Beginning in Beijing, the longtime imperial capital of China, center of government and home to an amazing six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll explore the beauty of the imperial city and discover the splendor of China’s glorious past. Your tour includes the 9,000-room Forbidden City, nearby Jinshan Park, Tiananmen Square, the tranquil parklands of the Temple of Heaven, the serene Summer Palace, and tours of ancient hutong neighborhoods and modern architecture. A two-hour drive from Beijing takes you to Mutianyu, a remote and rugged location of the Great Wall not seen by most tourists. You will spend the night in a charming guesthouse in a quiet village at the foot of the wall, providing you with time to explore the Great Wall as you wish.

Travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, once the largest city in the world. This ancient capital in Shaanxi Province was the beginning of the fabled Silk Road. Explore the amazing Terracotta warriors, horses and chariots, considered China’s preeminent archaeological discovery. Xi’an is the largest city in China to still have its city walls at 8.5 miles around and 40 feet high. Weather permitting, ride a bicycle along these ancient battlements. Tour other important historic sites such as the Muslim Bazaar and Mosque, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

A short flight brings you to Zhangjiajie, one of China’s best national parks, where you’ll see the scenery that inspired the creation of the floating Hallelujah Mountains in the Hollywood movie Avatar. Explore the magnificent landscape with countless jaw-dropping vistas and charming local culture, including the world’s longest glass bridge, which opened to the public in 2016.

Fly direct to Guilin. Together with Yangshuo and Longsheng, this south China region sports picturesque karsts mountains rising from rice paddies and magnificent rice terraces cultivated by ethnic minorities. This is one of the most idyllic landscapes of China and your cruise down the Li River will reveal its beauties at each bend of the river. It is here where landscapes of limestone peaks covered with green vegetation thrusting upward from tranquil blue rivers and bamboo groves have inspired thousands of Chinese scroll paintings. You may experience these fairyland like landscapes by cruise boat, bicycle, or on foot. Also, take a fun-filled cooking class in Yangshuo.

The last stop of your journey is Shanghai, the cosmopolitan financial center of China. Although just a small fishing village 175 years ago, Shanghai has evolved into one of the world’s largest cities with ultra-modern architecture and some of the world’s tallest buildings. Though short on history, Shanghai is rich in art and culture. Your full-day tour of Shanghai features the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Fuxing Park, Tianzifang Market, and the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, which was the center of the Jewish community that lived in Shanghai during World War II. Your final night in China features dinner at Xianqiangfang Restaurant followed by an incredible acrobatic show.