Start in: Beijing
End in: Shanghai
Special Experience: Xian Tang Dynasty show, Shanghai Acrobatic show, Yangtze River cruise, Mt. Huangshan, water town Zhouzhuang, etc.
China Ancient Civilization Tour
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Beijing / Datong
Accommodations: On The Train
Sightseeing: Datong
Transfer via: Soft-sleeper train on our arrangement
Our local guide escorts you to railway station for your train to your next destination--Datong, Shanxi Province.
- Datong: Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi, and is known as the coal capital due to its abundant coals powering the whole of Shanxi and other cities beyond. The city is one of China's most polluted, yet there are some relics worth a visit.
Accommodations: Yungang International hotel 
Sightseeing: Yungang Grottoes,Nine Dragon Screen,Huayan Temple
Upon you arrive at Datong railway station in the morning, our local guide meet you and escort you to the hotel. After a rest, you will have a city tour to the Yungang Grottoes, the Nine-Dragon Screen, the Huayan Temple and the Steam Lomotive Factory.
- Yungang Grottoes: a treasure-house of rare and splendid Chinese sculptures and that of ancient Buddhist art, located about 16 kilometers west of Datong. Built in compliance with the lie of the mountains, more than 1500 years ago during the Northern Wei Dynasty, it is one kilometer from east to west and the largest of its kind in China. The Grottoes consist of a series of 53 caves and over 51, 000 stone sculptures classified into three major categories. The stone carvings of the Grottoes, compactly structured, exhibit superb workmanship and a rich variety of themes.
- Nine Dragon Screen: built in 1392, supposed to have offered protection to the mansion of the 13th son of the first Ming emperor. This screen is said to be the largest one of its type in China and is 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high and 2 meters thick. It contains 426 pieces of glazed tiles. In ancient times, the screen served as a barrier by keeping passers-by from peeping into the house. It was also used for visitors to tidy themselves before meeting their hosts.
- Huayan Temple: named after the Huayan sect of Buddhism, built in the 11th century, it is one of the biggest temples in China. The temple is divided into two parts, the upper part with various halls, and the lower part which is smaller than the upper one but more interesting with 29 coloured clay figures made during the Liao Dynasty (907-1125AD) in its Bojiajiaocang Hall.
Accommodations: Yinhai Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Hanging Temple,Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County
Drive to the Wutai Mountain. On the way, visit the Hanging Temple and the Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County.
- Hanging Temple: 75km away from Datong, built about 1500 years ago at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, the temple is a structure that clings precariously to the side of the Mt. Hengshan range. Caves carved into the cliffs or along natural contours make up the rooms and walkways, and bridges connect the different halls. It is an immortal masterpiece of ancient architecture and a piece of crystallization of workmanship and resourcefulness.
- Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County: Standing 67.31 meters high, it is the only large wooden pagoda remaining in China and it is also one of the tallest of the ancient wooden buildings in the world.
Accommodations: Shanxi Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Wutai Mountain
Today you will visit a cluster of temples at Mt. Wutai, drive to Taiyuan later. Overnight at Taiyuan.
- Wutai Mountain: located in Wutai County, the Wutai Mountain is one of the country's four well-known Buddhist shrines; it is the only Chinese mountain mentioned in Buddhist scriptures, and the only mountain where both Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Lamaism are practiced. For hundreds of years, Wutai Mountain has been China's most sacred Buddhist ground, mainly because it was here that the highly revered Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Virtue, once lived and taught Buddhism. Wutai mountain is actually a cluster of five terrace-like peaks, hence the name Wutai (Five Terraces). It is cool and pleasant in summer, so the mountain is given another name: Qingliang (Cool and Pleasant) Mountain and it has been regarded as an ideal place for escaping summer heat since ancient times. In the quiet valleys between the peaks lay a few ancient temples, twisting trails and awe-inspiring views. Construction of the temples began in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) and lasted 1900 years. 76 temples remain in this area making it the largest collection of temples in China.
Accommodations: Lizeyuan International Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Jin Ancestral Temple,Qiao Family's Compound,Shuanglin Temple,Pingyao
Full day trip to the Jin Ancestral Temple, the Qiao's Grand Courtyard, the Shuanglin Temple. Arrive at Pingyao ancient town and check in your hotel.
- Jin Ancestral Temple: It was originally started in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 532 AD) to commemorate the memory of Shu Yu (Zhou Wu), the founder of the state of Jin.
- Qiao Family's Compound: is located 20 kilometers north of Pingyao, built in 1756 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This well-preserved and exquisite structure used to be the residence of a powerful trading family with significant commercial influence even beyond Shanxi Province. The Qiao family' influence on trade ended in the l940's. It was this mansion that was used as the setting for the famous film 'Raise the Red Lantern' directed by Zhang Yimou.
