The Essential China Cultural Journey
China, past and present.
China can feel impossible to understand from the outside. This journey begins with the places that have come to define it — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors and Shanghai skyline — then looks beyond them to the stories, traditions and everyday life that give them meaning.
Over ten days, experience Shanghai through its old neighborhoods and extraordinary transformation, step into China's ancient past in Xi'an, and explore the imperial heart of Beijing. Along the way, food, local traditions and time spent simply observing daily life offer another perspective on the country.
10 DAYS | SHANGHAI · XI’AN · BEIJING
SEE SHANGHAI THROUGH TWO ERAS
Shanghai. A city between eras
Walk beneath the plane trees of the Former French Concession, explore Yu Garden and everyday neighborhood life, then cross the Huangpu to experience Pudong's extraordinary skyline. Few places make China's transformation quite so visible.
STAND BEFORE AN ARMY BUILT FOR THE AFTERLIFE
The Terracotta Warriors
Come face-to-face with thousands of life-size warriors created more than two millennia ago for China's first emperor — and discover the stories behind one of the world's great archaeological finds.
AT THE HEART OF IMPERIAL CHINA
The Forbidden City & Great Wall
Look across the tiled roofs of the Forbidden City before stepping inside the former seat of imperial power. Then walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu, surrounded by mountains and centuries of history — two extraordinary perspectives on the scale and ambition of imperial China.
Have a question about this journey? Get in touch with your Journeys East host →
BEYOND THE LANDMARKS
Taste, traditions & everyday life
Experience China in the moments between its icons — freshly steamed xiaolongbao in Shanghai, tea after exploring Pudong, local life unfolding in neighborhood parks, Xi'an's Silk Road flavors and Muslim Quarter, and Peking duck in Beijing. Even a foot massage after walking the Great Wall becomes part of experiencing the country at a more human pace.
Itinerary
Shanghai, The Journey Begins
DAY 1 · Arrival and Welcome
Arrive in Shanghai, where private transportation takes you to your hotel. Take time to settle in before joining your Journeys East host and fellow travelers for a welcome toast — a relaxed beginning to the journey ahead.
Highlights: Private arrival transfer · Welcome toast
▶︎ SHANGHAI 上海
DAY 2 · Tradition, Influence & Transformation
Discover the many layers of Shanghai, from the classical gardens and lanes of the Old Town to the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession and Wukang Road. Along the way, experience the architecture, neighborhoods and local life that reveal the influences that have shaped the city, with a taste of traditional Shanghainese cuisine along the way.
Highlights: Yu Garden · Old Town · Former French Concession · Wukang Road · Taste traditional Shanghainese xiaolongbao
DAY 3 · The Shanghai of Today
Begin along the historic Bund before crossing into Pudong, where Shanghai’s extraordinary transformation comes fully into view. Explore the city’s modern landmarks and ascend Shanghai Tower for a new perspective from above. This evening, experience contemporary Chinese dining against the backdrop of Shanghai’s illuminated skyline.
Highlights: The Bund · Pudong · Shanghai Tower · Contemporary Chinese dining
▶︎ CHONGQING 重庆
Chongqing, A city shaped by the land
DAY 4 · Welcome to the Mountain City
Fly to Chongqing and settle into one of China’s most distinctive cities, built dramatically across steep hills and between two great rivers. This evening, ease into the city with a panoramic view around sunset, watching Chongqing’s layered skyline transform as night falls.
Highlights: Arrival in Chongqing · Panoramic city views at sunset
DAY 5 · A City Built in Three Dimensions
Explore how Chongqing's dramatic geography has shaped the way people live and move through the city. See the famous monorail going through a building at Liziba, navigate layered streets where ground level can suddenly be many stories above the streets below, and experience the spectacle of Hongya Cave.
Along the way, discover how the city's geography and history have shaped its character before ending the day over Chongqing hotpot in a former air-raid shelter — a distinctive setting for one of the city's defining food traditions.
