Welcome to China! You will be picked up at the arrival hall of the airport by your professional English-speaking tour guide holding your name sign and transferred to the hotel. Then the rest of the day will be free for you to explore the local neighborhood.

Today, start your discovery with a stroll through Tiananmen Square first and then move to the Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum housing over a million incomparable treasures. It is the largest imperial palace complexes of wooden structure preserved today with more than 70 grand palaces and 9999 ornate rooms where 24 successive Emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties and their royal families used to reside. Appreciate the glorious history of the ancient China with your professional guide as you tour around the different halls with an air of grandeur. Then explore the locals' life and the essence of old Beijing as you hop on a leisure rickshaw into the intricate traditional Hutongs reserved from Ming and Qing dynasties, where common Beijingers have been dwelling for generations. Afterwards, learn to paint a facial mask in the famous Peking Opera which is a wonderful souvenir. Then you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Exquisitely carved marble railings in the Forbidden City

This morning, get ready to conquer the much quieter Mutianyu Great Wall, known as the longest section preserved today (54.km, 3.4mi). Snaking around on top of the lofty mountains for over 13,000 miles, the Great Wall perfectly protected central Chinese states and empires from being invaded by the nomadic groups over 2000 years. Round-trip Cable Car allows more time for the hike on the Wall. Feel awe for the greatest defensive architectural wonder built by ancient Chinese people without the help of any machinery and soak up the breathtaking sceneries. Then drive back to the downtown and have a stopover to the 2008 Beijing Olympics' landmarks - the iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube which will come into people's eyes again in 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Continue to appreciate the imperial garden Summer Palace presenting the supreme masterpiece of Chinese classic garden where pavilions, rockeries and temples are harmoniously integrated with natural sceneries.

Today, visit the Temple of Heaven with beautiful blue-tiled golden halls built for Emperors to hold prayer ceremonies for good harvest whose architectural philosophy perfectly reflects the Chinese traditional belief of "The earth is square and the heaven is round". Meet the locals gathering here for the morning exercises like Taichi, group dancing, playing diabolo and singing opera. You are welcomed to join them and get immersed to the relaxing atmosphere. Afterwards, you will be transferred to the railway station to board a highspeed train to Datong. Then your local guide will meet you at the station and escort you to check in your hotel in Datong.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at Temple of Heaven

Start your Datong explorations from the Yungang Grottoes, one of the four largest Grottoes in China. Carved along the mountains, it is honored as the treasure house of arts with over 250 caverns and 50,000 Buddha Statues. Stretching about 1km (0.6mi) from east to west, Yungang Grottoes unfold the grandeur of the delicate artworks to the world with its imposing scale. Then proceed to the Nine-Dragon Screen with a history of over 600 years, the largest and oldest one in China. Marvel at the nine Chinese dragons vividly carved on the screen with the bright colored glazes and find out the reason why this Nine-dragon Screen can be the largest one in China as Datong never served as a capital for any emperor in Chinese history. At last, seek tranquility in the ancient Shanhua Temple, a Buddhist temple built early in Liao Dynasty (916AD-1125AD).

On the way to Pingyao, visit the grand Hanging Monastery first. Upon arrival, you will be shocked by the structure hanging in the air seen from a distance. Over 1,400 years, the mysterious wonder has survived in the sheer cliff on the height of 60 meters due to its amazing design. Afterwards, drive to admire the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, the largest and oldest wooden pagoda extant in China. Then check in at your hotel in Pingyao and enjoy your night.

The stunning Hanging Monastery built along cliffs

Set out for a historical exploration in Pingyao Ancient Town to feel the glories of the prosperous ancient China. The Ancient City Wall has greatly accomplished its mission to protect the town for nearly 600 years. The earliest bank Rishengchang Draft Bank records the Chinese bank's initial development. Then move to see how treasures used to be safely transferred by guards in the Tongxinggong Escort, check out the governing system while visiting the County Government and learn about the Confucianism at the Confucious Temple. At last, concludes your tour with a stroll on the bustling Ming and Qing Street (South Street), the Wall Street of the town in history.

Appreciate the luxurious life of the old merchants family as you are escorted to visit the grand Wang Family Mansion built centuries ago. Well preserved with the large scale, exquisite carvings and splendid decorations, it is considered as a museum of both architecture and folk culture of the ancient China. Then venture into the Zhangbi Ancient Castle where you will find this serene remote village nothing special at the first sight till you enter the maze-like tunnel shelters inside a mountain. Afterwards, transfer to the train station for a bullet train to Xi'an.

Drive about 1 hour to explore the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum dating back to 2,000 years ago. Hold a breath to be shocked by the incredibly large scale of the underground army and the supreme craftsmanship as you stand in front the life-sized and vividly made clay figures owning distinctive facial expressions, hair styles, figures as well as uniforms. Then drive back to the city to explore the most complete and best-preserved City Wall that has successfully guarded the city for nearly 600 years, going all the way round the city with a total length of about 14km (about 8.75 miles). Continue to visit the famous Muslim Quarter and appreciate the ancient Great Mosque, the well-preserved Islamic mosque built in traditional Chinese style. Then enjoy some free time in the famous bazaar home to various authentic Muslim food and tasty local snacks.

Overlooking the battle formation of Pit.1 in Terracotta Army Museum

After breakfast, approach to the famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda with a history of over 1,300 years. The Pagoda has stood intact with a height of 43 meters over hundreds of years and survived two severe earthquakes in history, an architectural miracle that will be explained by your local guide. Then get a deep insight of Xi'an, the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, as you move to the Xi'an Museum where more than 130,000 pieces of historic relics unveil the earlier history of China before 13th century. On the way to the airport, visit the Hanyang Tombs (Hanyangling Mausoleum), tomb of Emperor Jingdi, the fourth emperor of Han dynasty (202BC-263AD). Marvel above a glass walkway to be amazed by the miniatures of the terra-cotta figures without arms, animals and tools which reflect the luxurious royal life of the dynasty. Your Xian tour ends here and you will fly to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your friendly Shanghai tour guide will transfer you back to your hotel.

Morning sightseeing starts with a visit to the Yu Garden. Enjoy Chinese classic landscape designs and feel the tranquility as you are feasted with the exquisite layout and the verdant garden, winding path, glittering pool, long corridor and grotesque rockeries. Then head to Nanjing Road, the most visited pedestrian street home to various upmarket shops favored by worldwide trendy shoppers, followed by a visit to the Bund whose exotic historical building clusters perfectly portray the scene of old Shanghai in 1930s. Afterwards, you will be amazed by the splendid bird's-eye view of modern Shanghai on the height of 474 meters from the top of the Shanghai World Financial Center, the world's ninth highest skyscraper. Continue to visit Xintiandi (New World of Shanghai) to appreciate Shanghai's traditional Shikumen constructions with modern atmosphere. At last, seek tranquility in the peaceful Jade Buddha Temple built in 1882, housing the world-famous Reclining Jade Buddha statue brought back from Burma.

Panoramic view of neon lighted Bund

Your historical China tour comes to an end and you will be escorted to the airport by your guide and driver for your departure flight.