12 Days China Shanxi Tour

Day 01 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport outside the luggage claim area with your name displayed and then transferred to the hotel for rest.

Day 02 Beijing (B)

Get up early today and meet our guide at your hotel lobby. Your first visit is the Temple of Heaven Park, which is the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world where most Emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. Then stroll the Tian'anmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and then enter the Forbidden City, which is the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years.

Day 03 Beijing (B)

Meet your guide at your hotel and then take private tour to Badaling Section of the Great Wall.  Upon arriving at the Badaling Great Wall, you can either take cable car (optional cost) uphill or hike along the stairs on the wall. You may spend 2-3 hours on the symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization. Then you will visit the Summer Palace, one of the China's largest and best-preserved imperial gardens. It is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, integrating the natural landscape of hills and open water with man-made features into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole.

Day 04 Beijing / Datong (B)

After breakfast, take the high-speed train to Datong, the second largest city in Shanxi province. Then visit Shanhua Monastery, built by Khitay people around 1000 years ago. With the intact preservation of the ancient architecture and sculptures, it is considered as a gem of Buddhism temple arts of China Liao and Jin dynasties, which are founded by nomads.  

Day 05 Datong (B)

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the local best Garden Hotel. After breakfast in the hotel, travel to the Yungang Grottos consisting of a series of 53 caves. They are completed during the Northern Wei Dynasty (460-494 AD) and in scripted in 2001 as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in China officially. Afterwards, you will visit the Nine Dragon Wall that probably is the largest of its kind in China. Later you will visit the Upper Huayan Monastery which is considered to be one of the two biggest Buddhist halls existent in China. It was built under the Liao Dynasty in 1062.

Day 06 Datong / Pingyao (B)

Drive to Ping Yao in the morning. Tour to the Ping Yao Old Town. Paralleling Xian, Nanjing and Lijiang, Pingyao is one of time-honored cities that have survived with its ancient walls, a best example from the Ming Dynasty. In Nov. 1986, UNESCO subscribed the city into the World Heritage List in China.

Day 07 Pingyao / Taiyuan (B)

Today you can visit the famous Qiao Family built in 1755 and the Double Forest Temple that houses over 2,000 Buddhist terracotta sculptures. Drive to Tai Yuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. Upon arrival, you will meet your guide and be transferred to the hotel.

Day 08 Taiyuan / Xian (B)

Today you will visit the Jinci Temple with its ancient gardens and historical relics. In the afternoon take high-speed train to Xian. You are greeted by your guide and transferred to the hotel.

Day 09 Xian (B)

After breakfast, you will travel to Lintong, the place where The Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was discovered. The Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. There are more than 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta soldiers and horses excavated from this area which all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively. In the late afternoon, travel back to your hotel.

Day 10 Xian / Shanghai (B)

In the morning visit the City Wall built in the Ming dynasty, one of the oldest and best preserved ancient Chinese city walls. The wall is 14 kilometers long. Walk on the top of it, you can have an idea of medieval defense system composed of by watchtowers, ramparts and a moat. Contrasting the old from its inside are the modern high-rises and bustling traffic of Xian. Cross the street and walk to the Muslim quarter. You will visit the mosque at Daxuexixiang. After that, enjoy your shopping time at the Muslim Street which is lined with shops selling souvenirs and local snacks. Then take private car transfer to the airport and fly to Shanghai.

Day 11 Shanghai (B)

Enjoy a city tour to Yu Garden, the best preserved ancient Chinese garden. There are many small-commodities like handicrafts and clothes, and you can explore the sale market around all by yourself and enjoy the fun of shopping. Then travel to the Bund, appreciating the splendid Bund western buildings and the Lujiazui skylines on the other side of the Huangpu River. At the end of the tour, spend some time on the No. 1 shopping street in the country-East Nanjing Road. Transfer back to your hotel for rest.

Day 12 Shanghai (B)

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.