Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities: You will meet your local guide at airport and transfer to hotel. After check-in, you have free time to relax. Or take an optional excursion by rickshaw around Hutongs (narrow alleyways).

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: After breakfast visit the massive Tian'anmen Square, then see the Forbidden City with its elegant palaces, pavilions and landscaped gardens, once open only to nobility. Tour the 700-acre Summer Palace and view the scenery of its lake. Our local guide can help you plan your evening activities (optional). You can enjoy Kungfu or Peking Opera shows, or feast a roast duck dinner at famed Quanjude Restaurant, or enjoy nightlife at pubs and bars at Houhai or Gongti area.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: Today, ride to the legendary Great Wall of China and stand on its famous ramparts. A local lunch is included, along with a visit to a jade or cloisonné enamel workshop. Then tour the Chang Tomb which was the first and largest of the Ming Tombs. Drop off at Beijing Olympic Green on the way back to hotel. If time permits you can buy entrance tickets on-spot to go inside the stadiums of Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Overnight Train (to Xi'an)

Activities: Free time in the morning and check-out before 12:00. In the afternoon tour the Temple of Heaven where the Oriental emperors worship the heaven. Then enjoy shopping at the famous Xiushui Market. After dinner board the train for Xi’an, with soft sleeper berth.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities: In early morning arrive at Xi’an, China’s legendary home of the Tang Dynasty from 618 to 907 A.D. After breakfast and check-in, tour Xi'an’s archaeological wonder: 8,000 life-sized Terracotta Warriors buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, each soldier and horse molded in incredible detail. This afternoon, tour the majestic Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shannxi Historical Museum. Today’s tour includes visit to a souvenir shop or factory.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Dunhuang

Activities: Free time in the morning and check-out before 12:00. Transfer to airport in the afternoon and fly to Dunhuang. Rest of the time is free on your own. You can visit the local night market for souvenirs or snacks.

Destinations: Dunhuang to Overnight train

Activities: Visit the Mogao Grottoes, Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. Then visit the Crescent Lake and Echoing-Sand Mountain. Soft sleeper berth to Turpan.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Overnight train to Turpan

Activities: Arrive at Turpan in the morning. Jiaohe Ruins, which was built by the old Cheshi people in Qin dynasty and Han dynasty. It was almost dig from natural ground and the tallest building reached three stories high, which is the biggest, oldest and best preserved earth construction city in the world. Then visit Tuyoq Village and Tuyugou Canyon, and Karez Irrigation Tunnels (Karez Wells).

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Turpan to Urumqi

Activities: Drive about 2 hours to Urumqi. On the way visit the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and pass through the Flaming Mountain.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Urumqi

Activities: Excursion to the Heavenly Lake with boat cruising, back to Urumqi and city, the Erdaoqiao Bazaar, Xinjiang Autonomous Museum.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Urumqi to Shanghai

Activities: Free time until transfer to airport and fly to Shanghai, China’s most modern metropolis.

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities: View the Jade Buddha Temple. Continue to Yuyuan Garden, a 16th century Ming period private garden/residence in the heart of Shanghai’s old Chinese quarter. Along is the local bazaar around City God Temple. Visit the riverfront Bund district lined with banks and customs houses. A visit to carpet or tea shop is included today. Tonight you can take an optional acrobatics show or enjoy night life at Xintiandi or Hengshan Road.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Depart from Shanghai

Activities: Free time and then airport transfer.