Golden China Tour (Shanghai-Xian-Beijing) 8 days

Day 1 Arrive Shanghai (D)

On arrival, our guide will hold a welcome sign of Absolute China Tours to meet you. You will be transferred to the best selected hotel for a two-night stay. The rest of the day is free to relax. At 18:00 our guide will pick you up and transfer you out for a welcome dinner provided by Absolute China Tours.

Accommodation at Central Star Hotel Shanghai or similar

Day 2 Shanghai (B/L)
Morning:
Transfer to People’s Square, visit Shanghai Museum. It was designed by a Shanghai architect and its outward appearance is like an ancient Chinese bronze vessel, Ding. Inside is China’s great display of art and artifacts such as bronze,sculptures,ceramics,paintings,furniture,etc.
Afternoon:
Continue to the Yu Garden, a major attraction in Shanghai. The garden was finished in 1577 by a Ming dynasty official named Pan. In 1956 a large-scaled renovation was done by the local government. Inside there’re over 30 pavilions, linked by a maze of zigzagged corridors and bridges. After visiting the garden,take some time strolling at the old streets around it. Explore the sidewalk shops and lanes.

Evening:
Tonight you will enjoy a fantastic acrobatic show at the Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel for your entertainment after dinner.

Accommodation at Central Star Hotel Shanghai or similar

Day 3 Shanghai to Xian by plane (B/L)
Morning:
Check out a little bit early this morning and transfer to the airport, take FM9203 (08:15/10:35) to Xi'an, China's ancient capital. Upon arrival the local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Lunch is served at a local Chinese restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, have a city tour including the Shaanxi History Museum where you will discover how Xi'an became the cradle of Chinese culture. It is one of the best of its kind, displays a great number of pieces of arts and crafts. The bronze pieces, the Tang gold and silverware, the terrocotta pieces and murals from Tang dynasty tombs are of special significance.

Accommodation at Royal City Plaza Hason Hotel or similar

Day 4 Xi'an (B/L)
Morning:
Half day visit to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Xian, with over 3000 years of recorded history,has been the capital of 12 dynasties. The Qin emperor Shihuang who lived from 259 to 210 BC left his indelible mark through the famed Terracotta Warriors. This morning you will visit the world wonder where life-sized infantrymen, archer, officers and their horses symbolically guard the tomb of the first Qin emperor.
Afternoon:
Transfer back to downtown for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which is an important cultural relic and one of the remaining symbols of Xi'an. The brick Big Wild Goose Pagoda was first built in AD 652 for housing and protecting Buddhist scriptures collected by Tang dynasty monk Xuanzang who spent 17 years traveling to India for the collection. His journey was written in the novel Journey to the West, one of China’s most important literary works.
Evening:
Tonight you will enjoy the marvelous Tang Dynasty Show at Tang Palace.

Accommodation at Royal City Plaza Hason Hotel or similar


Day 5 Xi'an to Beijing by plane (B/L)
Morning:
Visit the Great Mosque and the Ancient City Walls. The mosque was established in AD 742 in the Tang dynasty for Muslim traders from central Asian who settled in Xian. It is difficult to tell that the buildings are Islamic because it was built according to traditional Chinese architectural forms. Now it is still an active place of worship The gray City Walls was first built to keep out invaders. The surviving walls,built on Tany dynasty foundations, date to the Ming dynasty and were built during the 14th century.
Afternoon:
Transfer to the airport after lunch and take flight CA1210 (13:45/15:35) to Beijing. Upon arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. check in for 3 nights' stay. 

Accommodation at Dong Fong Hotel or similar

Day 6 Beijing (B/L) 
Morning:
After having breakfast at your hotel, you will take a half-day excursion to explore the world heritage site Forbidden City with its grand palaces and courtyards. Built in 1420, it was here that 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors lived and ruled for over 500 years.Besides its massive scale and historical significance, the Forbidden City strikes the imagination by its design. The South Gate leads you to Tian'anmen Square - the biggest of its kind in the world. Lunch is served at a local Chinese restaurant.
Afternoon:
Continue to the beautiful Summer Palace where you can discover gardens, palaces and pavilions with temples and halls in a tranquil, landscaped lakeside setting. In 1886, the Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing dynasty diverted funds earmarked to build a modern Chinese navy and spent the money on endowing the Summer Palace with a marble boat-shaped pavilion and other extravagances throughout the palace. She also gave the palace its current name, Yiheyuan which means the Garden for Cultivating Harmony in Chinese. Next stop is the Temple of Heaven which is one of Beijing’s most famous landmarks. This was the place where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped God and prayed for harvest. Highlights of the temple are the Hall for the Prayer of Good Harvest, the Circular Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Echo Wall.
Evening: 
Tonight you will enjoy a fascinating Chinese Kungfu Show in the front zone at the Red Theatre.

Accommodation at Dong Fang Hotel or similar


Day 7 Beijing (B/L/SD)
Morning:
This morning you will take a half-day guided visit to the awesome Great Wall of China. Here you can enjoy the stunning views as you stroll along this seemingly endless piece of history, which winds its way into the far distance. There are three major sections of the Great Wall open to tourists near Beijing: Badaling, Mutianyu and Simatai. All are built on steep terrains so it’s a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. Today you will explore the Badaling Section. It is only 70km (about 43.5 miles) away from downtown Beijing and can be visited in half a day. It was completely restored after 1957.
Afternoon:
Continue to the Ming Tombs located in a gorgeous valley 45km (28 miles) northwest of Beijing. The burial site of 13 Ming dynasty emperors and their consorts was carefully chosen and took over 200 years to complete. So far only two are open for visiting. Today you will visit Dingling where the 13th Ming emperor was buried and walk along the Sacred Way, which is lined with animals, mystical beastsmeans and four statues. It was believed that the road lead to heaven. 
Evening:
Tonight enjoy a Duck Dinner at the original, century-old Quanjude Roasted Duck Restaurant. The most famous duck restaurant in the city, Quanjude has a history of 144 years. The duck is roasted in a fragrant fire of special fruit trees. After 45 minutes, a duck with crispy skin,tender meat and unique fragrance is ready.

Accommodation at Dong Fang Hotel or similar

Day 8 Beijing (B)
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. Extended stay or tours can be arranged on request.