8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Real Food Adventure Tour

Summary

Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Day 2 Beijing: Tiananmen Sqaure, Forbidden City, Peking Roast Duck Lunch, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Hutong Dumpling Making Class
Day 4 Beijing-Xian: Take high speed train to Xian, Xian Ancient City Wall, Tang Dynasty & Dumpling banquet
Day 5 Xian: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter
Day 6 Xian-Shanghai: Take Flight to Shanghai, Nanjing Road & The Bund, Huangpu River Night Cruise
Day 7 Shanghai: Yu Garden, City God Temple, Nanxiang Steamed Bun Lunch, Shanghai Museum
Day 8 Shanghai Departure: Old French Concession

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Make your flight arrangement to Beijing. Pick up service can be arranged at Beijing International Airport, our Beijing local guide will meet you at the exit of the airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". Transfer to your hotel in Beijing, our guide will help you to check in.

After a short break, you will have chance to taste the imperial court food at a local restaurant. Beijing is an ancient capital in China and there are many imperial family were lived here. Food of this kind was once only prepared for the members of the imperial court and was not accessible to ordinary people. Now, money permitting, you can have a taste of the Royal Feast of Complete Manchu-Han Courses, a most bounteous feast of Imperial Court Food.

When you finished dinner, go for a Peking Opera Show.  It is the quintessence of China. The largest Chinese opera form, it is extolled as 'Oriental Opera'. Having a history of 160 years, it has created many 'firsts' in Chinese dramas: the abundance of repertoires, the number of artists, opera troupes and spectators. If you are looking for the night activity when you stay in Beijing, Peking Opera Show will be the best to learn about the Chinese culture.

After the show, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing

After breakfast, you will visit the Tiananmen Square, it is the largest city square in the world. It is a vast open concrete expanse at the heart of modern Beijing. Here you can see the national flag raised at dawn and lowered at dusk every day, and the locals, as well as visitors strolling about at ease. 

Next, walk into the Forbidden City, also named "Palace Museum". It served as the home of emperors and their households and was the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. It is one of the world’s largest imperial palaces in the world. It has a grand scale. The width of it from east to west is 753m, and the length from south to north is 961m. It encompasses an area of 720,000 square meters. The entire palace consists of several dozen courtyards. The total construction area of the palace is approximately 160,000 square meters. You will spend around 2 hours here.

Today, you get a chance to taste the typical Peking Roast Duck Lunch. Peking roast duck is a typical dish in Beijing and a must try food when you travel here. The popular and delicious Beijing Roast Duck surely has a long history in the country’s cuisine, culture, and even customs. No visit to this beautiful city would be complete if you haven’t gone to the Great Wall or feast on the delicious roasted duck.

In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Summer Palace in Beijing. It is an imperial garden in Beijing and famous for it's landscape. The palace is stunning and truly a work of art. It is bright and beautiful. Each part of the architecture is colorful and has unique detail. The combination of lakes, gardens, and palaces give the Imperial Garden a serene and peaceful feeling.

Then, go to visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Beijing. A large religious complex in the old outer city of Beijing, considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture. Its layout symbolizes the belief that heaven is round and earth square. The three buildings are built in a straight line.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 3 Beijing

After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours to visit Mutianyu Great Wall. There is an old saying goes "He who does not reach Great Wall of China is not a true man" and "A Beijing Tour without Great Wall is not completed". It is one of the best-preserved sections of the Wall close to Beijing. Being a scenic section but with fewer tourists than Badaling, Mutianyu Great wall is an ideal introduction to this ancient wonder and especially favored by foreign travelers. Once you arrive there, our guide will show you the best part of the wall and take round way cable car up and down to save you energy.

Transfer back to Beijing to experience the traditional rickshaw ride get through the zigzag and narrow alleys to visit the Hutong. You also have chance to walk into local's home to visit and learn how to make Chinese Jiaozi (Dumplings) in a local family, which is essential during holidays in Northern China. Chinese dumpling becomes one of the most widely loved foods in China. Chinese dumpling is one of the most important foods in Chinese New Year. Since the shape of Chinese dumplings is similar to ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth. 

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 4 Beijing-Xian

Transfer to Beijing train station to catch your high speed train to Xian. Once you arrive, our guide will meet you at the exit of train station with a sign. You will be taken to Xian city. 

Firstly, spend your time to explore the Xian Ancient City Wall. You can choose to walk around the wall or rent a bike to go around (optional). It is one of the most famous tourist sites in Xian. It is the China’s best-preserved, and largest existing ancient city wall. Originally serving as a military defensive system in ancient times, the city wall today is considered a landmark dividing the city of Xi’an into the inner part and the outer part.

