Day 1 – Arrival in Beijing: Cross off an amazing destination from your travel bucket list when you jet off to Beijing. Once your place lands, you will be welcomed by an English-speaking guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, you will be free to spend the rest of the day as you wish. You can sleep off any jet lag inside your guestroom or venture out and explore this vibrant city independently. If you do decide to explore, then you will be wowed by the historical panorama on display in Beijing. In fact, it boasts six Unesco World Heritage sites and the magnificent Forbidden City, which is a royal palace on a scale like no other. Beijing is also home to sublime temples, while the city centre is criss-crossed by enchanting ancient alleyways.
Day 2 - Beijing: Make sure your camera is fully charged as you set off on a busy day of sightseeing. Today your Beijing tour will start by exploring the Forbidden City, which is the best-preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. You will adore walking around and admiring the ornate designs and some of the 9,999 rooms. Next, you will visit Tiananmen Square, which is the largest public square in the world. In fact, it can hold over one million people and is often considered a national symbol in China. For security reason, Tiananmen Square is a fenced square, which is circled by low iron grids with four main entrances – east, west, south and north. The square is open to the public until midnight, but all tourists have to pass a security check before they enter the square. At lunchtime, you will stop for a delicious meal to refuel your energy before the final stop of the day at the Summer Palace. This was originally a royal garden and a temporary dwelling palace for emperors of Qing Dynasty. You will love walking around the park, which boasts stunning lakes and gardens. During your visit, you will also learn how this was built as a birthday gift from the Emperor Qianlong to his mother in 1752AC. Finally, you will return to your hotel to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Day 3 - Beijing: Today will be emblazed in your memory forever as the day you finally came face to face with two historical landmarks. This morning your adventure will first start when you visit the colourful Temple of Heaven. This landmark was built in 1420 by emperors of the two last dynasties - Ming and Qing. They prayed here 3 times a year for a good harvest, but now it’s a popular park for the locals to do their morning exercise. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the iconic Hall of Prayer, which boast a stunning blue-tiled roof. You will enjoy soaking up the quaint atmosphere of this site where you are bound to see Chinese people practicing Tai Chi and various other dance forms around the gardens. Next, you will finally see one of the great wonders of the world – The Great Wall of China Wall along the Mutianyu section. If you can tear your eyes away from this stunning landmark, then be sure to take a holiday snap, which you will cherish forever. During your visit, you will learn how this was built in 1569 and rebuilt in 1988. The main purpose of the wall was to protect China against the Barbarians coming from Mongolia and Manchuria. This is a particularly beautiful spot as vegetation, green pines and cypresses cover 90 per cent of this section. During all the fun activities today, you will stop at lunchtime to enjoy a delicious meal at a restaurant. After the final tour, you will return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Day 4 – Travel to Xi’an: Start the day with a leisurely breakfast before you are transferred to the railway station for a high-speed train to Xi’an. Once you arrive, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Feel free to unwind in the hotel or stroll around the city and enjoy its quaint atmosphere.
Day 5 – Xi’an: Today, you will get a chance to travel back in time when you visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It has the largest excavation of the 20th century. You will be amazed by the numerous life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses with different facial expressions, clothing and hairstyles – all arranged in battle formations. Be sure to pull out your camera and snap a selfie at this fascinating landmark, which includes 3 pits and a museum. Here you can learn how it was discovered in 1974 by a local farmer who was digging a well during a drought in China.
Day 6 – Xi’an & Chengdu: Wake up to a scrumptious breakfast, before heading to the railway station for your journey to Chengdu. Once you arrive, you will head straight to the hotel for check-in. Feel free to relax inside the hotel or venture out and soak up the atmosphere of the local area.
Day 7 – Panda Research Base: Do not forget your camera today as you set off to visit the famous Panda Research Base, which aims to protect giant pandas.
Once inside, you will walk through the beautiful bamboo garden to see about 80 to 100 pandas scattered around in different sections. You will be amazed as you gaze at these stunning animals playing and eating – especially the young pandas, who tend to be more active. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, so make sure you remember to take a snap of yourself with these gentle giants. During your visit, you will also learn how the centre has been constructed to imitate the pandas' natural habitat to create the best possible environment for rearing and breeding.
Day 8 – Chengdu: Today you will have the day free to spend as you wish. Feel free to relax inside a local teahouse with a delicious brew or experience the lively nightlife inside countless super-hip clubs.
Day 9 – Departure: Take time to enjoy the final breakfast of your holiday. Your mind will be buzzing from all the amazing adventures you've had. Pack your luggage before you are transferred back to the airport for your flight home. If you would like to extend your stay or travel in a premium cabin, then please speak with our travel specialist who will be happy to assist you.
