Classic China

Hong Kong may be modern and Xi’an may have a long history, but Beijing is a mix of both.

Serving as China’s capital since the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 AD), Beijing’s past, present, and future are forced together in the crowded neighborhoods and streets of the city. Despite a divide between new and old, one thing about Beijing has remained constant for centuries: hard-handed political power, as well as thriving intellectual and artistic thought, continues to influence China and the world.

Flight to Beijing
Upon arriving in Beijing, your local guide will meet you in the arrival hall with your private vehicle on standby to take you to your hotel.

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Tiananmen Square (Drive through)

The Forbidden City

Step inside the Forbidden City, a massive imperial palace once home to China’s emperors and the geographic center of this endless metropolis. The gates were shut to all but the royal household and their entourage of eunuchs and concubines for 600 years until, in 1924, a powerful warlord gave the last emperor just three hours to leave.

Wheelchair Accessibility: A complimentary accessibility map is provided at the wheelchair rental station. Entry is facilitated through a dedicated access point in the center of the Meridian Gate (Wu Men), and accessible toilets are available on-site.

Into the Hutongs

Ask the residents of Beijing’s hutong alleyways, the crisscrossing mazes of courtyards and alleyways which make up the heart of the city, and they’ll tell you that anyone who lives further out isn’t really a Beijinger. You’ll see elders whiling away the night with a game of Chinese chess or mahjong, shopkeepers selling traditional snacks like jianbing (pancakes) and baozi (steamed buns), and hear calls announcing the arrival of the knife sharpener or cardboard collector. It is in these ancient neighborhoods where the capital’s distinct culture was generated, and where it continues to thrive today. You’ll spend the afternoon stopping by the homes of some of the city’s more traditional residents.

Wheelchair Accessibility: While the hutong alleyways are generally navigable, some traditional doorways or shop entrances may have small steps where assistance will be needed. A limited number of accessible restrooms are available.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Drive to Juyongguan Great Wall

The ride from Beijing downtown to Juyongguan Great Wall will take around 1.5 hours.

Juyongguan Great Wall

The Juyongguan Great Wall uniquely embraces an ancient town adorned with temples and historic architecture, setting it apart from other sections of this legendary wonder. Hike along its storied ramparts, immerse in the grandeur of a bygone era, when this fortified pass buzzed with imperial soldiers and Silk Road traders. Discover at your own pace, connecting with history while surrounded by breathtaking mountain views.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The base of the Great Wall at Juyongguan is accessible for wheelchairs, and accessible restrooms are available on-site.

Drive to Summer Palace

The ride from Juyongguan Great Wall to Summer Palace will take around 1 hour.

The Summer Palace

Live an afternoon of royal splendour just 30 minutes from Beijing at the Summer Palace, whose regal pathways and pavilions were built by the Empress Dowager Cixi, a former concubine who went on to become the most powerful woman in China. Delve into the palace’s rich and complex history, reflecting on the grand scale of its creation and the 10,000 laborers who toiled at Cixi’s behest.

Wheelchair Accessibility: Entry from the Ruyi Gate offers direct access to a designated barrier-free sightseeing path. Accessible toilets are available on-site.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

The Temple of Heaven

Once a site of ritual and sacrifice where rulers would pray for good harvests, the Temple of Heaven is home to ancient engineering marvels and, now, Beijing’s best people-watching spots. Meander through curved, airtight walls that housed an acoustics system far before its time, and spot the subtle divine motifs cleverly incorporated throughout the grounds, all while basking in the sea of Beijingers who gather here for everything from tai chi to rowdy bouts of ‘Fight the Landlord’ – a revolutionary era card game.

Wheelchair Accessibility: For easier access, entering through the East Gate is recommended. Accessible restrooms are also available on-site.

Next Stop: Xi’an

Though Beijing has stolen the thunder as China’s new capital, its history and prestige are nothing compared to the old capital of Xi’an, where emperors ruled China for thousands of years. Home of the treasured Terracotta Warriors, the eastern end of the Silk Road, and a history that stretches longer than the Great Wall, Xi’an epitomises traditional Chinese culture.

Flight to Xi’an

Your WildChina guide and private chauffeur will escort you to the airport and help you check in to your flight. Upon arriving in Xi’an, your local WildChina guide will meet you in the arrival hall with your private vehicle on standby to take you to your hotel.

