17 days China Ancient Culture Discovery Tour
- Trip Highlights: China's 5000 thousand years long history has always been mysterious and irresistible for people to discover. This tour is calling you to find the answer. Get deep into the heard of the origin of China’s civilization, you are going to be overwhelmed by its splendor. Visit China's most impressive historic site such as imperial palaces and gardens, ancient universities, military constructions, temples and mausoleums, you will find out what made China one of the greatest empires in the history.
- Tour Route: Beijing (China's Capital)
Datong (Yungang Grottoes)Mt.Wutaishan (Sacred Buddhist Mountain)Pingyao (An Ancient City)Taiyuan (Capital of Shanxi)Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors)Luoyang (Longmen Grottoes)Dengfeng (Shaolin Temple & Kungfu)Zhengzhou (Capital of Henan)Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis)
- Tour Code: COT-B-020-B
- Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
- Starts/Ends: Beijing/Shanghai
- Trip Type: Culture and History Journey, Special-themed Tours
- Activity Level: Regular itinerary, Moderate walking
- Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
- Special Experiences:
- Get to know the origin of Confucianism and China's ancient educational system, and understand the foundation of Chinese social norms
- See the diversity of Chinese ancient architecture that are brilliant in creativity and sophisticated in artistic expression
- Marvel at Buddhist temples and Grottoes, being inspired by their holiness.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Beijing
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel 
Upon your arrival at the Beijing airport, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover from jetlag.
Day 2 Beijing (B,L)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Lama Temple(Yonghe Lamasery), Confucius Temple and Guozijian, Longing Pearl Store
On this day you will first visit Tiananmen Square followed by the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will visit the tranquil Lama Temple, Pearl Store, the Confucius Temple and Guozijian.
Day 3 Beijing (B,L)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Great Wall, Ding Tomb, Sacred Road
Today you will have a visit to the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section), followed by a tour of the Ding Tomb of the Ming Tombs and the Sacred road.
The mystic stone lion is guarding the Lama Temple.
The stone statues of animals in the Sacred Road were made to protect the emperor afterlife.
Day 4 Beijing / Datong (B,L)
Transfer via: Train arranged by China Odyssey Tours (about 6 hours)
Accommodations: Hong'an International Hotel
Sites visited: Temple of Heaven
After breakfast, you will visit Beijing's spectacular Temple of Heaven and enjoy watching the locals doing their morning exercises before being escorted to the railway station for your train to your next destination-Datong. Upon your arrival at Datong, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Day 5 Datong (B,L)
Accommodations: Hong'an International Hotel
Sites visited: Nine Dragon Screen, Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple
The excursion today will bring you to Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple and the Yungang Grottoes.
Day 6 Datong / Mt. Wutaishan (B,L)
Accommodations: Yindu Resort
Sites visited: Hanging Temple, Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County
In the morning, drive to Hunyuan County to visit the most spectacular Hanging Temple, and then drive to Yingxian County to see the Wooden Pagoda, continue your bus journey to Wutai Mountain (about 2 hours drive). Stay overnight at Wutai County.
The amazing Yungang Grottoes is a good place to learn Chinese Buddhism culture.
The majestic Wooden Pagoda is regarded as "the first pagoda in the world".
Day 7 Mt. Wutaishan / Taiyuan (B,L)
Accommodations: Shanxi Hotel
Sites visited: Big White Pagoda, Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit) Temple, Wanfu Temple (Wuye Temple), Wutai Mountain, Xiantong Temple
Today's excursion around Wutai Mountain will include Xiantong Temple, Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit) Temple, the Big White Pagoda in Tayuan Temple and Wanfu Temple (Wuye Temple). Enjoy a Buddhist Vegetarian lunch. After the tour, drive about 4 hours to Taiyuan, where you will stay overnight.
