Modern Shanghai & Chengdu’s Giant Pandas - Superior

Arrive at your UK / Ireland departure airport*, ready to board your flight to China. Night on board.*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Arrive in dazzling Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. Shanghai is the largest of all Chinese cities and is known for its futuristic buildings, culinary scene and importance as a global financial centre. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Overnight stay in Shanghai.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, take a walking tour of Nanjing road and the Bund neighbourhood to get to know Shanghai's diverse neighbourhoods. Next, visit a silk showroom before heading into the bustling Old City Bazaar for a taste of the local culture. Return to the hotel and in the afternoon, we recommend an optional half-day city tour.* In the evening you have the option to enjoy an acrobatic show.** Overnight stay in Shanghai.*Optional Shanghai Highlights tour: Discover the highlights of Shanghai including the Shanghai Historical Museum, where you will learn about the origins of this fomer trading outpost which has grown to be the cosmopolitan megalopolis that you can see today. Also, visit the Pudong area and enjoy an included entrance to the second sphere of the iconic Jinmao Tower.**Optional Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world's oldest performing arts as you are immersed in an evening of culture and entertainment. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, shopping in one of the many shopping centres, strolling around colonial Bund or sampling the street food. Otherwise, we recommend an optional tour of Suzhou Gardens* or a Huangpu River Cruise later in the evening.** Overnight stay in Shanghai. *Optional tour of Suzhou Gardens: Acquaint yourself with Suzhou, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ and one of the most historically significant cities of Southern China where you will visit Lingering Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Suzhou Museum before taking a boat ride on Pingjiang River to make your way to the charming Old City. **Optional Huangpu River cruise: View the city's skyline from the comfort of the river cruiser as you enjoy an evening of spectacular views. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a bullet train to Beijing in 2nd class seats. Arrive in Beijing, the enormous capital of China, famed for its ancient sites such as the iconic Forbidden City, and as being the gateway to some of the most visited portions of the Great Wall. Transfer to the hotel. In the evening, we recommend an optional Kung Fu Show at the Beijing's Red Theatre* Overnight stay in Beijing. *Optional Kung Fu show: Admire the intricacies of this martial art as you enjoy a professional show. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, enjoy a tour of the fantastic Temple of Heaven, a religious complex used by the emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties. Here you have the opportunity to watch the locals practising Tai Chi in the tranquil surroundings. Afterwards, visit a local Pearl Factory for a fascinating insight into the production of these precious jewels. Return to the hotel and spend the afternoon at your leisure. We recommend an optional Hutong tour* through central Beijing. Overnight stay in Beijing. *Optional excursion to Shichahai Hutong & Lama Temple: Hop on a rickshaw, the most popular form of transportation in recent years, and visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower from the outside before stepping into one of the local Siheyuan courtyard houses of Hutong to learn about Chinese paper cutting. Finally, visit the Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Temple, which is considered as the largest and most perfectly preserved Buddhist monastery in present-day China. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an exciting excursion to the best-preserved section of the Great Wall of China. The Juyongguan section is the most visited part of the wall and is the best representation of the former splendour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of unimaginable length, the wall can be seen from space. On the way, admire the countryside and stop at an impressive Jade exhibition, where you will learn about the traditional significance of this precious stone. Arrive at the Great Wall where you have time to learn about the history of the wall and enjoy walking on this ancient relic of the past. On the way back to Beijing, visit a traditional Chinese Medicine factory. Return to Beijing and stop at the famous Olympic Park, where you can admire the beautifully architected Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Transfer to the hotel. We recommend an optional Golden Mask Show, a beautiful cultural performance.* Overnight stay in Beijing. *Optional Golden Mask show: Set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells the story of a queen, who wears a golden mask, and creates a splendid dynasty. It is a fabulous insight into China's history and arts. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Beijing at your leisure, visiting the sights or delving into the fabulous cuisine. Alternatively, we recommend an optional excursion to Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City.