8 Days Private China Golden Triangle Tour By High-Speed Train

D1 Beijing Arrival

Pick up service is arranged at Beijing airport, there are two airports in Beijing: Beijing Capital International Airport & Beijing Daxing International Airport. Our guide will meet you at the exit of the airport with a welcome sign. Transfer to your Beijing downtown hotel, our guide will help you to check in. The rest day is free on your own to explore Beijing city or adjust your jet lag.

D2 Beijing

Today: If you get up very early in the morning and arrive at the Tian'an men Square before sunrise, you can go to see the dawn flag raising ceremony in the Square. And you can have a relaxing time in Tian'an men Square and take some photos.

Next you will visit the Forbidden City, you will notice the dominant color in the Forbidden City is yellow, as yellow is the symbol of the royal family. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow in special process. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the royal library, has a black roof. Because it was believed black represented water in the ancient China which could extinguish fire.

Then you have the chance to visit the Temple of Heaven, you are recommended to visit the Three Echo Stones, which is outside of the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. If you speak facing the Vault while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo. Standing on the second and then the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively. Another interesting and famous place for you to visit is called Echo Wall owning special feature. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven and its perimeter is 193 meters long. If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

D3 Beijing

After breakfastm drive you to visit the Badaling Great Wall, It lies 100 KM away at the northwest of Beijing. Badaling Great Wall is the highlight and the most excellent section of Great Walls built in Ming Dynasty. It is also the best preserved part of Great Wall, Its the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall partly because it is close to Beijing city and connected with urban area by expressway. The Great Wall was initially built in the Spring and Autumn Period; The construction, connection and restoration of the wall had never ceased in the following 2000 years.

Enjoy an authentic Beijing lunch at a lcal restaurant where the locals eat that takes you off the beaten culinary path. (Lunch is included)

After lunch, you will visit the Changling Tombs (Ming Tombs), 50 km to the north of Beijing, the tomb of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zhu Di and Empress Xu. Among the 16 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Di (1360-1424), also honored as Emperor Yongle, made the greatest contribution to the country and had the most far-reaching impact on history.

The last stop for the tour is Nanluoguxiang Hutong, it's one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing, is famous for its hutong and siheyuan courtyards. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise after 2008 Olympic Games. You will do a short walking along the authentic Beijing Hutong. A tour to visit Beijing Hutong will give you a deep impression of the local residents'live. Optional Hutong Activities: Traditional rickshaw ride (at your own expense); Local family visiting to learn some Beijing folk arts, the area’s history.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

D4 Beijing--Xian

After breakfast, transfer to Beijing train station to take train to Xian, it takes around 5 hours from Beijing to Xian. Once you arrive, our Xian local guide will meet you at the exit of Xian train station with a welcome sign.

Enjoy the typical Chinese food at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit the famous Xian Ancient City Wall, This wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Now it is 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide, 14 kilometers in length with a deep moat surrounding it. You can walk, or even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the largest with a suspension bridge. Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sight- seeing.

Then, you can stroll around the night market in Muslim Quarter which offers a wide range of bargains. The Muslim Quarter is the main gathering place of the local Muslim community and offers a great deal of exotic shops and savory restaurants. Xi'an is a city with a tolerant mind in religious culture and here you will find the harmonious getting-along of Buddhist culture and Muslim culture. Besides, you can taste various authentic local snacks here. The most sacred part in this community is without doubt the Great Mosque, featuring a great mixed architecture of Chinese and Arabic styles. You may happen to meet with some Muslim followers coming for worship.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xian.

D5 Xian

After breakfast, you will the Terracotta Army Museum. Built on the site of the terra-cotta warriors and horsepits in the Emperor Qin's Mausoleum, the museum is located at the northern piedmont of Lishan Mountain 7.5 kilometers east of Lingtong County in Shaanxi Province and 37.5 kilometers west of Xi'an City. Excavation of the vault revealed thousands of terra-cotta warriors and their horses, an entire army designed to follow its emperor into eternity. The emperor's terra cotta army was found in three underground timber lined vaults. The life-sized terracotta figures vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with rank, which will surely leave you deep impression.

In the afternoon, drive you back to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Walk up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda's spiral staircase for an excellent view of Xi'an and countryside. Do this early or late in the day during the tourist season to avoid long waits. In ancient times,successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations always left their signature in the tower which was called Superscription of the Wild Goose Tower. In addition, many celebrities left poems or some other literature works.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xian.

D6 Xian--Shanghai

After breakfast, transfer to Xian train station to catch your train to Shanghai, it takes around 6.5 hours. Our Shanghai local guide will meet you at the exit of the train station. Drive you back to your hotel, our guide will help you to check in your hotel.

After a short break, starts your Shanghai tour with The Bund, which is teemed with the futuristic, avant-garde buildings - Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Building, the Bank of China Tower. Completed in 1995 to a highly innovative design, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower has become a symbol of excellence in architecture and is a favorite sight for tourists in Shanghai. At 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the World. On the TV Tower, to have a bird's eye view of Shanghai City.

You will enjoy a Huangpu River Night Cruise, to experience the best way to enjoy the scenery along Huangpu River, a cruise has to be the top choice. A Huangpu River cruise has now become a must-have activity when visiting Shanghai.

After the cruise, you will be taken back to your hotel in Shanghai.

D7 Shanghai

After breakfast, you will visit the Yuyuan Garden, the best private garden in Shanghai. This garden which is a must for visitors from the foreign countries represents the past of Shanghai. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters in the garden all have unique characteristics. Next to the Garden is the most popular bazaar in Shanghai, here you can see a wide range of local street food, souvenirs, etc.

In the afternoon, you are recommended to visit the renowned Shanghai Museum. The Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China. The museum has a collection of over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals, sculptures, minority art and foreign art. The Shanghai Museum houses several items of national importance, including one of three extant specimens of a "transparent" bronze mirror from the Han Dynasty.

After that you will go to Nanjing Road, No.1 shopping street in China. Thousands of shops there welcoming the visitors from afar. Over 50 famous old brand shops which have at least 100 years history can be seen in this street. And you can have a dinner to enjoy the characteristic local dishes in the restaurants along the road.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Shanghai.

D8 Shanghai Departure

Free on your own to explore the Shanghai city until transfer to Shanghai airport for your flight to the next destination.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.