10 Days Classic Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai Culinary Adventure Tour
Destination:Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an
Tour Code: CFT02
Tour Duration: 10 Days
- Tour overview:
- Have been long converted by Peking Duck of Beijing, Chinese Homburg of Xi'an,and the local cuisine of Shanghai? In this tour, you must discover more! And by taking cooking classes, you will enjoy the process of making Chinese food. Join us to experience the adventure now!
Day by Day Itinerary
Tour Summary
Reviews
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Day 1
Arrival / Beijing
Transfer via: International flight – on your own arrangement
Arrive in Beijing where you will be met and escorted to your centrally located hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure to relax or begin exploring China's political, educational and cultural center, which was named as the capital in 1057 B.C. Your contemporary Atrium Hotel is conveniently located in the city center, only a mile or so from the Forbidden City and offers comfort and numerous facilities.
Day 2
Beijing (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Tiananmen Square is the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.
Day 3
Beijing (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Great Wall of China. Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs
Dinner: Peking Roast Duck
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors. In addition, you will encounter the marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors.
Day 4
Beijing - Jinsoon Cooking School (B, L)
Activity: Chinese cooking class in Jinson Cooking School
Sightseeing: Hutong tour in rickshaw
Awaken your inner Iron Chef this morning at a cooking class at Jinsong Vocational Training school. Beijing cuisine, also known as Peking, has hundreds of well-known dishes with distinct flavors and techniques that have found their way from the imperial court to international restaurants. In this hands-on setting you will master a popular Chinese dish and then have the chance to taste your work as your lunch will feature the dish you just created.
After lunch, explore Beijing's maze of old hutongs (alleys), built more than 800 years ago and established by each emperor based on class and etiquette. Get an authentic view of modern life in China with a rickshaw tour through a typical modern village, stopping at a local kindergarten and drum tower; and spend time sipping tea and chatting with a local family in their home.
Day 5
Beijing / Xi'an- Chinese Dumpling Class (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Ancient City Wall
Activity: Chinese Dumpling cooking class
Dinner: Dumpling dinner
Early evening, work up an appetite with a Chinese Dumpling cooking class before dinner at De Fa Chang restaurant. Watch as the restaurant's team makes dumplings in the kitchen, and then learn first-hand. One of the chefs will join your group and give you a close-up demonstration, and you'll get to practice making them yourself. Afterwards, enjoy a mouthwatering dumpling dinner at the restaurant.
Then on this day, we will first visit the Shaanxi History Museum. It is a magnificent architectural complex in the Tang Dynasty style. The Museum possesses a treasure of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi, and it covers an area of 1,100 square meters for exhibition
Then we will move to visit the Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and best preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world. If you want to, you can rent a bicycle for a ride on top of the spectacular city wall. The wall was built in the Tang dynasty (618-907) and enlarged in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Day 6
Xi'an - Hand-Pulled Noodles (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Big Goose Pagoda
Activity: "hand pulled" noodles make
Dinner at Tang Dynasty Theatre with show
Today you will experience the highlights of Xi'an. After breakfast, you will depart you're your hotel. You will visit the amazing 2000-year-old Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors in search of immortality. After his early death they were buried with him to protect his empire.
Another highlight today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated in the south of Xi'an city, it is one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple-Da-Ci-En Temple. There, the well-known Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of Xi'an.
Then we will go on to visit the Bell Tower, which is the best-preserved and best-known one among many. The Bell Tower was built in 1384. In early mornings of ancient times it had the mission of ringing the bell and giving the correct time to the whole city, hence called "The Bell Tower". With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant.
For lunch, watch a local chef make "hand pulled" noodles right in front of you. And we'll have dinner at Tang Dynasty Theatre with show.
Day 7
Xi'an / Shanghai (B, L)
Fly to Shanghai, once the "Paradise of Adventurers" and now China's commercial center and most sophisticated city.
