Signature China | Great Wall & Warriors

Welcome to Beijing, where our journey begins. Complimentary arrival transfers bring you to Blossom House Beijing Houhai, a refined courtyard hideaway beside historic lakes. Those arriving early can join a paper-cutting workshop (available to prebook on request). This 1,500-year-old Chinese folk art shapes intricate designs from folded paper, reflecting symbolism, ritual, and everyday life. As night falls, join your Signature Guide for a welcome reception and dinner. At Hemu Gui, within the 700-year-old Hong’en Temple, enjoy Beijing’s celebrated roast duck alongside creative interpretations of local cuisine, served in a setting where centuries-old architecture frames the start of our journey.

Step into the Forbidden City as its gates open. Crossing the Golden Water Bridges, we enter the vast imperial complex that shaped China’s political and ceremonial life for centuries. We join a specialist guide to explore the Eastern Route, a treasure trove of imperial history, art, and architecture. Our journey takes us to the magnificent palaces and halls, plus the the beautifully restored Qianlong Garden − a secluded retreat created for an emperor preparing for retirement. Reopened after years of meticulous conservation, its pavilions, corridors and courtyards form a “garden within a garden”, where lacquered interiors, silk murals and poetic inscriptions reflect Qianlong’s personal vision of life beyond the throne. Later, we stand in Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest squares, before leaving the capital for the mountains. By evening, the Great Wall rises along distant ridges, where we settle into our hotel and share a dumpling-making dinner with a local family.

Signature Experience: Step onto one of the most atmospheric sections of the Great Wall at Jinshanling. From the East Gate, our route follows watchtowers and stone steps that climb steadily along the ridgeline. The walk leads through quiet stretches of wall, punctuated by sweeping views across the surrounding hills. At Xiliang Brick Tower, local farmers serve a freshly prepared lunch − a simple yet memorable meal enjoyed high above the valleys below. After returning to the hotel for a restful afternoon, those wishing for more adventure may continue to the wilder Gubeikou section of the wall for a second, optional hike. Dinner tonight is a home-cooked feast at the guesthouse of Mr Zhou, a longtime Jinshanling resident, who's ready to share his unique insight of village life at the foot of the Great Wall.

A short drive brings us to the Simatai section of the Great Wall, one of the few stretches to retain its original Ming Dynasty form and character. Known for its dramatic watchtowers, rugged mountain setting and far-reaching valley views, it carries a palpable sense of history, yet feels quieter than more visited sections. Following a cable car ascent, we continue on foot at a relaxed pace, walking between watchtowers along one of the Wall’s most rewarding routes without tackling its steepest climbs. After descending, we gather for lunch at a local restaurant, reflecting on a morning spent on one of China’s most remarkable landmarks. Signature Experience: Later, we return to the Jinshanling section, where a village official shares the story of how nearby communities helped protect and rebuild this section during the late 20th century. As the afternoon softens, a Tai Chi master introduces the graceful movements of this centuries-old practice. For dinner, join a local chef at our hotel for a live cooking demonstration, uncovering the art and secrets behind classic Chinese dishes.

Leaving the mountains, we travel to Beigou village near Mutianyu. Here, we are welcomed into the home of a village elder, whose stories reveal the profound changes witnessed across a lifetime in rural China. Lunch is served at the Brickyard, a heritage hotel in a once-abandoned glazed-tile factory. Here, we enjoy a generous, shared meal shaped by northern Chinese home cooking. The courses are plentiful, inviting conversation and time to settle into the slower rhythm of the countryside. With only a light dinner available this evening, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a more substantial meal. After, we continue to Beijing’s Qinghe station and board the train to Pingyao. A transfer to the Old Town brings us to the electric shuttle, which carries us to our courtyard hotel, arriving late evening.

Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Chinese culture. You could: Visit Liang Village’s fortified manors before meeting lacquer master Geng Baoguo, guardian of Pingyao’s 1,200-year lacquer tradition. Walk Pingyao’s ancient city wall and banking halls, then enter the Confucian Temple and county yamen to understand imperial governance. Shape coloured dough into symbolic figures during a hands-on workshop covering the traditional folk art of Mian Su, learning the meanings of zodiac animals, blessings and longevity. Visit the Wang Family Courtyard, a vast complex of Ming and Qing residences where carved gateways, halls and courtyards reveal elite clan life. By evening we gather once more, sharing a tea ceremony that introduces China’s black and green teas before a dinner featuring Pingyao’s famed sliced noodles.

Board the fast train bound for Xi’an, once the capital of 13 dynasties and a crossroads of the Silk Road. After lunch, we walk along the Ming-era city wall. From this vantage point, tiled rooftops and busy avenues stretch across the modern city. Later we enter the Muslim Quarter, where the Great Mosque reflects centuries of cultural exchange between China and the Islamic world. Dinner is an exploration of sophisticated Shaanxi cuisine at 13 Dynasties Restaurant before we retire to our Signature Stay, the historic Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel.