China Family Adventure: Time, Culture & Nature
Rewritten Itinerary: From Imperial Capitals to Desert Frontiers
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Upon landing at Beijing airport, meet your private guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to acclimate to the new time zone or seek recommendations from your guide about local activities.
Day 2: Beijing's Imperial Legacy
After breakfast, begin your exploration at Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square. Proceed to the magnificent Forbidden City, former home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Observe the intricate bronze lion statues guarding the gates, noting how their detailed hairstyles denote gender and social status. Enjoy an à la carte lunch at a selected local restaurant before visiting the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for divine blessings.
Day 3: The Great Wall & Traditional Beijing
Today's highlight is Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections. Take a round-trip cable car to access the wall and enjoy ample time to admire its majesty and surrounding landscapes. On your return to the city, drive by the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) for photographs. Experience traditional Beijing life with a rickshaw ride through historic Hutong alleys, concluding with a visit to a local family in a traditional courtyard house.
Day 4: Beijing to Kashgar
Visit the Summer Palace, a 250-year-old imperial garden showcasing classical Chinese architecture harmonized with natural landscapes around Kunming Lake and Wanshou Mountain. After lunch, take a 5.5-hour flight to Kashgar, a strategic point along the ancient Silk Road in western Xinjiang. Upon arrival, your local guide will escort you to your hotel.
Day 5: Kashgar's Cultural Treasures to Urumqi
Visit Id Kah Mosque, Xinjiang's grandest mosque with over five centuries of history. Explore the adjacent old street quarter with its exotic ambience, local dwellings, and craft shops. Continue to Abakh Khoja Tomb, a typical Islamic tomb complex, and experience the vibrant Sunday Market where international trades occur daily. In the afternoon, fly to Urumqi where your local guide will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 6: Urumqi to Turpan - Desert Wonders
Embark on a 3-hour drive to Turpan, passing the dramatic Flaming Mountains which appear to be on fire from a distance. After lunch, explore the Ancient City of Jiaohe, one of the world's largest and oldest earthen city ruins. Visit the Islamic Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Turpan's richest grotto complex featuring Buddhist statues and murals.
Day 7: Turpan to Dunhuang
Visit the remarkable Karez Well, a 2,000-year-old underground irrigation system spanning approximately 5,000 km that transformed barren desert into oasis. After lunch, take a 3-hour high-speed train to Dunhuang. In the evening, we recommend visiting Shazhou Night Market and the Scenic Belt by Danghe River to appreciate the city's illuminated nightscape.
Day 8: Dunhuang's Buddhist Heritage
Spend the morning at Mogao Caves, one of China's four most renowned Buddhist grotto complexes, housing thousands of Buddhist murals and statues (photography not permitted to protect the artworks). Visit Dunhuang Museum to learn about the city's intriguing history as a strategic Silk Road point through abundant cultural relics.
Day 9: Desert Adventure to Xi'an
Visit Echoing-sand Mountain, where sand produces musical sounds when disturbed by wind or footsteps. Experience an unforgettable camel ride, imagining yourself as a Silk Road merchant. From the tallest sand dune, admire the natural wonder of Crescent Lake that never dries despite being surrounded by desert. Fly to Xi'an, the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, where your guide will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 10: Xi'an's Ancient Wonders
Explore the Terracotta Army Museum, the world's largest underground military museum displaying thousands of life-size pottery soldiers with individual features. Visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a 1,300-year-old landmark where monk Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures. Stroll through the Great Tang All Day Mall, a vibrant promenade representing Tang Dynasty prosperity with performances, fountains, and souvenir stands.
Day 11: Xi'an's Living Culture to Shanghai
Visit City Wall Park where locals practice morning exercises, then ascend the 650-year-old Xi'an City Wall (cycling optional). Explore the Great Mosque, showcasing Islamic culture integrated with Chinese architecture, and the Muslim Quarter where you can sample local specialties like Crystal Cake. Fly to Shanghai where your guide will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 12: Shanghai - Past Meets Future
Visit Shanghai Museum with its extensive collection of ancient artworks, particularly renowned for ceramics. Explore Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden from the Ming Dynasty, and the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar. Enjoy a farewell à la carte lunch at a famous local restaurant. Take a one-hour cruise on Huangpu River to admire Shanghai's impressive skyline, then stroll along the Bund with its colonial-era architecture. Conclude with a visit to Tianzifang, an old cultural block.
Day 13: Departure from Shanghai
Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Optionally, experience the maglev train to Shanghai Pudong Airport. For those wishing to extend their journey, additional excursions to picturesque water towns can be arranged.