Depart from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York on your overnight flight to Beijing. Relax and enjoy the in-flight entertainment and meals as you fly across the Pacific and head toward the Middle Kingdom.

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport where your friendly guide and driver are waiting. Transfer to your comfortable 4-star hotel near the city centre. The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest after your long journey or explore the nearby streets. In the evening, meet your fellow travellers and guide over a welcome dinner of succulent Peking duck, Beijing's most famous culinary export.

Today is a blockbuster day of sightseeing. Start at Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of modern China, before entering the Forbidden City through the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Spend the morning exploring the vast palace complex with its 9,999 rooms, golden-roofed halls, and imperial gardens. After lunch, travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Ride the cable car to the top and walk along this magnificent 2,000-year-old fortification, snaking across forested ridges as far as the eye can see. The views are breathtaking and the experience unforgettable.

Begin the day at the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of Ming architecture where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Watch locals practise tai chi and play traditional instruments in the surrounding park. Visit a traditional tea house for a Chinese tea ceremony before lunch. In the afternoon, board the high-speed bullet train to Xi'an, a journey of approximately 4.5 hours at speeds up to 350 km/h. Arrive in the ancient capital of China and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free to explore Xi'an's lively downtown.

No visit to China is complete without seeing the Terracotta Warriors, and today is that day. Drive to the outskirts of Xi'an to visit the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. Gaze in awe at the thousands of life-sized soldiers, horses, and chariots, each with unique facial features, standing in battle formation since 210 BCE. Your guide explains the remarkable story of their accidental discovery by farmers in 1974. After lunch, return to the city and walk or cycle along the top of Xi'an's 14th-century city wall, the best preserved in China. This evening, enjoy a spectacular Tang Dynasty cultural show with a traditional dumpling banquet.

This morning, delve into Xi'an's multicultural heritage in the bustling Muslim Quarter. Wander the narrow lanes filled with food stalls, spice vendors, and artisan shops that have thrived here since the Silk Road era. Sample local street foods including roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread). Visit the Great Mosque, a stunning fusion of Chinese and Islamic architecture. In the afternoon, fly to Shanghai, China's most glamorous city. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy an evening walk along the Bund, the iconic waterfront promenade.

Shanghai dazzles from every angle. Start at Yu Garden, a 400-year-old classical garden with intricate pavilions, rockeries, and a famous zigzag bridge. Explore the surrounding Old Town bazaar. Next, visit the elegant French Concession, where plane-tree-lined streets and European-style mansions create a distinctively cosmopolitan atmosphere. After lunch, ascend to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, the world's second-tallest building, for panoramic views over the entire Yangtze Delta. In the evening, celebrate your final night with a farewell dinner featuring Shanghai's legendary soup dumplings and other local delicacies.

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a last leisurely stroll or some final shopping before your transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Board your flight home with a camera full of extraordinary photos and a heart full of incredible memories. In-flight meals are provided.