China Cosmopolitan Exploration

Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be met by your guide and driver in the arrivals hall. You will then be transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in at your own pace. Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast, we meet in the hotel lobby and drive to Tiananmen Square, a site of immense historical and cultural importance. Here, you can view Mao’s portrait and visit his mausoleum at the far end of the square. We then walk to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace where emperors ruled for five centuries. Explore its vast courtyards, gardens, and chambers that reveal the lives of emperors, empresses, concubines, and eunuchs behind the imposing red walls. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit one of Beijing’s remaining hutongs – traditional narrow alleys dating back to the Yuan dynasty – to experience authentic old Beijing life and see traditional courtyard homes. We also visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, known for its iconic White Stupa completed in 1279 under Kublai Khan. We return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Beijing.

After breakfast, we drive to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, known as the Yellow Flower Wall. This part of the wall is celebrated for its striking scenery and offers a manageable hike along one of China’s most iconic landmarks. At either end of this stretch lie two lakes, created by dams built in the 1970s and 1990s. From the wall, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of both lakes as the Great Wall descends dramatically into the water below. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore the 798 Art District, a vibrant hub of contemporary art housed within a former industrial complex built by East Germans in the 1950s. Since the 1990s, Chinese artists have transformed this space into a lively centre for modern art, culture and design. You’ll have time to discover avant-garde galleries, innovative eateries and unique shops before returning to the hotel for the night in Beijing.

After breakfast, we visit the Temple of Heaven complex in southeast Beijing, built in the early 15th century for Ming and Qing emperors to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. The site features the square-shaped Palace of Abstinence, representing earth, and the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and Circular Mound Altar, symbolising heaven. The surrounding park is a lively space where locals practise dancing, fencing, flag-waving, and Taichi each morning. After the visit, lunch is at your own arrangement. We then transfer to the train station for a second-class high-speed train journey to Shanghai. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Shanghai.

After breakfast, we drive to Yu Garden, one of Shanghai’s most celebrated attractions. Created by the Pan family, wealthy officials of the Ming Dynasty, this garden exemplifies classical Ming design with its intricate pavilions, winding rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all enclosed by a distinctive dragon wall. Adjacent to the garden is the bustling bazaar, originally the City God Temple built in the 16th century, now a lively market offering traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Here, you can browse antiques, silk fans, bamboo items, shell carvings and paintings, or sample local delicacies such as Shanghai Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), vegetarian buns and chicken soup. We then visit Jade Buddha Temple, an active place of worship housing two renowned Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1800s; the temple took ten years to complete. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we stroll through the French Concession Quarter, known for its elegant European architecture and relaxed atmosphere. Once under French control until 1946, this area is now one of Shanghai’s most fashionable shopping districts. We finish the day with a walk along the Bund, the iconic riverside promenade showcasing Shanghai’s neo-classical European buildings and reflecting the city’s historic ties with the West. Overnight in Shanghai.

After breakfast, we leave the city behind for a one-hour drive to Zhujiajiao, Shanghai’s nearest water town nestled in the suburbs. Here, we visit a traditional merchant’s courtyard, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of a wealthy family from times past. We then enjoy a leisurely gondola ride along the town’s network of canals, followed by a relaxing stop at a tea house where you can sip tea while listening to traditional Chinese music. There is also the option to visit the Qing Post Office, the only well-preserved postal site from the Qing dynasty in Shanghai (entrance fee payable locally). Zhujiajiao is known for its local delicacies such as Apo Zongzi (sweet sticky dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), bamboo shrimp Shao-mai, and chicken wontons, which you may wish to sample. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Museum (closed Mondays), a small but fascinating collection of over 5,000 posters from the Mao era, offering a unique insight into China’s recent history. We return to Shanghai for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time to explore Shanghai at your own pace or relax before your transfer to the airport. Your guide and driver will ensure you arrive in good time for your flight home.