Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, we are met by our English speaking guide and transferred directly to the hotel.

We start at Tiananmen Square and get an overview of China’s communist history on a tour of the vast array of halls and monuments. This is the symbolic heart of China and it can accommodate one million people. Next, we visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple, within the Imperial City. We then embark on an in-depth exploration of the Forbidden City, the power base of Chinese emperors for centuries. This contains the Imperial Palace Museum which details the history of each dynasty, represented in four palatial halls with antiques and treasures from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. This was the ceremonial and political centre of government for almost 500 years. In the afternoon, we take a 40 minute drive to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO listed summer retreat for emperors that dates back to 1888, with the option to enjoy a 30 minute boat ride on the Empress Cixi Waterway. Breakfast is at the hotel. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

From the hotel, we embark on a 90-minute scenic drive to the Mutianyu section of the wall, which is less visited than the famous Badaling stretch. Mutianyu is more rugged and covered in expansive greenery. Built as a form of defense by millions of soldiers and laborers, the wall is a remarkable feat of engineering and archaeologists estimate that it once spanned nearly 10,000 km. Construction continued over the centuries, with the most impressive portions built during the Ming Dynasty. The Mutianyu section holds a prominent place in Chinese military history and this area is now equipped with cable cars to offer a different perspective (surcharge applies) of this UNESCO World Heritage attraction. Lunch is at a local restaurant and we transfer back to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Our last morning in Beijing takes us to the Temple of Heaven which was founded in the 15th century. This features a complex of fine buildings set in gardens, surrounded by pine woods. The layout and the individual buildings symbolize the relationship between heaven and earth – the god’s world and the human world – and the special role played by emperors within this association. The temple provides a unique opportunity to see the capital’s past and present exist in cohesion side-by-side. We then explore the finer points of tea and China’s love of this beverage under guided instruction at a dedicated facility. In the afternoon, we head to the train station and embark on a five-hour-plus train journey from Beijing to Xi'an, travelling in second class. Upon arrival, we transfer to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

We explore Xi'an’s ancient past that dates back over 3,000 years, as we visit the cultural village of Banpo; marvel at the army of Terracotta Warriors; and discover Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum. The Banpo Neolithic Village houses the remains of an ancient village that a matriarchal clan community once resided in. A highlight of the tour is the acclaimed site of the Terracotta Warriors which consists of 8,000 figures built under the order of the emperor to accompany him to the afterlife. We also explore Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the world’s largest underground tomb. In the afternoon, we visit a terracotta replication factory to observe how craftsmen replicate the iconic statues at the UNESCO listed site. Breakfast is at the hotel. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Xi'an Airport for our domestic flight to Guilin, travelling economy class. Upon arrival, we get our first taste of Guilin which is situated in the southern Guangxi region. This is one of China’s most idyllic locations and it is renowned for its meandering rivers, deep caves and towering karst rock formations.

Our journey down the Li River reveals a beautiful scenery reminiscent of classic Chinese landscape paintings as we travel from Guilin to Yangshuo by boat. Guilin is situated in the southern Guangxi region and it is one of China’s most beautiful locations. It features rugged karst mountains and meandering waterways that snake through an idyllic rural countryside of verdant rice terraces. After breakfast, we are collected from our hotel and taken on a 30 minute transfer to the pier in Guilin where we board the boat. A lunch box is enjoyed on board as we head to the village of Yangshuo, with an expected arrival in the early afternoon. After we disembark, we stroll along Yangshuo's oldest street, West Street. An optional tour takes us on a bamboo raft to Shi Wai Tao Yuan, an idyllic garden filled with lotus ponds and peach blossoms and we can observe ethnic minority culture in this destination. We return to Guilin by road, with an expected arrival in the late afternoon.

After breakfast at the hotel we transfer to Guilin Airport for our domestic flight to Shanghai, flying economy class. Upon arrival, we are met by our local guide and are transferred directly to the hotel.

Discover Shanghai’s treasure chest of architectural styles on this full-day excursion that reveals the city’s main landmark districts. Starting early, we visit Shanghai Old Street which contains landmark, historical buildings. Next, we visit the serene and peaceful Yu classical Chinese gardens. This is a prime example of a classical Chinese garden, built in the Ming Dynasty and we enjoy tea served in a nearby location. We then take a stroll along the iconic Bund, a waterfront promenade lined with Europeanstyle buildings and skyscrapers. The earlier architecture at this location dates back to the 1920s and 1930s when it was the focus of European trade in mainland China and this commerce has left a legacy of stylish art deco buildings. In the afternoon, we visit the Shanghai Museum which is home to fascinating ancient Chinese art. We then head to Pearl City for some shopping, followed by exploration of Tianzifang, a network of alleyways filled with cafes, bars and boutiques. We round the day off with a stroll past the European style buildings of the Former French Concession. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Today we transfer to the airport for the departure flight.