14 Days In-depth View of China Culture

Day 1

Arrival Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the Capital city of China, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Meals: No Meals
Accommodation: In Beijing

Beijing, China's capital and one of the great travel destinations of the World, offers sights and cultural relics found no where else on Earth. The city has a character all its own; there are quadrangles, small alleys, tricycle, boiled mutton, roasted duck, arts and crafts, Peking Opera, The Great Wall, the 2008 Olympics venue and a vibrancy that is the distinctive flavor of Beijing.
 

Day 2

Beijing
Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tian'anmen Square, the World's largest urban square and the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then stop at the Temple of Heaven for a visit. This evening, Peking Roasted Duck is your optional dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

As the biggest city center square in the world, Tian'anmen Square covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. A few steps away, come to visit the Forbidden City, which was the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and, it is one of the largest, and certainly the most completely restored, ancient architectural complex in the world. Walk in the footsteps of Emperors; come to the museum and see with your eyes, and feel with your hearts; you'll begin understand what life in this richest of feudal realms was like for the Imperial Rulers, their concubines and their slaves.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. Departing from the Imperial vermilion and gold hues of the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven is decorated in blue, the color of the Heavens. The perfect harmony between the architectural environment and nature can be felt here; you might easily imagine the vivid spectacle of a great sacrifice to the Heavens for a good harvest. The magnificent Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest is one of the most important and impressive building in China.

For today's optional dinner, how about taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck, as it is the best-known dish in Beijing. It is very tender and unforgettably delicious. You'll visit a local restaurant to enjoy a full meal and learn the proper way to experience Peking Roasted Duck. From the whole roasted duck to the soup of duck bones, you'll enjoy a banquet made from every part of the duck. Moreover, the chef will demonstrate his skill of cutting the skin of the duck for your entertainment.
 

Day 3

Beijing
One of the best known attractions in China is the Great Wall, a massive defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland. Today you will have the opportunity to traverse the ancient steps of Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall. This afternoon, the coach will drop us off at the nearby Ming Tomb for a visit. If you desire, enjoy the elegant Peking Opera tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. It is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi and Jinshanling in the east. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt, mainly with granite and is one of the best-preserved sections with the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall, being 7-8 meters high and 4-5 meters wide with 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-meter-long section. It served as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.

The Ming Tombs which located in the northern suburbs of Beijing. Altogether there are thirteen tombs of Ming Dynasty Emperors from the period after the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. You'll visit the Changling Tomb, burial site of Emperor Yong Le, the biggest and first built at this historic site. The Lingsi Palace in Changling Tomb's second yard really deserves a visit. This is unique, a magnificent palace made of camphor wood. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor is decorated with gold bricks.

In the evening, we offer you an opportunity to enjoy Peking Opera. Expert performers convey powerful emotions to the audience through song, dance, facial make-up, exquisite masks and costume, skilled use of body language and sympathetically integrated musical accompaniment.
 

Day 4

Beijing
In the morning explore the Yonghe Palace; the artworks combined Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. Then take a truly special excursion to the Hutongs. Richshaws will take you through those narrow alleyways to reach the Shiheyuan of a local Beijing residence. Here you can stop for a culture glimpse at how life is lived deep in these ancient streets.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Located in the northeastern part of Beijing, Yonghe Palace is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism. The building and the artworks of the temple combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles and can be dated back to A.D 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It originally served as an official residence for court eunuchs. It was then converted into the court of the Prince Yong (Yin Zhen). After Yongzheng's ascension to the throne in 1722, half of the building was converted into a lamasery, a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism. The other half remained an imperial palace.

After Yongzheng's death in 1735, his coffin was placed in the temple. The Qianlong Emperor, Yongzheng's successor, gave the temple imperial status signified by having its turquoise tiles replaced with yellow tiles which were reserved for the emperor. Subsequently, the monastery became a residence for large numbers of Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet.

If exploring the Forbidden City has improved your understanding of the lifestyles of China 's ancient Imperial Court , then this relaxing Hutong Tour will give you an insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people and reveal their social culture in today's Beijing City. The narrow streets of old Beijing are known as Hutongs. You'll take a pedicab tour along the Hutongs and see the 100-year-old houses, courtyards and a vanishing way of life in today's Beijing.
 

Day 5

Beijing    Jinan
In the morning, you will take a short flight to Jinan, Shandong Province. On arrival, you will have chance to visit the Baotu Spring Park, one of the most famous tourism sites there, and Daming Lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Jinan

The name "Jinan" literally means "south of the Ji River" and refers to the old Ji River that had flowed to the north of the city until the middle of the 19th century, though it has disappeared in 1852 when the Yellow River changed its course northwards and took over its bed. The area of present-day Jinan has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. Jinan has its own cuisine, the Jinan style of the Lu cuisine, one the Eight Culinary Traditions of China. Known as the "City of Springs", Jinan is abundant in large number of natural artesian springs. The majority of the springs, many of which have been historically listed under the "72 Famous Springs", are concentrated in the downtown district and flow north to converge in Daming Lake.