- Shuanglin Temple: having a history of more than 1500 years, the temple is famous for its 2,502 exquisitely painted clay figurines and statues of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and is famed as a "treasure-house of color sculpture arts".
- Pingyao: a small city with 2700 years old history, famous for its well preserved ancient city walls and streets. As it borders on the southern edge of the Taiyuan Basin and joins the Loess Plateau to the south along the banks of the Yellow River, it has been an important communication hub and a famous commercial center over the country in the old days.
Accommodations: On The Train
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Ming and Qing Street,Rishengchang Exchange Shop,Pingyao Ancient City Wall
Transfer via: Soft-sleeper train on our arrangement
Visit the Ancient City Wall, the Rishengchang Draft Bank, the Mingqing Street.after the tour in Pingyao then drive back to Taiyuan. Take evening train to next destination-Xian.the rest of the time is free by your own on the train.
- Ming and Qing Street: also called Nanda Jie is the main downtown thoroughfare and is well preserved in Ming and Qing style. This is one of the best places to explore ancient Chinese culture. You can see hotels offering traditional brick-oven beds and restaurants serving Pingyao's famous beef and shops selling a dazzling array of art wares. This bustling bazaar was the commercial centre during the dynastic periods with over 700 stores and shops. Most of these time-honored stores continue to thrive to today.
- Rishengchang Exchange Shop: Rishengchang means "sunrise prosperity," this shop is China's first bank and was originally established in 1823. Now converted into a museum, there are 21 buildings surrounding three courtyards. On either side of the front yard are the counters, main banking activities were carried out in the middle courtyard house, which functioned as an exchange center.
- Pingyao Ancient City Wall: first erected in the Zhou dynasty (827-728 BC) and last rebuilt in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD), it is one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China. With 12 meters high and 5 meters thick, a total length of 6.4 kilometers long, with 3,000 crenels and 72 watchtowers on the wall surrounded by moats, this stoic city wall played an important role in protecting Pingyao from invasions from the 14th to the 19th century which allowed the city to prosper.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Shaanxi Provincial Museum,Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will have city tour to the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
- Shaanxi Provincial Museum: opened in 1991, the largest comprehensive museum in the province. The museum exhibits over 3,000 historical relics which is just a fraction of their collection. Most of the exhibited items are rare treasures, showing you the splendid Chinese culture.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: regarded by many as a symbol of the city Xian, the pagoda was built in 652 A.D. in the Tang Dynasty to house the sutras brought back from India by the famous monk Xuan-zang.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Terracotta Warriors and Horses,Ancient City Walls ,Bell Tower
Special Dinner: Dumpling Dinner
Gala Event: Tang Dynasty Show
Today, you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses, after lunch, the Ancient City Walls and the Bell Tower. Complete the day with a savory dumpling dinner and the Tang Dynasty show both at Shaanxi Grand Opera Theatre.
- Terracotta Warriors and Horses: discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, this is one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century. These 6,000 life-size painted Terracotta Warriors and Horses --individually sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation have been protecting the mausoleum of the first emperor in Chinese history--Emperor QinShihuang for 2,200 years ago.
- Ancient City Walls : built during the 14th century on Tang dynasty foundations and they date from the Ming dynasty. The walls are the largest and best-preserved ancient fortress in the world. There is a gate in each of the four sides, and the gate towers built over each gate look lofty and magnificent and form a tight defence engineering system.
- Bell Tower: standing in the center of the city and built in 1582, the Bell Tower is a three-story wooden structure with traditional Chinese architectural features. It is so called because an iron bell is hung in the tower to give the correct time.
- Dumpling Dinner: Dumpling or Jiaozi in Chinese is a traditional and popular food in China, especially in the north. At the dinner, nearly 20 varieties of dumplings that are steamed and stuffed with different delicious fillings such as vegetables, meats and seafood are served. These dumplings are not only tasty, but also characteristic with their colors and fragrance, style and culture meanings. All these make the dinner so unique that you should not miss it when traveling in Xi'an.
- Tang Dynasty Show: the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was one of the most glorious dynasties in China's history, and Xi'an was the capital during the Tang Dynasty and called as Chang'an. Tang Dynasty Show is a performance of Chang'an music and dances in Tang Dynasty style laid out according to various historical records and ancient arts and relics discovered in Xi'an. During the show, the musicians present the music with the Tang-Dynasty-style musical instruments and the dancers dance by wearing a Tang-Dynasty-style robe with long white silk sleeves, and you will certainly enjoy this national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Be free until our guide meets and helps you transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon your arrival in Chongqing, you will be met and escorted to board Regal China.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Fengdu Ghost City
Departs Chongqing at 08:00AM. Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City.
