China for Foodies: Beijing, Xian, Chengdu & Shanghai

Upon arrival in Beijing, transfer to your hotel for check in. Remainder of the day is free at leisure.

This morning walk through the Tian'an Men Square and head to the gate of the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of imperial China. Truly one of the great achievements of civilization, its construction employed hundreds of thousands of workers between 1406 and 1420. Marvel at its expansive architecture, magnificent imperial gardens, and many museums of Chinese antiquities and treasures.

After a Beijing flavor lunch at a local restaurant, you have an afternoon Hutong Tour, where well-preserved courtyard homes and narrow hutong alleys border tree-lined lakes, tour the district by "pedicab" for a closer and more engaging experience of traditional Chinese life.

Then enjoy a Private Cooking Class including a visit to the local colorful market with your chef, and be introduced to some of the wonderful fresh produce and spices that make cuisine so delicious. Enjoy a cooking demonstration featuring some Chinese favourite regional specialties. Help with the preparation of these dishes and then enjoy them for dinner.

Today starts with a morning excursion to the Great Wall of Mutianyu with cable car access, this is a rugged section of the Wall that offers less crowded access and a more striking perspective as the Wall climbs and winds over the surrounding hills. Here the Great Wall of China presents a visual experience that consistently exceeds visitors' expectations. Scholars estimate that the Wall, averaging 25 feet in height and nearly as thick, once stretched for 3,700 miles, passing through sixteen provinces. Have a country lunch at a local famer's restaurant at foot of the Wall

Drive back to downtown and enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner.

This morning visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the finest creations of the Ming dynasty, where can see the locals doing morning exercises, such as Tai chi, Shuttlecock Kicking, etc. This stunning architecture realizes the eternal Chinese desire to incarnate heaven in material form and represents the most advanced principles of mechanics and geometry of the time. Afterwards, enjoy a Foodie Tour to try the various Beijing local snacks.

In the afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Xian.
On arrival in Xian, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Have a Xian Flavor Dinner at a local restaurant.

You have a morning Xian Foodie Tour through the Muslim Quarter where you can find traditional Chinese Islamic cuisine, shops, and merchants.

Visit the ancient City Wall with a bike or buggy ride on the Wall, and then continue to a viewing of the extraordinary 2,300-year- old terracotta warriors in the tomb of China's first emperor, Qinshihuang. The warriors still stand at the original site where farmers discovered them in 1974.

Enjoy a Xian Dumpling Dinner at Defachang's.

This morning take the high-speed train to Chengdu. On arrival in Chengdu, transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Have a Chengdu local snack lunch followed by a visit to Sichuan Cuisine Museum Cooking Class at the Museum. At the Museum, you will not only realize the history of Sichuan Cuisine, but also have chance to watch the whole procedure of cooking and practice cooking Sichuan food. Dinner is your own creation!

This morning visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Centre, which is beautifully landscaped with lush plants and lakes. Meet with 20 some pandas and their caregivers. The highlight is to see the panda cubs at the kindergarten where they play with each other, climbing up and down trees, rolling and pushing and kicking like Kungfu masters. Also, visit the Small Red Panda Center with 40 small pandas in residence who roam freely.

After a Sichuan Flavor Lunch at a local restaurant, visit People's Park with its Bonsai Garden, the park also where throngs of locals gather to practice Taiji, fly kites, or do synchronized dance. Then head to Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi, the major buildings in this site are courtyards and ancient style streets, wander the surrounding area, immersing in traditional shops and local activities.

Tonight, enjoy a Sichuan Hot Pot Dinner at a local restaurant.

Transfer to your morning flight to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Lunch is on your own. Stroll along the famous Bund/Waterfront and to visit the 400 year's old Yu Garden. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Outside the garden, is the famous Chen Huang Miao - an area of shops, restaurants and recreation facilities. A Shanghai Foodie Tour for local snacks including the famous "Xiaolongbao" (soup dumplings)

This evening enjoy the amazing Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Start the morning by visiting the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. The focus of the exhibit is a large-scale model of the entirety of urban Shanghai, showing existing buildings and approved future buildings. Other exhibits relate to Shanghai's history and planned development, including smaller scaled models focusing on particular areas of interest such as the Bund.

Take part in a private cooking class, experience the traditional cooking methods and cook classic dishes, including dim sums.

In the afternoon, visit the Shanghai Tower with riding the elevator to the top of the tallest building in Asia and the second tallest building in the world for a bird's-eye view of the old and new Shanghai by the Huangpu River.

Tonight you have a farewell Shanghai Flavor Dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Departure transfer for your onward flight.