13 Days China Tour: Explore Ancient Capitals

Summary

Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Day 2 Beijing: Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Beijing National Olympic Stadium (from outside)
Day 4 Beijing-Luoyang: Nanluoguxiang Hutong, train to Luoyang
Day 5 Luoyang: White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple
Day 6 Luoyang-Xian: Longmen Grottoes, train to Xian
Day 7 Xian: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Banquet & Tang Dynasty Dance show
Day 8 Xian: Xian Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, Shaanxi History Museum
Day 9 Xian-Hangzhou: Xian to Hangzhou by flight
Day 10 Hangzhou: West Lake Boat Ride, Fish Viewing Park, Guo's Garden, Lingyin Temple, Impression West Lake Show
Day 11 Hangzhou: Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation, Bamboo Lined Path at Yunqi, Hefang Old Street, Hangzhou Qianjiang New City
Day 12 Hangzhou-Shanghai: Hangzhou to Shanghai by train, Zhujiajiao Water Town
Day 13 Shanghai Departure

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Upon on your arrival, our guide will meet you at Beijing Airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour". And then, drive you to your hotel in Beijing downtown. The rest day is free on your own to explore the city or recover the jetlag.

Day 2 Beijing

Pick up your hotel lobby at appointed time. The first destination is Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing, is the largest city center square in the world. Here has a variety of significant edifices such as the Tiananmen Tower, Great Hall of the People, Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, Monument to the People's Heroes and National Museum. To understand Beijing, your first stop must  Tian'anmen Square

After sightseeing, walk into the Tiananmen you will meet the one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City. It used to be the main place for emperors to carry out political activities, and it was also the home of emperors. Now it has become the most important museum in China. The Forbidden City receives 100000 tourists every day, and some exhibition halls have been opened up.

After lunch, drive to next imperial site - Temple of Heaven. Founded in 1420, the temple of heaven was built in strict accordance with ancient Chinese geomancy, and its layout is extremely exquisite. It is an important place for emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties to sacrifice gods and pray for national security. It is also a must-see attractions in Beijing.

At last, you will head to visit Summer Palace, it is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing, China. It serves as a popular tourist destination and recreational park. Mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, it covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi), three-quarters of which is water.  After 1949, the Summer Palace briefly housed the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China. Many of Mao Zedong's friends and key figures in the Communist Party, such as Liu Yazi and Jiang Qing, also lived there. Since 1953, many major restoration and renovation works have been done on the Summer Palace, which is now open to the public as a tourist attraction and park.

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 3 Beijing

In the morning, drive about 70KM to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. There is an old saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Mutianyu Great Wall is the most complete and longest preserved Great Wall in China, with a total length of 5400 meters. It has always been a symbol of China, so that everyone will definitely go to Beijing and visit Mutianyu Great Wall.

Your lunch is offered near the Great Wall in a local Chinese restaurant.

After lunch, the Sacred Way, affiliated with the Ming Tombs, built in 1409 and about 50 kilometers from the city center. Including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.  

On the way back to your hotel, you are fortunately to pass by the famous Beijing National Olympic Stadium (Bird's Nest&Water Cube). You can take their exterior photography photographs to keep track of the two grand constructions and leave a pleasant memory here.

Day 4 Beijing-Luoyang

Check out from your hotel in the morning. Drive you to visit the Nanluoguxiang Hutong. Hutong, also known as Alleys, is called "Nong" in Shanghai and "Lane" in Chengdu. Nanluoguxiang Hutong is different from other attractions in Beijing. You can feel the habitat of life here. Shuttle in the Hutong and feel how the local people live. You can choose bike or rickshaw for sightseeing.

After lunch, transferred to Beijing West Train Station for the train to Luoyang. It takes around 4 hours. Once arrived at Luoyang train station, you will be greeted by our guide at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage “China Private Tour". Our guide will take you have a dinner at local restaurant. After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Luoyang. Overnight in Luoyang.

Day 5 Luoyang

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and drive you to visit White Horse Temple. White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in China, established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han dynasty capital Luoyang. The site is just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, east of Luoyang in Henan Province. It is considered by most believers as "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism". The geographical landmarks to the south are Manghan Mountain and Lucoche River.

Your lunch is arranged at a vegetarian restaurant in Shaolin Temple.

Next, you will visit Shaolin Temple, which is a Buddhist temple in Dengfeng County. Dating back 1,500 years when founded by Fang Lu-Hao, Shaolin Temple is the main temple of the Shaolin school of Buddhism to this day. Shaolin Monastery and its Pagoda Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng".

Drive you back to your hotel in Luoyang.

Day 6 Luoyang-Xian

Check out from your hotel, and pay a visit to the Longmen Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Mogao Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes and Maijishan grottoes are the four largest Grottoes in China. It has made great contributions to the development of ancient Chinese politics, economy, religion, culture and many other fields, and to the innovation and development of Chinese Grottoes art.

After lunch, transfer to Luoyang train station to catch the train to Xian. Upon arrival, our Xian local guide will meet you at the exit of train station with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". Drive you to your hotel and the rest day is free on your own.

Day 7 Xian

After breakfast, drive you to Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the terracotta warriors were built by Ying Zheng, the first "emperor" of the Qin Dynasty, who annex six countries and then declare themselves emperor. It known as “the eighth Wonders of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century.

Drive back to the downtown, have a simple lunch at the local restaurant.

Then, drive you to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square. It is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'and became the symbol of the old-line Xi'an. It was built in 652 during the Tang dynasty and originally had five stories. The structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and its exterior brick facade was renovated during the Ming dynasty.

