China & Japan Express (Standard)

Welcome to Beijing. On arrival in the Chinese capital, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or head out and explore Beijing at your own pace.

You begin the day at Tiananmen Square, taking in the scale and significance of one of the largest public squares in the world. Dominated by the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong above the Tiananmen Gate, the square has been the backdrop to many pivotal moments in China’s modern history.

You then continue to the Forbidden City (closed on Mondays), the vast imperial palace where emperors ruled for almost 500 years. Now known as the Palace Museum, it is the best-preserved palace complex in China. Home to the Ming and Qing emperors, its more than 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms once housed only the imperial family and their closest officials, offering a fascinating insight into life at the heart of ancient China.

After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the emperors of the final two dynasties came to worship the heavens and pray for good harvests. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with its distinctive circular design, is one of Beijing’s most recognisable landmarks.

The remainder of the day is at leisure, giving you time to relax or explore independently.

Beijing - Great Wall - Beijing. After breakfast, travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the most scenic and best-preserved stretches of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set among rolling mountains, Mutianyu offers striking views in every season - spring brings blossoming flowers, summer is lush and green with flowing streams, autumn is coloured by red leaves and fruit trees, and winter transforms the landscape under a blanket of snow. This section is highly regarded both in China and internationally for its beauty and historical importance. Cable car tickets are not included and are payable locally.

Lunch is at a local restaurant and you then visit a tea store for a traditional tea ceremony, offering an insight into one of China’s most important cultural traditions and the role tea has played in daily life for centuries.

Back in Beijing, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Beijing - Xi'an. Leaving Beijing after breakfast, you transfer to the railway station for your unescorted high-speed train journey to Xi’an, a comfortable ride of approximately 5-6 hours through the heart of China. On arrival, meet your local guide and transfer into the city.

This afternoon, explore Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall, which still fully encloses the historic centre and is considered the most complete city wall to survive in China. Originally built as a military defensive system, it is also one of the largest of its kind in the world. Enjoy time on the wall, where you can choose to take a leisurely walk or hire a bicycle to pedal along the ramparts for views over both the old city and the modern skyline beyond. After your visit, transfer back to the hotel.

Set off early to beat the crowds at the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors. With a professional guide, you explore this extraordinary archaeological site and uncover the story of the vast underground army created to guard China’s first emperor in the afterlife. Your visit also includes a stop at a Terracotta Warriors factory, offering insight into how the figures were crafted and restored.

For lunch, you can enjoy Biang Biang noodles and other local specialities. These thick, hand-pulled noodles are served with chilli, garlic and Sichuan pepper, delivering bold and distinctive flavours. The character for “Biang” is famously one of the most complex in the Chinese language and is so intricate that even many Chinese people cannot read it.

In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (climb to the top is not included). Built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty, this iconic structure once formed part of the Da Ci’en Temple and was constructed to house Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by the monk Xuanzang.

Xi'an - Shanghai. After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel, and the rest of today is at leisure.

Today's touring of Shanghai begins at the Yu Garden and the surrounding old bazaar (closed on Mondays). Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, Yu Garden was created by government official Pan Yunduan as a peaceful retreat for his parents to enjoy their later years. It remains one of Shanghai’s finest examples of classical Chinese garden design. Surrounding the garden is the lively old bazaar, where you can browse stalls selling local snacks, handicrafts and jewellery - bargaining is very much part of the experience.

You then visit the Jade Buddha Temple, originally built in 1882 to house two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen. Although the temple was destroyed during the revolution that ended the Qing Dynasty, the statues were saved, and the current temple was rebuilt on this site in 1928.

Lunch is at a local restaurant before you pay a visit to a silk factory, learning about the long history of silk production and its importance to Chinese culture and trade.

In the afternoon, you stroll along Nanjing Road and the Bund. Nanjing Road stretches for 5.5 kilometres from the Bund in the east to the area near Jing’an Temple in the west and is China’s most famous shopping street, drawing visitors from around the world. You then continue to the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront along the Huangpu River, where historic buildings sit alongside views of the city’s modern skyline. After a day of sightseeing, transfer back to the hotel.

Shanghai - Tokyo (Japan). Say goodbye to China today as you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Tokyo. On arrival in Japan, you will be collected and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Tokyo - Hakone - Tokyo. After breakfast, you are collected and head into the Mount Fuji area for a day of scenic landscapes and classic views of Japan’s most iconic peak. Your first stop is Oishi Park, a flower park on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi, renowned for its seasonal blooms and superb views of Mount Fuji across the water.

You then visit Oshino Hakkai Village, a traditional rural settlement famous for its eight crystal-clear, spring-fed ponds. Fed by snowmelt from Mount Fuji, the village offers postcard-perfect scenery and a glimpse into traditional countryside life.

Continuing by road, you travel into the Hakone region, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, known for its hot springs, mountainous scenery and views of Mount Fuji. Here, you explore this popular resort area, celebrated for its onsen culture, outdoor activities and museums.

Your sightseeing includes Owakudani Valley, a dramatic volcanic landscape with active sulphur vents and steaming hot springs, often referred to as the Great Boiling Valley. The area is also known for its local speciality - black eggs boiled in the hot springs.

Later, enjoy a leisurely walk along the shores of Lake Ashi, taking in the peaceful atmosphere and views of the surrounding mountains, with Mount Fuji visible on clear days. You then take a boat ride across the lake, travelling between Togendai and Hakonemachi for some of the best views of the Hakone area.

Later, return to the hotel in Tokyo, and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Tokyo - Nikko - Tokyo. Today, you visit Nikko, a historic town at the entrance to Nikko National Park and one of Japan’s most important cultural destinations. Nikko is best known for Toshogu Shrine, the lavishly decorated mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your visit begins at Shinkyo Bridge, one of Japan’s most beautiful and sacred bridges, marking the traditional entrance to Nikko’s shrine and temple complex.

You then explore Toshogu Shrine, renowned for its elaborate carvings, vibrant colours and ornate architecture, including the famous “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” monkeys. You also visit Rinnoji Temple - Taiyuin, the serene mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu. More restrained in design than Toshogu, it offers a quieter and more contemplative atmosphere within the forested surroundings.

After your sightseeing, transfer back to the hotel in Tokyo.

Today is at leisure in Tokyo, giving you the freedom to explore the city at your own pace and tailor the day to your own interests. You may wish to spend time discovering Tokyo’s diverse neighbourhoods - from the bright lights and shopping of Shinjuku and Shibuya to the traditional atmosphere of Asakusa, home to the historic Senso-ji Temple. For a more relaxed pace, you could stroll through one of the city’s many gardens, such as the Imperial Palace East Gardens or Shinjuku Gyoen.

If shopping appeals, you can browse the department stores of Ginza, explore the youth culture of Harajuku, or seek out unique souvenirs in local boutiques. Food lovers may prefer to sample Tokyo’s renowned cuisine, from sushi and ramen to casual street snacks or elegant dining experiences.

Your tour comes to an end today, after breakfast and hotel check-out. An included transfer takes you to the airport for your onward flight.