Grand China Tour

After meeting at Istanbul Airport at 13:00 and completing luggage and passport control procedures, departure for Beijing at 16:00 with Turkish Airlines flight TK196. Overnight on the plane

Following our arrival at 05:50 local time, we start our panoramic city tour to be made with our private vehicle waiting at the area. In Tiananmen Square, we will closely observe one of the largest squares in the world and an important historical and political symbol of China. Surrounded by monumental architecture and national institutions, the square offers a vast open space reflecting the scale and symbolism of Beijing's imperial and modern identity. Afterwards, our tour will continue to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and one of the world's most important cultural heritage sites. As you pass through its grand gates, courtyards, and meticulously preserved halls, you will gain insight into centuries of imperial history, traditional Chinese architecture, and palace life. Following our visit to the Forbidden City, we depart for Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing's most famous commercial districts. The street is known for a mix of modern shopping malls, traditional snacks, and a vibrant urban atmosphere, and is an ideal place for a relaxing stroll and casual dining after a day of travel and sightseeing. After the tour, we go to a local restaurant to have our dinner. After dinner, departure for our hotel. Free time after receiving our rooms. Overnight at our hotel.

Free time after morning breakfast at our hotel. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and set off to perform our tour. During the journey, you will experience a gradual transition from the modern city skyline to suburban landscapes and distant mountain ranges. Following a pleasant journey, arrival at the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall of China, one of the most strategically important mountain passes of Ancient China. Known as the "Jade Pass", this section is surrounded by steep valleys and walls that once protected the capital region. You will walk on the restored stone paths and enjoy panoramic views of the Great Wall stretching along the mountains, while your guide will explain its military importance during the Ming Dynasty and its role in protecting against attacks. Following our visit to the Great Wall, departure to a local restaurant to have our lunch, free time after lunch. After free time, we leave Juyongguan and head towards the Summer Palace in northwest Beijing. As China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden and a masterpiece of classical landscape design, the Summer Palace combines natural scenery with imperial architecture set around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. You will walk along the Long Corridor decorated with thousands of traditional paintings and explore highlights such as the Marble Boat and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Your guide will share stories of Empress Dowager Cixi and the palace's role as a summer retreat for the royal family. Following our visit to the Summer Palace, transfer to our hotel and free time. Overnight at our hotel.

Free time after morning breakfast at our hotel. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide, and on our last day in Beijing, we will visit the Temple of Heaven. At the Temple of Heaven, one of China's most iconic architectural structures where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors prayed for a good harvest, we experience a unique cultural experience by mingling with locals doing tai chi, practicing calligraphy, and playing traditional games in the park early in the morning. Following our visit to the Temple of Heaven, we depart for Beijing Train Station for our transfer to Pingyao. We enjoy the scenery of the Chinese countryside during our approximately 4-hour journey to the heart of Shanxi province with China's modern and comfortable high-speed train. Following our arrival at Pingyao Gucheng Station, we will visit the Pingyao Ancient City, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with our vehicle waiting for us. In China's best-preserved ancient city with a history of over 2700 years, we walk along the Ming & Qing Ancient Streets, which take on a fascinating atmosphere with the lighting of lanterns in the late afternoon. We discover traditional courtyard houses, ancient shops, and the historical texture that gives life to the city in these streets where China's first banking system was established. After our tour, we proceed to a local restaurant to have our dinner. After dinner and free time, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

