Beijing to Shanghai Express - 9 day tour

Rise and shine early this morning to witness the sun rise on the Great Wall, one of the most iconic sun rises of our lives. Return to Beijing where we have the remainder of the afternoon and next day at leisure to explore the capital’s iconic sites. Take a stroll through Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world and home to the National Museum of China, Great Hall of the People and Monument to the People’s heroes. Visit the iconic Forbidden City for a close up of the largest palatial complex in the world, boasting over 980 buildings and an insight into the history of the 24 emperors that lived there. For a bird’s eye view of these iconic sites we recommend heading up to Jingshan Park. Head to one of the three fake goods markets to buy souvenirs for your friends and family or stroll along the capital’s hutongs in the Nanluo district. In the evening, we recommend trying the famous Peking Duck dish, once enjoyed exclusively by royalty or perhaps watch a stunning acrobatics performance.
Overnight: Beijing

Beijing - Hangzhou. Our final day in Beijing is spent at leisure to visit any last-minute sites. Visit the Temple of Heaven, a temple used by emperors for sacrifices to appease the heavens and grant good crops and prosperity for its worshipers, and the largest sacrificial building in China. This evening we board an overnight train to Hangzhou (approx. 14 hours).
Overnight: Sleeper Train

Arrive early into scenic Hangzhou, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal and an important centre for silk, tea and paper-making. After settling into our accommodation, we embark on a scenic boat trip to Lesser Yingzhou Isle on the West Lake which is dotted with various islands and causeways, whilst the shoreline offers wonderful vistas of green trees, hills, flowers, pavilions, pagodas and boats. We take some time to walk around the island and see the three pools mirroring the moon. Return to dry land for some free time to relax or perhaps visit the National Tea Museum or National Silk Museum.

This afternoon we hike up Jiuyao Mountain to soak up the views of the sunset descending over the lake – a truly breath-taking sight. Return to the city for a group meal and an evening at leisure (not included). Walk along the beautifully lit waterfront or wander through the streets of the Old Town.
Overnight: Hangzhou

Hangzhou - Shanghai. This morning we venture out of the city and head to the luscious Misty Forest to hike along the Nine Creeks trail, passing verdant valleys and undulating hills. We return to the hostel for some time to freshen up before making our way to the station for our onward train to Shanghai. On arrival jump on the metro to our accommodation and have the rest of the evening free to explore this futuristic city. On Saturday nights there is an optional Shanghai bar crawl on offer (not included).

Day 7 is at leisure to further explore Shanghai. Visit one of the many museums to gain an insight into the city’s unique history, take a stroll down one of the many markets a for an array of collectables to take home for your friends and family, or try some of the local cuisine – we recommend grabbing some of the food from the city’s bustling street food markets.

On the morning of day 8 we have our final Mandarin lesson in the Mandarin Garden Chinese Language School before spending the remainder of the day at leisure. There is an optional visit to the classical Yu Gardens along the Yangtze River, cross the zig zag bridge and mid-lake pavilion and marvel at one of the three famous jade rocks in south of Yangtze. Or perhaps continue to People’s Square in the heart of the city which attracts visitors from all over the world with its many museums, parks, local restaurants and more. Witness the bright neon lights on Nanjing Road, the world's busiest shopping street and marvel at the timeless colonial style buildings and modern skyscrapers at The Bund. We end our walk with a drink on the top floor of one of the skyscrapers, while sitting in hot tubs and admiring the panoramic views of the Paris of the East.
Overnight: Shanghai