China West Exploration

Welcome to China. Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be met by your guide and driver in the arrivals hall and transferred to your hotel. The rest 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, 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. From there, we walk to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace where Chinese emperors ruled for five centuries. Explore its vast courtyards, ornate chambers, and tranquil gardens, gaining insight into the lives of emperors, empresses, concubines, and eunuchs behind the towering red walls. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit one of Beijing’s remaining hutongs—traditional narrow alleys dating back to the Yuan dynasty. These lanes, lined with siheyuan courtyard homes, offer a glimpse into old Beijing’s lifestyle and history. We also visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, known for its iconic White Stupa completed in 1279 under Kublai Khan. 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 stretch is celebrated for its scenic beauty and offers a gentle hike along one of China’s most iconic landmarks. At either end of this section lie two lakes, created by dams built in the 1970s and ’90s. From the wall, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of both lakes as the Great Wall gracefully descends into the water. Lunch is included 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 and transformed by Chinese contemporary artists in the 1990s. This area is now a hub of modern art, culture, and design, featuring avant-garde galleries and innovative dining options. You’ll have time to discover the district at your own pace. We return to Beijing 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 good harvests. The complex features the square-shaped Palace of Abstinence, representing the 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 morning exercises such as dancing, fencing, flag-waving, and Taichi. After the visit, you have free time for lunch before transferring to Beijing West Railway Station to board a second-class high-speed train to Xi’an. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and taken to the Muslim Quarter. Here, you can explore the bustling food stalls and sample local Halal delicacies such as skewers, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes (at your own expense). Xi’an’s Muslim community dates back over 1,300 years, established by Persian and Arab traders along the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. Overnight in Xi’an.

After breakfast, we drive to the Ancient City Wall, the most complete and well-preserved city wall in China, and one of 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 (at your own expense) to cycle a section or the entire length. Afterwards, we set off early to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Terracotta Warriors. With a professional guide, you will explore the remarkable life-sized sculptures of soldiers, horses, and chariots created to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum. This extraordinary archaeological find includes around 8,000 unique figures and offers a fascinating glimpse into China’s ancient past. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the Xi’an Museum (closed on Tuesdays), which showcases the rich history and culture of this ancient city, once known as Chang’an, a key cradle of Chinese civilisation. We return to the hotel in Xi’an for overnight.

After breakfast, we take the second high-speed train to Yinchuan. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide and driver. We then visit the Helan Mountain rock paintings, where ancient inhabitants carved images depicting nomadic life, animals, human figures, rituals, and tools. Notably, some carvings reflect myths, legends, and fertility worship. Lunch is at your own arrangement. We conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant before settling in for the night in Yinchuan.

After breakfast, we will collect you from the hotel and drive approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to the Western Xia Imperial Tombs. This site is the largest and best-preserved cultural heritage of the Tangut civilisation, offering a fascinating glimpse into this historic dynasty. We will spend around 2 to 2.5 hours exploring the tombs. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before we transfer from Yinchuan to Zhongwei. In the afternoon, we will visit Zhongwei Gao Miao, a unique temple near Zhongwei County that historically served multiple religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity. The visit will last about an hour before we return to the hotel for the evening. Overnight in Zhongwei.

After breakfast, we will collect you from the hotel and transfer to Tonghu Grassland. This area, named for its series of interconnected lakes, features a striking blend of desert, grassland, lakes and camel-shaped sand dunes, creating a unique natural landscape. You will enjoy a 90-minute folk song and dance performance, offering insight into local culture. Lunch is included at a nearby restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Shapotou Tourism Area, located on the southeastern edge of the desert and known as the Capital of Sand. From the sandhills, you can see the desert stretching northwards and a vast oasis to the south. There are optional activities available here, such as sand skiing, camel riding, off-road vehicles, and desert motorcycling, which you may choose to try at your own expense. We will then return to the hotel in Zhongwei for the evening.

After breakfast, we will collect you from the hotel and drive to visit the 108 Buddhist Pagodas on the way back to Yinchuan. Once part of a grand temple complex, most of the buildings have now fallen into ruin, leaving only the pagodas standing. Arranged in 12 rows, the pagodas form a distinctive isosceles triangle—narrow at the top and wide at the base—making this layout unique. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Shuidonggou site, historically a military defence base along the Great Wall, with many remaining relics of its fortifications. In 1923, French biologists uncovered numerous stone tools and animal fossils here, marking it as China’s earliest excavated site of the Old Stone Age and regarded as the birthplace of prehistoric archaeology in the country. We will then return to the hotel in Yinchuan for the night.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, a vibrant city that embodies modern China’s energy and diversity. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver. Lunch is at your own arrangement. In the afternoon, we visit the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Museum (closed on Mondays), a small but fascinating collection showcasing over 5,000 Mao-era posters that offer a unique perspective on China’s recent history. Afterwards, we take a stroll along the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic riverfront, where you can admire the striking neoclassical architecture reflecting the city’s colonial past and early Western influences. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. Overnight in Shanghai.

After breakfast, we drive to Yu Garden, one of Shanghai’s most celebrated attractions. Wander through its intricate network of pavilions and arched bridges, then explore the bustling market nearby, where traditional Chinese arts and crafts are on display. 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. Next, we visit Jade Buddha Temple, an active place of worship housing renowned Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1800s. The temple’s construction took ten years to complete. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a stroll through the French Concession Quarter, known for its stylish streets and distinctive European architecture. Once under French control from 1849 to 1946, this area now thrives as one of Shanghai’s most vibrant shopping and leisure districts, blending historic charm with a relaxed atmosphere. We return to the hotel for the night.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some leisure time in Shanghai before we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.