China Golden Triangle (10 days)

Beijing – Xi’an – Shanghai

Explore China’s extraordinary history and rapid modernization on a journey through three of its most fascinating cities. Walk along the Great Wall, see the magnificent Terracotta Army, and experience the energy and sophistication of Shanghai. Featuring some of China’s most celebrated historical and cultural attractions, this carefully planned tour offers an excellent introduction to the Middle Kingdom.

Important Features

• Outstanding guides handpicked by company owners.
• Small group size – average 15, maximum 20.
• Inter-city travel by high-speed train.
• No annoying forced shopping of any kind.
• Quality meals at non-tourist restaurants.
• Unlimited supply of bottled water during group activities.
• Great Wall visit at Mutianyu including cable car rides.

Options Available

• Peking Opera show with dinner in Beijing.
• Tang Dynasty music and dance show with dinner in Xi’an.
• 2-day post-tour Yellow Mountain extension.

China Golden Triangle Tour Itinerary

Meal Code: B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

Day 1/Thu: Departing for Beijing
The trip starts with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Beijing
Meet the driver on arrival for transfer to the hotel. You’ll have the remainder of the day at leisure. The guide will get in touch with you tonight.

Day 3/Sat: Beijing (B/L/D)
Beijing, the capital of China, is a world-class cultural and educational centre with a population of 22 million, making it China’s second-largest city after Shanghai. The city is renowned for its magnificent imperial palaces, temples, ancient walls and gates, which bear witness to its long history as the nation’s political and cultural centre.

We begin today with a visit to the Forbidden City, now home to the Palace Museum. The Forbidden City served as the imperial residence and administrative centre during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. Construction took 14 years, from 1406 to 1420. The complex consists of approximately 980 surviving buildings and covers 72 hectares (180 acres).

The Forbidden City exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture and has influenced architectural and cultural developments throughout East Asia. Although the Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1912, the last emperor, Puyi, and his household were permitted to remain in the Inner Court until 1924, when they were expelled. The Palace Museum was established the following year.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City contains one of the world’s largest and best-preserved collections of ancient wooden buildings.

Afternoon sightseeing takes place at the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in southeastern Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is one of China’s most important surviving imperial sacrificial complexes. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors performed elaborate ceremonies here to pray for good harvests and honour Heaven. Construction began in 1406 during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle and was completed in 1420.

The complex was expanded and renovated under the Qing emperors Qianlong (1735–1796) and Jiaqing (1796–1820). Covering approximately 2.73 square kilometres, the Temple of Heaven grounds are more than three times the size of the Forbidden City.

The famous Hongqiao Pearl Market is located across the street from the Temple of Heaven. Known for its freshwater pearls, jewellery and other merchandise, the market attracts both domestic and international shoppers. If you are interested, please ask your guide to drop you off there. You will need to return to the hotel independently by taxi.

For dinner, we enjoy Peking roast duck at a popular local restaurant. One of Beijing’s best-known culinary specialities, Peking duck is prized for its thin, crispy skin and tender meat. Traditionally, the duck is carved in front of diners and served with thin pancakes, spring onions, cucumber and a sweet bean sauce.

Day 4/Sun: Beijing (B/L)
After an early breakfast, we set out on a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall at Mutianyu, 75 km northeast of Beijing.

Stretching for thousands of kilometres across the mountains and plains of northern China, the Great Wall was built and rebuilt by successive dynasties to defend against raids and invasions from the north. Its earliest sections date back to the 7th century BCE. Despite these formidable defences, northern peoples repeatedly breached China’s frontiers. The Mongols eventually conquered all of China under Kublai Khan, who established the Yuan dynasty in 1271. The conquest was completed in 1279 with the defeat of the Southern Song dynasty.

Most of the Great Wall visible around Beijing today dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Over nearly three centuries, the Ming rulers strengthened and extended the northern defences, constructing massive walls, watchtowers and fortifications. The beautifully restored Mutianyu section offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and is particularly impressive for its numerous watchtowers.

Day 5/Mon: Beijing – Xi’an (B/L/D)
We begin our sightseeing today with a visit to a traditional hutong neighbourhood. Hutongs are narrow alleyways traditionally lined with siheyuan, or four-sided courtyard residences. The term hutong dates back to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). According to one widely cited theory, it originated from the Mongolian word hottog, meaning “well”, reflecting the importance of wells as gathering places in traditional communities.

Next on our schedule is the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s best-preserved imperial gardens. Originally known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, the complex was largely destroyed by Anglo-French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War, known to the British as the Arrow War. Reconstruction began in 1886, and the complex was renamed Yiheyuan (Garden of Preserving Harmony) in 1888.

The design centres on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, which lies to its south. The sprawling complex covers approximately 290 hectares, and its buildings contain more than 3,000 bays.

We travel to Xi’an by high-speed train (G323, scheduled departure 15:00, arrival 19:12). The four-hour-and-12-minute journey through fertile farmland dotted with villages offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy the Chinese countryside. Between Beijing and Zhengzhou, our train follows part of the 2,298-km Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway, one of the world’s longest high-speed rail routes.

Over the past two decades, China has dramatically expanded its railway network and upgraded existing lines. Its high-speed trains compare favourably with France’s TGV and Japan’s Shinkansen in speed, comfort and punctuality.

Day 6/Tue: Xi’an (B/L)
With a history stretching back more than 3,000 years, Xi’an served as the capital of several Chinese dynasties, including the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) and Tang (618–907). It is home to the famous Terracotta Army and is traditionally regarded as the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected China with Central Asia and regions as far west as the Mediterranean. These routes began to flourish during the second century BCE.

We spend the morning visiting the Terracotta Army Museum, located approximately 30 km east of the city. Created to accompany Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, into the afterlife, the Terracotta Army represents one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

After lunch, we return to the city for a stroll along the ancient city wall. Designated a nationally protected cultural heritage site by China’s State Council in 1961, the wall was constructed beginning in 1370 during the Ming dynasty. It encloses an area of approximately 14 square kilometres, runs for 13.7 kilometres and stands about 12 metres high, with a thickness of 15 to 18 metres at its base.

Day 7/Wed: Xi’an – Shanghai (B/L)
Morning sightseeing begins at Xi’an Museum. One of the city’s leading cultural institutions, Xi’an Museum houses more than 110,000 historical artefacts, including ancient bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and works of art spanning several thousand years of Chinese history. The museum complex also encompasses the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and the historic Jianfu Temple grounds. Together, these attractions offer a fascinating introduction to Xi’an’s rich cultural heritage and its importance as one of China’s great ancient capitals.

We then visit the Great Mosque in the old town centre and the adjacent Muslim Quarter. The mosque was established in the 8th century, although most of the surviving complex dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), with further additions during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Unlike many mosques in the Middle East, the Great Mosque is predominantly Chinese in architectural style, with traditional courtyards, pavilions and tiled roofs rather than the domes and minarets commonly associated with Islamic architecture elsewhere.

This afternoon, we travel to Shanghai by high-speed train (G96, scheduled departure 15:32, arrival 21:22). Dinner is not included today. Hot meals, snacks and beverages are available for purchase on board, although selections may be limited.

Day 8/Thu: Shanghai (B/L/D)
With a population of nearly 25 million, Shanghai is China’s largest city and a major centre of international trade, finance and cultural exchange. The city attracts visitors from around the world with its striking modern skyline and rich architectural heritage.

We begin our sightseeing with a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, located in one of Shanghai’s older neighbourhoods. We then take a walk along the famous Bund, the city’s historic waterfront promenade, lined with magnificent buildings dating largely from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

After lunch, we stroll through historic People’s Park and the adjacent People’s Square in the heart of Shanghai. The area occupies part of the former Shanghai Racecourse, established in its present location in 1862. Today, the park and square are surrounded by important cultural institutions, including the Shanghai Museum, as well as shops and other attractions.

We conclude the day’s sightseeing with a visit to the beautiful Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden dating from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), in Shanghai’s old town centre.

Day 9/Fri: Shanghai (B)
Today is free for independent exploration.

If you are interested in art and history, the Shanghai Museum is an excellent place to spend half a day. Its extensive collections include ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings and other important works of art. The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, which documents the experiences of Jewish refugees who found sanctuary in Shanghai during the Second World War, is also worth visiting. For those interested in custom-made clothing, the South Bund Fabric Market (Nanwaitan Fabric Market) offers numerous fabric merchants and tailoring shops.

Optional Suzhou Day Tour

After breakfast, we take a high-speed train to Suzhou (approximately 30–40 minutes), an ancient city celebrated for its classical gardens, canals and silk industry. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo described Suzhou’s prosperity during the late 13th century. With its extensive network of canals and waterways, the city is often called the “Venice of the East.”

Our full-day excursion includes visits to historic Tiger Hill and the Humble Administrator’s Garden, followed by a short canal cruise. We return to Shanghai by train in the afternoon.

The all-inclusive price, including lunch, starts at US$250 per person, with a minimum of two participants required for the excursion to operate.

Day 10/Sat: Returning Home (B)
Our China Golden Triangle tour concludes today. A private vehicle with a driver (no guide) is provided for your transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Travellers flying directly from China to North America arrive home on the same calendar day they depart Shanghai after crossing the International Date Line.

Dates & Prices

Prices are per person based on double occupancy.

* Land Only price does NOT include international airfare. Please contact us for a fare quote.