Do you dream of traveling to China, home to one of mankind’s greatest and oldest civilizations? Realize your dream and join some of the world’s most dynamic and interesting cities. In the vibrant world metropolis of Shanghai, you will experience bustling street life among exclusive boutiques and shopping malls, but also China’s many thousands of years of history at the fantastic Shanghai Museum. In the imperial city of Xi’an, you are captivated by Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s nearly 8,000-strong terracotta army, one of the most spectacular archaeological finds of the last century. In the capital Beijing, you will feel the wings of modern history in Tiananmen Square, be fascinated by the huge Forbidden City and the beautiful Summer Palace and be enchanted by the colorful Beijing Opera. When you finally walk on the Great Wall of China, the dream of China has come true!
Day 1: Flight to Beijing
We fly to Beijing. It is a night flight and takes about 8.5 hours from Stockholm.
Day 2: Arrival in Beijing
We arrive in Beijing in the morning. Our guide meets us at the airport, and takes us into central Beijing. We visit Tiananmen Square in downtown Beijing. In the middle of the square is the People’s Hero Monument, built in 1952 and the largest monument in China. Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and Mausoleum is located on the south side of Tiananmen Square. To the west is the Great Hall of the People, where China’s National People’s Congress is held every year. To the east is the Historical Museum. At the northern end of the square is the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the gateway to the Forbidden City. Overnight in Beijing. (Lunch and dinner)
Day 3: Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
We start the day by visiting the Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex. In the Forbidden City, a total of 24 Chinese emperors lived between the Qing and Ming dynasties (1368-1911). In the afternoon we take the bus out to the beautiful Summer Palace, the summer residence of the imperial family during the warm season. We can walk for a long time here and enjoy the beautiful views of the lake and all the buildings. The day is rounded off with a visit to a specialty store for freshwater pearls. In the evening we gather to enjoy an acrobatic performance that we will remember for a long time to come! Overnight in Beijing. (Breakfast and lunch)
Day 4: Flight to Xian
In the morning we visit one of Beijing’s hutong areas, where we travel by bicycle rickshaw through winding hutong alleys. A hutong is a narrow alley, lined with rows of one-story houses and that is how people used to live in Beijing. After lunch we fly to Xian, one of the oldest former capitals in China. Overnight in Xi’an. (Breakfast and lunch)
Day 5: Terracotta Army
Xi’an was not only an imperial city, it was also for a long time a trading center for all goods transported along the Silk Road. Buddhism flourished early here, and we will visit one of the most important shrines, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. The beautiful Great Wild Goose Pagoda from the 6th century AD was built to store the many writings that were brought home from India by the pilgrim monk Xuanzang. We then stop at a jade carving shop and admire the skilled craftsmen who make beautiful art objects from the jade stone. Now it’s finally time to see the 20th century’s largest archaeological find, the 8,000 – strong Terracotta Army! A bit outside Xi’an is the strange and impressive mausoleum with the remains of Emperor Shi Huangdi. The tomb itself is guarded by all these terracotta soldiers. The day ends with a dinner consisting of jiaozi, delicious dough balls with a variety of fillings in. In connection, we see a song and dance performance dating from the Tang Dynasty. Overnight in Xi´an. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 6: Xi’an – Shanghai
After breakfast we fly to Shanghai. We land in the world metropolis of Shanghai and get an overview of this huge city from the 88th floor of Jinmao Tower. From here we have a magnificent view of both the old and the new Shanghai. Overnight in Shanghai. (Breakfast)
Day 7: Shanghai
We start with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, with world-class collections. We continue to Chenghuangmiao, Shanghai’s oldest district, where we walk through Yu Yuan Garden, one of China’s premier classical gardens. After lunch we arrive at The Bund, the colonial promenade along the Huangpu River. Here we admire the stunning views of old and new Shanghai, including buildings such as Bund’s old customs house and many iconic skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai Tower. Then we come to another popular landmark in Shanghai – Nanjing Road, which is one of China’s shopping paradises. Overnight in Shanghai. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Day 8: Shanghai
Free time to explore the giant city of Shanghai. There are lots to visit here. Ask the tour guide for more information. Overnight in Shanghai. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Shanghai- Beijing
We fly to Beijing in the morning. After arriving in Beijing, we will visit the Temple of Heaven, one of many UNESCO-listed sites in China. The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings, where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came to worship the god of heaven and pray for an annual good harvest. Overnight in Beijing. (Breakfast)
Day 10: Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs
Today it will be a full day excursion in Beijing’s surroundings. First on the program is a visit to a cloisonne factory, where we see how skilled craftsmen in various steps produce these typical works of art. After this we come to the area where the emperors during the Ming Dynasty were to be buried. We first walk along Andarnas väg and then visit one of the scenically located Minggravarna. The journey then continues to the Great Wall of China. The wall served as a defense system against various nomadic tribes in northern China. It was started more than 2000 years ago. An ancient Chinese saying goes that man does not reach perfection until he has climbed the wall. Up to proof for us! In the evening we have a joint farewell dinner, where the famous Peking duck is one of the many items on the menu. Overnight in Beijing. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 11: Beijing
Day Free time to explore Beijing on your own. Tour guides are happy to help with tips on additional sights or shopping. Overnight in Beijing. (Breakfast)
Day 12: Return journey
After breakfast transfer to the airport. Arrival the same day at the boarding place.