Day 8 Taiyuan / Pingyao (B,L)
Accommodations: Hongshanyi Old Hotel
Sites visited: Jinci Temple, Twin Pagoda Temple, Qiao Family's Compound
Tour Jinci Temple and Twin Pagoda Temple before the drive to Pingyao (2-hour drive), pay a visit to Qiao Family's Compound en route. Stay overnight at Pingyao.
Day 9 Pingyao / Taiyuan (B,L)
Accommodations: Shanxi Hotel
Sites visited: Ming and Qing Street, Pingyao Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Shuanglin Temple, Wang Family's Compound
Today, you will enjoy a city tour in this old area including Wang Family's Compound, Shuanglin Temple, the Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming and Qing Street before your transfer to the railway station for your train back to Taiyuan. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Wutai Mountain has been China's most sacred Buddhist ground.
Qiao Familys Compound - one of Shanxi's wealthiest merchant's home during the dynastic China.
Day 10 Taiyuan / Xian (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Big Wild Goose Pagoda
On this day you will be free until your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Xian.Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda before taking you to your hotel.
Day 11 Xian (B,L)
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Ancient City Walls, Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Jade Gallery
You will visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors in the morning. After lunch, you will visit the Ancient City Walls, Jade Gallery and the Forest of Steles Museum.
Day 12 Xian / Luoyang (B,L)
Transfer via: Train arranged by China Odyssey Tours (about 5 hours)
Accommodations: Luoyang Peony Hotel
Sites visited: Huxian County
After breakfast, you will travel to Huxian County to see the farmers painting before your guide escorts you to the railway station for your train to your next destination-Luoyang. Upon your arrival at Luoyang, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses -China's first emperor's underground warriors afterlife.
Huxian County is the most beautiful country of Xi'an and renowned for its modern folk painting.
Day 13 Luoyang / Dengfeng (B,L)
Accommodations: Shaolin international hotel
Sites visited: Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, White Horse Temple, Songyang Academy, Star Watching Observatory
The excursion in Luoyang will bring you to Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple, and then head for Dengfeng(70km away and about 1-hour drive), where you are going to visit Songyang Academy and the Star Watching Observatory. Overnight at Dengfeng Town.
Day 14 Dengfeng / Zhengzhou (B,L)
Accommodations: The red Coral Hotel
Sites visited: Forest of Dagobas, Shaolin Temple
In the morning, enjoy the tour with the visits to Shaolin Temple, especially its Forest of Dagobas and the stunning Shaolin Kungfu Performance. After the tour, you will be driven to Zhengzhou.
Day 15 Zhengzhou / Shanghai (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Sites visited: Henan Provincial Museum, Yellow River Scenic Area
The tour today will bring you to the Yellow River Scenic Area and Henan Provincial Museum before the transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination-Shanghai. Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out into this amazing city for an adventure on your own.
Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Chinese martial arts and the famous Shaolin Kungfu.
The surprisingly beautiful Yellow River Scenic Area attracts a good number of tourists every year.
Day 16 Shanghai (B,L)
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Sites visited: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, French section
Today you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which chronicles Shanghai's past, present and future. Later you will take a stroll through Yu Garden, and after get a taste of Shanghai's local life in the Yuyuan Market. You will later visit the Old French Concession Streets to see the old French style villas located there.
Day 17 Shanghai / Departure (B)
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
Sites visited: Jinmao Tower, Nanjing Road, The Bund, Jiangnan Silk Workshop
After breakfast, you will walk down the Bund along the Huangpu River and visit Nanjing Road and Silk Workshop, and then get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the Jinmao Tower. After, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Yuyuan Market is an ideal place to buy Chinese souvenirs and taste the delicious local snack.
The beautifully illuminated Bund in the modern metropolis of Shanghai.
Price & Included Features
- China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
- A. Entrance fees of the scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
- B.31 meals: 16 full breakfasts, 15 lunches and 0 dinnersExceptions: If the western breakfast is not available in some of the hotels, breakfast would be either Chinese breakfast or Chinese and western breakfast.