Then, you will have chance to the Shaanxi Grand Opera House around 6:00PM and our tour guide will help you find your seat for the Dumpling Banquet in the Opera House. Dumpling, or Jiaozi in Chinese, is one of the most representative Chinese food. Nearly 20 varieties are made and inside the dumplings are stuffed with delicious vegetables, meats and seafood. Dumplings’ legend offers an original approach to Chinese food, merging the familiar comfort food of London’s Chinatown with the culinary heritage of regional oriental cuisine. 

What's more, enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Dance Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xian.

Day 5 Xian

After breakfast, spend an half day to explore the Terracotta Warriors in Xian. Known as “the eighth Wonders of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century. Up to now, there has discovered a total of 179 accompanying burial pits of different connotations and various shapes in Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum area. The discovery of these pits has provided all important significance in the research of the burial system of the Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the characteristics structures and characteristics of the burial pits.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. As the symbol of the old-line Xi'an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It is brick structure, square-pavilion pagoda. It is 64 meters high now. The tower footing is 4.2 meters high, 48.7 meters in l ength from north to south, about 45.7 meters from east to west. 

Lastly, go to explore the Muslim food culture at Xian Muslim Quarter. It is actually a block consists of couples of streets for over 1,000 years old. It is very famous for its abundant delicious local Xian snacks and rich culture of ancient immigration. Diverse food, hospitable people, characteristic buildings in Ming and Qing dynasties, traditional mosques, make this block a must-go place for tourists from home and abroad.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xian.

Day 6 Xian-Shanghai

After breakfast, transfer to Xian airport for your flight to Shanghai. Once you arrive in Shanghai, our guide will meet you at the exit of Shanghai airport with a welcome sign. You will be taken to your Shanghai hotel, check in your hotel and take a short rest.

You will visit the Nanjing Road at first. For visitors to Shanghai, Nanjing Road is an absolute must-see, on par with a visit to the Bund itself. If ever there was a silver lining to an unhappy event, the London-inspired, Nanjing Road shopping mall is it! 

Next, walk along the Bund to appreciate the modern buildings of Shanghai. It is a mile-long stretch of waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. To the west of this stretch stand 52 buildings of various architectural styles, including Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical styles. It is often referred to as "the museum of buildings". 

In the evening, enjoy a relaxing 40-minute night cruise along the longest river passing through the city of Shanghai, the vast Huangpu River. Dividing the city of Shanghai into two sections, with the what the locals call the Pudong district to the east, and the Puxi district to the west, cruises along the Huangpu River provide some of the most dramatic views of the city and its many amazing monuments.

After the cruise, you will be taken back to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 7 Shanghai

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the famous Yu Garden. It is a must visit place and the most celebrated classical Chinese Garden in Shanghai downtown area. It also enjoys the reputation of “ the crown of beauty in Southeast China ”, offering charming and pleasant views. The garden is unique in its design. It perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering pools, zigzag bridges, pagodas, archways, and impressive rockeries.

Next, pay a visit to the City God Temple, it is a Taoist temple which is composed of many halls such as the Grand Hall, Middle Hall, Bedroom Palace, Star Gods Hall, Yama Palace, Xuzhen God Hall. Especially when the Sanxun festival, nearly all people will come to the Temple to burn incense and worship the God, while all shops inside or close by would hang red lanterns to celebrate the festival.

You will have the famous Shanghai Nanxiang Steam Bun for lunch. It is a franchise from Shanghai and has won numerous award over the years. Their speciality Xiao Long Bao is supposed be the most authentic Shanghai Styled. Take advantage of this real food adventure tour, go to Chinese Cooking Workshop to learn how to make intricate Cantonese steamed shrimp dim sum, and leave with a detailed recipe so you can impress your friends and family with your newfound dumpling making skills after your return home.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Shanghai Museum. As a large museum of ancient Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum boasts a collection of 140,000 precious relics, featuring bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. The abundance and quality of the collection have enjoyed a high reputation both at home and abroad. The Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952,originally located at the old Shanghai Race Club, 325 West Nanjing Road, since when it has steadily developed. 

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 8 Shanghai Departure

After breakfast, you will explore Shanghai Old French Concession with our guide. It lined with trees is a bustling area, combined with a growing number of trendy boutiques and restaurants. Changle Road and Xinle Road are rapidly becoming the places to find small designer clothing shops. All of the interesting architecture built with French and Belgian venture investments and showing mixed Chinese-European styles.

After the tour, transfer to Shanghai airport for your next destination or fly back home.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.