8D7N: China Express by G Adventures

Is Beijing top of your must-see list? Booking pre-trip accommodations will let you do Beijing your way before meeting up with the group.

Welcome Moment – Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don’t forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Hotel
Dongfang Hotel (or similar)

Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs.

Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Great Wall Mutianyu Visit
Beijing
Climb the rolling hills of Huairou County at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Enjoy scenic views as the wall winds along mountain ridges, and take brag-worthy photos of the wall from any of the 22 towers. The Great wall is an incredible piece of engineering stretching 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes, and even though it failed in this purpose, it’s still one of the country’s most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located about 80km away from the Veijing City Center. The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and will take 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness.

Free time
Use your evening to explore the cityscape of Beijing.

Hotel
Dongfang Hotel (or similar)

Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Later, board a fast train to Xi’an.

Due to restrictions in China after the pandemic, the maximum daily capacity in the Forbidden City has been reduced from 80,000 to 30,000. This significant decrease in daily tickets has had a great impact on availability for both individuals and group tours to secure tickets, especially during he summer season. Our local team works very hard to secure tickets for each group. However, on the off chance we are unable to secure tickets to the Forbidden City, we will visit the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, places of similar architecture and importance.

Metro
Beijing
Get around underground via public transit.

Tiananmen Square
Beijing
Explore one of the world’s largest public squares and the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Mao’s Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and with elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, it’s a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation.

Forbidden City Tour
Beijing
Our CEO will steer around crowds and help make the most of a visit to the Forbidden City.

Local Train
Beijing – Xi’an
Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.

Hotel
HNA Hotel (or similar)

Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. After, the day is yours to explore as you wish.

Meals included: Lunch.

Train is our main mode of transport in China and it’s a great way to travel. We aim to get the best sleeping berths available on each train journey. However, train tickets availability is limited during peak travel times, including summer vacations and Chinese national holidays. As such, it is possible that the group may be separated into different carriages or assigned top sleeping berths.

Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour
Xi’an
Take a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors where more than 8,000 clay soldiers and hundreds of replica horses and chariots stand in three pits. Learn why the Emperor Qin Shihuang commissioned the statues to serve as his army in the afterlife and how they were discovered. Spend a half-day exploring this archaeological wonder.

Free time
Afternoon
Opt for some cycling, or just take a walk around and explore the city of Xi’an.

Hotel
HNA Hotel (or similar)

In the morning, visit the ancient Xi’An City Wall and learn more about China’s incredible history. Then take the bullet train to Suzhou in the afternoon.

The ancient Xi’An City Wall was built for protection during the Tang Dynasty through to the Ming Dynasty.

Your visit will start at 8:00 am and can take 1-2 hours to explore only a portion of the wall. Choose to rent a bike and hop off where you’d like to admire the views as you pedal along the 12m (39 ft) wide wall, which takes about 2 hrs to cycle along.

Xi’An Ancient City Wall
Xi’an
Xi’An City Wall

Bullet Train
Xi’an – Suzhou
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

Hotel
Zhen Yue Hotel (or similar)

Start the day by exploring in the city. Visit Suzhou’s famed Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in China and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander around Shantang Street. In the late afternoon, ride the bullet train to Shanghai.

Bullet Train
Suzhou – Shanghai
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

Master of the Nets Garden Tour
Suzhou
Tour through the serene classical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shangtang Street
Suzhou
Wander around Shantang Street

Hotel
Zhen Yue Hotel (or similar)

After an orientation walk along Shanghai’s famous Bund, you are free to explore the delights of this modern Chinese city. In the evening, head to the theatre for an intense acrobatic performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Orientation Walk
Shanghai
Take a stroll along the Bund, a main road that follows the Huangpu River, with your CEO. This is a great opportunity to get a layout of the city and figure out what you want to explore next.

Free time
Full Day
Take advantage of your free time today to visit Yuyuan Gardens, return to the Bund, or do some shopping on Nanjing Road.

Acrobatic Performance
Shanghai
Let some of China’s most talented entertainers and athletes dazzle you for an evening with gravity-defying tricks and acrobatics. These spectacular performers will contort, balance, plate-spin, foot-juggle and more. Keep your eyes on the stage and you may even see a motorcycle or two.

Your Discover Moment
Shanghai Full Day
There’s plenty to see and do in Shanghai, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting the Shanghai Museum, wandering around the Yuyuan Gardens, and taking in a traditional Chinese acrobats show. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

Hotel
Zhen Yue Hotel (or similar)

We highly recommend post-accommodation to fully experience all Shanghai has to offer.

Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.