- C. Hotel: for 14 nights at four star hotels in comfortable twin-bedded rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar.2 nights at guest house offers the best lodging available in the area. Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds or a king size bed; all hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast; please note double bed room is on request basis which is subject to Hotel's availability and re-confirmation upon check-in.*Service, room facilities and breakfast might be not up to standard in some remote areas.
- D.Transportation:Flights as listed in the itinerary (airport tax and fuel fee included), economy class. Train as listed in the itinerary.
- E. Sightseeing: As outlined in the Itinerary will be escorted with English-speaking guide; Service of local guide and van is for a maximum of 8 hours during the full day individual tour packages.*Please note that our English-speaking guide and driver provided for you in each city or area will not fly with you from one city to another.
- F. Private Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in each city or area by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and English-speaking guide as listed in the itinerary.
- G. Service Charge (the planning, handling, operational and communication charges) & Government Taxes.
- H. Luggage Transfers between airports, trains and hotels.
Accommodation
Beijing - Jianguo Garden Hotel
A Four-Star International Hotel, Jianguo Garden Hotel is located in the heart of Beijing. It is located on bustling Chang'an Street, located near the well-known Shopping street of Wangfujing and just a few minute's drive to historical Tourist attractions such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Datong - Hong'an International Hotel
The Hong An International Hotel is situated in Datong, Shangxi province where famous tourist attractions like the Yungang Buddhist Grottoes, the Hanging Temples and the Wooden Pagoda Tower are located.
It is a standard 4 star hotel in Wutaishan.
Shanxi Grand Hotel is the first 4-star hotel in Shanxi province, located in the corner of the Yingze Street and Xinjian Road in Taiyuan, which is luxurious hotel accessible to international guests.
Pingyao - Hongshanyi Old Hotel
The hotel is situated nearby the South gate of the ancient city. Covering an area of more than 10mu, it is regarded as an advanced foreign-related tour hotel which combines dining, accommodation, sightseeing, health care, Operatic Art, and business, conference together.
The Grand New World Hotel in Xian is rated as one of the outstanding 4 Star Hotels in Xian in China. The hotel offers a host of amenities and facilities. It stands out among the other 4 star hotels due to its superior deliverance in customer satisfaction.
Luoyang Peony Hotel is a standard four star hotel in Luoyang.
Dengfeng - Shaolin international hotel
Shaolin International Hotel lies in the center of Deng Feng city----the world- famous "Mountain SongShan Shaolin, the holy place for martial arts", 58 km to the west of the capital of Henan-zhengzhou.
Zhengzhou - The red Coral Hotel
Red Coral Hotel is the four-star modern and intellient business hotel assembled accomodation,food and beverage. It is located between the Railway Station and Erqi Square which is the center of this city.
Shanghai - Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
The Four-star Holiday Inn Shanghai is strategically located with easy accessibility to shopping and tourist attractions. Combining a central location with excellent service and facilities, the Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai is an ideal choice for visitors to Shanghai.
Meals
Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Breakfast - Each breakfast will be served in your hotel. Breakfast selections include both Chinese and Western dishes to meet every diner's taste.
Lunch - Lunches are normally arranged at the Chinese restaurants near the scenic spots. Your tour guides will order food according to your appetite. Most are Chinese dishes, and some are modified to fit westerners' tastes. A complimentary glass of beer or soft drink is served with lunch.
Dinner - Same as lunch. If you prefer to not eat Chinese food, China Odyssey Tours suggests you have dinner on your own. Your local tour guide can recommend some good western restaurants in the area.
Transfer and Transport Service
China Odyssey Tours has received wide recognition for its transfer service. With our on-time service, you will never feel alone while traveling through China. We work hard to live up to the slogan's promise "You are not alone in China".
With our private small group tours, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will enjoy flexible tour arrangements and you will have your own tour guide, car and driver in each destination, exclusive to your own group of friends or family.