The Baotu Spring Park is the most famous springs in the City. Besides the Baotu Spring, the park contains several other springs that are listed among the "72 Famous Springs". "Baotu" means "jumping and leaping" in Chinese. The water in the spring pool can be seen foaming and gushing, just look like a pot of boiling water. The spring was visited by the Emperor Qian Long (A.D 1711-A.D 1799) of the Qing Dynasty who declared it "the first spring under the Heaven". A tablet with the Emperor's handwriting "Baotu Spring" has since been erected beside the spring pool.

Daming Lake, which literally translates as Lake of Great Light, is the largest lake in this city. Located to the north of the historical city center, the lake is fed by the artesian Karst springs of the area and hence retains a fairly constant water level through the entire year. The lake is mentioned in the ancient "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" by Northern Wei Dynasty writer and geographer Li Daoyuan.
 

Day 6

Jinan    Mt. Taishan
In the morning, you will take hours driving down to Taian City for the visits to Mt. Taishan, the foremost of the Five Sacred Mountains in China. It is a challenging climb up to the Mt. Taishan for more than 1,605 steps. But you can also choose taking the vehicle to the highest point, while you can also have a bird view of the wall. Stay overnight at the hotel on the foot of the mountain.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mt. Taishan area

Mt. Taishan is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city Taian. The tallest peak is Jade Emperor Peak, which is commonly reported at the height of1545 meters". It is associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal, and is often regarded the foremost of the five. The Chinese idiom "Mount Tai & Big Dipper" is an epithet for a person of great distinction.

The Temple of the God of Mt. Taishan, known as the Dai Temple (Dai Miao), is the largest and most complete ancient building complex in the area. It is located at the foot of Mt. Taishan and covers an area of 96,000 square meters. The temple was first built during the Qin Dynasty. Since Han Dynasty (206 B.C – A.D 220), its design has been a replica of the imperial palace, which makes it one out of three extant structures in China with the features of an imperial palace (the other two are the Forbidden City and the Confucius Temple in Qufu).

The best time for touring around Mt. Taishan is from April to November. If you want to enjoy the sunrise, then, come for a visit during the autumn time from Sep to Nov.
 

Day 7

Mt. Taishan    Qufu
Today, continue your driving to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius. Upon arrival, visit the Confucius tourism complex which includes Confucius Temple, the Confucian Cemetery and the Confucius Mansion.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Qufu

Qufu is the birthplace of Confucius, it contains numerous of historic palaces, temples and cemeteries. Many of the major cultural sites in the city are all associated with Confucius, such as he Confucius tourism complex (Temple of Confucius, the Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion), which has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1994.

The buildings inside are traditionally Chinese style; it separates official rooms in the front from the residential quarters in the rear. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the buildings according to the seniority, gender, and status of their inhabitants reflects the Confucian principle of order and hierarchy.
 

Day 8

Qufu    Jinan    Zhengzhou
You will be transferred back to Jinan in the morning then for a short flight to Zhengzhou in Henan Province. The rest of the day is for your own exploration.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Zhengzhou

Located just north of the province's center and south of the Yellow River, Zhengzhou borders Luoyang to the west and Kaifeng to the east. It is geographically the center city of China. As an ancient Chinese capital and a traditional trading center, Zhengzhou maintains abundant cultural heritage that reflects its glorious history as well as the culture of Henan Province.
 

Day 9

Zhengzhou    Dengfeng
Take a few hours driving to Mt. Songshan, you will find the famous Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest just locate at the foot of the mountain. Vegetarian food will be served as lunch today. Our visits of the temple will end up with a Kung Fu performance from martial arts master. What you used to see on TV will now be real.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Dengfeng

The Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple is the main part of the Shaolin Scenic Area on Mount Songshan. The temple was constructed in 495 to welcome Indian eminent monk. The Shaoling temple is long famous for the coexistence of Chan School and martial art for Westerners. 

The Pagoda Forest is the graveyard of the Shaolin Temple. Housing the tombs of eminent monks from different historical periods, it is the largest pagoda forest in China. The levels, or stories, on the pagodas must be odd numbers (from 1 to 7) and are based on the achievements of the Buddhist masters they were built for. The era the pagodas were built in affects the shape (round or square) and the number of sides (4 or 6).
 

Day 10

Dengfeng
Stay one more day at Dengfeng to enjoy the peace and quiet atmosphere of this historical city, and explore cultural sites such as Songyang Academy and Zhongyue Temple.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Dengfeng

Zhongyue Temple was first built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and was the place where emperors and ministers from various historical periods paid their respects to the God of Mount Songshan in central China. It is the largest and oldest intact building complex among the Five Holy Mountains in China. It is praised as the palace museum in central China and the sixth paradise of Taosim.

