Compare China Golden Triangle Tour by Travel China Guide vs China Adventure Tour by Discovery Nomads

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing

Meals: No meals and advice freely available

Welcome to Beijing, the first destination of your China Golden Triangle Tour. Our guide will meet you or your family outside the customs of Beijing Airport after your check-out procedures are fully completed and then transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to rest or explore.

Day 2 Beijing

Meals: American breakfast and A la carte lunch

This morning, your private 9 days guided tours of China starts from the world's largest Tiananmen Square, which is a site where many major historical and celebratory events happened. Walk through the square to the Golden Water Bridge, you will enter the best-preserved imperial palace complex, Forbidden City. Once the palace of twenty-four emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties, it not only exhibits the incomparable architecture arts and precious cultural relics, but also shows how the ancient emperors administered the country and lived their lives 600 years ago.

As is our practice, you will be served an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) of authentic Chinese dishes at a noted local restaurant, not a tourist-oriented eatery. You will eat the most delicious Chinese food during your journey like taking a food tour.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, which is the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world.

Day 3 Beijing

Meals: American breakfast

Today you will head to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, with the round-trip cable car included. As one of the greatest wonders of mankind, the majestic Great Wall is always a must for those visitors to Beijing. Mutianyu is one of the most famous and developed existing sections. Today's lunch is on your own arrangement. Our guide will offer you some suggestions.

On the way back to downtown area, we will drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium), which is the major venue of the 2008 Olympic Games. We will also set aside some time for you to relax at a local market before returning to the hotel.

Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

Meals: American breakfast

Explore the Summer Palace and then take a Hutong tour in the morning. The Summer Palace is an imperial garden and temporary dwelling palace for the emperors built 260 years ago. It is also a large-scaled natural mountain and water garden. After that, enjoying the rickshaw riding through Hutongs will be your memorable experience. Next you will visit the 798 Art Zone. Then fly to the famous ancient city - X'ian and our guide will transfer you to the well-selected hotel.

Day 5 Xi'an

Meals: American breakfast

The highlight of today is the 'Eighth Wonder' of the world, Terracotta Army, which is a huge underground military museum constructed as an accessory pit of Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum. In the museum, you will not only appreciate the amazing warrior figures, but also enjoy the display of Chinese ancient weapons, which exemplify the wisdom of the laboring people over 2,200 years ago. Lunch is on your side. You may get recommendation on the proper restaurants nearby from your guide.

In the afternoon, visit one of the landmarks of Xi'an, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Later, our guide will take you to the Provincial History Museum, the most comprehensive museum exhibiting ancient China in all aspects.

Day 6 Xi'an

Meals: American breakfast and Home-cooked a la carte lunch

Pay a visit to the City Wall in the morning. Originally built as military defensive systems in the Ming Dynasty, at present, a garden has been built along the wall. Standing on it, you may see the local people doing morning exercises, singing, playing games.

After that, you will have a local family visit and a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be arranged at the visited home to taste the authentic home cooked dishes. If you are interested in learning to cook Chinese food, you can choose your preferred dishes in the menu of our Chinese food cooking class. The host will prepare the ingredients beforehand and then teach you step by step when you come to the home. You do not need to pay any fee for this.

In the afternoon, continue to visit the Great Mosque, a place where the local Muslims attend worship ceremony. You may have a glimpse of Muslims' life here.

Day 7 Xi'an - Shanghai

Meals: American breakfast

This morning you will take a flight to Shanghai. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own exploration.

We recommend you find your own way to visit the famous Xin Tian Di area. Xin Tian Di, where the new meets the old and East meets West, is a famous place for shopping, dining and nightlife in this modern city. It takes you 30 minutes to go there by taxi from your hotel. Please ask the hotel bellboy to help you.

Day 8 Shanghai

Meals: American breakfast and A la carte lunch

In the morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum first. Then, proceed to the Yu Garden, which is a famous classic garden of the south region. The beautiful scenery and quiet atmosphere here make it a peaceful place in bustling city.

Around noon, you will have an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant, which offers authentic Shanghai and Cantonese cuisines.

In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the Bund area for a short cruise on the Huangpu River. Standing on the cruise ship, you will see many western-style buildings from Shanghai's colonial days in Puxi area. While on Pudong side, rows of skyscrapers will come into view. The utterly different buildings are the best records of the development of the city. You will explore the Bund area and then visit an old street.

Day 9 Departure from Shanghai

Meals: American breakfast

Your private guide will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the airport so that you can board the flight back home after this private 9 days China tour package.

Day 1-3 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing at any time. On the first day we have not planned any events. On Day 2 visit some of the top attractions of Beijing and the surrounding area on this guided group tour. You’ll have the opportunity to walk along the Great Wall, marvel at the Royal Palace and other sites in the Forbidden City and stop to see Tiananmen Square.

Hotel: Grand Hyatt Beijing or similar.

Day 3-5 Xi`an

Travel by high speed comfortable train to Xian (5h). On the Day 4 uncover the mysterious mask of the eighth world wonder, the Terracotta Warriors. Feast your eyes on over 7,000 terracotta sculptures, an army ready for battle and explore one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world.

Hotel: Sheraton Xian or similar.

Day 5-7 Shanghai

Flight to Shanghai. In the evening explore the local restaurant scene of Shanghai on a 3-hour food tasting tour of the city center. Sample more than 15 traditional dishes from Shanghai on a 3-hour food tasting tour of the Yunnan Road. Try some of the best dumpling soup in the city and indulge your sweet tooth at a dessert store. On Day 6 explore the highlights of Shanghai, visit local markets, and the trendy Xintiandi district.

Hotel: Grand Kempinski Shanghai or similar.

Day 7-9 Hong Kong

 Flight to Hong Kong. In the evening cruise along the coastal lines of Hong Kong and Kowloon Peninsula, see the the sparkling night city filled with skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights. Enjoy the famous the Symphony of Lights Cruise with unlimited drinks. On Day 8 get scenic photos of the city's famous Victoria Harbor view at Sky Terrace 428 after riding the Peak Tram on this city tour. Visit an ancient fishing village to get to know old Hong Kong and shop for souvenirs at Stanley Market.

Hotel: JW Marriott Hong Kong or similar.