TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Walk Beijing’s iconic Great Wall across dramatic mountain ridges.
- Explore the Forbidden City and imperial Temple of Heaven.
- Stand before Xi’an’s extraordinary Terracotta Warriors.
- Experience Tang Dynasty music, dance, and royal pageantry.
- Cruise Suzhou’s historic Grand Canal and visit Lingering Garden.
- Contrast Shanghai’s futuristic Pudong skyline with the historic Bund.
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
- Roundtrip international flights from Honolulu on Japan Airlines.
- Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Shanghai domestic flights.
- Five-star deluxe hotel accommodations throughout the tour.
- Stated admissions and meals, including Peking duck and dumplings.
- Local guide and driver gratuities included.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1–2 | May 10–May 11 | HONOLULU → HANEDA | OVERNIGHT FLIGHT AND TRANSIT HOTEL
Depart Honolulu aboard Japan Airlines for Haneda. Meals and snacks are served in flight. Upon arrival the following day, walk to the airport transit hotel for check-in and an overnight stay, allowing time to rest before continuing to China.
DAY 3 | May 12 | HANEDA → BEIJING | ARRIVAL AND PEKING DUCK WELCOME DINNER (D)
Begin the morning with a flight from Haneda to Beijing, China’s historic capital. With a history reaching back three millennia, Beijing offers an immediate introduction to China’s imperial past. After arrival, transfer to The Westin Beijing Financial District or a similar hotel for check-in and rest. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner featuring Beijing’s famous Peking duck.
DAY 4 | May 13 | BEIJING | FORBIDDEN CITY AND TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (B/D)
After breakfast, drive by Tiananmen Square before entering the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO treasure where emperors once worshipped for a bountiful harvest. Its ceremonial architecture reflects the traditional idea of a round heaven and square earth. Dinner is included this evening.
DAY 5 | May 14 | BEIJING | GREAT WALL AND JADE WORKSHOP (B/L)
Today’s centerpiece is the Great Wall, rising across the mountains in a dramatic series of fortified ridges. Take time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and appreciate its immense scale. After lunch, visit a jade workshop to learn about jade’s place in Chinese culture. Later, return to the hotel for shopping and dinner on your own nearby.
DAY 6 | May 15 | BEIJING → XI’AN | TANG DYNASTY DINNER AND SHOW (B/D)
After breakfast, fly to Xi’an, one of China’s celebrated ancient capitals. Upon arrival, transfer to The Westin Xi’an or a similar hotel for check-in and time to rest. Tonight, enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner and show featuring traditional music, dance, colorful costumes, and the story of Empress Wu Zetian.
DAY 7 | May 16 | XI’AN | PAGODA, MUSLIM QUARTER AND CITY WALL (B/D)
After breakfast, visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an Museum for insight into the city’s Silk Road heritage. Continue to Hui Ming Street in the lively Muslim Quarter, with free time to browse local specialties and enjoy lunch on your own. Later, take an orientation tour with your guide and visit the well-preserved Xi’an City Wall, known for its substantial gates and watchtowers. Return to the hotel for a buffet dinner.
DAY 8 | May 17 | XI’AN | TERRACOTTA WARRIORS AND DUMPLING LUNCH (B/L)
After breakfast, encounter the Terracotta Warriors, the remarkable funerary army created for China’s first emperor and one of the twentieth century’s great archaeological discoveries. After exploring the UNESCO-listed site, enjoy a local dumpling lunch. Return to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Datang Everbright City, near the hotel, offers shopping, dining, and entertainment, with dinner on your own.
DAY 9 | May 18 | XI’AN → SHANGHAI | FLIGHT AND ARRIVAL (B/D)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, a major center of Chinese commerce and culture. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner, then transfer to Jeurong Hotel Shanghai or a similar hotel for check-in and an overnight stay. This evening’s arrival offers a first glimpse of Shanghai’s modern urban energy.
DAY 10 | May 19 | SHANGHAI | PUDONG, BUND VIEWS AND CITY GOD TEMPLE (B/L)
After breakfast, begin in Pudong and walk along the east side of the Huangpu River, taking in views of the historic Bund and Shanghai’s modern financial district. Continue to the bazaar at the City God Temple, where shops and food stalls invite relaxed browsing. After lunch, return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day exploring Shanghai independently.
DAY 11 | May 20 | SHANGHAI → SUZHOU → SHANGHAI | GARDEN AND GRAND CANAL (B/D)
After breakfast, travel to Suzhou, a city with more than 2,500 years of history. Visit the Garden for Lingering In, then board a boat for a scenic ride along the Grand Canal. Continue to a silk factory to learn about Suzhou’s noted silk and embroidery traditions. Later, return to Shanghai and enjoy dinner before heading back to the hotel.
DAY 12 | May 21 | SHANGHAI → HANEDA → HONOLULU | RETURN HOME (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Honolulu via Haneda. Arrive home with memories of Beijing’s imperial landmarks, Xi’an’s ancient treasures, Suzhou’s waterways, and Shanghai’s dynamic cityscape.
PHYSICAL RATING: LEVEL 2 -4 | MODERATE TO DEMANDING
Most city days involve one to two hours of walking through riverside promenades, markets, gardens, museums, palace grounds and historic sites. The Great Wall may require steep steps, uneven surfaces and sustained climbing, making that day potentially demanding.