China Panda & Peaks: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Mt Emei & Shanghai

Day 1

Arrival in Beijing + Hotel Check In

As your flight touches down in Beijing, your guide will meet you in the arrivals hall for a comfortable private transfer into the city and a smooth check in at the Waldorf Astoria Beijing, a 5 star hotel. Once you have settled into your room, the remainder of the day is kept intentionally relaxed, giving you time to freshen up, unwind, and ease into the rhythm of the capital before your sightseeing begins.

Overnight: Beijing

Day 2

Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven

After breakfast, your guide will be waiting to take you into the heart of the capital. Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world, before continuing to the Forbidden City, the vast imperial palace complex that shaped China’s dynastic history for centuries.

Later, swap grand courtyards for intimate lanes as you explore Beijing’s historic hutongs by rickshaw, a more atmospheric way to glimpse the city’s older rhythm and courtyard life. Your day then continues at the Temple of Heaven, a refined and dignified ensemble of sacred buildings once used for imperial ceremonies. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and set out for a full day featuring two of Beijing’s most defining sights. Travel to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, known for its sweeping views, a calmer feel than the busiest sections, and closely spaced watchtowers that make the walk especially rewarding.

Back in the city, continue to the Summer Palace, the Qing emperors’ elegant lakeside retreat. Spend time wandering gardens, pavilions, and shaded pathways, with vistas over Kunming Lake and the slopes of Longevity Hill. This evening, return to your hotel with time to unwind.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Beijing to Xi’an by High Speed Train: Mosque, Quarter, Pagoda

After breakfast, take a little time to pack, check out, and get ready for departure. You will then transfer to the railway station and board the high speed train to Xi’an, a comfortable journey of around five hours as the landscape shifts westward.

On arrival, begin exploring with your local guide. Visit the Great Mosque and continue into the lively Muslim Quarter, where busy lanes and food stalls create a completely different energy from Beijing. Later, head to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark closely associated with the Buddhist scholar Xuanzang and the sacred texts he brought back from India. End the day with a smooth transfer to your hotel in Xi’an, Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an, a 5 star hotel.

Overnight: Xi’an

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Xi’an: City Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Bullet Train to Chengdu

After breakfast, take your time to pack and check out, your guide will take you to Xi’an’s formidable City Wall, one of the most complete surviving city defence systems in China, guarding the inner city for over 600 years.

Later, travel out to the Terracotta Warriors, an extraordinary archaeological discovery uncovered by local farmers in 1974. Seeing the vast ranks in person brings a sense of scale and drama that no photograph quite captures. In the late afternoon, you will take the bullet train to Chengdu, around four hours, then transfer to your The Ritz-Carlton, a 5 start hotel for the night.

Overnight: Chengdu

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Chengdu to Mount Emeishan: Panda Base, Leshan Giant Buddha

After breakfast, have your bags ready for check out, then meet your guide for the drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the city’s best known place to see these iconic animals up close.

In the afternoon, continue to Leshan to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. You will take a cruise for a scenic view of this immense riverside carving, an impressive moment as it comes into view from the water. After the visit, you will be transferred onwards to Mount Emeishan for your overnight stay at the Le Méridien Emei Mountain Resort, a 4* hotel.

Overnight: Mount Emeishan

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Mount Emeishan: Scenic Mountain Day, Return to Chengdu

After breakfast, with your luggage packed for the return journey later, check out and meet your guide in the hotel lobby,  spend the day discovering Mount Emeishan, one of China’s most revered Buddhist mountains. Take the cable car up to the higher viewpoints, then visit the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years, a historic and deeply atmospheric temple complex.

When you are ready, enjoy a gentle walk down through the mountain scenery, taking in the natural beauty along the way. Later, you will be escorted back to Chengdu and return to The Ritz-Carlton for the evening.

Overnight: Chengdu

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

Chengdu Highlights & Fly to Shanghai

After breakfast, take a moment to organise your bags for travel, check out, then meet your guide to begin the day in Chengdu, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy as well as the hometown of the giant panda. Start at People’s Park, where teahouses and daily life offer an easy, local introduction to the city’s pace.

Continue to Jinli Old Street to sample traditional snacks and explore the lively atmosphere. If you are feeling adventurous, you may even try Chengdu’s famous spicy rabbit head, a local favourite. Then visit Qingyang Palace before transferring to the airport for your afternoon flight to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, 5 star hotel for the night.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9

Shanghai Highlights: Gardens, Bund & Skyline

After breakfast, your guide will meet you downstairs and you will begin with Yu Garden, a classical private garden created during the Ming Dynasty, once considered among the most prestigious in the city.

From here, head to the Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River, a perfect place to absorb the city’s stories and contrasts. Continue along Nanjing Road for a deeper feel of Shanghai’s modern energy, then visit the Shanghai Museum, renowned for its extensive collections of cultural treasures.

Later, transfer to Shanghai Tower for a striking, high level view across the skyline. To finish the day, enjoy some time in the Zhangyuan area, a neighbourhood of shikumen houses that blend Western and Chinese architectural elements and has become a recent favourite for its revived atmosphere. Return to your hotel for the evening.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10

Departure

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out, then you will be met for a comfortable private transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward flight. As you travel home, sit back and unwind, and savour the memories of the places and moments you have discovered along the way. We look forward to designing your next adventure, wherever it may take you.

Meals included: Breakfast