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Make a Miniature Terracotta Warrior

After several hours gazing over and learning about the Terracotta Warriors, you’ll likely fancy yourself something of an expert. Put your knowledge to the test by creating your very own miniature soldier in an activity that children love. You’ll be leaving Xi’an not only with a great bespoke souvenir, but knowing whether or not your craftsmanship would have been good enough to survive the wrath of the first emperor.

Wheelchair Accessibility: While the activity space is generally suitable for wheelchair users, please note that accessible toilets are not available. Additionally, some thresholds may require assistance to lift wheelchairs.

The Terracotta Warriors

In 1974, while digging a well in the vast countryside outside of Xi’an, a group of farmers made a legendary discovery. They struck a chamber containing 8,000 soldiers belonging to China’s fearsome first emperor, a terracotta army buried beneath the earth to guard his tomb for eternity. Less than an hour outside the city, you’ll spend two hours coming face-to-face with row upon row of these ancient guardians, an experience no trip to China is complete without.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The museum provides extensive barrier-free navigation to guests with disabilities across all key areas. Please note that the shuttle cart service is not wheelchair accessible, so guests using wheelchairs will navigate from the entrance to the exhibition halls independently. Pit 1 can be viewed from its designated platform, and Pits 2 and 3 feature accessible routes that allow exploration around the entire perimeters.

Traverse Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall

Ascending to an imperious height of 12 metres, the only way in or out of downtown Xi’an is to pass through cavernous openings in the oldest, largest, and best-preserved city wall in China. Keep your head on a swivel while making the circuit, taking full advantage of the commanding views of the ancient city within and the modern metropolis outside.

Wheelchair Accessibility: Entry to the City Wall is available via an elevator located at Hanguang Gate, with accessible toilets available.

Shadow Puppetry

Experience the ancient art of shadow puppetry, a captivating form of visual storytelling, dating back to the Han Dynasty. Behind a luminous screen, intricately carved leather figures dance with grace, brought to life by flickering light and the skillful hands of unseen masters. Traditional melodies and expressive narration fill the air as timeless tales of emperors, mythical beasts, and folklore unfold. It’s an intimate spectacle where delicate shadows weave vibrant narratives, showcasing the world of ancient Chinese imagination.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The venue features thresholds at the entrance and potentially inside, where staff will be present to assist. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Qingyang Temple

Qingyang Taoist Temple is the birthplace of Lao Zi, the founding father of Taoism, which promotes the principle of wuwei, “do nothing.” Hidden throughout the grounds, under the open sky, nestled amidst the leaves, are small idols to different Taoist deities. Discovering them is discovering both the temple and Taoist thought.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main pathways offer easy navigation. Some areas may have stairs or thresholds requiring assistance. Accessible toilets are available.

Kuan Zhai Alleyways

The Kuan Zhai Alleyways are a dynamic collision of traditional architecture and modern culture, where Qing Dynasty buildings play host to some of Chengdu’s best coffee shops, bars, galleries and boutiques. Experience the atmosphere alongside locals who love to roam these quirky lanes on their day off and tuck into some of the city’s traditional snacks, although you might want to watch out for some of the more, let’s say, ‘exotic’ local delicacies.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main alleyways offer easy navigation. Some shops may require assistance due to stairs. Accessible toilets are available.

Wenshu Monastery

Wenshu Monastery is one of China’s largest and most well-preserved buildings of its kind. Its sloping roofs, upwardly flicked at the corners, towering colonnades, and incense-perfumed halls date back over 1,000 years. Your exploration of this working historical holy site allows you to experience the tranquil atmosphere and observe the daily rituals of monks and nuns, offering a glimpse into the spiritual life of the monastery.

Wheelchair Accessibility: Ramps are provided alongside stairways for easier access. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Wangjianglou Park

It’s morning in Chengdu and Wangjianglou Park, seated comfortably on the shores of the Jinjiang river, is covered in groves of bamboo, groups of people clustered in between. Some practice dance, others tai chi. As the day moves on, people move into the teahouses to relax over a game of Mahjong. We’ll make sure you experience it all, taking part in the rituals of Chengdu daily life.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main pathways offer easy navigation. Accessible toilets are available.

