Day 1 Home City/Shanghai, China
Depart on an overnight flight to Shanghai.
Day 2 Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai and settle into this exciting city. Shanghai is actually more populated than the capital, Beijing, and is considered the economic and financial heart of China.
Day 3 Shanghai
Stroll down the historic Bund waterfront, taking in its amazing views of the ultra-modern Pudong skyline across the river. Continue to wind your way through the historic alleyways of the Old Town. Reflect at the Yu Gardens, famous for their beauty and Chinese simplicity. After lunch, visit the Shanghai Museum, home to some of the most remarkable Chinese art in the world, and the intriguing Urban Planning Museum. Tonight, join fellow travelers for welcome cocktails and dinner.
Day 4 Shanghai/Zhujiajiao/Shanghai
This morning, travel to Zhujiajiao, a fan shaped "water village" with ancient stone bridges and buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Later in the afternoon, choose your activity from these options: Travel through the light show tunnel to Pu Dong, explore the Pearl TV Tower, or go on a guided shopping expedition. End your day at a performance by the Shanghai Acrobatic Show.
Day 5 Shanghai/Lijiang
This morning, fly to picturesque Lijiang in China’s mountainous southwest, at the corner of Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan Province. The vistas here are tremendous, from snow-capped mountains to bubbling streams. After lunch, take a walking tour of the Old Town of Lijiang, the best preserved ancient town in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 6 Lijiang
Today’s explorations include two ethnic Naxi villages: Baisha was the first capital of the Naxi Kingdom and Longquan is a traditional rural community with over 800 years of history. After lunch explore Black Dragon Pool Park and the Dongha Museum. This evening, attend a traditional Naxi dance and music performance.
Day 7 Lijiang
Travel to breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge, with stops en route at the First Bend of the mighty Yangtze River and the charming Naxi village of Stone Drum.
Day 8 Lijiang/Kunming/Guilin
Fly to Guilin, whose name means "forest of sweet osmanthus" because of the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees in the city. Located on the west bank of the Li River, Guilin’s dedication to its natural surroundings makes this one of the prettiest cities in the country.
Day 9 Guilin
A cruise this morning on the Li River brings you to the rural village of Yangshuo. Walk through the Yangshuo Market, built during the Sui Dynasty in AD 590, before visiting the Tunnel Cave, one of the many limestone caverns that dot the hills and pinnacles of the Guilin region.
Day 10 Guilin/Xian
This morning, fly to Xian. Spend the afternoon at the Yangling Museum, which features recent archaeological discoveries from Western Han Dynasty Jing Di-Liu Qi (188 B.C-141B.C) tomb.
Day 11 Xian/Beijing
Visit the Xian Museum and the Ancient Gate of the City Walls before continuing to the site of the Terra Cotta Warriors, one of the most amazing relics from the First Emperor of China, dating back to 210 BC. Over 8,000 life-size statues, of which no two are alike, have been excavated and reassembled, and more are still being discovered. This afternoon, fly to Beijing.
Day 12 Beijing
A full day of sightseeing in Beijing includes Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, considered to be the world’s largest palace complex and the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Later, cruise serene Kunming Lake and explore the Summer Palace.
Day 13 Beijing
Explore the less-visited Mutianyu section of the Great Wall with its magnificent countryside views, followed by a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty, the temple was used by emperors to offer a sacrifice to heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice. Spend the remainder of the day shopping at the colorful Hongqiao Market. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.
Day 14 Beijing/Home City
Board your onward flight or travel on to another destination in the Orient. China Holidays can help you plan your own extension, "tailor-made" as you require. (B)
Experience the Highlights of Imperial China on a journey through Shanghai and Beijing, historic Xian, visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors, the greatest archeological site in China and picturesque Lijiang- stroll through local Naxi village and full-day journey to the incredible Tiger Leaping Gorge and Guilin, the river cruise meandering along the picturesque. 
