China Highlights Itinerary

Journey to Shanghai, the vibrant pulse of new China. Enjoy free time to barter in markets, stroll through modern Pudong or scope out the city’s buzzing nightlife at a local bar. Take an optional visit to the thought-provoking Shanghai Museum and browse an impressive collection of artwork and bronze.

Get a taste of traditional China on a day trip to a ornate water town. Chill out by the canals, sip steaming cups of tea at a local teahouse or learn about local history at one of the many museums. Get lost among the maze of peaceful cobblestone streets lined with village buildings - a nice break from the chaos of modern Shanghai. While here, gliding along the waterways in a gondola is the ideal way to enjoy a real water town experience

Hop aboard an overnight train to Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province and the beginning of the ancient Silk Road. Explore this vibrant, modern city that is bursting with some of China’s most famous cultural and historical attractions. Come face-to-face with the imposing Terracotta Warriors, a stoic army set out in battle formation and complete with horses and chariots. Learn about this incredible archaeological site before making a lunch stop at Huiling - an Intrepid Foundation-supported project that assists people in the local community who have intellectual disabilities.

Arrive in Beijing and become immersed in a city of culture, modernity and chaos. Spend time visiting Tiananmen Square - the largest city square in the world - and the Forbidden City, an oasis of gardens and courtyards in the heart of an urban jungle. Before the tour wraps up, spend a day ambling along the ancient stone pathways and bell towers that make up the spectacular Great Wall of China.