Thursday, 18 June 2026
✈️ In Transit — Cairo to Dubai
- 20:05 EK 924 departs Cairo (CAI) — Emirates A380
- 23:05 Arrive Dubai (DXB) — connect overnight
- ~ Rest at airport / Emirates lounge
Friday, 19 June 2026
🏙️ Beijing Arrival · 🌃 Wangfujing first-night walk
- 16:20 Land PEK · clear immigration + bags
- 17:15 Trip.com 7-seater Premium pickup (Conf# 1653713867398054) → drive to Marriott Imperial Mansion
- 17:30 Check-in · settle into Two-Bedroom Premium suite · short rest + freshen up
- 18:30 🚶 Walk 10 min east to Wangfujing Street (王府井大街) — Beijing's #1 pedestrian shopping + snacking street, 700 years old
- 19:00 🍢 Stroll Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街) — lanterns, street-food alley, photo ops · light snacks (skewers, fresh fruit, 冰糖葫芦 candied haws)
- 19:45 🥙 Turkish dinner — Xiting Xiuse Turkish Feast (西庭西色) · Chaoyang · or halal backup Yidecun Xinjiang Restaurant (怡德村新疆菜) on Wangfujing (清真 certified)
- 21:30 🛍️ Oriental Plaza (东方广场) + APM Mall — Apple Store flagship · Sephora · global brands · stays open till 22:00
- 22:30 🌃 Walk the Wangfujing pedestrian mall once more under the neon — soak the first-night Beijing vibe
- 23:15 🚶 Walk 10 min back to Marriott
- 23:45 Sleep · Day 3 starts 07:00 (Longqing Gorge + Silk Street shopping day)
Beijing first impressions
Saturday, 20 June 2026
🐉 Longqing Gorge (guided — shuttle bus + entrance + cruise tickets; cable car NOT included) + 🛍️ Silk Street evening
- 07:00 Early breakfast at Imperial Mansion
- 07:30 English guide + private 7-seater van pickup from Marriott · drive ~1.5h NW to Longqing Gorge (龙庆峡) · Yanqing district · shuttle bus + entrance + cruise tickets included in booking
- 09:30 Ride the iconic dragon-shaped escalator into the gorge · ~880m long
- 10:00 Cliff boat cruise on Longqing reservoir — Beijing's 'Little Three Gorges' · spectacular canyon walls
- 11:30 Ice cave (cold even in June) · cable car available at extra cost (NOT included)
- 12:30 Lunch en route — local Yanqing-style halal meal
- 14:30 Drive back to Beijing (~1.5h)
- 16:00 Freshen up at Marriott
- 17:00 🛍️ Silk Street Market (秀水街) — 7 floors of replica bags, watches, suits, sneakers, electronics · start at 20% of asking price · Yong'anli metro Line 1
- 20:30 🍽️ Dinner nearby — Donglaishun Halal Hotpot (东来顺) or local option
- 22:00 🌃 Late stroll back toward hotel
- 23:00 Back to Marriott
Sunday, 21 June 2026
🌳 Summer Palace (guide-friend + Didi + 7-seat van + main-entrance tickets) + 💻 Zhongguancun tech market + 🌊 Houhai hutong lakes
- 08:00 Breakfast at Imperial Mansion
- 09:00 Guide-friend meets at hotel · Didi taxi + 7-seater van to Summer Palace (颐和园) · Haidian district (~30 min) · main-entrance tickets included
- 10:00 🏯 Summer Palace — UNESCO listed · 290 hectares · Kunming Lake · Long Corridor (长廊) 728m painted gallery · Marble Boat · Tower of Buddhist Incense
- 12:30 Lunch near the palace
- 14:30 💻 Zhongguancun (中关村) — China's Silicon Valley · same NW Haidian district · DJI drones · GEEKOM mini PCs · phone accessories · prices 40–60% below Egypt
- 16:30 Freshen up at Marriott
- 18:30 🌊 Didi to Houhai (后海) — three connected lakes ringed by hutongs · Beijing's finest evening stroll
- 19:00 Walk the lake circuit · sunset over the water · lantern-lit bars + cafes
- 20:00 🍽️ Dinner at a Houhai lakeside restaurant — halal options on the north bank
- 22:00 🥁 Drum Tower (鼓楼) + Bell Tower (钟楼) — lit golden at night · iconic Beijing photo
- 23:00 Didi back to Marriott
Summer Palace · Zhongguancun · Houhai
Monday, 22 June 2026
🧱 Mutianyu Great Wall (7-seat van + shuttle bus + entrance + cable car UP + toboggan DOWN; NO guide) + 🏘️ Gubei Water Town + 🌟 Simatai night-lit Great Wall
- 06:00 Early start — private 7-seater van pickup from hotel at 06:00 sharp
- 08:00 Arrive Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪) · gates open 07:30 · beat the crowds · shuttle bus + entrance + cable car + toboggan all included
- 08:15 Cable car up to Tower 14 — most photographed section
- 09:00 Walk towers 14 → 6 (1.5km beautifully restored Ming section · stunning mountain views)
- 11:00 🍕 Lunch at The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu — wood-fired pizza + Western menu in renovated village school · book ahead
- 12:30 🛝 Toboggan slide down — stainless-steel luge · ¥100/person · kids' trip highlight · included in arrangement
- 13:30 Drive ~2h north to Miyun
- 15:30 Arrive Gubei Water Town (古北水镇) · Miyun · ancient canal-town at the foot of the wall
- 16:00 Wander Gubei canals + old street · explore the water village at leisure
- 18:00 Halal dinner at Water Town restaurants
- 20:00 🌟 Simatai Great Wall night illumination (司马台长城) — only wall section open at night · dramatic tower spotlights reflect in reservoir · 2h window 20:00–22:00
- 22:00 Drive back to Beijing (~1.5h)
- 23:45 Back to Marriott · well-earned rest
Mutianyu Great Wall · Gubei · Simatai Night Wall
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
🏯 Forbidden City (紫禁城) + Tiananmen (天安门) morning + 🕌 Temple of Heaven (天坛) + 💎 Pearl Market (红桥) afternoon · last Beijing day before 10:03 HSR
- 08:00 Breakfast at Imperial Mansion · MFZ's private guide handles Forbidden City + Temple of Heaven today — guide fee includes the entrance tickets (no separate tickets to book)
- 09:00 🏯 Forbidden City (故宫 Gùgōng) — enter through Meridian Gate (Wǔ Mén) · covered by private guide (tickets included)
- 09:30 Walk the central axis: Supreme Harmony Hall → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Imperial Garden
- 11:00 Exit north gate to Jingshan Park (景山) — panoramic overlook of the Forbidden City's golden roofs (free entry)
- 11:30 Walk south to Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) — the world's largest public square · portrait of Mao · photo mandatory
- 12:30 Lunch near Tiananmen area — Quanjude Peking Duck (全聚德) Wangfujing branch or local halal option
- 14:00 Didi to Temple of Heaven (天坛) — imperial ceremonial complex · iconic blue circular Hall of Prayer · 267-hectare park · ¥34
- 15:30 💎 Pearl Market (红桥市场) — directly across from Temple of Heaven's east gate · 5 floors · certified real pearls on 3rd floor + replica designer
- 17:30 Didi back to Marriott · pack for tomorrow's train
- 18:00 🧳 Pack tonight — checkout tomorrow morning before the G11 10:03 train · thank you Beijing 🙏
- 19:30 🍽️ Last Beijing dinner
- 21:30 Didi XL to Beijing South Station (北京南站) — ~30 min · bags with you
- 22:30 Arrive station · check in to platform · rest in waiting hall
- 00:00 Sleep early — G11 train departs 10:03 tomorrow 🚄
Forbidden City · Temple of Heaven · Pearl Market
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
🚄 G11 Beijing → Shanghai + Ascott Xintiandi + French Concession
- 08:00 Breakfast at Imperial Mansion · final packing
- 09:00 Checkout · Didi XL to Beijing South Station (北京南站) (~30 min)
- 09:30 Arrive station · security · find platform
- 10:03 🚄 G11 train departs Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao (4h 36min direct · 350 km/h)
- 10:30 Settle in · breakfast snacks on board · view countryside
- 12:30 Lunch on train (bring sandwiches — no real meals on G-trains)
- 14:39 🏙️ Arrive Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) · Didi to Ascott Xintiandi (~30 min)
- 15:30 ✅ Ascott Huai Hai Road Xintiandi check-in (Conf# 5763.548.224 · PIN 2317)
- 16:00 Settle into 2-bedroom premier · freshen up
- 17:30 Walk to Xintiandi (新天地) Shikumen stone-gate lane district
- 18:30 🍜 Dinner near hotel — Din Tai Fung (xiaolongbao) or Crystal Jade
- 20:00 🏘️ Stroll Tianzifang (田子坊) art-alley maze — indie cafes, boutiques, lantern-lit lanes · open till midnight
- 22:00 Nightcap coffee in the French Concession streets
- 23:00 Back to Ascott · rest up for tomorrow's big day
French Concession · Xintiandi + Tianzifang
Thursday, 25 June 2026
🏮 Yu Garden + Old Bazaar + Nanjing Road + The Bund Sunset
- 09:00 Breakfast at Ascott
- 10:00 Didi to Yu Garden (豫园) in Old Town
- 10:30 Tour Yu Garden — Ming dynasty 1559 garden · rockeries · koi ponds · dragon walls
- 12:00 Lunch at Nanxiang Steamed Buns (南翔小笼包) — birthplace of xiaolongbao 小笼包 soup dumplings · in Yu Garden bazaar · expect 20–30 min queue · worth it
- 13:30 Walk Yu Garden Old Bazaar — silk · jade · calligraphy souvenirs
- 15:00 Metro or Didi to Nanjing Road pedestrian street (南京路)
- 15:30 Stroll Nanjing Road (南京路) — Shanghai's main shopping boulevard · flagship stores · street food · neon signs · 1.5 km fully pedestrianised
- 17:30 Walk south to The Bund (外滩) — arrive before sunset · Pudong skyline ignites at ~19:00, full light show by 19:30
- 18:30 Halal dinner near Xiaotaoyuan Mosque (小桃园清真寺) in the Huangpu area
- 20:00 🌃 Bund promenade at peak light show — Pudong glowing across the river (the night river cruise is booked for tomorrow, Day 9, paired with Shanghai Tower)
- 22:30 Back to Ascott
Yu Garden · Nanjing Road · The Bund
Friday, 26 June 2026
🏙️ Science Museum + Shanghai Tower 118F + Huangpu Night Cruise (Pudong)
- 09:00 Breakfast at Ascott
- 09:30 Metro Line 2 to Shanghai Science & Technology Museum (上海科技馆)
- 10:00 🔬 Explore Shanghai Science & Technology Museum — 5 floors · robotics · space · natural history · hands-on exhibits excellent for kids · ¥60/adult · 2–3h
- 12:30 Lunch near the museum
- 13:00 (Optional) Underground AP Plaza replica market (亚太新阳) — same metro stop (Line 2, Science & Technology Museum station) · replica goods, clothing, souvenirs
- 14:00 Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui (陆家嘴)
- 14:30 🏙️ Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦) — 118th-floor observation deck 561m · ✅ BOOKED (admission 2:30–4:30 PM) · world's fastest elevator (74 km/h, 55 sec) · tallest building in China · combo order# 1653715239193502
- 16:30 Coffee + skyline photos at Lujiazui ground-level plaza
- 18:30 🚣 Huangpu River Night Cruise (黄浦江) — Shiliupu Pier (十六铺码头) · ✅ BOOKED (same combo, departs after 18:00) · Pudong + Bund lit up from the water
- 20:00 Dinner at Lujiazui or on the Bund after the cruise
- 22:00 Back to Ascott · early night before Hangzhou tomorrow
Science Museum · Shanghai Tower 118F · Huangpu Night Cruise
Saturday, 27 June 2026
🍵 Hangzhou Day Trip — West Lake 西湖 + Hanfu + Longjing Tea + Lingyin Temple
- 08:30 Breakfast at Ascott · light packing (day bag only)
- 09:15 Metro Line 10 → Shanghai Hongqiao Station (上海虹桥)
- 10:00 🚄 HSR Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East (杭州东) · departs 10:00 · arrives 10:45 · ✅ BOOKED (round-trip US$158.40 / 5 pax · Trip.com)
- 10:45 Arrive Hangzhou East · Didi to West Lake (西湖) scenic area (~20 min)
- 11:00 🚣 West Lake gondola cruise (断桥残雪) · ~CNY 45/person · mirror-lake views of Leifeng Pagoda
- 12:30 👘 Hanfu rental (汉服) on the lake shore · ~CNY 50–100/hr · family photos in traditional Chinese dress — trip highlight
- 14:00 Lunch: Longjing tea village restaurant — look for 清真 halal signs
- 15:30 🍃 Longjing tea ceremony (龙井茶) — visit a tea farm in the hills above the lake · ¥50–80 per tasting
- 16:30 Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) — Buddhist mountain temple · ancient stone carvings of Buddhas in cliff face · ¥75 entry
- 18:00 Head to Hangzhou East station · last walk by West Lake en route
- 18:52 🚄 HSR Hangzhou East → Shanghai Hongqiao · departs 18:52 · arrives 19:47 · ✅ BOOKED
- 19:47 Arrive Shanghai Hongqiao · Metro/Didi back to Ascott
- 21:00 Back to Ascott · rest — Ascott checkout + Toy Story Hotel check-in + full Disney Day 1 tomorrow
Sunday, 28 June 2026
🏰 Full Disney Day 1 — Ascott Checkout → Toy Story Hotel Check-in (15:00) → Shanghai Disneyland
- 07:00 Breakfast at Ascott · pack all bags — checking out today
- 09:00 ✅ Ascott checkout · bell desk holds bags · Didi XL to Toy Story Hotel (~40 min)
- 10:00 Arrive Shanghai Disney Resort · drop bags at Toy Story Hotel bell desk
- 10:30 🛍️ Disneytown (迪士尼小镇) — World of Disney Store (largest in Asia) · LEGO flagship · Mickey ears!
- 12:00 Lunch: Sunnyside Café (Toy Story Hotel buffet) or Disneytown restaurant
- 13:00 🎠 Enter Shanghai Disneyland — afternoon entry (Early Park Entry is tomorrow morning, Day 12, as overnight resort guests)
- 13:15 🌅 Soaring over the Horizon — the famous flight simulator over world landmarks · grab a Standby Pass early (save TRON for tomorrow's 07:30 Early Entry)
- 14:30 🏰 Fantasyland — Seven Dwarfs Mine Train · Peter Pan's Flight · Hunny Pot Spin
- 15:00 ✅ Toy Story Hotel check-in · Conf# 1653714091902852 · PIN 8575 (or bell desk delivers bags to room)
- 16:00 🏴☠️ Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure (Treasure Cove) — Disney's best dark ride globally · ride it twice
- 17:30 🌊 Roaring Rapids (Adventure Isle) — water ride · bring ponchos! · everyone gets soaked
- 18:30 Change + dinner: Wandering Moon Teahouse or Tribal Table
- 19:30 Character meets in Gardens of Imagination — Mickey, Minnie, Snow White
- 20:30 ✨ ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration — fireworks, laser & projection show on the Enchanted Storybook Castle · grab a spot 30 min early · 2026 = 10th anniversary special edition
- 22:00 Park exit · Disneytown stroll · shops open till 23:00
- 23:00 Back to Toy Story Hotel · sleep — full Early Entry Disney Day 2 tomorrow (07:30 → TRON)
Disney Day 1 · Pirates & Soaring & ILLUMINATE
Monday, 29 June 2026
⚡ Disney Day 2 — TRON Early Entry 07:30 + Zootopia + ILLUMINATE finale
- 08:00 Breakfast at Toy Story Hotel
- 09:00 Walk to park entrance · security + bag check
- 09:30 Park opens · head to Adventure Isle first for LinaBell photos (long queue)
- 10:30 Roaring Rapids water ride (bring change of clothes)
- 12:00 Lunch at Tribal Table (Adventure Isle)
- 14:00 Zootopia: Hot Pursuit — Shanghai-exclusive trackless ride (Premier Access)
- 15:30 Fantasyland — Seven Dwarfs Mine Train · Peter Pan · Hunny Pot Spin
- 17:30 Castle photo op (golden hour) — kids in Mickey ears
- 18:30 Dinner: Mickey & Pals Market Cafe or in-park venue
- 20:30 🎆 ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration — castle fireworks finale (~15 min)
- 21:30 Park exit · walk to Disneytown
- 22:00 🌃 Disneytown final stroll — last Mickey waffle · Wishing Star Lake walk · LEGO store
- 23:30 Back to Toy Story Hotel · light pack for last day
- 00:30 Sleep — Plaza 66 + French Concession + Bund farewell tomorrow
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
🌿 French Concession + Bund farewell + 🏰 Disneytown shopping + ✈️ PVG red-eye
- 09:00 Breakfast at Toy Story Hotel
- 10:30 Pack big bags · checkout 11:00 · leave all luggage at bell desk · take only day pack + travel docs
- 11:30 Taxi to French Concession — last stroll through Xintiandi (新天地) + Tianzifang (田子坊) · cafes + boutiques
- 13:00 Lunch in the French Concession — leisurely farewell meal
- 15:00 Walk The Bund (外滩) — daytime farewell · Pudong skyline one last time · photos at the promenade
- 16:30 Final souvenir sweep — Disneytown (迪士尼小镇) World of Disney Store (largest in Asia) · LEGO flagship
- 18:30 Farewell dinner at Disneytown or French Concession · last great Shanghai meal
- 20:30 Back to Toy Story Hotel · collect luggage from bell desk
- 21:00 🚖 Didi XL / private van → Pudong Airport (PVG) · ~50 min · Baba arranges this on the ground (no pre-booking)
- 22:00 Arrive PVG T1 (Emirates) · check in for EK 303
- 23:35 Gate closes · board EK 303
- 00:05 ✈️ Takeoff EK 303 PVG → DXB (1 Jul)
French Concession · The Bund · Disneytown
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
🏠 Homeward Bound
- 00:05 ✈️ EK 303 PVG → DXB departs Shanghai Pudong (boarded Day 13 night)
- 04:30 Arrive Dubai DXB · ~3h layover in T3
- 11:05 ✈️ EK 927 DXB → CAI departs
- 11:05 🏠 Arrive Cairo (CAI) · home · the trip is complete