China & Taiwan: The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors & Night Markets

Arrive at any time. Is Beijing top of your must-see list? Booking pre-trip accommodations will let you do Beijing your way before meeting up with the group.

Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall. Later, explore Tiananmen Square. Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs. In the afternoon head to Tiananmen Squarem followed by a night walk to the local market.

• The Pearl Market: Shoppers get ready. The Pearl Market is great place to get souvenirs for friends and family! This market is well know for the verity of pearls but, make sure to also check out the other vendors selling goods like crafts, clothing, and silk.
• Drum and Bell Tower Visit: Visit the striking Drum Tower for some incredible photo ops. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.
• Toboggan at Great Wall: After your hike on the Great Wall, opt to take a Toboggan ride back down instead of the cable car! (100-140 CNY per person)
• Cable Car at Great Wall: The cable car ride is about 5 minutes ride up to tower 14, from where you may walk to the highest point of Mutianyu Great Wall at Tower 20. The walk from ticket check to tower 10 is about 30 minutes. The cable car ride is a good option if you are hoping to save energy to challenge the Tower 20. Return ticket is recommended as you may spend more time on the wall. (100-140 CNY per person)

Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City. Later, board a fast train to Xi'an.

Due to restrictions in China after the pandemic, the maximum daily capacity in the Forbidden City has been reduced from 80,000 to 30,000. This significant decrease in daily tickets has had a great impact on availability for both individuals and group tours to secure tickets, especially during he summer season. Our local team works very hard to secure tickets for each group. However, on the off chance we are unable to secure tickets to the Forbidden City, we will visit the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, places of similar architecture and importance.

Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. Continue exploring Xi'an with a visit to the Ancient City Wall and the Muslim Quarters. Tonight, board an overnight train to Suzhou. Train is our main mode of transport in China and it's a great way to travel. We aim to get the best sleeping berths available on each train journey. However, train tickets availability is limited during peak travel times, including summer vacations and Chinese national holidays. As such, it is possible that the group may be separated into different carriages or assigned top sleeping berths.

Wake this morning and grab coffee and a snack on the train as you prepare to pull into Suzhou. After arrival, visit Suzhou's famed Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in China and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander around Shantang Street. Enjoy a free dinner before riding the metro back to the hotel with your CEO.

This morning, ride the bullet train to Shanghai. Join your CEO for an orientation walk of the famed Bund and Nanjing Shopping Road before a free evening in Shanghai.

This morning, join your CEO for an orientation walk around the city to see the shops and historic buildings. Join your CEO at the Shanghai Museum or head out to venture through this beautiful city on your own. Maybe start with a visit to the nearby Yuyuan Gardens.

• Yuyuan Garden: Explore this tranquil, 400-year-old, five-acre garden. Climb to the top of the Rockery to see the greenery from above. Check out the Jade Rock and watch the swarms of fish swim around in the ponds. With multiple pavilions and halls there is plenty to see. Depending on when you visit there may be flower shows or tea ceremonies in the area. Opt to visit the bustling bazaar located outside the gardens and hone your bargaining skills.

Today, you’ll fly from Shanghai to Taipei. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to settle in and take in your first impressions of Taiwan at your own pace.

Explore the amazing city of Taipei on a CEO led tour this morning. Ride the local metro around the city to visit famed spots like Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and to hike up Elephant Mountain. The afternoon if yours to continue exploring the city as you please.

• Shilin Night Market: Visit one of Taiwan's most popular night markets, Shilin Night Market! Every day, different food vendors set up to sell their specialty, like the delicious hot-star fried chicken, pepper pork buns, and oyster omelets. Or step outside your comfort zone and try other local favourites like blood cakes and stinky tofu.
• Ximending Pedestrian District: Often considered the Harajuku of Taipei, a trip to Taipei is incomplete without visiting Ximending Pedestrian District. This funky, hip neighbourhood is full of indie markets, bubble tea shops, anime cosplayers, k pop dance troupes and is a hub for LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Our day begins with a high-speed train to Taichung, followed by a scenic drive to the Shuanglong Bunun Village. There, we will receive a warm welcome and participate in a meaningful Bunun Name-Giving Ceremony, guided by a local community member. Continue with a hike to the highest suspension bridge in Taiwan, offering breathtaking views of the central mountains and Shuanglong Waterfalls. We'll then return to the village for lunch and a fascinating tour, learning about the Bunun people's rich heritage through their folk legends, dances, and art. This intimate experience is a special opportunity to engage directly with an indigenous Taiwanese community. Afterward, we will bid farewell to our hosts and drive to Sun Moon Lake, where we can enjoy a peaceful evening at our leisure.

