8 days china's golden triangle

includes: beijing, xi'an & shanghai

d1 arrive in beijing, meet at airport and transfer to your hotel.

d2 a full day excursion by seat-in coach to the great wall - the landmark of china. it is one of the most amazing feats of human labor. after lunch, a drive to the ming tombs along the sacred way with giant marble figures and animals guarding the tomb area for deceased emperors of ming dynasty (1368-1644ad).

d3 a morning tour of tian'anmen square, the largest public square in the world, and the palacemuseum, known as the forbidden city; the complex of imperial palaces are home to the emperors for over 500 years in the ming and qing dynasties. some of the grand halls have been used as museums for fine collections of chinese treasures. after lunch you will be driven to visit the summerpalace, a former summer resort for the royal family, and take a boat ride on its lakekunming. this evening you will be treated to a delicious beijing roasted duck dinner.

d4 your sightseeing this morning is the temple of heaven, where the ming and qing emperors prayed for good harvest. it is the largest temple complex remaining in china today. after lunch, take a two-hour flight to xi'an, the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the silk road. a city tour of the ancient city wall, one of few well-preserved ones in china.

d5 this exciting day of sightseeing will include the terra-cotta warriors and horses at the tomb of qin shi huang, the first qin emperor, and the bronze chariots. after lunch at a local restaurant, visit the big wild goose pagoda which was built in 652 ad. it contains a large volume of buddhist scriptures which were obtained from india by the eminent monk xuanzang.

d6 this morning, visit the shaanxi provincial museum where you will discover how xi'an became the cradle of chinese culture. after lunch at a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the airport for a two-hour flight to shanghai, a cosmopolitan, bustling and heavily populated city in china. you are free for the remainder of the day.

d7 guide will take you to the famous yu gardens in the old district and the pearl tower for a fantastic view of the city. after lunch you will visit the new national museum, one of the best in china.

d8 after a relaxed breakfast in your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.