Day 1 To Beijing: Overnight flight from London to Beijing with British Airways. (N)

Day 2 Beijing: Arrive in Beijing and transfer to the Prime Hotel for 3 nights. This afternoon visit to the Temple of Heaven, dating from the Ming dynasty. (N)

Day 3 Old Beijing: Morning tour to the Forbidden City. After lunch at a local family's residence, take a pedicab tour of the Hutongs, Beijing's narrow winding back street. Take a boat trip on Shi Cha Hai Lake with traditional music and local snacks. (B, L)

Day 4 Great Wall: Take a full day tour to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Ming Tombs. (B, L)

Day 5 To Xian: This morning, visit the Imperial Summer Palace. Fly to Xian and stay within the city walls at the Grand New World Hotel for 2 nights. (B)

Day 6 Terracotta Warriors: Full day tour to the Terracotta Warriors. Evening Tang Dynasty music performance with dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 7 To Shanghai: Morning excursion to the City Walls and Shaanxi Museum. This afternoon, fly to Shanghai. Stay in the Ramada Plaza Gateway Hotel for 2 nights. (B, L)

Day 8 Shanghai: Morning tour of Shanghai including the Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan gardens and the Bund. Afternoon at leisure. (Optional cruise on Huang Pu payable locally.) (B)

Day 9 To London: Transfer to the airport for a return flight with British Airways to London. (B)

Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals