 4 nights' stay.

Accommodation: Raffles Beijing Hotel

Day 2 Beijing (B/L/-)

After a sumptuous breakfast in your hotel, head for Tiananmen Square which is the largest of its kind in the world. Next is the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum. One of the most significent world cultural heritage sites in China. Finished in 1420, there were 24 Ming and Qing emperors lived and ruled here till 1911.

 

After a traditional Chinese lunch, head for Beihai Park, a best-preserved imperial garden with a history of 1,000 years. Walking at leisure in the park is one of the top 10 Dos recommended by many travellers. Afterwards take a hutong tour exploring the lanes and courtyard houses unique to Beijing. Tonight enjoy a fabulas Peking Opera.

Accommodation: Raffles Beijing Hotel

Day 3 Beijing (B/L/-)

After breakfast, take a scenic drive northward to Mutianyu Great Wall. Nestled among the pines and orchards in the mountains, the wall remained, to a large extent, intact and maintained its majesty. Hiking the wall is exciting while cable car is available to save energy when needed.

 

After lunch in a local restaurant, continue to the nearby village which was awarded one of the most bueatiful villages in 2008.

Accommodation: Raffles Beijing Hotel

Day 4 Beijing (B/L/-)

This morning pay a visit to Temple of Heaven, one of the landmarks of Beijing. In the past it was the place where emperors conducted religious rituals and prayed for good harvest. After that go to Liulichang, a street with long history and rich cultural atmosphere. It is a favorite place of scholars, painters and calligraphers as there were hundreds of shops selling ancient books, paintings, ink stones...etc.

 

After a traditional Chinese lunch, pay a visit to Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), the largest and best preserved lamasery in China. The last program of today is a leisurely walk along Sanlitun, the famous bar street in Beijing.

Accommodation: Raffles Beijing Hotel

Day 5 Beijing to Xian by plane (B/L/SD) 

After breakfast you will be transfered to the airport. Take a morning flight to Xian. Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and transfered privately to downtown for lunch. Taste typical Xian food for lunch. In the afternoon enjoy a half day city tour. Highlights include ancient city wall, Great Mosque and food street.

 

Tonight you will enjoy a wonderful dinner show at Tang Palace. Check in luxury 5-star Sofitel for 2 nights' stay.

Accommodation: Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square

Day 6 Xian (B/L-)

After breakfast pay a thrilling visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors Musuem. Thousands of life-size clay figures buried 2,000 years ago together with other exavations shocked the world in the 20th century. This afternoon you will also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures collected from India by Tang dynasty monk Xuanzang.

Accommodation: Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square

Day 7 Xian to Hangzhou by plane (B/L/-)

This morning visit a primary school in suburb of Xian to learn something about China's education in rural areas. After lunch transfer to the airport and fly to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to luxury 5-star Shangri-la Hotel.

Accommodation: Hangzhou Shangri-la Hotel

Day 8 Hangzhou (B/L/-)

Have a full day guided tour today. After breakfast take a boat trip on the West Lake, enjoy a scenic walk along the picturesque Su Causeway and Flower Harbor Park. Afterwards visit a tea plantation as Hangzhou boats the finest green tea in China. After lunch pay a visit to a traditional Chinese hospital, learn more about Chinese medicine and take a close look at unique Chinese therapies such as acupuncture, massage and cupping, etc. Finally go to Hefang Street where you may feel like in the Southern Song dynasty 800 years ago when Hangzhou was the capital city.

Accommodation: Hangzhou Shangri-la Hotel

Day 9 Hangzhou to Suzhou by train (B/L/-)

Take a train ride to Suzhou after breakfast. Upon arrival your local guide will meet you at the railway station. Visit Suzhou Museum designed by the world famous architect I.M.Pei. Despite thousands of cultural relics housed, the museum itself is absolutely a piece of exquisite art work. After a traditional lunch pay a visit to the largest of all classic gardens in Suzhou.

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Suzhou

Day 10 Suzhou to Shanghai (B/L/-)

After breakfast visit Net of Master Garden. Small but elegant, it was listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in 1997. Suzhou has long been an important center of China's silk industry. This morning you will visit Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute. After lunch take a train ride to Shanghai. Visit Children's Palace. It was initiated by Soong Ching-ling and offers after-school activities to children. The place is most frequently visited not only because of the founder but also the gorgeous colonial settings of the building itself. Then travel to the No.1 toursit attraction - the Bund.

Accommodation: Le Royal Meridien Shanghai

Day 11 Shanghai (B/L/-) 

After breakfast begin your tour with a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a notable classic garden in south China. Then take a stroll along the Chenghuangmiao (City God Temple) market, the oldest area with hundreds of century-old shops and eateries. Taste some traditional Shanghai dishes and Dim Sum (e.g steamed dumpling) for lunch. Continue to Shanghai Museum and Jade Buddha Temple.

Accommodation: Le Royal Meridien Shanghai

Day 12 Depart Shanghai (B/-/-)

Transfer to the airport and bid farewell to Shanghai.