Attractions

Your tour is loaded with these popular attractions in China:

Beijing:

Beijing Olympic Green

Approximately 31 venues were used in the Beijing Olympics including the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube). The Beijing Olympic Green is located at the North end of Beijing with an area of 1215 hectares. There is also the National Museum, Exhibition Area and Olympic Village.

The Forbidden City

The Imperial Palace was home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.

Hutong Tour in Xicheng District

Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single story traditional courtyard houses, which are now fast disappearing. In this one hour tour, you can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family then walk on the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) and find out about the different thresholds of the courtyards.

The Mutianyu Great Wall

This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is about a 2.5 hour drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb) where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift.

Summer Palace with Boat Cruise & the Garden of Virtue and Harmony

The palace is about 12 kilometers northwest of the city center and is equally as famous as the Forbidden City. The Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is the best preserved and the largest of the Imperial Gardens in China and one of Beijing's premier attractions. It is also possible to cruise on the lake which takes 10 minutes by the ferry boat.

The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven, is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing, Chongwen District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist Temple, but Chinese worship heaven as well, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dating Taoism.

Tiananmen Square

Tian'anmen Square is the largest city square in the center of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) which sits to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several key events in Chinese history. As the world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, it is surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

Shanghai:

The Bund

Once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, the embankment has taken on a new vitality; lovely old European-style buildings mix with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!

Jade Buddha Temple

An active Buddhist temple and one of the richest in Shanghai. The main treasures are two statues of Buddha, carved from rare single blocks of white jade adorned with precious stones. The temple is a hive of activity with monks, worshippers and visitors, and photos of the Buddha’s are forbidden.

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Giant shopping centers, specialist boutiques, international brands, local upmarket goods - it's all here; it's very busy, and at night it really glitters. It's a fascinating glimpse of modern, commercial China.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or "pearls"; it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture wonders of the east bank. The Shanghai History Museum is Located on the first floor of the Oriental TV Tower. There you can see the four major exhibition units reflecting Shanghai's history, modern and recent revolutionary history respectively.

Yuyuan Garden

Located at a very busy marketplace in a complex of traditional-style buildings, backing onto Yu Gardens, you can find everything there from popular local snacks and food, crafts, antiques and souvenirs to Starbucks, teahouses and some great restaurants. There is a small (reconstructed) Temple (Chenghuang: Temple of the City Gods) there as well.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

This ancient town is lined with canals and lively shopping areas, bars and restaurants. Visit some of the 36 stone bridges and wander through beautiful gardens of this artsy village. Enjoy a cup of tea at the Book Room - famous for its thousands of books and magazines available for customers. There is something to see around every turn!

Xi'an:

Ancient City Wall

Stretching around the city, the Ancient City Wall is the first sight a visitor will encounter. The wall still serves as a divider between the inner and outer city. The North and South gates serve as entry into the city and the city itself is arranged next to the wall. The wall is thick and massive; a very impressive sight!

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Close to the urban center stands the impressive Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty and is one of the most important Buddhist temples in China today. It was originally built for the study of Buddhist scriptures. This structure is an architectural marvel as it was built out of layers of brick without any cement.

Muslim Street

The Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi'an. The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall, souvenir shop, café and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. Tourists, especially from overseas come and shop here.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses

After the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses are the most important of cultural sites in China. The excavation of the Terracotta Warriors is the most significant excavation of the 20th century. Standing in military formation, each replica of the Imperial Guard is represented in great detail. View the soldiers, chariots and horses in this massive 16,300 meter museum.

Shaanxi History Museum

The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here.

*Guides and drivers will make every effort to visit each attraction listed. Some sites may be omitted due to time restraints or traffic conditions.