The Songyang Academy was one of the highest academies in the Song Dynasty and the first of the four academies of the Northen Song Dynasty in China and famous for its rationalistic Confucian philosophical school. It was built in the Northern Song Dynasty in 484, famous Song Dynasty scholars as Cheng Hoa, Cheng Yi, Sima Guang, Fan Zhongyan and Zhu Xi once gave lectures here. There is a 4,500-year-old cypress, granted the title of Great General and Senior General by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD25), seldom in the world.
 

Day 11

Dengfeng    Luoyang
Set off in the morning for Luoyang, one of the six centers of Chinese civilization. Upon arrival, you will visit the Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Luoyang

Situated on the central plain of China, one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization, Luoyang was one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. It is a sacred place of Chinese civilization, as it was the birthplace of Heluo Culture, which gave rise to the most ancient Chinese classic known as The Book of Changes. Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism thrived here, as did the idealist school of philosophical thought. 

The Longmen Grottoes are located 12km south of present day Luoyang. The grottoes, which overwhelmingly depict Buddhist subjects, are densely dotted along the two mountains: Xiangshan (to the east) and Longmenshan (to the west). The Yi River flows northward between them. From north to south, the distance covered by grottoes is about 1km. There are over 2100 niches, more than 100,000 statues, some 40 pagodas and 3600 tablets and steles in the caves of Guyang, Binyang and Lianhua. Along with the Mogao Caves and Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes are one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites in China.

White Horse Temple was the first Buddhist temple in China, established under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han capital Luoyang in the year 68. From then on, Buddhism was introduced into the East China and late has become a big religious school in the country and has spread to Japan and Korea. So the temple is respected as the cradle of Chinese Buddhism.
 

Day 12

Luoyang    Xian
Take about 5hours train riding, you will arrival Xian and start your exploration there with the visits to Shaanxi History Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian

Xian, steeped in history and still giving up secrets, is your gateway to ancient Chinese civilization. In its 3,100 recorded years of evolution, it has been home to 13 dynasties. Xian was also the end of civilization for those setting out on the famous Silk Road. Today’s Xian is a vibrant, modern city, but surrounded by history, even underfoot! So there can be no underground railways due to the obligation to preserve the wealth of ancient treasure still awaiting discovery.

As the regional capital and doorway to the Silk Road, Xian was one of the richest, most well-protected cities in all of China. The famous Shaanxi History Museum introduces the visitor to area's rich culture, from Emperor Qin Shihuang to the present day in this walled city. The museum is house in a striking Tang Dynasty-style pavilion and features an enormous collection of 113,000 historic and cultural relics. This is where you experience history, with chronological dynasties exhibits that take you through the dynasties.
 

Day 13

Xian
Today is all about Xian. Your first destination is Qin Terracotta Army. It has been regarded as the 8th wonder of the world and the most significant excavations of the 20th century. Then get back to city for the Xian City Wall and Bell Tower. Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner is available for your optional meal this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian

As an ancient capital city to 13 dynasties, Xian has a rich recorded history, frequently enhanced by the evidence of new discoveries, like the 1974 unearthing of the fabulous Qin Terracotta Army, the long forgotten army created to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. In accordance with ancient beliefs, this grand project was mounted at enormous cost by the cruel and tyrannical Emperor, only to be attacked, plundered, burnt and buried after his funeral by the peasants who'd labored under the whip to build it. Then, over two thousand years later, this 'Eighth Wonder of the World' was rediscovered by farmers digging a well. The fine troops, horses and carriages in battle formation are a National ancient art treasure. Three excavation pits are now opened to the public and a fourth is nearing completion. You can, like US President Clinton, now gaze in wonder upon this historic site, listed by UNESCO in 1987 as a world cultural heritage.

Then we get back to city for the Xian City Wall, which stretches round the old city. Xian was always a walled city, and today's 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. The first city wall of Chang'an was begun in 194 BCE. The existing wall was started during the Ming Dynasty in 1370; it is massive, measuring 13.7 km in circumference, 12 m in height, and 15–18 m in thickness at the base. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall. This impressive structure is just a precursor to the remarkable discoveries awaiting visitors to Xian. 

Also within the city, we'll see the Bell Tower, which is the most well-preserved the best-known among many ancient cities of China. The Bell Tower, was used to strike the time. It was first built as one part of the Yingxiang Temple and moved to its present site in 1582. Since then, it became the geographical center of the ancient capital. With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is agreeably astonishing.

Tonight you can choose to enjoy a Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner that was created for "emperors only" in ancient China. You'll enjoy the sumptuous dinner while watching a fabulous dancing and singing performance of the Tang Dynasty. This is not only a performance of Chinese traditional dancing and singing, but a re-enactment of Chinese ancient ceremony and culture.
 

Day 14

Xian    Beijing, Departure
Fly back to Beijing for your connecting international flight home.
Meals: Breakfast

Service Ends