- Fengdu Ghost City: constructed on the Mingshan Hill by the river bank, it is so called because of the legend which goes that about 1,700 years ago, two officials, Yin and Wang (the combination of their surnames means "Ghost King ") became Taoists here and eventually Immortals. Now with fantastic temples of underworld demons and gods, it shows the Chinese ghost culture and is a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Shennong Stream
Shore excursion to Shennong Stream by smaller vessels.
- Shennong Stream: a small tributary of the Yangtze River is 60 kilometers long and is famous for its picturesque scenery. Shennong Stream is beautiful and ancient. When you take a sampan drifting along it, which is not without risk yet exhilarating and a challenge to battle with the nature. You will be attracted and surprised by its crystal clear steam flowing swiftly from north to south through deep gorges, steep ridges and peaks, thick vegetation and wild flowers, flying birds and a plank road built along a cliff and ancient hanging coffins. Sweet love songs will be presented to you by the local ethnic people.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Three Gorges
Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site.
- Three Gorges: spanning the Yangtze at Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province, China. Construction began in 1994, and the 'Three Gorges Dam' is now the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The Dam will be 2,335 meters long, 18 meters wide, and its bottom will be 130 meters wide after completion in 2009. When completed, the water level will rise to 135 meters above sea level. The reservoir began filling on June 1, 2003, and it will occupy the present position of the scenic Three Gorges area, between the cities of Yichang, Hubei, and Fuling, Chongqing Municipality.
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Meals: B
Disembark the ship in Wuhan at 11:30AM and then you will be escorted Disembark the ship in Wuhan at 11:30 am and then you will be escort to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Autumn Scenery of Qutang Gorge
Accommodations: On The Train
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum,Yuyuan Market,Yu Garden,Jade Buddha Temple
Transfer via: Soft-sleeper train on our arrangement
Today, your full-day excursion of incredible Shanghai will include: Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market and the Jade Buddha Temple. you will be escorted to take overnight train to Huangshan.
- Shanghai Museum: often ranked as China's best museum, it is the biggest museum in China with a fine collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts.
- Yuyuan Market: outside the Yu Garden, a bustling market with different snacks and trinkets.
- Yu Garden: located in the Old Town of Shanghai and laid out in 1559 AD by a powerful Ming official, Yu Garden recreates a beautiful landscape of pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees and precious flowers.
- Jade Buddha Temple: named after its exquisite milk-white jade Buddha brought from Burma in the 19th century by a Chinese monk, it is a spiritual oasis in the midst of a modern metropolis.
Accommodations: Huangshan Media Hotel
Meals: L
Sightseeing: Hongcun,Xidi
Upon your arrival at city of Huangshan (Tunxi), our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The tour in the afternoon will bring you to Yixian County, 54km away from the city of Huangshan (about 1-hour drive), where you are going to visit two ancient villages--Hongcun and Xidi. Drive back to the city of Huangshan after the visit.
- Hongcun: a model of the ancient villages in China with the features of beautiful lake, first class old dwellings, peaceful streets and lanes, and the perfect natural background, where the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was partly shot. Hongcun was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty, about 900 years ago, by the Wang Clan. The layout of the village resembles the outline of an ox, hence it is popularly called as "Ox-shapedVillage". The early ox-shaped village came into being in the Ming Dynasty when Wang Siqi, their 76th generation ancestor, hired a famous fengshui expert He Keda as their advisor. His advice resulted in the construction of ponds and water channels flowing through nearly every household within the village so as to keep the "internal Yang (masculine) water" and assure for "eternal prosperity extending to all later generations". Due to the scientific construction, the buildings in the Hongcun are in great harmony with nature, showing the traditional Chinese philosophy that Nature and Man are one.
- Xidi: with a history of over 1000 years, Xidi is 700 meters from east to west, 300 meters south to north, 300 old dwellings in the village left from Ming and Qing Dynasties form the shape of a boat. Embraced in the mountains, abundant in resources and autarkic inhabitants who are accustomed to a life of leisure, all these make Xidi famed as "the reclusive utopian land".
Well preserved houses of Anciten time in Hongcun village
Accommodations: Beihai Hotel
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Mt. Huangshan
After breakfast, drive 80 kilometers (1.5 hour-drive) to Huangshan Scenic Area and take cable car at Yungu Station to the top of the mountain. After check-in and lunch, you will view Brush Pen Peak, tour Lion Peak and Xihai Grand Canyon, enjoy the sunset glow at the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, etc. Stay overnight at the summit.