Today is yours to explore one of the most beautiful places in all of Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake. The bike trail around the lake was named as one of the top scenic bike trails in the world, so we recommend joining your CEO for an optional bike tour of the lake. Or maybe you wish to visit a tea plantation and learn of their famous local tea. Or how about a boat tour around the lake. The day is yours!

• Full Day Sun Moon Lake Bike Tour: See the beauty of Sun Moon Lake from two wheels. Rated as one of the top bike trails in the world, join your CEO for a fun and easy ride around the lake. Stopping at some of the most notable landmarks around the lake, we'll see the Ci'en Pagoda, Xiangshan Visitor Center and the stunning Wenwu Temple complex.
• Tea Plantation Visit: Visit one of the beautiful tea plantations around Sun Moon Lake. Learn about the history and importance of tea in Taiwan, learn to pick and dry the leaves and sample some of Sun Moon Lake's signature tea: the Ruby Black Tea.
• Hop-On Hop-Off Ferry: Purchase a ferry ticket and ride the three stops along the lake, Shuishe Pier → Xuanguang Temple Pier → Ita Thao Pier. At each stop, hop off and explore the sites and admire the incredible views. Don't forget to try Taiwan's signature Tea Egg along the way.

This morning we drive to historic Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city and ancient capital. Enjoy free time for lunch and exploring before joining a local-led walking tour of Anping Old Street, Banyan Tree House and Fort Zeelandia.

• Chihkan Tower: Ancient Chihkan Tower was originally built in 1652 as Fort Provintia by the Dutch, and has undergone numerous refurbishments over the past 300 years. Inside are Haisheng Temple, Wengchang Pavilion and Penghu College , and the controversial statue of Koxinga accepting the surrender of the Dutch. At the south gate, note the turtle-shaped stone Bixi. The Bixi, which local legend says is one of the nine sons of the Dragon King.
• Confucius Temple: Tainan's Confucius Temple is considered the “Premier Academy of Taiwan” with over three hundred years of history as the ancient capital of culture.

Drive to Kaohsiung, with a stop to gaze upon the massive golden Buddha. Then, visit the spectacular Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. Here you can also see the beautiful Lotus Pond and the Summer and Autumn Pavilions. Enjoy some time for lunch on your own before checking into the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to see the coastal town of Kaohsiung.

• Cijin Island: Take a short ferry ride to this famed beach town. Depending on the season, enjoy some time on the beach, rent a bike to ride the coastal paths or eat some yummy fresh seafood.

Have breakfast at the hotel before taking the high speed train to Taipei. After dropping your bags at the hotel, the day is yours to tick off your remaining must-see places in Taipei. Don’t miss the chance to hit up some of the amazing beef noodle soup shops around the city.

• National Palace Museum: Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Taiwan at the famed National Palace Museum. Boasting nearly 700,000 artifacts that span 8,000 years of Chinese history, this museum is well worth the visit. Don't miss the beautiful Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stones.
• Taipei 101: Visit the tallest building in Taiwan, once the tallest building in the world. Take the speedy elevator from the 5th-floor to the 89th-floor in 37 seconds and admire the incredible views of the city. Learn about its bamboo inspired design and its architectural legacy as one of the tallest buildings intended to withstand significant seismic activity. Pre-book your tickets online to skip the queue.

Take a day trip to the north of the island, starting with the breathtaking Golden Waterfall on the way to Jiufen, one of the most picturesque mountain towns. Wander through the beautiful alleyways and peaceful tea houses, a perfect place to grab some lunch too if you wish. Then drive to Keelung, a historic port and fishing town. Visit Heping Island, a nature reserve boasting an incredible coastline. Before heading back to Taipei, explore the Keelung Night Market and try some incredible local treats like stinky tofu or blood cakes.

Depart at any time.