ICONS OF CHINA BY TRAIN

You’ll be greeted at our hotel in Beijing by our friendly Local Insider, your expert guide for the next 10 days. After a group introduction we’ll head out for a welcome dinner together at a nearby local restaurant – there’s no better way to start your Chinese adventure than with Beijing duck, followed by a drink or two at a local craft beer bar.

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll head straight to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest and most historical city squares on the planet – remember the famous image of a man standing bravely in front of military tanks? We won’t have to walk far to our next stop, the iconic imperial palace complex known as the Forbidden City. Having spent some time getting to know the city, you’ll be whisked away for some fresh air in Jingshan Park, which boasts awe-inspiring views over the city. The afternoon will be yours to spend as you wish, either exploring the lake area and shopping districts of Nanluoguxiang, or jumping on the metro to the Bird’s Nest, home of the 2008 Summer & 2022 Winter Olympics. The evening is also free to be spent as you wish.

This morning begins just like the day starts for many Beijing locals, with a spot of exercise in a giant urban park, home to the stunning Temple of Heaven. After a visit to the temple we’ll embrace the local’s morning routine with an hourlong tai-chi class in the park. After an early lunch at the Fake Market, and plenty of time to work on your haggling skills when buying souvenirs, it’s time to leave the city behind. Next stop, the Great Wall of China! It’s about two hours north of the capital, so we’ll strap on our walking boots on the bus to Badaling and go for a mesmerising hike, ending at a dreamy spot to watch the sunset from the Great Wall itself. Still stunned by a moment you’ll never forget, it’s time to digest it all with a rooftop barbecue back at the hotel (or dinner at the restaurant, if the weather doesn’t hold up).

As if the sunset wasn’t enough, the early birds in the group have the option to head back to the Great Wall to watch the sunrise this morning! Then it’s back to the hotel for breakfast before returning to Beijing, stopping for a local lunch en route, and hopping on the bullet train to Pingyao. The train will take around three and a half hours, as you watch the countryside of three provinces whizz by at lightning speed, and we’ll arrive early in the evening. The night is to be spent as you wish – the old town is wonderful and filled with shops, bars and markets – but we recommend joining the group restaurant dinner and trying some Pingyao beef, the local delicacy.

Upon arrival last night you’ll have been given a Pingyao Old Town Entry ticket, which gives you complete access to over 20 museums, temples and other attractions within the ancient city’s walls. You can explore the area for yourself today, perhaps prioritising the first Bank of China and the Confucian Temple, or even going for a walk along the historical city walls. Be sure to grab an early dinner ahead of an evening spent flying past neon-lit cities on a three-hour train journey to Xi’an, the home of the Terracotta Warriors!

If you’re the type who likes to jump out of bed in the morning, then you can start the day with an invigorating 13km bike ride along the historical city walls of Xi’an – a perfect introduction to the city. The inside of the former capital’s walls is brimming with history, but also blending with a flurry of striking modern architectural works. After lunch you’ll have the option to join a calligraphy class at the Small Goose Pagoda, before our evening kicks off with a trip to the Drum and Bell Towers at night. After that you’ll be guided by our Local Insider through the old Muslim Quarter, where you’ll snack away on lamb skewers and dumplings, before an optional night of karaoke at a local bar – will you join in and sing the night away?

The star of today’s show is one of the most incredible sights in all of China – The Army of Terracotta Warriors. This spectacular collection of clay statues depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, is an iconic Unesco World Heritage Site. A local guide will show you around the massive site, filled with various pits, archeological miracles and endless deftly carved clay soldiers. The tour ends in the museum and cinema, where you’ll get to watch a documentary about this ancient wonder. Then it’s time to head straight to the train station, where we’ll leave ancient history behind in favour of the ultra modern bullet train to Shanghai. We’ll arrive fairly late in the evening, but there are excellent dinner options available onboard the train.

This morning our Local Insider will show you how to start the day like locals do with a local breakfast tour along the old streets of Shanghai. Stuffed with pancakes and sesame bread, it’s time to head right up to the top of Jin Mao Tower, one of the most iconic members of Shanghai’s epic skyline. Thrill seekers will also get to take on the incredible skywalk around the tower – don’t worry, it is optional. After wandering through the financial district and heading to Yu Gardens to discover souvenir shops and lunch spots, you’ll have an afternoon free to explore the city’s many offering, from the shopping paradise of Nanjing Road to the wide collection of incredible museums and galleries, included the Modern Art Museum, the Urban Planning Exhibition Center and the Propaganda Poster Art Museum. In the evening you have the chance to regroup for an optional cooking class, where we’ll tuck into some delicious home-cooked delights.

Today we’ll take a day trip to the charming old water town of Zhujiajiao. It’s a glorious example of the country’s ancient trade traditions, with rows of old trade houses lining the waterways – an entire community built on ease of transportation. You’ll get to explore the town on a small boat and learn about the Great Canal of China, an incredible man made waterway between Hangzhou & Beijing. Back in Shanghai you’ll have more time in the city before we regroup for another cruise, this time on Huangpu River. The tour finishes in style with some bubbles and snacks as the sun goes down over the city, and Shanghai’s epic skyscrapers transform into a neon-lit kaleidoscope of colour. We’ll end the trip with one last group dinner, but there’s plenty more of Shanghai to discover after dark, namely the city’s many amazing rooftop cocktail bars…

It’s time to say goodbye to Shanghai and, indeed, to China as a whole. You’ll have breakfast at the hotel and, depending on flight times, some extra time to enjoy the city before hopping on the high-speed Maglev train to the airport. Until next time, China!