Highlights
- Sample Shanghai's dumplings in the leafy French Concession neighborhood
- Cycle or walk along the top of Xi'an's ancient city walls, the best-preserved in China
- Learn to make local specialties for dinner in a family home in Xi'an
- Tour the UNESCO-listed Forbidden City, China's imperial palace and garden
- Explore Beijing's historic gray-walled hutongs district on a foodie walking tour
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Shanghai, Evening Foodie Walking Tour of Shanghai | Shanghai |
| Day 2 | Shanghai Highlights Tour, Traditional Benbang Dinner | Shanghai |
| Day 3 | Fly to Xi'an, Cooking Lesson at a Local Home | Xi'an |
| Day 4 | Discover Xi'an: Terracotta Army & Muslim Quarter | Xi'an |
| Day 5 | Xi'an City Wall & Drum Tower, Train to Beijing, Peking Duck Experience | Beijing |
| Day 6 | Tour Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City, Foodie Walking Tour in Hutongs | Beijing |
| Day 7 | Visit Chaowai Morning Market, Hike Along the Great Wall | Beijing |
| Day 8 | Depart Beijing |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Shanghai, Evening Foodie Walking Tour of Shanghai
Welcome to China! Meet your driver in the arrivals hall of Shanghai International Airport for a transfer to your hotel in the center of Shanghai, China's largest city and the "Paris of the East." Shanghai is a global economic powerhouse and historic port city on the Yangtze River Delta that offers excellent food, historic sights, and plenty of high-end shopping. After your check-in, settle into your room, then join an experienced local guide for a foodie walking tour of the city.
You'll explore the section of the waterfront, the French Concession, controlled by the French from 1849 to 1943 CE. Nowadays, its wide, leafy boulevards are lined with boutiques, wine bars, breweries, cafés, and trendy restaurants. Wander the hidden backstreets and stop in several local restaurants to try the typical flavors of Shanghai's traditional cuisine, benbang. Sample braised pork belly or xiao long bao (soup dumplings). Poke your chopstick into a dumpling to release the hot soup and pork within, then end the evening with a craft beer at a local bar.
Day 2: Shanghai Highlights Tour, Traditional Benbang Dinner
Meet your guide after breakfast to discover some of Shanghai's best sights on a full-day tour. Begin at the Bund, a waterfront promenade in central Shanghai. The Bund has a long and storied history as a trading center for the British, Americans, and French in the 19th century and as one of Asia's major financial centers by the 1940s. Wander along, seeing historic buildings like the 1920s landmark Shanghai Bank Building and Customs House, popping into small cafés and shops as you go.
Your next stop is the Yu Garden. "Yu" translates to "pleasing and satisfying," and the five acres of this historic green space perfectly embody those traits. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 CE), the landscaping features a ginkgo tree as old as the garden, pavilions, ponds, tea houses, rockeries, cloisters, and covered bridges. Then, explore the adjoining Yuyuan Market, filled with stalls selling everything from souvenirs to local delicacies. While there, sample specialties like tangyuan (sweet rice balls).
Later in the day, visit several narrow alleyways lined with some of Shanghai's most iconic symbols, the Shikumen (Stone Gate Houses). Over 150 years old, these intricate buildings are some of the last remaining vestiges of Shanghai's past. For dinner, sample the flavors of Shanghai's benbang cuisine with a traditional feast. Come with an empty stomach and try dishes such as shi zi tou (lion head meatballs), fried river shrimp, xiang you shan hu (sauteed mashed eel), and bamboo soup.Day 3: Fly to Xi'an, Cooking Lesson at a Local Home
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Say farewell to Shanghai as your driver takes you to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Xi'an, a historic walled city founded in 202 BCE and the oldest of the country's Four Great Ancient Capitals. When you arrive, head to your hotel, settle in, and then step outside to find a restaurant for lunch and explore the town's historic center, surrounded by large and well-preserved city walls.
Afterward, meet your Xi'an guide for a visit to a local family's home. Greet your host family, who will welcome you into their house and share their lifestyle and culture with you. Join your hosts as they show you how to make traditional dishes such as biang biang noodles (belt noodles with spicy oil), suantang shuijiao (hot and sour soup dumplings), or jinggao, a sweet rice pastry. Try your hand at making these local specialties, then sit down for dinner with the family and enjoy their company and a delicious meal.
