Mandarin Mastery and Ancient Wonders

See the vast and bare expanse ringed by monuments such as the Gate of Heavenly Peace (which gave the square its name, Tian'anmen), the Great Hall of the People, the Monument of the People's Heroes, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

Enter the walled imperial palace that no one could access or leave without the emperor's permission. It took more than a million workers to build it, back in the early 1400s.

Cross the street that separates the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park, a lovely landscaped area crowned by a hill with five summits, one of which is the highest point in Beijing. Climb up and take in the panoramic view with the Forbidden City in the foreground.

Enjoy an original Beijing-style variety show while having Chinese tea. The 90-minute show covers Beijing opera art, Peking opera singing, Chinese kung fu, Sichuan opera face changing, tea art performance, national song and dance, magic acrobatics, etc., and includes 9 different performances depends on the season.

Attend a Mandarin class led by experienced teachers and a carefully crafted curriculum, where you'll improve your conversational skills, express your thoughts more fluently, and better understand native speakers.

Savor the flavors of traditional hotpot, a must-try Chinese dish where a variety of proteins and fresh produce are cooked in a simmering, flavorful broth. Known as 'huo guo' in Mandarin, this communal dining experience is an authentic taste of China's culinary heritage.

Tonight's dinner features a local specialty from the imperial era that's so famous that it still bears the 17th-century European spelling for Beijing.

Explore the Muslim Quarter, a major feature of the Silk Road, which still includes food markets and shopping areas.

Enjoy a lesson that will introduce a few of the 50,000 Chinese characters as it brings out your artistic talents. You get to keep your calligraphy work as a souvenir.

Enjoy a journey to China's bustling metropolis aboard one of the high-speed trains that have transformed rail travel across the country. In 2019, China owned two-thirds of the world's high-speed railway networks, showcasing its modern engineering marvels.

Explore the vibrant Shanghai People's Square, a lively center of local culture and community where visitors can interact with people from diverse backgrounds and gain insight into various cultural perspectives. Then, take a leisurely stroll along East Nanjing Road, leading to the iconic Bund. Here, you'll uncover the city's rich colonial history while marveling at how Shanghai has evolved into a modern global metropolis.

Take in the impressive Shanghai skyline on both banks as you cruise along the Huangpu River: the historic west side with the Bund, and the contemporary east side with Pudong.

Head to the Luwan and Xuhui Districts, site of the former French Concession. Nowadays, this area is a popular shopping and dining destination for locals and tourists alike with its boutiques, art galleries, and antique stores.

Historic landmarks include the Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, where the first President and Founding Father of the Republic of China resided between 1918 and 1925, and the Longhua Temple, a Buddhist shrine with a long history.

China's tallest building at 1,614 feet is the Shanghai World Financial Center. Its 101 floors house offices, conference rooms, restaurants, shopping malls and the world's highest observation deck, which you will visit for a spectacular overview of this gigantic city.

See how traditional Chinese arts are combined with multimedia technology to present an electrifying show!