Free time after morning breakfast at our hotel. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and continue our tour in Pingyao. We visit Rishengchang, located in the heart of Pingyao Ancient City and accepted as China's first "modern" bank (Piaohao). In this historical complex that managed the financial center of all China in the 19th century, we make a fascinating journey into China's commercial history by examining ancient vault rooms, underground compartments, and the hidden encryption systems of that period. Afterwards, we are guests at a special workshop to get a closer look at the deep-rooted culture of Shanxi province. Here, we experience the region's famous traditional paper-cutting art (Jianzhi) together with local artisans at a local workshop. With this experience, our guests will have the opportunity to make their own memories. Free time after the tour. During free time, you can taste the famous handmade noodle varieties specific to the Shanxi region or buy souvenirs for your loved ones. After free time, our transfer to Pingyao Gucheng Station will take place. We depart for Xi'an, the ancient capital of China and the starting point of the Silk Road, with a train journey lasting about 3 hours. Following our arrival in Xi'an, we will transfer to our hotel with our vehicle waiting for us. Free time after settling into our rooms upon arrival at the hotel. A short rest break before our tour taking place in the evening. In the evening hours, we depart for Datang Everbright City, the most magnificent and lively spot of Xi'an. In this huge 2-kilometer walking street where we will feel ourselves as if in the glorious days of the Tang Dynasty (China's golden age), we explore a fascinating atmosphere blended with massive light shows, street performances made with traditional costumes (Hanfu), huge statues, and modern music. After our walking tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, free time. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and depart for the Terracotta Warriors Museum, located about 1 hour away from the city center on our second day in Xi'an, which is considered the largest archaeological discovery of the 20th century. We discover thousands of terracotta soldiers, horse-drawn carriages, and bronze weapons built to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, each with different facial expressions and armor, with the narration of our guide. After our museum visit, we make our own miniature terracotta soldier out of clay using ancient methods under the guidance of masters in a special workshop right near the museum. Our guests can take this unique piece they shaped with their own hands as the most special souvenir of their China trip. Then we return to Xi'an city center and climb up the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall of China, dating from the Ming Dynasty. Walking on this historical wall 12 meters above the ground, we watch the modern and historical silhouette of Xi'an at the same time. (Optionally, our guests can rent bicycles on the wall) Afterwards, we photograph from the outside the massive Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built to store Buddhist sacred texts during the Tang Dynasty. We take a pleasant walk in the wide square surrounding the pagoda. After our pagoda visit, we move to the Muslim Quarter, the busiest and most colorful spot of the city, created by the Huis (Chinese Muslims) who settled in Xi'an along the Silk Road. We walk with our guide in the historical streets decorated with exotic spice scents, street delicacies, and lanterns. We have our dinner at a local restaurant in the Muslim Quarter's local markets (to taste delicacies such as the famous Chinese dumpling Jiaozi, lamb shish, or Yangrou Paomo). Return to our hotel after dinner. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, free time. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and our transfer to the airport takes place before our departure to Shanghai. We reach Shanghai after a journey of approximately 2.5 hours. Then we move towards the city center with our private vehicle. On our tour in Shanghai, we first visit Yu Garden, dating from the Ming Dynasty, one of the most elegant examples of traditional Chinese garden art. We take a peaceful walk among classical bridges and artificial ponds. At the exit of the garden, we give our guests free time for souvenirs and local teas at the Chenghuangmiao (City God Temple) Market, which is the old city center of Shanghai and decorated with shops having traditional architecture. After free time, our transfer to our hotel takes place. After our arrival at our hotel, free time after settling into our rooms. After free time, we meet our guide in the lobby and go to The Bund, Shanghai's most iconic promenade. While European historical buildings in Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles dating from the 1920s line up on one side, the world's highest and most futuristic skyscrapers (Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower) rise brightly right across the river (Pudong). We board our river boat for the most magnificent closing of the day. In this fascinating river journey lasting 1 hour, we watch both the historical (Puxi) and modern (Pudong) silhouette of Shanghai over the water accompanied by tremendous light shows. After our river tour, departure to the local restaurant to have our dinner. After dinner, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, free time. After free time, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and starting from Shanghai, we begin our tour to the historical city of Suzhou, famous for its canals and classical gardens, referred to as the "Venice of the East" in China's eastern culture. After our journey lasting about 1.5 hours, we first step into Liu Garden, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of China's four most famous classical gardens. In this historical garden reflecting the architectural genius of the Ming and Qing dynasties, we discover the magnificent landscaping created by ancient pavilions, artificial rockeries, corridors, and ponds with the narration of our guide. Then we move to Pingjiang Road, Suzhou's best-preserved water canal neighborhood with a history of over 800 years. We walk among stone roads extending along the canal, traditional white-walled and black-tiled historical houses. Free time to watch traditional wooden boats gliding through the canals, walk on bridges, and discover the authentic shops here. After free time, we visit a historical Traditional Silk Factory in Suzhou, the heart of the Silk Road and Chinese silk. We watch live how thin silk threads are separated from silkworm cocoons, weaving processes done on traditional looms, and the making stages of silk duvets produced entirely by hand craftsmanship. Free time for our guests to examine products made from world-famous Suzhou silk. After free time, we return to Shanghai with our private vehicle. We return to our hotel after our dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and leave our hotel. Then we depart for the 1700-year-old historical Zhujiajiao Water Town located in the Shanghai suburb. We discover stone bridges, old streets dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and traditional houses built by the river. After seeing the Fangsheng Bridge, which is the iconic structure of the town, we set off on a pleasant canal tour with traditional wooden boats to experience this historical texture over the water. After our boat tour, we move to AP Plaza, one of Shanghai's largest and most popular indoor underpass markets. We give ample free time where our guests can find suitcases, electronics, silk products, clothing, watches, souvenirs, and handcrafts unique to Chinese culture and experience the bargaining culture. After free time, we carry out our transfer to the Airport. After our arrival at the Airport, following check-in procedures, baggage drop, and passport control, departure for Istanbul at 22:55 with Turkish Airlines flight TK27. Overnight on our plane.

Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 06:00 local time. End of our tour.