8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Golden Triangle

Welcome to China! Your guide meets you at Beijing Capital Airport and escorts you through the metropolis to your hotel. After settling in, take an evening stroll through Wangfujing Snack Street, where sizzling lamb skewers, candied hawthorn berries, and steaming jianbing crepes greet you. Soak in the buzz of China's capital before an early night — tomorrow brings one of the world's greatest wonders. Tip: download a translation app before arriving; while your guide speaks excellent English, menus at local spots can be all Chinese characters.

Rise early for the highlight: the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a beautifully restored Ming Dynasty section with far fewer crowds than Badaling. Ride the cable car up through pine-covered hills, then walk the ancient battlements as the wall snakes dramatically along forested ridges. Descend via an exhilarating toboggan slide — a hit with travelers of all ages. Refuel with a farmhouse lunch of stir-fried mountain vegetables and noodles. The evening crescendo is a Peking duck dinner: watch the chef carve the lacquered bird tableside at a legendary Beijing restaurant, wrapping each crispy-skinned slice in a thin pancake with hoisin.

Stand in the vastness of Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public plaza, framed by the Monument to the People's Heroes and Mao's Mausoleum. Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace into the Forbidden City, where 980 buildings and 9,999 rooms reveal the cloistered world of Ming and Qing emperors. After lunch, climb Jingshan Park's hill for the classic panorama of golden roofs stretching to the horizon. Late afternoon brings a rickshaw tour through the vanishing hutong alleyways, where you'll visit a courtyard home and learn how Beijingers have lived for centuries. End the day with Mongolian hot pot, cooking paper-thin lamb in bubbling broth.

Board China's remarkable high-speed train after breakfast, hurtling southwest at 300km/h through a tapestry of wheat fields and industrial cities. Arrive in Xian, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, by early afternoon. Walk or cycle atop the Ancient City Wall, the most complete city fortification in China, with sweeping views of the old city on one side and modern towers on the other. As evening falls, descend into the Muslim Quarter's narrow lanes where the aromas of cumin-dusted lamb skewers, freshly pulled noodles, and sizzling flatbreads fill the air. Your guide leads a food walk through this vibrant Hui Muslim neighborhood — come hungry.

Journey to the Terracotta Army, the 2,200-year-old underground legion of over 8,000 life-sized warriors guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb. Marvel at the main pit where serried ranks of soldiers stand in battle formation, each face unique, their original painted colors long since faded. Visit the smaller pits with cavalry and chariots, then the museum displaying the exquisite bronze chariots. Lunch at a local restaurant specializing in biangbiang noodles, Xian's belt-wide hand-pulled noodles. The day concludes with a Tang Dynasty music and dance show over an elaborate dumpling banquet — eighteen varieties of dumplings shaped like ducks, fish, and flowers.

Fly eastward after breakfast to Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, where Art Deco buildings from the 1920s line the Huangpu River opposite the space-age towers of Pudong. Wander the exquisite Yu Garden, a 16th-century maze of rockeries, koi ponds, and pavilions built by a Ming Dynasty official for his parents. Browse the adjacent Old Town Bazaar for silk scarves and tea sets. As afternoon fades, walk the Bund promenade and watch Pudong's skyscraper skyline burst into neon — the financial tower, the bottle-opener, Pearl TV Tower all illuminating the night. Dine on soup dumplings at a legendary restaurant where the xiaolongbao are filled with piping hot broth.

Ascend Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, for 360-degree views across the Yangtze River Delta that stretch for miles in every direction. Then shift gears with a walking tour through the French Concession, where plane trees arch over lanes of Tudor mansions, converted lane houses, and hip cafes. For lunch, sample shengjianbao, pan-fried pork buns that are crispy on the bottom and soupy inside, a Shanghai breakfast staple. The afternoon is free — visit the Propaganda Poster Art Centre for pop history, explore Moganshan Road's contemporary galleries, or shop on Nanjing Road. Gather for a farewell dinner at a Bund-side restaurant with the full neon skyline as your backdrop.

Enjoy a final Chinese breakfast of congee and pickled vegetables before transferring to Pudong or Hongqiao Airport. Board your flight carrying memories of imperial palaces, ancient warriors, and a skyline that dances with light. Safe travels — and you'll be back, because China always leaves you wanting more.