Our exciting journey begins with a reunion at Sofia Airport, where a short flight to Istanbul awaits us to connect to our main destination - Beijing / China! We arrive at the Turkish airport shortly after midnight, and the journey continues again with Turkish Airlines. The flight is long but comfortable, and the time passes imperceptibly imagining all the exciting things that await us!

In the afternoon, local time today we landed in the capital of China - Beijing At the airport, we were met by an agency representative and transferred to our hotel for the next three days here. You can use your free time to get acquainted with the city and get first impressions of the Chinese capital, and if you prefer to rest after the trip, the hotel provides comfort and facilities for your relaxation. Enjoy your stay in Beijing and prepare for interesting and exciting days full of diverse sights and experiences!

On our first day here in Beijing, after breakfast, it's time to start our sightseeing program filled with amazing sights. China's capital is a walled megalopolis that reveals the triumph, tragedy, and resilience of innovation. Our first stop is Tiananmen Square - the largest central square in the world - where the history and symbols of Chinese culture meet. Surrounded by triumphal Soviet-style buildings, this place occupies 440,000 and is a symbol of the Chinese universe, slightly intimidating but iconic and a must-visit. Among the main attractions of the square itself are the daily flag-raising ceremony, Mao's mausoleum, and the Zhejiang Gate. In the center of the square is the Monument to the People's Heroes, a 40-meter obelisk decorated with calligraphic inscriptions by Mao and Zhou Enlai, and behind it is the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, whose body is encased in a glass coffin. At the foot of the square, we'll climb to the majestic Zhejiang Gate, where there are magnificent views and an exhibition of historical photographs showing the area as it was at the turn of the last century. Our day continues with a visit to one of Beijing's symbols, the Temple of Heaven! We head to this unique oasis, built in a methodical Confucian design, on an area of 267 hectares. It originally served as a huge stage for solemn rituals performed by the emperor, praying for a good harvest during the winter solstice and seeking divine forgiveness and redemption. Nowadays, we get to see ordinary people gathering daily to play taichi and sing old revolutionary songs, people improvising kung fu routines, people spinning gymnastic bars, and all sorts of acrobatic numbers! Enjoy every unique moment this place has to offer, and we're sure your day has brought you amazing experiences and discoveries! In the evening, we head back to the hotel to indulge in the relaxation and comfort of our surroundings.

Today, after breakfast, is scheduled for one of the most impressive sights in China - the Great Wall of China! This symbol of the grandeur and unique engineering ingenuity of ancient Chinese civilization will leave you with many exciting impressions. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most spectacular structure created in ancient times, stretching from the Gobi Desert to the East China Sea, it is a must-stop for anyone visiting the country. Those of you who prefer can avail of the cable car service for an additional fee or take the classic route independently. This masterpiece bequeathed by the ancestors winds through 23 degrees of longitude and inspires awe at China's majestic history! Some sections date back two millennia, others are scattered like debris in the Gobi Desert and destroyed over the centuries by the unforgiving sands of Xinjiang, but many are remarkably preserved and accessible to us. The wall can be seen from 15 Chinese provinces, but it is best seen here from Beijing, so we have set aside a full day for you to explore and tour this iconic landmark! At dusk, we head back to the hotel to indulge in some rest and comfort from the surroundings.

Today after breakfast we will check out of our hotel and head to our next destination, rich in history and culture - Xi'an - the old capital of China! A transfer takes us to the railway station from where our journey continues by high speed train. This is a quick and convenient way that takes about 4 hours, and takes us almost to the other side of the country - a combination between modernity and traditional atmosphere! Many exciting moments await us in this city, part of our adventure. We arrive in the evening and again an organised transfer takes us to our hotel, where we have three nights accommodation included.

On the first day in Xi'an, after breakfast, we head to the "Eighth Wonder of the World" - the famous terracotta army consisting of 7,500 life-size figures of warriors: generals, officers, infantrymen, archers, horses, and carriages, representing a true work of art, located on an artificial hill near the city. The Terracotta Army is not only the most significant landmark in Xi'an - it is one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world! This life-size underground army of thousands has silently guarded the soul of China's first unifier for more than two millennia. Either Qin Shi Huang feared the defeated spirits awaiting him in the afterlife, or, as most archaeologists believe, he expected his reign to continue after death! The Terracotta Army will give us valuable evidence of the lifestyle of the First Emperor of China and the interesting Chinese culture. The construction, which acts as a perpetual tomb, reveals the amazing way the facility was designed and built. The methodical and precise production of the thousands of figures housed in a tomb complex lined with countless precious stones believed to represent the stars, sun, and moon! Qin Shuhang had a prominent interest in the universe and believed that the vast cosmos was his guide to passage to the netherworld and immortality!

Today, after breakfast, we'll take a tour of Xi'an, with stops at some of the most iconic sites in the city that was the capital of the Qing Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago! Ready for many new experiences, we head to the museum, which houses precious stone carvings, sculptures and a model of the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, who united the country and turned it into an empire. Xi'an is one of the few cities in China that still has the imposing old city walls, so we set out to walk and explore their history. Built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, the imposing 12m high walls are surrounded by a dry moat and form a rectangle with a perimeter of 14 km. You'll notice that most sections have been restored or rebuilt, giving a real insight into life in the past. Walking around these days, you will observe the modern city where the new dominates over the old. There will be time for lunch and a short break, after which we will head to perhaps one of Xi'an's most famous landmarks - the Great Wild Goose Pagoda! It is located 4 kilometers from the South Gate, and used to be within the old city wall from the Tang Dynasty. It represents one of the finest Chinese examples of a Tang-style pagoda, completed in 652 to store Buddhist sutras brought from India by the monk Xuan Zang. His travels inspired one of the most famous works of Chinese literature, Journey to the West. At dusk, we return to the hotel to indulge in the comfort of our surroundings.

