China Family Discovery

See the highlights of Beijing, starting  with Tiananmen Square in the city centre. After taking a single step into  this sprawling landmark, it is no surprise to learn that this is one of the  world’s largest public squares, capable of hosting more than a million people  at a time. Visitors today will see locals and tourists strolling through the  square at leisure, past massive and historically significant monuments like  Tiananmen Gate, where Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People’s  Republic of China.Behind  Tiananmen Gate lies the Forbidden City, the seat of power for 24 emperors and  the ritual and political capital of Beijing for 500 years. Today, this  enormous palace is considered the best-preserved example of classical Chinese  architecture as well as the world’s best museum of Chinese historical  artefacts. The entire complex is spread over 170 acres and includes 980  buildings that once housed up to 10,000 people, all carefully selected by the  Emperor. Behind the privacy of protective moats and walls, life in the  Imperial Palace was dictated by a system of complex rules and sacred rituals. 

Visit one of the greatest human constructions of the world, the Great Wall of China. Tour the Mutianyu section of this incredible landmark, built as early as 221 BC to protect China’s northern borders from attacks and invasions. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall has been well preserved, and it is visited by far fewer tourists than its counterpart at Badaling, making it an ideal place to investigate its impressive architecture, watch towers and holes for archers. Stroll across the top of the wall to admire the surrounding scenery – the Mutianyu Great Wall sits in a thick forest whose natural beauty changes with every season.  Cable car up to the Great Wall and toboggan down is included. 

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Head to the Panda Hall at the Beijing Zoo, the largest and one of the oldest zoos in China. This zoo was built during the Qing Dynasty, but nearly destroyed during World War II. It was rebuilt and expanded in the early 20th century and is now home to 14,500 animals of nearly a thousand species. Many of these are large rare animals like the South China tiger, Asian and African elephants, and of course the nationally beloved giant pandas. See these adorable creatures up close in a facsimile of their natural habitat, rolling and climbing around in 10,000 square metres of bamboo and bushes.

Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning.

Transfer to Beijing Railway station to take the world famous bullet train to Xian. Travel in style with first class seats!

Upon arrival at Xian North Railway station, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Morning tour to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum!

Uncovered in 1974 by peasants digging a well, the terra cotta warriors and Xian’s greatest and most important attraction. The first emperor of the Qin Dynast, Qin Shi Huangdi, ordered the making of the warriors. During his reign, he undertook military programs to the far corners of the known world. The estimated 8,000 terra cotta soldiers are a testament to his power and megalomania. In the main and most impressive vault, the figures are arranged in typical battle formation in 11 columns comprised of officers, soldiers holding spears and swords and others steering horse-drawn chariots. Each figure is 5’10” tall and each head has been individually modeled with unique facial expressions. 

Have lunch at a local restaurant. 

Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Centre – See smaller versions of the enigmatic Terracotta Warriors being created at the captivating Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Centre. Learn to make your own little warriors.

Head to Xian old City Wall. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng cautionioned him that he should “build high walls, store abundant food supplies and take time to be an Emperor,” so that he could fortify the city and unify the other states. After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang followed his advice and began to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang dynasty (618 -907), creating the modern Xian City Wall. It’s the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Cycling on the wall. 

Transfer back to your hotel.

Enjoy a morning tour to the magnificent Small Wild Goose Pagoda. This charming Buddhist temple dates back over 1,300 years and is one of the best-preserved examples of architecture from the Tang dynasty. It boasts an elaborate and valuable architectural heritage and as the bell rings each morning, visitors are believed to experience good luck. A local guide will point out the finest spots to capture great photos to impress friends back home.

Once exploration is complete, begin a calligraphy class. Then have a visit at the Xian Museum to see the cultural relics.

Transfer to Xian airport, fly to Shanghai.

Upon arrival at Shanghai airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Meet your local tour guide in the lobby of your hotel and start your city tour.

Yuyuan Garden, a place of peace and comfort in the heart of bustling Shanghai, dates back to the fabled Ming Dynasty. Now a popular tourist destination, Yuyuan began as a private garden created by Pan Yunduan, who spent almost 20 years – and all of his savings – to build a garden in order to please his parents in their old age. That is why he called this garden “Yuyuan” as “yu” in Chinese means “peace and health”.

During the past 400 years, Yuyuan, although restored and reopened several times, was most often in disarray. Due to the decline of the Pan family after Pan Yuduan’s death, Yuyuan gradually fell into disuse. Although the local caretakers improved the garden, several civil conflicts in the mid-19th century caused great damage. In 1956, the Shanghai city government reconstructed the garden and restored it to its former splendour

Next, stroll on the Bund, also called Zhongshan Road, is Shanghai’s iconic waterfront and regarded as the symbol of the city for hundreds of years. It starts from the Baidu Bridge, which is at the connecting point of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek, to the East Jinling Road and winds southeast for about a mile. Walking along the Bund, which is at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the unique shape of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side as well as the tallest building in China, the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Acrobatic Show as night entertainment. Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts. Its history can be traced back to Neolithic times. It is believed that acrobatics grew out of labor and self-defense skills, which people practiced and demonstrated during their leisure time. The early performance is “walking on three-meter-high stilts while juggling seven gaggers”. Then it developed into an entire art form.

Transfer back to your hotel after the show.

Today you will be picked up from your hotel lobby and transferred to Shanghai Disneyland.

Enjoy your full day as a family wonderland that is Disneyland. (Tickets are included)

Transfer back to your hotel after your tour.

Transfer to Shanghai International Airport