Chinese Culinary Journey

In the morning, walk around Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world and one of the most well-known historical sites in China. From Tiananmen square on to the Forbidden City, witness what was once the seat of Chinese political power for almost 500 years and the home to China’s last ruling dynasties. Explore its serene courtyards and stately rooms before climbing the artificial coal hill located behind the city for a spectacular view of Beijing’s sprawling skyline.

Please note: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays.

Experience a charming slice of authentic Chinese life in this afternoon walking tour. Meet at Guloudajie Station and take an amiable stroll along the narrow, characterful ‘hutongs’, or streets, of Beijing before stopping at a traditional Chinese family courtyard. Learn more about daily life for the residents of Beijing as a welcoming local family serve tea and show the behaviours, habits and rituals of life in their traditional home.

Take part in a Chinese Knot class, exploring this decorative art form that began as a type of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song Dynasty and is still very much alive today. The intricate procedure produces stunning pieces of art that are a common sight around Chinese New Year, known to bring luck when made in the customary red colour.

Head onto a Chinese dumpling making class and try kneading dough, making dumpling pastry and filling with a choice of ingredients before tasting your own creations. After a starter of home-made dumplings, head on to a local restaurant to delight in delicious, native cuisine before walking through the winding hutongs and back to modern china.

After breakfast, make your way to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Witness the magnificent views of the surrounding landscape as you scale the iconic wall spanning more than 6000km across China. Hike along the wall’s high ridges and scope out its ancient watchtowers dating back more than 2000 years. After your hike, settle down for a spot of lunch, while savouring the superb views of the countryside. If you’re up for something a bit more adrenalin pumping, ride down the wall on a toboggan.

In the afternoon, venture over to the Summer Palace, built by Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century. Take a stroll through its tranquil grounds and explore this inner-city oasis of serene temples and scenic lakes, including iconic landmarks such as Kunming Lake and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Head over to marvel at the mystical grand Marble Boat, before hiking to the top of Longevity Hill for magnificent panoramic views of the whole complex. Savour a refreshing cold drink in the shady grounds before heading back to your hotel.

Tonight you will have the opportunity to taste the famous Roast Duck, an iconic dish in this region.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Beijing airport for your flight to Xian. Once you arrive in Xian, embrace all of the culinary highlights found throughout of Xi’an in this fun-filled evening foodie tour. Meet at the lantern-filled Yongxingfang Food Street, experience the vibrant sights and sounds of this pulsating market. Packed to the rafters with authentic gastronomic fare, glimpses upon the rich and intriguing artefacts that surround the street, such as old farm ploughs, wonderfully vivid bunches of dried chillies and huge mask paintings.

Once the eyes are satisfied, attend an unforgettable Shuaiwanjiu experience. This unusual ceremony, the name of which literally translates to ‘smashing bowls’, is thought to bring safety to the participant and involves drinking a bowl of rice wine and then enthusiastically throwing said bowl at a target on the wall. After participating in Shuaiwanjiu, continue the foodie fun by sampling a variety of traditional dishes; from mushroom skewers, tofu, and sticky rice pies to cold skin noodles and Rou Jia Mo – a Chinese version of the burger. There’s a huge array of local dishes to choose from!

Stroll through the bustling marketplace and gaze through warmly lit windows to witness the energetic chefs preparing each dish with unrelenting passion. Stop off at a sesame oil workshop, witness chilli powder grinding and the production of tofu. Once the appetite has been suitably worked up, delight in a delicious dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the market.

Taking a short stroll from the restaurant, witness a fascinating performative exercise performed by the region’s retired women, known as Square Dancing. After that, you will be transferred back to your hotel for some much deserved rest.

Start your day amongst the famous Terracotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. These 6,000 life-size painted terracotta warriors and horses –individually sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation have been protecting the mausoleum of the first emperor in Chinese history-Emperor QinShihuang since 2,200 years ago. Grab a souvenir from the museum before visiting Xi’an’s old city wall. This is a huge impregnable wall, which has experienced 600 years of history, now lying peacefully like a giant in the city centre of Xian. With a grandiose height of 12 meters and 15 meters width, this giant looks as strong as iron.

In the evening, delight in the Tang Dynasty Dancing show and dumpling banquet dinner. The Tang Dynasty show is one of the most attractive entertainment activities for you to enjoy in Xian. The show bases itself on historical records and folk legends during the Tang Dynasty. It brings Chinese court life and social costumes, some more than 1,300 years old, alive through exciting performances that utilise authentic instruments and dancing techniques. The performance has been recreated in accordance with various historical records and ancient arts inherited from the very prosperous Tang Dynasty

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Xian Railway Station. Here you will take a first class soft seat bullet train straight to Chengdu. Travel in comfort on China’s fast and efficient high speed rail network. The trains travel at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 1216km distance to Xian in approximately five to six hours.

Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be transferred to your hotel ready for a full day of exploration tomorrow.

After being picked up from your hotel, head to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. The site is home to more than eighty adorable pandas. In addition to the black and white variety that most are familiar with, the base is also home to a number of smaller lesser-known red pandas. Observe the animals eating, playing and enjoying a carefully maintained habitat that closely resembles their natural habitat. Then, learn how scientists and ecologists are working to protect what few pandas remain in the wild while expanding the captive population. Since 1987, more than one-hundred pandas have been born at the centre. The captive population acts as a critical buffer to the species against extinction and is crucial to the preservation of the species. Your visit provides moral and financial support to the ongoing conservation effort and is an enjoyable activity as well! After delighting in a local hotpot lunch at the centre, stroll around the Kuaizhai Alley, and visit Renmin Park. In the afternoon, experience an authentic Chinese tea.

Experience the sights, smells and tastes of Chengdu cuisine in this mouth-watering half-day experience. The laid-back, relaxing teahouse culture and exceptional culture make this capital city of China’s Sichuan province well worth a visit. The tour will begin at Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum where a local guide will be on hand to point out all of the finest stalls, restaurants and exhibits. Located in the ancient town of Pixian, this huge museum covers around 27,000 square metres and showcases the finest parts of Sichuan culture. With around 6,000 collections dedicated to the Sichuan culinary culture this place is likely to please budding gastronomist.

Begin the Sichuan culinary experience by sampling one of Sichuan’s most famous snacks, the freshly made pancake with eggs and fermented flour. After delighting in the appetite, participate in a Sichuan cuisine cookery class. Learn how to create the perfect Sichuan dish with local chefs talking through cutting techniques, cooking processes and the insider secrets for perfect presentation. Create a dish from scratch, adding any final touches, before receiving feedback from a premier Sichuan chef and sampling your creation. The finest dish will be awarded the ’Rookie Master Chef’ prize and each participant will receive recipe cards to take away so these dishes can be recreated back home. Workshop participants will be provided with fruits, Chinese tea, wine and more to keep spirits up throughout this delectable day. In the afternoon visit the famous Taikoo Li area and experience the lifestyles of the local Chengdu people.

The next day, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight back to home.