Heart of China

You arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport where a local guide will meet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and recover from the journey

After breakfast, we head to Tiananmen Square - one of the world's largest public plazas and the symbolic heart of modern China. From there, we explore the Forbidden City, the vast imperial palace complex that served as the seat of Chinese power for nearly five centuries.

This afternoon, we visit the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture set within peaceful parkland. We round off the day with a traditional tea ceremony

After breakfast, we make our way to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall - one of the best-preserved stretches of this extraordinary structure, set against a dramatic landscape of forested hills.

A cable car is available at your own expense should you wish to use it. We return to the hotel after lunch, and dinner is on your own.

Beijing - Xi'an. The morning begins with a walking tour through the Hutong area - Beijing's historic network of narrow lanes and traditional courtyard homes, offering a window into everyday city life.

After lunch, we transfer to Beijing West Railway Station and board the high-speed train to Xi'an. On arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and transfer you to the hotel. Dinner this evening is on your own.

After breakfast, we visit the Terracotta Warrior Museum - home to the silent underground army commissioned by China's first emperor and widely regarded as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century.

This afternoon we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the oldest surviving Buddhist structures in China, followed by a visit to a local terracotta workshop where the traditional craft is still practised today.

Xi'an - Shanghai. After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Shanghai. On arrival, your local guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

After breakfast, we spend the day exploring Shanghai's contrasts. We begin at Yu Garden, a beautifully preserved classical garden that has remained largely unchanged since it was laid out during the Ming Dynasty, now surrounded by the modern city that grew up around it.

From there, we stroll along the Bund, where the grand colonial architecture of the waterfront faces the glittering skyline of Pudong across the river. The afternoon takes in a silk factory, followed by time on Nanjing Road and in the former French Concession.

A free day to explore this extraordinary city at your own pace - a place where centuries of Chinese culture sit alongside some of the world's most striking modern architecture. Head out on your own to discover whichever corners of Shanghai appeal to you.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel before midday and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. We hope you've enjoyed your journey through China.