Highlights: Hongya Cave · Chongqing's layered city · Hotpot in a former air-raid shelter
▶︎ CHENGDU 成都
Chengdu, Flavor, tradition & everyday life
DAY 6 · The Flavors of Sichuan
Travel by high-speed rail to Chengdu and begin discovering Sichuan through one of its defining flavors. Visit a traditional producer of doubanjiang, the fermented broad-bean and chili paste at the heart of countless Sichuan dishes. See how it's made, taste it for yourself and later experience how this humble ingredient transforms the food on the table.
Highlights: High-speed rail· Doubanjiang (Soy bean paste) experience · Sichuan cuisine
DAY 7 · The Chengdu Way of Life
Slow down to Chengdu's rhythm in People's Park, where locals gather to exercise, practice tai chi, dance, socialize and linger over tea. Join them for a cup before exploring more of Sichuan's distinctive traditions and Shu culture. This evening, experience the drama and artistry of Sichuan's famous face-changing performance.
Highlights: People's Park · Chengdu Tea Culture · Shu Culture & Traditions · Sichuan Face-Changing Performance
DAY 8 · Pandas & Ancient Ingenuity
Meet some of China’s most famous residents — giant pandas and red pandas — and learn more about the work to protect these remarkable species. Continue to Dujiangyan, where more than 2,000 years ago people learned to harness the natural flow of the river to control flooding and bring water to the surrounding plains — without dams. Explore this remarkable landscape and the surrounding ancient town before returning to Chengdu.
Highlights: Giant & Red Pandas · Dujiangyan Ancient Water System
▶︎ XI'AN 西安
Xi'an, Ancient China & Its Legacy
DAY 9 · Into China's Ancient Capital
Travel by high-speed rail to Xi’an, one of China’s great ancient capitals. Begin exploring the city at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda before gathering over a traditional dumpling banquet. This evening, enjoy a performance inspired by the music, dance and grandeur of the Tang Dynasty — a first glimpse into the history that shaped Xi’an.
Highlights: Big Wild Goose Pagoda · Dumpling Banquet · Tang Dynasty Performance
DAY 10 · An Army for the Afterlife
Stand before one of the world’s great archaeological discoveries: thousands of life-size Terracotta Warriors created more than two millennia ago for China’s first emperor. Back in Xi’an, walk along the ancient city wall before exploring the lively Muslim Quarter, where centuries of cultural exchange can still be experienced through its streets, traditions and food today.
Highlights: Terracotta Warriors · Ancient City Wall · Muslim Quarter
▶︎ BEIJING 北京
Beijing, Imperial heritage & modern China
DAY 11 · Welcome to the Capital
Travel by high-speed rail to Beijing and settle into the final chapter of the journey. After arrival, slow the pace with a traditional foot massage and time to recharge before an easy evening over the flavors of northern China.
Highlights: Traditional Foot Massage · Northern Chinese Dinner
DAY 12 · At the Heart of Imperial China
Step into Beijing's imperial past at the Temple of Heaven before exploring the Forbidden City, once the center of power for generations of Chinese emperors. With stories and context bringing its vast halls and courtyards to life, discover the rituals, treasures and people behind the monumental architecture. Tonight, gather over one of Beijing's defining traditions: Peking duck.
Highlights: Temple of Heaven · Forbidden City · Imperial treasures · Peking duck
DAY 13 · The Great Wall & Old Beijing
Leave the city for Mutianyu, where the Great Wall winds across the mountains outside Beijing. Walk its ramparts and watchtowers with time to appreciate the scale of one of China's defining landmarks.
Back in the city, trade monumental China for something more personal: explore the lanes of old Beijing and learn the traditional art of seal carving, creating your own Chinese seal to take home.
Highlights: Mutianyu Great Wall · Old Beijing hutongs · Traditional seal carving
DAY 14 · Beijing Today
Spend the morning exploring the Beijing of today at Olympic Green, including the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, while looking at how the 2008 Olympics helped reshape the capital and the way China presented itself to the world. The afternoon is deliberately left open — time to shop, explore on your own, return to a favorite place or simply slow down before coming together for a farewell dinner.
Highlights: Olympic Green · Bird’s Nest & Water Cube · Farewell Dinner
DAY 15 · Until Next Time
Enjoy breakfast and a final morning before private transportation to the airport for your journey home.
Highlights: Breakfast · Private airport transfer