10-Day Culture Explosion Tour

Destinations & activities: Airport - hotel transfer

Today you will arrive in Beijing Capital International Airport, where your Beijing tour guide will pick you up. You will learn something briefly about Beijing on the way to hotel for check-in.

Destinations & activities: The Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Treasure House, Hutong visit and a pearl store

As a landmark of Beijing, Tian'anmen Square is the largest public square in the world, which will be our first stop for today. Afterwards, you will get into the Forbidden City. Also, here you will visit the Treasure House. Have lunch in a traditional noodle house.

It is the Hutongs that keep the old Beijing spirit alive in a fast-moving world. This afternoon, you will take a rickshaw ride into a Hutong. Step into a local family and enjoy some chitchat. A time-honored pearl store will be our last stop for today's tour.

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Destinations & activities: The Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall at Mutianyu Section and a cloisonné factory hotel - train station transfer

In the morning, you will walk on the ground of the Temple of Heaven, where the Chinese emperors used to pray to God.

You will get to the Great Wall at Mutianyu Section in a comfortable drive. The Great Wall is a highlight and essential part of your World Heritage tour. Take a round-trip cable car at this section.

Visit a cloisonné factory before getting back to Beijing. At night, you will take an overnight train to Xi'an.

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Destinations & activities: Train station - hotel transfer, Shaanxi History Museum, Ancient City Wall and free time in Xi'an

The overnight train breaks into Xi'an's morning. Your Xi'an tour guide will take you to hotel for breakfast and check-in.

You will have some time to unpack, fresh up and rest before visiting Shaanxi History Museum.Have lunch in a nearby restaurant.

Later, you will walk on the Ancient City Wall. Free time afterwards.

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Destinations & activities: The Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and an art center

Firstly discovered in 1974, the massive site of Terracotta Warriors and Horses has been standing as an important symbol of China's history and culture. Today you will spend some hours at this wonderful site.

After lunch in a Sichuan-style restaurant, you will stop by an art center.

In the afternoon, you will get to an important site for China's Buddhism community: Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Destinations & activities: Free time in Xi'an, hotel - airport transfer, free time in Shanghai

Today you will have free time in Xi'an.

Later you will fly to Shanghai. Take some time to know about Shanghai after check-in.

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Destinations & activities: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai Museum, the Former French Concession, Tianzifang, Xintiandi and a silk factory

Shanghai has a lot to offer. Today you will get to know the city in a quick and interesting way: visiting Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and Shanghai Museum.Have lunch in a graceful restaurant before a stop at a silk factory.

In the afternoon, get to the other side of Shanghai in the Former French Concession. Tianzifang is a creative complex combining the traditional Shikumen (stone gate) and French-style romantic feeling. You can buy some trendy stuff at Xintiandi.

After dinner on your own, you will take a high speed train to Suzhou. Check in upon arrival.

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Destinations & activities: Land transfer, Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, rickshaw ride in Suzhou, Panmen Gate and an embroidery institute

This morning, your Shanghai tour guide will escort you to Suzhou. The ride takes about 1 hour.

As we arrive in Suzhou, one of the most beautiful Suzhou-style gardens will open up to you: Humble Administrator's Garden. The old garden dates back to the 16th century and now holds flower and bonsai exhibitions occasionally. Later, step into a smaller but still exquisite enough garden: Lingering Garden. Have lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, a rickshaw ride through the city would be quite relaxing. Later, get to the Panmen Gate, which is not literally a gate but more of a a small fortress that was used to seal off the canel to control the boats entering the city.

Back in Shanghai, you already knew how the silk is processed. Now at an embroidery institute in Suzhou, you can see artists hand-stitching beautiful art works.

At the evening, you will be back to Shanghai.

Destinations & activities: Free time in Suzhou, train station - hotel transfer

Suzhou is also an amazing destination for free exploration. Here's what we suggest for your solo adventure before the train heading to Hangzhou.

The high speed train leaves for Hangzhou at about 6:20pm, your Suzhou tour guide will take you to the train station 1 hour ahead of time. Enjoy the speed!

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Thanks for taking this China tour with China Travel. Hopefully we've created a beautiful memory for you. Today your Shanghai tour guide will take you to the airport. See you again before long!