Compare Beijing to Tokyo: The Great Wall & Mt Fuji by G Adventures vs Gansu: Origins of the Silk Road Tour by WildChina

Day 1 Beijing

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.

Day 2 Beijing

Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall.

Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs.

Day 3 Beijing/Xi'an

Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. 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.

Day 4 Xi'an

Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. After, the day is yours to explore as you wish.

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.

Day 5 Xi'an/Shanghai

Say goodbye to Xi'an this morning and hop on the fast train to the bustling city of Shanghai.

Day 6 Shanghai

Take the train to Suzhou today for a day exploring in the city. Visit Suzhou's famed Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful in China and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the impressive Tiger Hill Pagoda and its surrounding landscape.

Day 7 Shanghai

After an orientation walk along Shanghai's famous Bund, you are free to explore the delights of this modern Chinese city. In the evening, head to the theatre for an intense acrobatic performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Day 8 Shanghai/Osaka

Hop on a flight from Shanghai to Osaka. Take the evening to explore the city.

Board a flight from Shanghai to Osaka and enjoy a free night exploring the cityscape.

Day 9 Osaka/Kōyasan

Travel to the centre of Buddhism in Japan and sleep in a temple atop the 800m Mt Koya. Savour a traditional dinner of shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine).

Journey to Mt Koya, a religious centre founded in 816 by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. The train ride up the mountain is possibly one of the finest rail journeys in Japan. For the final steep ascent, switch to funicular and then hop on a bus to reach the monastery. In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata, or kimono.

Day 10 Kōyasan/Hiroshima

Watch the monks pray in the morning and enjoy a traditional breakfast. Have some time to enjoy Koyasan this morning, before travelling to Hiroshima this afternoon.

Early morning offers the chance to observe the monks praying. Breathe in some fresh mountain air before a vegetarian breakfast, then start the journey back down the mountain via bus, train and funicular. Later, board a train to Hiroshima, a historically significant city, marked by the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945.

Day 11 Hiroshima

This morning, visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum commemorating the events of 1945. In the afternoon, take a ferry ride over to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii Gate. Opt to hike around Mt Misen.

Day 12 Hiroshima/Kyoto

Travel to Kyoto and start exploring. Visit the impressive Nijo Castle and gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, explore the geisha district of Gion on a CEO-led walking tour.

Please note the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle will be closed from Dec 26-Jan 3. Groups travelling during this time will visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Day 13 Kyoto

Enjoy a visit to the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and walk under the bright torii gates. Opt to shop, stroll along the riverbank, or explore another of Kyoto's many temples with free time.

Day 14 Kyoto/Hakone

Take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko, and hopefully catch a glimpse of majestic Mt Fuji. Enjoy a feast on a traditional Japanese kaiseki meal then soak in the natural hot springs.

Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs. In the evening, enjoy savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.

Please note that we will be using an overnight luggage service between Kyoto and Tokyo. We suggest preparing an overnight backpack to carry what you need during this time.

Day 15 Hakone/Tokyo

Head to Tokyo with time to do some last-minute shopping.

Arrive before noon to Tokyo, with time to explore this energetic metropolis. Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just under the modern surface.

Day 16 Tokyo

Depart at any time.

We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.

Day 1: Lanzhou

Meet your local WildChina guide at Lanzhou airport and transfer to your hotel in a private vehicle • If there's time, cruise down the Yellow River (the second longest river in China) on a traditional goat skin raft. This was the major form of transportation along the river until the first steel bridge was built in 1907

Day 2: Lanzhou – Zhangye

After breakfast, visit a local cooking school and learn the history behind the region's famous beef noodle soup;  Learn the art of pulling noodles as thin as thread and then enjoy your own bowl of noodle soup for lunch;  Take the high-speed train to Zhangye (3 hours) and drive to the Danxia land formation, more popularly known as the 'Rainbow Mountains';  Hike through five different "platforms" of height and explore the changing views;  Get your camera ready for a sunset view over the colorful mountains.

Day 3: Zhangye

Start the day early and visit the 12th century Giant Buddha Temple, home to the largest clay Buddha in Asia and the only well-preserved Western Xia Royal Temple in China; Before entering the temple, practice water calligraphy or Chinese Kungfu (weather permitting) from a local master in the temple grounds; Continue your exploration of Zhangye's unique landscapes when you hike in Pingshanhu Grand Canyon

Day 4: Jiayuguan

Meet a local Yugu Minority family and learn about their way of life over a cup of tea. Visit the Matisi Grottoes (1-hour drive) one of the three most important Buddhist Grottoes in Gansu. The legend of Matisi (Horse Hoof Temple) can be traced back to the 4th century. Here you'll find Tibetan and Chinese cave art and the hoof print of the legendary flying horse who chose the mountains as a holy site; Hike or ride a horse through the surrounding pine forest to Linsong Waterfall (1 hour; Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way ; In the afternoon, drive to Jiayuguan City (3 hours); Your guide will help you check into your hotel and the evening will be spent at your leisure

Day 5: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang

Visit Jiayuguan, the first pass on the western end of the Great Wall. The Jiayuguan Pass has been fully restored and is now the wall's best preserved fortress ; Continue your drive to the Wei-Jin Dynasty Tombs and see underground murals dating back 1700 years;  If Try your hand at stone painting - a traditional local craft that uses stones from the Gobi Desert ; After lunch, drive to Dunhuang (4 hours), a fertile outpost close to where the Silk Road split into its southern and northern routes either side of the impassable Taklamakan Desert ; Spend the evening exploring local night markets or enjoy dinner on the roof of your hotel

Day 6: Dunhuang

Start the day in the 'singing' Minsha Sand Dunes, named for the way they 'rumble' in the wind ; Stop by Crescent Moon Lake, an oasis nestled in the desert ; Enjoy a local lunch in the city's most famous food street ; Visit the Mogao Grottoes, a complex of 492 grottoes representing the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art ; The caves were created over the course of 1,000 years and were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 ; OPTIONAL: We'll arrange an expert in Chinese Buddhism to accompany you through caves not open to the general public ;  In the evening, visit a local artist's studio or head out on a foodie's adventure with your guide to Yue Quan Xiao Zhen Market.

Day 7: Departure

Watch the sunrise in the desert from the roof of your hotel;  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to the airport for your departure flight