Kung Fu Tea Performance at Wangjianglou Park

China’s traditions of tea and kung fu are almost as old as the country itself. It’s the marriage of the two, in the form of kung fu tea, that is much newer and wholly unique to Chengdu. Gaze in awe as the performer performs a series of dazzling movements inspired by tai chi and kung fu, all culminating in the tea landing artfully in the cup. Then, awaken your inner tea master as you try your hand at gracefully pouring your own cup before tasting the fruits of your labor. After the performance, wander through the park for the ultimate people-watching experience, watching the locals as they dance their cares away or enjoy a roaring game of mahjong.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Next Stop: Shanghai

Once a mere backwater fishing village, the destiny and fortunes of Shanghai changed forever when the British opened their first concession here in 1842, followed soon after by the French and Americans.

Shanghai today retains those charms in the tree-lined streets of the former French Concession and iconic banking houses along the Bund; at the same time, the urban bustle and multitudes of skyscrapers are a testament to Shanghai’s aspirations to be a major international metropolis. Now the financial capital of China, Shanghai is a great place to check out the old, the new and the foreign in this worldly economic and cultural center.

Flight to Shanghai

Your guide and private chauffeur will escort you to the airport and help you check in to your flight. Upon arriving in Shanghai, your local guide will meet you in the arrival hall with your private vehicle on standby.

Yuyuan Bazaar

Nestled in Shanghai’s old town next to the city’s famed Yu Garden, or Nanshi, the Yuyuan Bazaar is a souvenir hunter’s paradise. Tucked amid Ming Dynasty-era buildings, this winding maze of alleyways is filled with an eclectic collection of shops and food stalls hawking local snacks.

Although a popular tourist destination, it’s fun getting lost in the colorful swirl of antiques, lanterns, and keepsakes. Bask in the aroma of freshly made xiao long bao and flex your haggling skills as you search for the perfect Shanghai memento.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The alleyways are flat and offer easy navigation; however, some shops may require assistance to navigate thresholds. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 am to start the day.

Fuxing Park

A vestige of the French colonial era, Fuxing was once a private Ming Dynasty park that is now the beating heart of Shanghai’s local life. Boasting some of China’s best people-watching opportunities, keep an eye out for ensembles of locals singing songs en masse (of varying talent), ballroom dancing, or even the occasional saxophone quartet.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main pathways offer easy navigation. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Xintiandi

Xintiandi still bears the traces of an older Shanghai, hidden amidst an infusion of upscale, modern developments. Housed behind its restored facades are international restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and bars. The neighborhood brings together the heady, glamorous atmosphere of decades gone by and the comforts of a modern city, inviting you to experience its unique blend of historical charm and contemporary allure.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main pathways offer easy navigation, with accessible toilets available.

Former French Concession

The elegant, tree-lined streets of the former French Concession are steeped in European charm. This enclave, governed by France for almost a century until the 1940s, was once the domain of China’s rich and powerful, from revolutionaries to movie stars.

Explore the history within the grand mansions that have housed members of the French, Japanese, Nationalist, and Communist elite, and relive the glamour of pre-World War II Shanghai.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The main pathways offer easy navigation. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Shanghai Tower

China is a land of superlatives and nowhere exemplifies the extremes of this country better than the record-breaking Shanghai skyline. Ride the world’s fastest elevator to the world’s highest observation deck in China’s tallest building and feel yourself blown away by awe-inspiring views of one of the planet’s largest cities, all while learning about the architecture which makes these gravity-defying feats of engineering possible.

Wheelchair Accessibility: Staff assistance is available for elevator use, with smooth surfaces throughout, making navigation easy.

The Bund

Rising majestically across the river from Shanghai’s electric skyline are the sublime art deco and neoclassical buildings of the Bund, a patchwork which has earned the street the nickname of “Museum of International Architecture.”

On the riverside promenade, flanked by neon on one side and marble on the other, witness a vivid depiction of a city’s past and future with one turn of the head, a sight few other places on earth can match.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The promenade offers easy navigation. Please note, accessible toilets are not available.

Your guide will return you to your hotel at the end of the day (around 5:00 pm).

Your Flight Back Home

Airport International Departure VIP Service

Your local team will escort you to the airport to catch your departure flight.

Upon your arrival at the airport, a VIP Service Ambassador will greet you and help guide you through the express immigrations and customs service, assisting you with checking in your baggage and acquiring your boarding passes along the way.

Then, relax in the VIP room before being accompanied to your departure gate by your VIP Service Ambassador.