China's Present, Past and Future: 9-Day Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai Tour
From the Great Wall to Shanghai's skyline — trace China's epic story across nine immersive days.
This China multi-city tour takes you through three of the country's most historically and culturally significant cities, spanning ancient imperial capitals, dynastic wonders, and one of the world's most dynamic modern metropolises. Over nine days, a carefully structured itinerary balances guided discovery with moments of genuine local immersion. The pace is relaxed and accessible, designed for travelers of all backgrounds and fitness levels.
Beginning in Beijing, the tour moves through the ceremonial heart of imperial China, where centuries-old palaces and public squares stand alongside contemporary urban life. A high-speed train journey south introduces the rhythm of modern Chinese travel before arriving in Xi'an, a city that served as the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road and home to one of archaeology's most celebrated discoveries.
The journey concludes in Shanghai, where the contrast between a preserved Ming-era old town and a skyline defined by futuristic towers captures China's defining tension between heritage and ambition. A half-day excursion to Zhujiajiao, a water town built on a network of canals, adds a quieter, more intimate dimension to the urban experience.
Throughout the tour, local guides provide context that goes well beyond surface-level sightseeing, connecting monuments and museums to the dynastic histories and cultural forces that shaped them. Transfers between cities by high-speed rail offer a practical and distinctly local mode of long-distance travel that few visitors experience on their own.
Tour Highlights
Walk through the Forbidden City, the largest preserved imperial palace complex in the world, once the exclusive domain of China's emperors and their courts.
Explore the Badaling and Mutianyu sections of the Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable feats of engineering in human history.
Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi'an, where thousands of life-size sculpted soldiers guard the mausoleum of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
Discover Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, a vibrant neighborhood of mosques, market streets and street food that reflects centuries of Silk Road cultural exchange.
Experience Shanghai's layered identity through the historic Bund waterfront, the classical Yu Garden, the Former French Concession, and the neon-lit energy of Nanjing Road.
Wander through Zhujiajiao, a 400-year-old water town of stone bridges and canals on the outskirts of Shanghai, often called the Venice of China.
Travel between cities on China's high-speed rail network, a practical and culturally authentic way to cover long distances and witness the country's modern infrastructure firsthand.
Itinerary Overview
Arrive at Beijing Airport and transfer to your hotel, where a local guide will meet you. The remainder of the day is at leisure, with an optional excursion to the Summer Palace and Kunming Lake available for those who wish to begin exploring immediately.
Visit Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public plazas, before entering the Forbidden City to explore its vast network of halls, courtyards and gardens. The afternoon includes a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of Ming and Qing Dynasty imperial architecture, followed by a tea ceremony or pearl market visit.
Travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for a guided walk along one of its most scenic and well-preserved stretches. The afternoon is devoted to the Summer Palace, the former imperial retreat set around the tranquil waters of Kunming Lake.
Begin the morning with a tour of Beijing's historic Hutong alleyways before transferring to Beijing West Railway Station for a high-speed train to Xi'an. A guide meets you on arrival and assists with hotel check-in.
A full-day excursion covers the Terracotta Warriors Museum, where excavations have revealed an estimated 8,000 sculpted soldiers, horses and chariots. The return route includes a stop at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist structure built in 652, and a visit to a local jade factory.
Walk along Xi'an's ancient city walls before exploring the Muslim Quarter, a lively district of mosques and food markets that reflects the city's Silk Road heritage. An afternoon high-speed train departs for Shanghai, with dinner served on board and the night spent in transit.
What's Included
Included
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- 8 nights hotel accommodation
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Local English-speaking guides in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai
- High-speed train tickets between cities
- Entrance to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
- Entrance to the Temple of Heaven
- Entrance to the Mutianyu Great Wall section
- Entrance to the Terracotta Warriors Museum
- Visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Shanghai old town city tour including Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple
- Zhujiajiao water town half-day excursion
- Visit to Former French Concession
- Silk factory and jade factory visits
- Dinner on board the night train to Shanghai
Not Included
- International flights to and from China
- China entry visa and related fees
- Cable car at the Great Wall (optional, payable locally)
- Boat, theatre and Longevity Hill at the Summer Palace
- Special exhibitions inside the Forbidden City
- Optional Summer Palace excursion on Day 1
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This China Tour
Nine days across Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai — covering the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors and the waterways of Zhujiajiao. Spaces are limited and availability changes regularly.
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