After lunch, tour the famous waterfront Bund, once the financial center of the foreign powers. Visit Old Town and then find peace and health amongst the beauty of Yu Garden. Over 400 years-old, the present-day garden occupies five exquisitely designed acres with pavilions, halls, stones and streams. The Grand Rockery, Dragon Wall, Hall of Heralding and Spring Hall of Jade Magnificence are highlights.
You are free to enjoy dinner on your own; in the evening, enjoy a traditional Chinese Acrobatic Show.
RENAISSANCE SHANGHAI YUYUAN HOTEL.
Day 8
Shanghai / Local Market & Cooking Class (B, L)
This morning is a highlight of your culinary adventure and an opportunity to gain invaluable insight into local cuisine and the role it plays in Chinese culture: a cooking class in a local home. Your hosts will welcome you to their village and take you to the market where they purchase fresh vegetables and fruit daily. Learn about their way of life and the various ingredients, and then return to their home to learn how to make a Chinese soup and enjoy lunch with your local host.
In the afternoon, visit the Shanghai Museum, then head back to your comfortable hotel. You may want to take advantage of the award-winning 'Quan' Spa and Wellness Zone which comprises a 24-hour gym, swimming pool, juice bar, indoor spa garden and relaxation areas with breathtaking views of old and new Shanghai. The hotel is also ideally located if you'd like to continue exploring the city.
RENAISSANCE SHANGHAI YUYUAN HOTEL.
Day 9
Shanghai (B)
This morning visit Zhujiajiao, an ancient canal town often nicknamed the Venice of China. The town was formed about 1,700 years ago and features incredibly well-preserved Ming and Qing architecture and ancient stone bridges (36 in all). The rest of time today will be free at leisure for you to explore the city on your own.
RENAISSANCE SHANGHAI YUYUAN HOTEL.
Day 10
Shanghai (B)
This morning, bid farewell to this majestic land and its misty mountains and ancient wonders, as you board your flight home, bringing home a refreshed understanding – and new recipes! – Of this steadfast culture.
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Tour Dates | Destinations | Services Provided | Meals Included | ||||||||||||||
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Day 1 |
Beijing
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Arrive in Beijing where you will be met and escorted to your centrally located hotel.
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Day 2 |
Beijing
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Full day visit Tiananmen Square , Forbidden City , The Temple of Heaven .
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Day 3 |
Beijing
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Visit Mutianyu Great Wall , Ming Tombs and then have Peking Roast Duck dinner.
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Day 4 |
Beijing
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Have Chinese cooking class in Jinson Cooking School and visit Beijing Hutong Tours in Rickshaw .
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Day 5 |
Beijing/Xi'an
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Join the Chinese Dumpling cooking class and visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum , Ancient City Wall .
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Day 6 |
Xi'an
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This day, you can not only visit The Terracotta Army and Horses Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda , Bell Tower .
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Day 7 |
Xi'an/Shanghai
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Fly to modern Shanghai. After lunch, tour the famous waterfront The Bund , visit Old Town and then find peace and health amongst the beauty of Yuyuan Garden .
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Day 8 |
Shanghai
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This morning is a highlight of your culinary adventure and an opportunity to gain invaluable insight into local cuisine and the role it plays in Chinese culture: a cooking class in a local home.
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Day 9 |
Shanghai
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This morning visit Zhujiajiao Ancient Town , an ancient canal town often nicknamed the Venice of China. The rest of time today will be free at leisure for you to explore the city on your own.
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Day 10 |
Shanghai
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Farewell to Shanghai, bringing home a refreshed understanding – and new recipes! – Of this steadfast culture. |
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-NOTE:
1. Normally hotels allow a maximum of 3 adults per room with an extra bed, at extra charge. Some hotels will allow three adults and a small child.
2. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
3. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.
Price Includes
A. Entrance fees:To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
B. Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary.
C. Private Transfers: Among airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the above cities by the private air conditioned vehicle.
