10-Day China Premium Tour

Your China Premium Tour starts today in Beijing, as you’ll meet your group and your Adventure Leader this afternoon in the lobby of your hotel. From here, your Adventure Leader will take you on an orientation walk around the city, before treating you to a delicious welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Here, you can sample the best dish in town: Beijing duck!
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You’ll also get a trip briefing here, where your guide will share even more details about what awaits you on the next 10 days of your tour. From there, you can either head to rest up ahead of your second day, or opt to join your Adventure Leader at a local craft beer bar. The choice is yours!

You’re up bright and early today, and it’s off out to grab breakfast courtesy of your Adventure Leader. After that, you’ll be spending most of your day exploring everything beautiful Beijing has to offer. You’ll head to Tianenmen Square, visit the Forbidden City, and hike up to Jingshan Park for incredible views of the city.
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In the afternoon, you’ve got some free time to explore the area of Nanluoguxiang, which is home to both some fantastic shopping for the spenders and a delightful lake area for the nature lovers in the group. You’ll also find plenty of fantastic restaurants for lunch! If you’d prefer to see something different, you can take the metro to visit the Bird’s Nest, home of the 2008 summer & 2022 winter Olympics!
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Your evening is yours to explore as you see fit – ask your Adventure Leader for suggestions on where to find the best cocktails in the city!

Today, you have another early start as you head out to one of the wonders of the world – the Great Wall of China. After breakfast, you’ll head to a section of the wall a couple of hours outside the capital, where you’ll spend the day hiking over this incredible construct.
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You’ll return to the city in the late afternoon, where you can either choose to rest up or stay on your feet and spend some more time exploring. You might want to visit the Summer Palace or District 978 – if you’re not too walked out!

This morning, you’ll be up to explore the Temple of Heaven. Located in a vast park in the city center, it’s a popular spot for locals to exercise – so do as they do, and join them for a tai chi class!
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After an early lunch at the Fake Market, you’ll have some time to do a spot of shopping – be sure to stock up on snacks before we move on to our next destination on the China Premium Tour: Pingyao! We’ll be on the bullet train for just over three hours, arriving in Pingyao in time for you to opt to join your group for dinner in a local restaurant. Make sure you try the Pingyao beef! Finally, if you’ve still got some energy left, spend the evening exploring the lively town, which is filled with bars and markets.

After grabbing breakfast at your hotel this morning, you’ve got a free day to explore Pingyao’s Old Town. The town has a rich history, so within it you’ll find upwards of twenty museums, temples and lots of other highlights – which can be explored thanks to your provided entry ticket.
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You might want to explore the first Bank of China, the Temple of Confucius – or take a hike across the city walls.
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This evening, it’s time to take the bullet train to your next destination: Xi’an! You’ll arrive in tonight, in time for you to get a good night’s sleep ahead of another busy day.

Your Adventure Leader will find you a local spot for breakfast – so be sure to eat well, because your day’s activity is an energetic one! Xi’an is world-renowned for the stunning city walls that surround it, and this morning you’ll cycle 13km along them, getting stunning views across the old capital as you do.
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After a stop for lunch, you can opt to join your group for another exciting cultural activity: a calligraphy class! You can head to the Small Goose Pagoda, where you’ll learn about Chinese calligraphy and try your hand yourself.
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In the evening, you’ll join your Adventure Leader for a fascinating walking tour through Xi’an’s muslim quarter. Here, you’ll spot landmarks like the Drum & Bell Tower, and get the chance to try some tasty regional snacks. Feeling comfortable with your group yet? Great – join them for karaoke tonight!

ollowing an early breakfast, you’re off to see one of Xi’an’s – and indeed, China’s – most iconic archaeological sites: the Terracotta Warriors! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the tomb of the first Emperor of Imperial China, Qin Shi Huang (259-210BC), which is guarded by thousands of lifesize terracotta statues. You’ll end your tour here with a visit to the local museum and cinema, where you’ll be able to see a documentary that tells you everything you need to know about the site.
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From there, it’s straight to the train station, ready to transfer to Shanghai – the final destination on your China Premium Tour! You’ll arrive later in the evening, ahead of another exciting day tomorrow.

Grab breakfast at your hotel this morning, but save some space before setting off on a walking tour of fascinating Shanghai. Your Adventure Leader will give you an insight into the lives of the locals, and along the way you’ll get to try a couple of local dishes like stuffed pancakes and sesame bread. You’ll head to highlights like the Jinmao Tower, the Financial District, and the Yu Gardens, before you’ve got some free time to shop and grab lunch in the local area.
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Are you a daredevil? If heights are your thing, today you can opt to do the Skywalk in Jinmao Tower! Strap yourself in and head outside the tower, where you’ll get the chance to see the city from 350 meters up in the air!
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Once you’re back on the ground, the afternoon is yours to spend as you see fit. You might want to carry on exploring the city on foot, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, or wander the shopper’s paradise of Nanjing Road! In the evening, you can opt to rendezvous with your group to take part in a cooking class, where you’ll learn to make your dinner! On the menu: xiaolongbao!

Following breakfast, you’re away from the city today to take an exciting day trip just outside Shanghai – you’re heading to Zhujiajiao! Water towns – or canal towns – are historic towns known for their network of rivers and canals that weave between the ancient buildings. Zhujiajiao is over 1,500 years old, but local archaeological findings date back over 5,000 years. On your tour, you’ll see old trade houses, take a local boat trip and learn about the Great Canal of China – which links Hangzhou and Beijing.
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Arriving home in the late afternoon, you’ll get back on the water with a stylish boat cruise down the Huangpu river. Spend your last evening with your group in style, with a glass of fizz and some snacks while you watch the sunset from the river – before heading for a farewell dinner to celebrate an amazing trip. If you’d like to, you can also head into the city for cocktails at one of the many rooftop bars around.

After breakfast this morning, your China Premium Tour comes to an end. If you’d like to get a train back to Beijing or a transfer to the airport, contact us on info@thedragontrip.com and we’ll be happy to help. Safe travels!