* Overnight stay in Beijing. *Optional full-day Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City excursion: Explore the iconic Tiananmen Square to then head to the Forbidden City, an impressive palace complex and home to the former Imperial Chinese Palace for the years spanning from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. It is the world's most visited attractions and showcases immaculate Chinese design and architecture. Also, visit the Tea House to then admire the enigmatic Summer Palace. After the tour, try the famous Peking Duck for dinner. Watch the chef slice the golden-brown duck, so that you can admire his skills and the thin crispy skin. You will also learn how to eat this dish correctly. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station for an exciting bullet train journey to Xi'an. Arrive, transfer, and check-in to the hotel. Afterwards, enjoy free time to get to know your new surroundings. Try walking around the neighborhood, or join an optional night tour* to get a deeper view of the local highlights. Overnight stay in Xi'an. *Optional night tour: Take an evening tour, beginning with the North Square of the Wild Goose Pagoda, then heading all the way to The Grand Tang Mall, also known as Datang Everbright City. This pedestrian-friendly park offers a captivating experience that transports you back to the Tang Dynasty with lights, statues, and stalls. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover one of China's most iconic sights as you enjoy a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Approximately 8,000 sculpted figures were buried alongside Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, and today you can see this once in a lifetime sight for yourself. Each figure is impressively crafted and unique. Be blown away by the intricacy and the sheer number of the figures as you learn about their significance. Visit the terracotta workshop and get closer to the warriors while learning traditional crafting techniques. Next, dive to visit Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter, where you will challenge yourself to take a food adventure and enjoy your shopping time there. Overnight stay in Xi'an. *Optional Tang Dynasty show with dumpling banquet dinner: Enjoy the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with fabulous music and dancing from the era of the Tang Dynasty, China's golden age. The show is a unique way to get to know the historical culture of the ancient city of Xi'an. Enjoy a dumpling banquet for dinner, included with this activity! Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a Bullet Train to Chengdu in 2nd class seats. Arrive and transfer directly to the Panda Base Center, home to the iconic and elusive giant pandas, one of the most endangered animals in the world. Here, you may be lucky enough to watch the pandas in the huge outdoor enclosures. After getting up close to these beautiful creatures, head to the Panda Museum to learn about these endangered animals. Next, enjoy a visit to the Shu Embroidery Museum, for an insight into one of China's most prestigious traditions of embroidery. Transfer to the hotel and in the evening we recommend an optional Sichuan Opera Show.* Overnight stay in Chengdu. *Optional Sichuan opera show: Enjoy a vibrant and colourful evening of entertainment. The Sichuan Opera involves a multitude of colourful masks, costumes and traditional performing arts. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Chengdu, walking along the riverside, delving into the stretching history of the city, which stretches back to the 4th-century BC, or sampling the local cuisine. We recommend an optional excursion to Huanglongxi Ancient Town & Leshan Big Buddha.* Overnight stay in Chengdu. *Optional Full-day excursion to Huanglongxi & Leshan Big Buddha: First, visit Huanglongxi Ancient Town, home to more than 1700 years of history. Here you can explore old Chinese culture and customs and soak up the beautiful natural landscapes. Continue to Leshan to visit the famous Leshan Big Buddha, the largest sitting stone Buddha in the world at 71 metres high. Situated on the banks of the Dadu River, walkways enable you to get up close to the Buddha. On the way back to Chengdu, stop at a local Tea Plantation. End the day with a delicious Hot Pot Dinner. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the galleries, museums and historical monuments of Chengdu. We recommend a full-day excursion to Dujiangyan and the Sichuan Cuisine Museum.* Overnight stay in Chengdu. *Optional Full-day tour to Dujiangyan & Sichuan Cuisine Museum: Embark on an exciting tour of the ancient Dujiangyan waterworks, an impressive feat of engineerings and construction, still used today to control flooding on the Min River and to irrigate the arid regions around Chengdu. It helped to boost Sichuan to a successful and prosperous province. Afterwards, head to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum to taste and cook classic dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken. Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Enjoy a morning at your leisure in Chengdu before transferring to the airport for a flight back to the UK / Ireland. Arrive in the UK / Ireland and end your trip.*Depending on your flight departure time you might not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.