Beijing and Shanghai: Imperial China to the Skyline

Meet the local representative at Beijing International Airport and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for rest or an independent neighbourhood walk. Travellers with sufficient time may visit Universal Studios Beijing or explore another city district on their own, arranging admission and transport separately.

Enter the Forbidden City, the imperial palace built from 1406 to 1420 and used by 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors. Walk through its ceremonial gates, courtyards and throne-hall axis before continuing to the Temple of Heaven. At this UNESCO-listed altar complex, Ming and Qing rulers performed state rites connected with the harvest. In the evening, sit down to the scheduled Peking duck dinner, traditionally served with thin pancakes, vegetables and sauce, then enjoy free time.

Explore the Summer Palace, a UNESCO-listed work of Chinese landscape-garden design. Walk among halls, pavilions and covered galleries arranged around Kunming Lake, including the Long Corridor and Marble Boat area. Continue beyond the city to a scenic mountain section of the Great Wall. Walk along fortified passages and battlements as the Wall follows the ridges into the distance. A restaurant lunch nearby is followed by the return to Beijing.

Transfer to Beijing Airport for the pre-booked domestic flight to Shanghai. Meet the local team on arrival, continue to the hotel and begin the city programme. Ride to the 118th-floor observatory of the 632-metre Shanghai Tower for views over the Huangpu, then explore classical Yu Garden and the adjoining bazaar. Finish with a walk along the Bund, where protected historic façades face Pudong's modern skyline across the river. Local Shanghai cuisine is served during the excursion.

Travel from central Shanghai to Zhujiajiao, a preserved water-town district of canals, old lanes and historic buildings. Walk across stone bridges and along the waterfront, with time to browse small shops and try local food. If offered on the day, add a canal boat ride for a different view of the houses and bridges from the water. Return to Shanghai after the excursion for an unstructured evening.

Check out after breakfast and meet the driver at the agreed time for the transfer to Shanghai Airport. The team can assist with advance check-in guidance and practical departure information if needed. The six-day programme ends at the airport before your international flight.