- Mt. Huangshan: located in the southern Anhui Province, extending about 40km from north to south and 30km from east to west, the Huangshan Scenic Area is comprised of numerous peaks of various heights and grotesque rocks of different formation, and is well known for its extraordinary aesthetic mountainous features. Here we can find all of the beauties of nature, with its charm lying especially in its oddly-shaped pines, fantastic rocks, sea of clouds and hot springs--the four supreme sights on the mountain. The picturesque Mt.Huangshan has been a famed destination for scholars, poets and the occasional hermits in Chinese history, and has long been effusively described as "awesome," "a wonderland" and "Heaven on Earth."
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Meals: B,L,D
Transfer via: Internal flight on our arrangement
Try to get up early in the morning to catch the magical sunrise, after breakfast, descend first by foot down the western side of the mountain, along the way you will see Flying Rock, climb over the Brightness Apex--the second highest peak on Huangshan and Turtle Peak, pass Lotus Peak(climb it only when you feel energetic and strong enough)--Huangshan's highest peak, on the top of which offers panoramic views of Huangshan. After all the strenuous exercise, take the cable car at Yuping Station down to the foot of the Mt. Huangshan,our local guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival at Shanghai airport, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Zhouzhuang,Hall of Shen's Residence,Quanfu Temple,Twin Bridge,Ancient Memorial Archway
In the morning, drive to Zhouzhuang there you will pay a visit to the Ancient Memorial Archway, Quanfu Temple, the Hall of Shen's Residence and the Twin Bridge. Drive back to Shanghai the afternoon (about one-hour drive).
- Zhouzhuang: meaning Zhou's village was named after Zhou Digong in the Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) who donated more than 13-hectare of his land as the field for the Quanfu Temple. Famed as No.1 water village in China with a 900 year history, Zhouzhuang is an ancient town featuring great cultural traditions and unique architecture surrounded by water with many tributaries. You will visit stone bridges and old residences left from Ming and Qing Dynasties, where you can have a glimpse of particular charisma of Jiangnan(meaning south of Yangtze River).
- Hall of Shen's Residence: consisting of seven courtyards and five archways, it is the top of the residences with the unique local style of Jiangnan (meaning south of Yangtze River).
- Quanfu Temple: standing on the bank of the Baixian Lake, built in 1086 AD in Song Dynasty on the land donated by Zhou Digong, it is a good combination of Buddhist culture with architectural arts.
- Twin Bridge: indicating two bridges -- the Shide Bridge and the Yong'an Bridges which were built between 1513 and 1619 AD and connect with each other. One bridge is in the direction of north-south, while the other east-west with one square and one round opening. As they look like an ancient key, the twin bridge is also known as key bridge.
- Ancient Memorial Archway: an archway made of stone and standing upright at the junction of the old and the new town, it is the symbol of Zhouzhuang.
Ancient Memorial Archway, Zhouzhuang
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Children's palace,The Bund ,Oriental Pearl TV Tower,Nanjing Road
After breakfast, you will tour the Bund and the Nanjing Road, and then visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Children's palace.Enjoy a wonderful Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre tonight.
- Children's palace: a center for children to carry out their extracurricular activities. It arranges after-school education and recreation according to children's psychology and interest.
- The Bund : where the great trading houses and banks had their headquarters in the 1920s and the 1930s. The Bund is about about a mile long, it is the city's fulcrum.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: It stands opposite to the Bund in the Pudong area of Shanghai. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River, it is 468 meters high which makes it the highest TV tower in Asia and the third highest tower in the world. From the sightseeing floor, you can get a bird's eye view of the exciting city of Shanghai.
- Nanjing Road: known as "China's No.1 Shopping Street" with a huge selection of merchandise on sale.
Meals: B
Transfer via: International Flight on your own arrangement
Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your sweet home.
China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary 
Accommodations for 19 nights, including
12 nights at four star or higher hotels, 4 nights at five star yangtze cruise ship, 3 nights on the train
35 meals, including 17 full breakfasts, 13 lunches and 5 dinners
(including Dumpling Dinner)
1 gala evening events--Tang Dynasty Show in Xian 
Round-trip transfers---between airports, hotels and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned motor coaches with experienced drivers
A local English-speaking guide in each city
Entrance fees to scenic spots listed in the itinerary
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels
China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty insurance
Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers
A cluster of niches(Mid North Wet Dynasty), Yungang Grottoes
My family had an excellent time in Yunnan and Guilin. My parents still haven't talking about this trip, and all the things we saw, to our familys and friends. Every place we visited had its uniqueness that we will remember. In fact, there is no place throughout our trip which anyone of us could say we like the best.
- Soe Aung Lwin,USA
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