12-Day China Heritage Tour

Tour Overview
Travel to the Chinese world heritage sites by flights and high speed trains! We will explore or experience the famous ancient buildings and tombs, Buddhist caves, imperial and private gardens, historical water town, unique arts and delicious food...

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing (no meals)
Meet your guide at the Beijing Airport and then transfer to check into the hotel. Balance of the day at leisure for you to take a rest to recover from jetlag or walk around the hotel to get a glance of the city.

Day 2 Beijing (B, L, D)
Highlights today： the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Peking Duck Banquet

Private escorted tour to China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven - Temple of Heaven. It was used to hold a memorial ceremony for the God in Winter Solstice Festival and to pray for harvest in the first month of the lunar year by the emperors in Ming and Qing dynasties.

And then go to the Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Walk throught the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian'anmen Gate) to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, nominated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1987, is the largest ancient palatial structure in the world and the best-preserved imperial palace in China.

Tonight’s dinner, we arrange you the famous Peking Duck Banquet, which used to be a royal court dish with a history of around 1500 years.
 
Day 3 Beijing (B, L)
Highlights today： the Great Wall at Mutianyu Section, Chang Tomb, Sacred Road

Private escorted tour to the Great Wall at Mutianyu section, the greatest of the eight ancient architectural wonders in the history of human civilization. Then go to Chang Tomb, the tomb for Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1683), and his wife Empress Xu. Chang is an underground tomb, the first and the largest of the Ming tombs and reflects a similar conception of Imperial architecture. At the top of Chang Tomb, visitors can have a look of the other 12 Ming Tombs. Connected with the tombs, Sacred Road used to be regarded as "the way leading to Heaven", the highlights are the 12 pairs of animal stone sculptures.

Optional night activity:

Beijing Opera show: it is one of the most famous traditional Chinese opera. The artists wear heavy make-up and act out the legends and romance with their unique style of singing and dance.
 
Day 4 Beijing → Xian by train (B, L)
Highlights today： Beijing Hutongs

This morning you will visit the Beijing old lanes (Hutongs) by rickshaw. Hutongs are unique street design in Beijing and regarded as a window into Beijing folk life. Take afternoon high speed train from Beijing to Xi'an. Arrive at Xian. Be met & transferred to your hotel.
 
Day 5 Xian (B, L)
Highlights today： Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower, Wild Goose Pagoda

After breakfast in hotel, drive 1hr northeast to Lintong where Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum located. As one of the most important archaeological finds in the 20th century, it is called the eighth wonder of the world. Visit 3 pits of the museum to see a magnificent collection of terracotta figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Back to downtown and visit visit the Bell Tower, which locates in the central downtown and was built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty with a height of 36 meters and covers an area of 1,377 square meters. Later, pay a visit to Wild Goose Pagoda, it was first built in Tang Dynasty for the storage of Buddhist scriptures taken from India by Monk Xuanzang and now becomes the city emblem.

Day 6 Xian (B, L)
Highlights today： Setle Forest Museum, Banpo Neolithic Village, Ancient City Wall, Grand Mosque

Visit Stele Forest Museum in the morning. The museum is the art center of Chinese calligraphy and treasure house of stone sculpture art. It preserves more than 4000 pieces of stone inscriptions, epitaphs, religion stone sculptures and mausoleum stone sculptures from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, the Steles of Islam Spread in China (Daqin Jingjiao Liuxing Zhongguo Bei) records the prosperity of Islam when it was introduced to China from Rome.

And then go to visit the ruins of Banpo Neolithic Village. The ruins of this 6000 year-old village represents the earliest signs of human habitation around Xian. A large hall has been built over what was part of the residential area of the village.

Afternoon visit Ancient City Wall, which form a circumference of 9 miles with a gateway and watchtowers on each side. Initially built in Tang Dynasty, through most sections of the wall has been restored or even rebuilt and it stands at 12 metres high. And visit the Grand Mosque located in the Muslim Quarters. Unlike other mosques, the Great Mosque is built in a Chinese architectural style and most of the grounds are taken up with gardens, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations, the mosque has neither domes nor traditional-style minarets. It's still an active place of worship and several prayer services are held each day.

Optional night activity:

Tang Dynasty Singing And Dancing Show- A wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance. This is also a good way know more about the ancient Tang dynasty and some more history and art of that period.

Day 7 Xian → Luoyang by train (B)
Highlights today： Longmen Grottoes, Museum of the Six-horse Carriage, Luoyang Old Town

Morning be met at hotel and transfer to Xi’an railway station, take a high speed train to Luoyang. Be met by Luoyang tour guide and then start your visits to Longmen Grottoes firstly. As one of the three most famous ancient stone sculptural sites in China, there are more than 100,000 statues in the grottoes. Later go forward to Museum of the Six-horse Carriage - an ancient burial site with a history of more than 2000 years. Afterwards, go northeast to visit the Luoyang Old Town. The Old Town area is the best way to learn about the old days of the historically famous city Luoyang, which used to be the capital of the Eastern Han Empire (25 AD- 220 AD).

Day 8 Luoyang → Zhengzhou by private car (B, L)
Highlights today： Shaolin Temple, Pagoda Forest, Chinese Kung Fu Performances

After breakfast, drive to Dengfeng to see the Shaolin Temple. It is known in and outside of China for Shaolin martial arts. The temple was built in 495, the 19th year of the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. About 300 meters west of the Shaolin Temple is the Pagoba Forest, the pagodas here were built there to keep the remains of the deceased abbots and other eminent monks. After that, visit a local martial art school and watch a Chinese Kung Fu performances.

After the visit, drive to Zhengzhou and check into your hotel.

Day 9 Zhengzhou→Shanghai by train (B)

Transfer to Zhengzhou railway station and take a high speed train to Shanghai (about 5 hours). Upon arrival at Shanghai Railway Station, you will be warmly welcomed by your local tour guide. And then be transferred to hotel by private vehicle. Check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest time at leisure to relax and explore the charming city.

Day 10 Shanghai (B, L)
Highlights today： Yu Garden, Chenghuangmiao, Nanjing Road, the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Full-day tour to explore Shanghai city, an international cosmopolis mix with both traditional Chinese and western cultures. Tour starts from Yu Garden, one of the most famous classic gardens in south China. Chenghuangmiao, also called Yu Market, is adjacent to the garden and popular for free shopping and bargain. Enjoy dim sum meal for lunch, and then take a walk at Nanjing Road and go to the Bund by Huangpu River. The Bund once was the financial center of the Far East and is considered as the city's symbol since the 1920s. It is often referred to as "the museum of buildings", as many different old colonial-era buildings can be found here.

Finally, take a bird view of Shanghai & Huangpu River from sightseeing floor of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower - one of the most attractive landmarks and cultural symbols in Shanghai.

Optional night activity: 

The ERA Acrobatic Show is a fascinating show that tells a story from ancient times till present day. This show includes surprising feats, live music, complete plots and other spectacular features.

Day 11 Shanghai (B, L)
Highlights today： Zhujiajiao Water Town

Visit Zhujiajiao Water Town this morning. Water towns are dotted in Yantze delta and Zhujiajiao is one of the well preserved ones. It is about 50 kilometers away in the western outskirts from the city centre and features beautiful waterways, arched stone bridges, ancient streets paved with stone, you will take a gondola style boat cruise along its water lanes. Transfer back to down town, this afternoon is free for your own exploration.

Day 12 Shanghai departure (B)

Be free until your local guide escorts you to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your homebound flight.

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