Nimen Hao! Welcome to China.

You'll be met on arrival at Shanghai airport and transferred to your hotel. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure, transfers cannot be arranged on arrival. If you plan to arrive earlier, this arrival transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid. 

You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting at 6pm. Look for a note in the hotel lobby as to where this important meeting will take place. If you are going to be late please leave a message with the hotel reception. Check-in time at our joining point hotel is after 2pm. Early check-in is not guaranteed, however if you arrive early, luggage storage is available. Speak to the hotel reception on arrival.

Blending 21st-century architecture with old-world character, Shanghai is the vibrant pulse of new China. The impressive Shanghai Museum houses one of the best collections of Chinese bronze and artwork - you could easily spend the whole day here discovering the various exhibitions.

The French Concession is the area of Shanghai once designated for the French, consisting of today's Luwan and Xuhui Districts. Luwan's Huaihai Road is a busy shopping street and is also home to both Xintiandi and Tian Zi Fang, extremely popular shopping and dining spots for tourists. The area's tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions still retain an air of the 'Paris of the East'. Catch a performance by the famous Shanghai Acrobats. 

There are a number of activities you can chose to take part in while in Shanghai:

Wander the Yuyuan Gardens. These famous classical gardens were completed in 1577 by Pan Yunduan, a government official of the Ming Dynasty.

Go across the river to take in the sights of Pudong - the modern financial centre - with its amazing skyscrapers such as the iconic Pearl Tower.

Visit the Propaganda Museum for a fascinating look at China's revolutionary past.

Get a bird's eye view of the city from the Pearl Tower's observation decks.

A cruise on the Huangpu River offers excellent views of old and new Shanghai.

Jing'an Temple was constructed in 247 at the time of the Kingdom of Wu, more than 1,000 years before the official beginning of the city of Shanghai in 1292.

The Exhibition Hall was built in the 1920s. It covers a floor space of 367.2 square metres and a gross floor area of 513.9 square metres.

Get a glimpse at the future development of the city at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre.

Fly to Xi'an (Approx 2.5 hours) The imperial centre of China for 2,000 years, Xi'an is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many interesting historical sites. A monument pays homage to the fact that this was the start of the famous ancient trading route of the Silk Road and the city is still surrounded by city walls.

Visit our friends at Xi'an Huiling (meaning 'wise spirit') - a special Intrepid-supported project for young people with intellectual and learning disabilities, where we enjoy a performance of singing and dancing by the students (don't be surprised if you're asked to join in) and have a chance to see their artwork and handicrafts.

One of the oldest mosques in China, the Great Mosque in Xi'an features an unusual blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture. Still in use today, the mosque serves as a place of worship for Xi'an's large muslim population, made up predominantly of the Hui minority. Although non-Muslims are not allowed within the main hall itself, a visit during one of the five daily prayer times adds another dimension of spirituality, no matter what your religion.

Visit Xi'an's most famous site - the Terracotta Warriors. Travel by bus for around 2 hours to reach the site. Once therel hear all about this incredible archaeological find, discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after being buried for thousands of years. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in battle formation were commissioned by the emperor of the Qin dynasty as part of his mausoleum and a number of pits are now on view to the public.

Late afternoon or early evening, we'll take a private transfer to one of the busiest train stations in China - Xi'an train station, then hop on the overnight train from Xi'an to Beijing (approx. 13hrs) Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people as it's the main form of transport for locals. We use soft sleeper class trains for most of our overnight train journeys. These are closed compartments with two-tiered bunk beds (four to a compartment) and sheets, pillows and a blanket provided. Luggage storage space is inside the cabins. Basic bathroom facilities are situated at the end of each carriage with toilets and washbasins. As toilet paper isn't always available it's advised to carry some of your own, keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to. Safe hot drinking water is always available for making coffee, tea or instant meals. We recommend bringing a mug, spoon, knife and fork if you will be preparing your own hot drinks or food on the train (as these are not provided in cabins) Most trains have a dining carriage where meals are available three times a day, and there are often snacks available on the train along the way. You may wish to purchase extra snacks of your choice before the journey to supplement food available on the train. While we always try to have our groups staying together there may be times where, due to ticket availability, the group will be staying in different compartments and carriages. If the group number doesn't divide into four then you can also expect that some group members will be sharing a compartment with other travelers.