China Ancient Heartland Exploration

Welcome to Beijing. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and driver before being transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and settle in at your own pace. Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and drive to Tiananmen Square. Take in the vastness of this historic public space, dominated by the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong above the Tiananmen Gate. The square is one of the largest in the world and has witnessed many significant events in China’s history. You will also see Mao’s Mausoleum at the far end of the square. From there, walk to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Explore its extensive complex of over 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms, once home to emperors, their families, and court officials. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to one of Beijing’s remaining hutongs—traditional narrow alleyways that offer a glimpse into the city’s past. Wander through these historic lanes and visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, known for its distinctive White Stupa completed in 1279 during Kublai Khan’s reign. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay in Beijing.

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, known as the Yellow Flower Wall. This stretch is celebrated for its scenic beauty and offers a gentle hike along one of China’s most iconic landmarks. Flanked by two lakes created by dams in the 1970s and ’90s, the wall here descends dramatically into the water, providing stunning, unobstructed views from above. Following the walk, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore Beijing’s vibrant 798 Art District, a former industrial complex built by East Germans in the 1950s. Since the 1990s, it has been transformed by contemporary Chinese artists into a lively hub of modern art, culture, and design, featuring avant-garde galleries and trendy cafés. You’ll have time to wander and soak up the creative atmosphere before returning to the hotel for the night.

After breakfast, we visit the Temple of Heaven complex in southeast Beijing. Built in the early 15th century, this site was where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the heavens and prayed for a good harvest. The architecture symbolises the connection between earth and heaven – the square-shaped Palace of Abstinence represents the earth, while the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and Circular Mound Altar represent heaven. The surrounding park is a lively space where locals practise morning exercises such as dancing, fencing, flag-waving, and Tai Chi. After your visit, enjoy lunch at your own pace before transferring to Beijing’s high-speed train station. We then take a second-class high-speed train to Datong, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the Yungang Grottoes, an exceptional example of early Chinese Buddhist art dating from the mid-5th to early 6th century AD. This site features 252 caves and niches carved into a sandstone cliff over a stretch of about one kilometre, housing more than 50,000 statues. We explore this remarkable collection, which represents a significant chapter in China’s Buddhist heritage. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the Hanging Temple, perched approximately 75 metres above the ground on the cliffs of Mount Heng. Built by a monk, this unique temple is supported by poles inserted into the rock face and is dedicated to three religions—Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Later, we transfer to the high-speed train station for a second-class journey to Pingyao, a former financial centre during the Ming and Qing dynasties, known for its well-preserved ancient architecture and early banking institutions. Upon arrival, we transfer to the hotel for overnight accommodation.

After breakfast, we embark on a full-day walking tour of Pingyao with a private guide. This remarkably well-preserved ancient city offers a vivid glimpse into China’s past, with its intact city walls, elegant courtyards, and scattered temples reflecting the prosperity of the Ming and Qing dynasties. As we stroll along Mingqing Jie, the city’s central street, you’ll notice the traditional art of paper cutting—a craft passed down through generations—on display in various colours and sizes. The day provides an immersive experience of Pingyao’s rich heritage and enduring charm. Overnight in Pingyao.

After breakfast, we transfer you to the high-speed train station for your journey to Xi’an, travelling in second-class comfort. Known as Chang’an before the Ming Dynasty, Xi’an’s rich history reflects its significance as a former imperial capital. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and taken to the bustling Muslim Quarter. Here, the enticing aromas from numerous food stalls invite you to sample local delicacies such as Halal skewers, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes (at your own expense). Xi’an is home to one of the world’s oldest Muslim communities, established around 1,300 years ago by Persian and Arab traders along the Silk Road. We conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant before settling in for the night in Xi’an.

After breakfast, we drive to the Ancient City Wall, one of the most complete and well-preserved city walls in China and among the largest ancient military defence systems worldwide. Originally built from rammed earth and later rebuilt with bricks during Emperor Longqing’s reign, the wall still bears bricks marked from the original construction. We take a leisurely walk along the top of the wall, where you may choose to rent a bicycle or electric bike to cycle a section or the entire circuit. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Terracotta Warriors with a professional guide. This extraordinary archaeological site features thousands of life-sized sculptures of soldiers, horses, and chariots created to protect the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang. Each figure is unique, reflecting the craftsmanship of this ancient empire. After returning from the Terracotta Warriors, we visit the Xi’an Museum (closed on Tuesdays), which offers valuable insights into the origins of Chinese civilisation and the Huaxia culture. We stay overnight in Xi’an.

After breakfast, we transfer to the high-speed train station for your 2nd class journey to Nanjing. Known for its rich history as the capital during the Ming Dynasty and the Republic of China, Nanjing offers a fascinating glimpse into China’s past. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the final resting place of China’s first president and a key figure in the country’s modern history. Then explore the Former President’s Palace, once known as the White House of China, which served as the office of the Republic of China’s presidents from 1927 to 1949. This site also played a role during the Taiping Rebellion in 1853 and was where Dr Sun Yat-sen was sworn in as provisional president. After lunch at a local restaurant (included), spend the afternoon at Nanjing Museum, one of China’s largest museums with over 400,000 items, including an extensive collection of Ming and Qing imperial porcelain. Later, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the back alleys around the Confucius Temple and along the Qinhuai River. You may choose to dine at one of the local restaurants in the nearby Laomendong area, known for its lively atmosphere (own expense). Overnight in Nanjing.

After breakfast, we transfer to the high-speed train station for your journey to Shanghai, China’s vibrant and modern metropolis. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver. Lunch is at your own arrangement, allowing you to explore the city at your leisure. In the afternoon, we visit the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Museum, a small but fascinating collection showcasing over 5,000 posters from the Mao era, offering a unique insight into China’s recent history. Afterwards, take a stroll along the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic riverfront promenade, where you can admire the striking Neoclassical architecture that reflects the city’s colonial past and early interactions with the West. We conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant before settling in for the night in Shanghai.

Breakfast at the hotel before we drive to Yu Garden, one of Shanghai’s most celebrated attractions. Originally created by the wealthy Pan family during the Ming Dynasty between 1559 and 1577, the garden is a classic example of Ming garden design, featuring a maze of pavilions, intricate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all enclosed by a distinctive undulating dragon wall. Adjacent to the garden is the bustling bazaar, once the City God Temple built in the 16th century, now a lively market specialising in 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 take a stroll through the French Concession Quarter, known for its stylish streets and European architecture. Once under French control from 1849 until 1946, this area retains a relaxed atmosphere and is now one of Shanghai’s most vibrant shopping districts. Overnight in Shanghai.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a morning at leisure to relax or explore Shanghai independently. When ready, we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.