Beijing Icon Highlights

Begin the day at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, two of the capital's most important historic landmarks, offering a window into imperial rule, ceremonial tradition, and palace architecture across nearly six hundred years. Continue to Yonghegong Lama Temple, an important center of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing whose layered courtyards and incense-thick halls offer a quiet contrast to the imperial grandeur of the morning. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the city's traditional hutong neighborhoods, where narrow alleys and courtyard homes still trace the patterns of old Beijing. The day concludes with the city's signature dish, a Peking Duck dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Peking Duck) Accommodation: Beijing Longcheng Wyndham Grand Hotel or equivalent

Great Wall Experience

Travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, celebrated for its dramatic mountain setting, restored watchtowers, and gentler walking routes. Spend time exploring the ancient ramparts and taking in sweeping views across the surrounding ridgelines, followed by a sparkling wine toast against the backdrop of the Wall. Later, join a glazed tile craftsmanship workshop for an introduction to a decorative tradition that has shaped Chinese imperial architecture for centuries. Spend the night at a boutique hotel near the Wall, a quiet contrast to the city below.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Boutique hotel near the Great Wall or equivalent

Royal Heritage in Beijing

Begin the day at the Summer Palace, one of the finest examples of imperial garden design in China, where pavilions, lakeside walkways, and Longevity Hill once served as the summer retreat of the Qing emperors. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of Ming architecture where emperors once performed the most important rituals of the imperial calendar, praying for good harvests and the favor of the heavens. The day concludes at Lao She Teahouse, a Beijing institution where traditional tea culture meets a live performance of Chinese music, opera, and folk arts in a classic setting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Beijing Longcheng Wyndham Grand Hotel or equivalent

Beijing to Xi'an by High-Speed Rail

After breakfast, transfer to the railway station and travel by high-speed rail to Xi'an, the ancient capital that anchored the Silk Road for over a millennium. On arrival, visit Yongxing Fang Food Street to sample the bold flavors of Shaanxi cuisine, then walk along Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved fortifications in China, where watchtowers and ramparts still trace the outline of the old imperial capital.

Optional Premium Upgrade: Tang Dynasty Retreat Experience

Travelers may upgrade to a Tang Dynasty-style garden retreat near Huaqing Palace, with natural hot spring pools and private indoor or outdoor bathing options at the hotel. The evening features The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, a spectacular live outdoor performance inspired by the legendary Tang Dynasty love story between Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei. Hotel staff are available to guide guests to the venue.

Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Xi'an Tianlang Times Hotel or equivalent (optional premium upgrade available)

Xi'an Heritage Sites

Stand before the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, widely regarded as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the modern era. Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, each with a distinct face and posture, stand guard over the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang in a feat of craftsmanship that continues to astonish archaeologists today. An optional hands-on clay sculpture workshop is available for travelers interested in creating their own miniature Terracotta Warrior. Continue to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a seventh-century Buddhist landmark central to the spread of Buddhism in China, then explore Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, a lively district inspired by the cultural prosperity of the Tang period.

Optional Premium Upgrade: Heritage Hotel Stay

Travelers may upgrade to a heritage hotel recognized as a 20th Century Chinese Architectural Heritage site, with a traditional garden layout and views of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Da Ci'en Temple.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Shaanxi cuisine) Accommodation: Xi'an Tianlang Times Hotel or equivalent (optional premium upgrade available)

Xi'an Traditions

Today focuses on local culture and everyday heritage. Visit the Xi'an Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, then continue to the Bell Tower at the heart of the old city, where the surrounding streets converge in a still-lively echo of the imperial capital's grid. Spend time exploring the Muslim Quarter, the cultural heart of the city's Hui community, where centuries of Silk Road exchange live on in the food, architecture, and daily rhythms of the streets.

Optional Activities:

Choose either a Biang Biang Noodles cooking class (3 hours) for a hands-on introduction to one of Shaanxi's most beloved dishes, or a Hua Mo workshop (1.5 hours) to learn the traditional flower-shaped steamed bun craft, a distinctive form of Shaanxi folk art passed down through generations.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Shaanxi cuisine) Accommodation: Xi'an Tianlang Times Hotel or equivalent

Xi'an to Chengdu by High-Speed Rail

Travel by high-speed rail to Chengdu in approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration at your own pace. Suggested areas include IFS and Taikoo Li for shopping and modern Chengdu, Wangping Street for local atmosphere, and Dongmen Wharf and Anshun Bridge for evening views along the Jinjiang River.

Optional Activity:

A Sichuan Opera performance is available in the evening, featuring face-changing, fire-spitting, and other traditional stage arts that have defined the genre for centuries.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or equivalent

Panda Experience

Begin the day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the leading institutions in the world for panda conservation, where the early morning hours are the best time to see the animals active and feeding. Continue to Du Fu Cottage, a serene memorial site honoring one of China's greatest poets, who lived here during the Tang Dynasty. Stop at Renmin Park, where you can settle in at a traditional teahouse with a cup of jasmine tea and watch the unhurried daily life that defines Chengdu's character. The afternoon brings a stroll through Kuanzhai Alley, where restored historic courtyards meet contemporary urban life.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or equivalent

After breakfast, transfer to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) or Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) according to your flight schedule, carrying with you the memory of imperial palaces, Silk Road bazaars, the silent ranks of the Terracotta Warriors, and a quiet morning with the giant pandas.

Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Not included