D. Guide and Driver: As outlined in the itinerary, a well selected English-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
E. Hotels: Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
F. Luggage Transfers: Between airports and hotels.
G. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
H. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
I. Arrangements: The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.
Had an amazing experience with visitourchina during my recent tour to Zhangjiajie. Lisa was very helpful and catered to all my requests for the tour. We wished we had more days to see more of Zhangjiajie. As we are travelling with my elderly parents, we requested for more elderly-friendly itinerary in Zhangjiajie. Even though the trip is still a bit tough for my mum as she has knee problems, my family still enjoyed the tour. Special thank you to Lisa and Max, our guide.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241116
- Tour Starting Date:Saturday, 16 November 2024
- Client's information:Vanessa,Singapore
The services rendered from the travel agency is prompt. Very responsive and cater my tour according to my requests. The tour guides assigned to us were also caring and helpful. I continue to seek inquiries after our tour ended and they continued to response promptly. This is my second trip with this company and will continue to engage them when I next return to China.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241103
- Tour Starting Date:Sunday, 3 November 2024
- Client's information:Wendy, Singapore
How to navigate China for the second time after 45 years for a couple over 70 years old? We spent part of our honeymoon in China in 1978 together with a Spanish speaking tour group when China just opened its door to the outside world. It was the era of "Friendship stores" and "food ration coupons". Tourists could only shop at government designated stores and the ordinary local people lived on rationed food, notwithstanding, tourists were treated with the highest honor and the best of everything including food. By then, the main transportation tool in cities were bicycles. From balconies of hotels, we saw never ending long queue of people on bicycles heading to work every morning. Since then, China has developed into a super modern and industrialized country. Shopping is a bliss nowadays. Motorized vehicles and lots of EV has replaced a huge part of the fleet of human-driven bicycles since. Infrastructure-wise China is the pioneer nowadays. Over the years, the only retained memories are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Pandas. There was an incident which I could not forget either. We went to a theater at night for an opera and I lost my wallet with all my documents and some money ( a small fortune for the Chinese people by then). I was very nervous and didn't know what to do. When we got back to the hotel, my wallet was waiting for me at the reception. Somebody found it at the theatre and sent it to the hotel where we were lodged. Everything was back, nothing missing. Again, it was 1978! Impressed! So, we wanted to visit China again to revive the lost sweet memories and hoping to gain more of them. Being seniors, we don't have the energy to follow a vigorous group tour anymore. Could we plan and schedule our own tour in this wonderland like the modern China? The answer is simple, No! I don't know the language well enough and have no knowledge of the city areas for choices like accommodations and transportations. In order to travel safely, efficient...
- Booking Code:VOC-20241016B
- Tour Starting Date:Wednesday, 16 October 2024
- Client's information:Cheng, Canada
I found Lisa from Trip Advisor and started chatting with her and send my requirements for which she planned excellent tours for me in between my spare time during Canton Fair. She planned and managed the trip so well and professionally and provided me with such an excellent follow up services that we ended up becoming very good friends. A wonderful person to look into for all your China Travel needs. Highly recommended for good planning, timing, and organization of your vacation.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241009
- Tour Starting Date:Wednesday, 9 October 2024
- Client's information:Ismail Soni,Canada
Booked a 2 day private tour of Xi’an with Grace as our local tour guide. Really good service from both the booking agent Lisa as well as Grace and the driver Mr Wang. Managed to see all the big sights including Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Bell Tower and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. They took care of everything and gave good local food recommendations. Travelled with my father who walks quite slow, but they managed to accomodate him no problem. 10/10 would recommend.
- Booking Code:VOC-20240723
- Tour Starting Date:Tuesday, 23 July 2024
- Client's information:Julian,Singapore
Hello, dear Lisa! Happy to be in Guilin and very pleased to meet you! Thank you for a wonderful tours!!! Every day is filled with magnificient views and unforgetable moments! I would like to Thank you for all these events! Special thanks for Beijing tour. Happy to visit so many places in China ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ wonderful country and wonderful people! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Both tours to Guilin and Beijing were amazing! I visited so many wonderful places! The guides were very friendly and hospitable, thanks for everything! Happy to choose this agency because the programme included all interesting places and they did their best to make my Dreams come true!
- Booking Code:VOC-20240713
- Tour Starting Date:Saturday, 13 July 2024
- Client's information:Elena, Russia
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