At night, you will join in a Dumpling Banquet, our guide will lead you to Shaanxi Grand Opera House and help you find your seat for the most famous Xi'an Dumpling Dinner within the Opera House.In Xian, a must for visitors to try is the delicious dumplings. 

After dinner, you will enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Dance Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian.

Drive you back to your hotel.

Day 8 Xian

In the morning, first drive you to visit the Ancient City Wall. This wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Now it is 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide over 14 kilometers in length with a deep moat surrounding it. You can walk, or even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the largest with a suspension bridge. Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sightseeing.

Move on to the center of the city wall, you will reach the Bell Tower. Bell Tower is a symbol of the city of Xi'an and one of the grandest of its kind in China. The Bell Tower also contains several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty. The tower base is square and it covers an area of 1,377 square meters. The tower is a brick and timber structure and close to 40 meters high.

Walk to the Muslim Quarter (only 100 meters west of Bell Tower), and have a simple lunch. Muslim Quarter is one of the most well-known parts of the city. This street is 5 meters in wide and around 500 meters in length. There are over one million inhabitants, among which one third of them were foreigners. The ancestors of these Muslims dwelled in Xian with Han people harmoniously and built Great Mosque for worship simultaneously.

The last stop is Shaanxi History Museum, located to the northwest of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of the four largest museum with modern facilities in China. The museum, built in traditional Tang architectural style, houses over 370,000 cultural relics, including murals, paintings, pottery, coins, as well as bronze, gold, silver, seal and stone objects, all of which can be dated back to over 1 million years ago to the late Qing dynasty.

Drive back to your hotel.

Day 9 Xian-Hangzhou

Pick you up at the appointed time, you will be transferred to Xian Xianyang airport for your flight to Hangzhou. Once you arrived, our Hangzhou guide will meet you at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour" and transfer to your hotel in Hangzhou. Free on your own today and stay overnight in Hangzhou.

Day 10 Hangzhou

After breakfast, drive you to the famous Hangzhou West Lake. Hangzhou is a city of love, and the beautiful West Lake is the carrier of many love stories. Its islands, causeways, temples, pagodas and ornamental planting,there may be hidden stories everywhere. And a boat trip to the lake is undoubtedly the most enjoyable way.

Later, head to the Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond(Huagang Park), it is one of the top 10 views around the lake and famous for the view of red carp. This area now has been made into a 22 hectare (54 acre) park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Guo's Garden, it is the best existing traditional private residence in Hangzhou. It was built in late Qing Dynasty. With a mountain in the back and the west lake in the front, the garden is known as 'Number One Garden of the West Lake' thanks to its tranquil environment, well-preserved buildings, and tasteful landscaping layout.

Next, our guide will take you to visit the Lingyin Temple. It is one of the famous ancient monasteries in China. There are several main halls with the grand Buddhist statues in the temple. Beside the intriguing Lingyin temple is the Peak Flown From Afar. It is not only a beautiful attraction but also an important grotto area. On the cliffs of the peak, there are full of 330 stone carvings in Song and Yuan Dynasties. The most noticeable one is the smiling Maitreya, the biggest stone carving with high value.

After dinner, go for enjoy a performance-Impression of West Lake. It is one of most popular night show in China, it takes around 50 minutes to show you some Hangzhou local culture and folktale.

After the show, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 11 Hangzhou

After breakfast, drive you to visit the Hangzhou famous Green Tea Plantation, you will visit one of the five tea villages in Hangzhou-Meijiawu. Meijiawu Tea Village, just west of West Lake, is a top producer of Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, considered one of the finest teas in China and the world. Surrounded by mountains, valleys, and streams, Meijiawu Tea Village is a picturesque locale where visitors can learn all about the heritage, production, and benefits of Longjing tea.

Then, have a chance to walk along the Bamboo Path at Yunqi, it is one of the new top 10 views around the lake. The area is a beautiful sea of bamboo; the entire environment is peaceful and cool. In addition to the natural scenery, one can still trace the remains of the ancient Yunqi Temple in the park.

After that, drive you back to Hangzhou city to explore the old part of Hangzhou. Free walk around and visit the Qinghefang street, is a good place to experience the life of Old Hangzhou, because it is the epitome of historic Hangzhou. A great place for shopping, eating, and sightseeing. You can see the well-preserved old buildings, explore the interesting boutique stores, and choose your favourite souvenirs.

Before back to the hotel, you will visit the modern part of Hangzhou as well. Hangzhou’s Qianjiang New Town is being developed into a new central business district. The skyline of this commercial hub is decorated with the unique golden egg structure of the International Conference Center, the posh grandeur of the Grand Theatre, and the spectacular open public space.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Hangzhou.

Day 12 Hangzhou-Shanghai

Transfer to Hangzhou East Railway Station to catch your train to Shanghai. Pick up from Shanghai Hongqiao Station by our Shanghai local guide and take you to explore the Zhujiajiao water town, it is one of the nearest water towns away from the urban area of Shanghai. Its traditional atmosphere is completely different from Shanghai city. Zhujiajiao has a long history, simple folk customs and profound cultural accumulation. As early as the Liangzhu period five thousand years ago, there were human activities. As early as the Three Kingdoms period more than 1700 years ago, there were village fairs. In the period of the Ming Dynasty, it has become a bustling market town with thousands of merchants and fireworks.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 13 Shanghai Departure

Free on your own until transfer to Shanghai airport for your own flight back home.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     English & Chinese speaking tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.