Highlights

Private sunrise at Mutianyu Great Wall, before the buses arrive
Skip-the-line access to the Terracotta Warriors with a practicing archaeologist
A hand-pulled noodle lunch in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter
An evening walk of the Shanghai Bund at golden hour
Boutique hotels chosen for character, not chain loyalty

Overview

Ten days is the sweet spot for a first visit to China. Long enough that the three anchor cities breathe, short enough that jet lag doesn't eat your second week. This itinerary moves at a deliberate pace — two to three days in each city, with one unscheduled afternoon built in for the thing you didn't know you wanted to do.

Day by Day

Day 1 — Arrive in Beijing

Met at the airport. A quiet evening — tea at your hotel, maybe a walk through the nearest hutong if you're not wrecked.

Day 2 — Forbidden City & Jingshan Park

Your guide takes the back entrance. Three hours inside the palace, then a climb up Jingshan for the rooftop view south — the one postcard that hasn't been faked.

Day 3 — Mutianyu Great Wall

Leave by 6am. You'll have the wall to yourselves until 9. Lunch at a family-run farmhouse on the way back. Afternoon free.

Day 4 — Temple of Heaven, fly to Xi'an

Morning at the Temple of Heaven watching locals dance, play chess, do tai chi. Afternoon flight to Xi'an.

Day 5 — Terracotta Warriors

Private access before the public gates open. Your guide today is an archaeologist who spent seven years on the dig. Evening dumpling tasting downtown.

Day 6 — Xi'an Old City

Bike the ancient city walls at dawn. Muslim Quarter for lunch. Free afternoon, or optional calligraphy lesson.

Day 7 — Fly to Shanghai

Travel day. Check into your hotel on the Bund. Evening walk along the waterfront.

Day 8 — Shanghai Past & Present

Morning in the French Concession — plane trees, Art Deco, coffee. Afternoon in Pudong: Shanghai Tower observation deck.

Day 9 — Water Town Day Trip

A day in Zhujiajiao — canals, stone bridges, a quieter rhythm. Dinner back in Shanghai at a Michelin-listed Huaiyang restaurant.

Day 10 — Departure

Transfer to Pudong airport. The usual reassurance that yes, ten days was not enough.

What's Included

Private English-speaking guide in each city
All domestic flights and ground transfers
Boutique 4★ hotels (upgrades to 5★ available)
Daily breakfast, several curated dinners
All site entrance fees and specialty experiences
24/7 concierge via WhatsApp throughout your trip

What's Not Included

International flights to/from China
Travel insurance (we can recommend)
Chinese visa (we provide invitation letter if needed)