Day 4: Discover Xi'an: Terracotta Army & Muslim Quarter
This morning, meet your driver at your hotel for the one-hour drive east of Xi'an to Mount Li, home to the Terracotta Army Museum and the famous life-size warrior sculptures. When you arrive, take your time viewing the massive collection of incredibly detailed, life-size clay sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China, reigning from 221 to 210 BCE.
Walk around the outer edge of the excavation pits, marveling at the various warriors, chariots, and cavalry figures, each with different hairstyles and facial expressions. This enormous site covers approximately 38 square miles (98 sq km), and its discovery in 1974 CE represents one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. Spend hours discovering the secrets of the army, who were created to be symbolic guardians of Qin's burial tomb and thus protect his spirit in the afterlife, then head back to Xi'an, stopping for lunch on the way.
Before dinner, visit the historic Muslim Quarter in the center of Xi'an, where the old buildings lining the narrow streets are home to Xi'an's Muslim, or Hui, community. Islam was first introduced by Arab merchants during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). Today, the quarter is a popular area with many shops, restaurants, and street food vendors. Make sure to sample the typical halal food of the district, like yangrou paomo (lamb stew) and roujiamo (lamb burgers).Day 5: Xi'an City Wall & Drum Tower, Train to Beijing, Peking Duck Experience
It's your final morning in Xi'an, but more adventures are in store. After breakfast, meet your guide to discover the famous Fortifications of Xi'an on a half-day tour. These gray stone walls were commissioned in the late 14th century by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, to protect the city. They run 8.7 miles (14 km) around the historic old city in a rectangular pattern and are the most well-preserved ancient walls in all of China.
Rent a bicycle or walk along the top of the wide walls for panoramic views of the Old Town and surrounding areas. After exploring the fortifications, see the ancient artifacts in the historic 12th-century Drum Tower. While here, enjoy a performance of the bian zhong, a traditional Chinese chime bell. Following this, your guide will drive you to the station for a 5.5-hour high-speed train to Beijing, China's evocative capital.
Day 6: Tour Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City, Foodie Walking Tour in Hutongs
In the morning, you'll meet your guide and driver in the hotel lobby and embark on a grand tour of Beijing, beginning at the famous Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city square. This massive public space, dating to the 15th century, is surrounded by government buildings, including the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.
Walk through the square to the enormous portrait of Chairman Mao at Tiananmen Gate, the entrance to the Forbidden City, constructed in 1415 CE during the Ming Dynasty. Tour the vast, UNESCO-listed complex that served as the Chinese imperial palace from 1420 CE (Ming Dynasty) to 1912 CE (Qing Dynasty). For several hours, you'll wander among the 980 buildings spread across 180 acres (72 ha) and visit the Imperial Garden, former living quarters, and galleries featuring ancient imperial artifacts.
This afternoon, embark on a half-day foodie walking tour of Beijing, starting in Ciqikou. Visit the century-old Jinfang Snack Shop to sample Beijing's famous small bites, like sesame buns, mung bean cake, and sachima (fried egg noodles dipped in syrup). Continue your tour through Beijing's historic hutongs, narrow alleyways (some up to 800 years old) that crisscross old neighborhoods. Traditional Chinese folk culture is alive here, and many people still live in the old gray stone houses that line the hutongs.
Day 7: Visit Chaowai Morning Market, Hike Along the Great Wall
Meet your guide this morning and discover the bustling Chaowai Morning Market in central Chaoyang. The daily market, which opens at dawn, sells everything from shoes to fresh fruit, tailoring services to street food. Immerse yourself in the busy lanes lined with stalls and haggle with locals for souvenirs or snacks. Then, strap on your walking shoes as you set off with your driver and guide to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Wall of China.
First constructed in the sixth century before being rebuilt in 1368 CE by the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, nowadays, the wall is separated into various sections that are open to visitors. You'll be visiting Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved portions of the Great Wall, located 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing. When you arrive, take the cable car to the top of the wall and walk along the cobblestones, peering out through the battlements at the far-reaching views.
Enjoy a moderate hike along the wall for two to six hours, depending on your chosen route. This section of wall stretches for 13 miles (22 km), with 22 stone watchtowers sitting atop steep hills blanketed in rich green pines and cypress trees. Take your time and soak in the views, which are nothing short of spectacular on a clear day, before stopping for lunch on your drive back to Beijing.
Day 8: Depart Beijing
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