After breakfast today, we check out of the hotel to continue on to the next destination on our program - Chengdu! Our transfer takes us to the railway station, where we are due to travel by high-speed train to the western province of Sichuan. This region provides a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in Chinese culture, sample the delicious local food, and see up close China's cutest inhabitants - the giant pandas! After checking into our hotel, we will enjoy our first impressions of the city!

Today, after breakfast, we have something very exciting and interesting - a visit to a giant panda park! Ready for lots of new excitement, we head north of Chengdu, with Sichuan province's most famous inhabitants just 18 kilometers away! Here, besides the real pandas, you can also visit a museum that describes everything about the life of these cute bears. After this nature walk and a close encounter with these mammals, we head to some of the oldest Buddhist temples in China. Wenshu Monastery, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, is the largest and best-preserved temple in Chengdu. Approaching it, you will feel the incense-heavy air and the quiet murmur of chanting, and despite the crowds of pilgrims - a sense of peace and solitude! Next up is the Dachi Temple, one of the few places that highlights the contrast between modern and traditional China. The temple's slender buildings are surrounded by the tall skyscrapers of the Tai Ku Li district. Next, break for lunch, coffee and a stroll in the beautiful Renmin Park. Walking through the beautiful alleys, we will notice many locals, especially the elderly, enjoying themselves with various activities such as dancing, singing or playing chess. Renmin Park is not a tourist attraction, but the epitome of local life! At dusk we head back to the hotel to relax in the surrounding comfort.

After breakfast we check out of the hotel to head to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. This is the largest city in the country and one of the largest in the world, which by its name alone evokes in our minds a lot of history, splendor, glamour, mystique and exoticism! Two days await us during which the impressions of the combination of innovation, skyscraper buildings and luxury malls will be combined with the old part preserved in its heart - with a park and buildings intact from 700 years ago! Enjoy and explore all that surrounds you!

Today, after breakfast, you will tour Shanghai, including some of the most iconic places. Our tour starts with the Nan Pu Bridge and the Bund, the waterfront boulevard with impressive buildings, called the "Wall Street of the city". This area is known for its frenetic trading and fortunes made and lost. We'll stroll among Art Deco and neoclassical buildings constructed in the early 20th century, presenting an impressive sight, though atypical for China. This area has been transformed into a shopping and restaurant district, the site of the city's most expensive boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. The next destination on our program is the Temple of the Jade Buddha, the largest Buddhist temple in operation! Regardless of your beliefs, the tranquil atmosphere will add richness to your hectic and modern life! Built during the Song Dynasty by the Chan Buddhist sect, it is the eternal home of two jade statues, the Seated and Reclining Buddha, brought from Burma. We continue to the Yuyuan Gardens, one of the main attractions in the city! With its shady alcoves, shimmering fish pools, pavilions, and pines growing out of rock outcrops, this park looks like a scene from a postcard. The spring and summer blossoms that give the gardens a fragrant, floral look, especially the beautiful petals of the magnolia grandiflora - the flower of Shanghai, are a delight to all the senses! Adjacent to the entrance of the gardens is the Middle Lake Pavilion Teahouse, once part of the gardens and now one of the most famous teahouses in China. Nearby is a bustling bazaar full of small shops and places to eat - a perfect time for a delicious lunch, coffee, and a break. We then head to a silk factory, and there we'll see how modern Chinese carry on the tradition of their ancestors. Although the secret of silk production has been revealed, China still holds the top spot in exports! At the end of the day, we return to the hotel to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.

On the last day of our Chinese tale, after breakfast, we have the opportunity to choose how to spend the day. Our additional suggestion is a half-day trip to Zhuzhao, also called the "Venice of Shanghai"! This ancient village, dotted with traditional historical architecture, flanked by small, bustling streets, and crossed by a picturesque canal, will immerse you in the atmosphere of real China! Located just 55 kilometers from bustling Shanghai, Zhuzhao was an important trading center and the houses here date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. If you choose to spend the day in Shanghai before your flight, you can take advantage of additional offers such as a visit to the TV Tower! This 468-meter-tall globe tower is the most iconic modern building in the city, and its image is everywhere from postcards to figurines and T-shirts! From its observation deck, you get a 360-degree view of the Bund and its heritage buildings. Our third offer for you is a cruise on the Huangpu River! Make the most of today because it concludes our journey into the land of mighty emperors, great wonders, and extraordinary cultural and natural heritage! In the evening, our transfer takes us to the airport for our overnight flight to Istanbul.

After a comfortable check-in, we're off the plane, heading back to Bulgaria! It's a long flight, but we are completely satisfied with the past days. As the sun rises, we land in Istanbul, where we'll transfer to our final destination - Sofia. We say goodbye to the group wish each other good luck and hope for many more adventures together!