China by Land, Japan by Sea

Day 1  Beijing      
Arrive at Beijing airport and be transferred to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.    

Day 2  Beijing      
Walk through Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City, a complex full of imperial riches. Then, find harmony in the symmetry of the Temple of Heaven. This evening, dine on local delicacy, Peking Duck.    

Day 3  Beijing      
Travel out of the city to the magnificent Great Wall of China, learning a little about its long history before taking a short walk to fully appreciate this world-famous structure. Stop off at a jade factory before visiting the Sacred Way and Ming Tombs. This evening, enjoy a thrilling acrobatic show.    

Day 4  Beijing to Pingyao    
Transfer to the train station and board a bullet train to Pingyao. A living museum and home to China's best preserved ancient city walls, walk the characterful streets to see the Yamen and the Rishengchang Financial House Museum.  

Day 5  Pingyao to Xian      
This morning is at leisure before travelling to Xian by bullet train.    

Day 6  Xian    
This morning, come face to face with the Terracotta Warriors, an army created to protect China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Later, stroll Xian's beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls, before a dumpling demonstration, a delicious dumpling banquet and a Tang Dynasty show.

Day 7  Xian to Chengdu      
After breakfast, walk through the atmospheric alleyways of the Muslim Quarter, lined with delicious street food stalls. Then, transfer to the station and board a bullet train to Chengdu. This evening, dine on a Sichuan hot pot, a local speciality, and watch a fascinating face changing show.

Day 8  Chengdu        
This morning is dedicated to Chengdu's most famous resident, the lovable giant panda. Visit the Chengdu Panda Research Base to learn all about them and see them relaxing, play and chomping on bamboo. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 9  Chengdu to Shanghai      
Fly from Chengdu to Shanghai. Transfer to your hotel then begin your explorations, strolling along the Bund to admire the Art Deco architecture and enjoying panoramic views of the city on a Huangpu River cruise.  

Days 10-12  Shanghai to Kobe      
Board the Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas. Relax and enjoy everything that your cruise ship has to offer as you sail across the East China Sea towards Japan. On day 13, arrive in Kobe, a port city nestled between mountains and sea, and most famous for its Kobe beef.      

Day 13  Kobe to Osaka      
Arrive in Osaka, a brash, lively city that has earned the nickname 'Japan's kitchen' for its spectacular food. Easily reachable from Osaka is Kyoto; Japan's capital for over 1,000 years, it is a treasure trove of history and timeless culture. A perfect balance of old and new, it's in exploring Kyoto that you can glimpse Japan's traditional soul.      

Day 14  Osaka to Tokyo      
Tokyo, Japan's capital since 1868 and one of the world's largest cities, may seem a thoroughly modern cityscape at first glance, but look beyond the soaring towers and neon signs and find deeply rooted tradition and peaceful pockets of the past.    

Days 15-17  Tokyo to Shanghai      
Relax and enjoy everything that your cruise ship has to offer as you sail across the East Sea back towards China. Arrive in Shanghai on day 17.      

Days 18-19  Shanghai      
Continue exploring Shanghai, visiting the peaceful Yu Garden, the quaint Old Town and the Xintiandi area, then learn all about silk production from silkworm to loom at a silk factory. This evening, dine on a traditional Shanghainese meal.Your tour comes to an end on day 19.