1
Arrival — Beijing
- Morning
- Airport welcome, transfer to a courtyard hotel in the hutongs.
- Afternoon
- Slow orientation walk: the lanes, the drum tower, the neighborhood market.
- Evening
- Welcome dinner — Peking duck, carved tableside.
Tours / 8+ days · Balanced pace
The Golden Triangle, in Depth
Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai
2–8 travelers 8 days Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai Monthly, April–October
China's three great cities, done properly: dawn on the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army with a historian, and a Shanghai most visitors never find — with food stops that locals queue for.
Itinerary, day by day
2
Imperial Beijing
- Morning
- Forbidden City before the main crowds, with a historian guide.
- Afternoon
- Jingshan park overlook, then tea and calligraphy in a courtyard studio.
- Evening
- Free evening; your guide books you a hutong favorite.
3
The Great Wall at dawn
- Morning
- Early departure for a wild, unrestored wall section — walked with thermos tea.
- Afternoon
- Lunch in a village below the wall, return to the city.
- Evening
- Dumplings with a hutong family.
4
Beijing to Xi'an
- Morning
- High-speed rail across the North China Plain (4.5 hours, first class).
- Afternoon
- Muslim Quarter walk: cumin lamb, biangbiang noodles, street history.
- Evening
- Drum & bell towers at dusk; night market grazing.
5
The Terracotta Army
- Morning
- The pits in ordered quiet, plus the modern restoration workshop.
- Afternoon
- Bike the full Ming city wall circuit (14 km, electric assist available).
- Evening
- Tang-dynasty inspired dinner, or rest.
6
Xi'an to Shanghai
- Morning
- Flight to Shanghai; check in near the former French Concession.
- Afternoon
- Plane-tree lanes, wet market, and the concession's layered history.
- Evening
- The Bund at night, from the water if timing allows.
7
Shanghai now
- Morning
- Soup-dumpling crawl through old lanes.
- Afternoon
- Choose your track: art & architecture, or city & tech (autonomous ride + campus visit).
- Evening
- Rooftop farewell dinner overlooking the river.
8
Departure
- Morning
- Maglev to the airport at 300 km/h — a fitting exit.
What's included
- All accommodation (7 nights, twin share)
- English-speaking local guide throughout
- High-speed rail & one internal flight
- All entrance fees and listed experiences
- Daily breakfast, 5 signature meals
- Airport transfers and in-city transport
- International flights
- Travel insurance (required)
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Shorter journeys, same care
3 daysGentle pace
Beijing Living
Beijing
A long weekend inside the old city: courtyard living, the Forbidden City done right, dawn tai chi, and the wall without the crowds.
Weekly, year-round
from US$890
3 daysFull pace
Shanghai Now
Shanghai
Three days inside China's most futuristic city: driverless rides, the maglev, startup campuses — balanced with the lanes and dumplings that make it livable.
Twice monthly, year-round
from US$760
4 daysGentle pace
Chengdu Slow
Chengdu
The art of taking it easy, learned properly: hundred-year teahouses, pandas at breakfast, a wok class, and an herbal footbath evening.
Monthly, March–November
from US$1,180
US$2,890/ person
Request to book