8 days China Local Culture and Spring Festival Tour
- Trip Highlights: The best part of this tour is to truly experience the original atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year in these most traditional Chinese cities. Fireworks, temple fairs, lantern fairs, folk arts, abundant cultural events from imperial-style traditional rites to folk ceremonies, you name it and you will find it and you see the best through out China. Not to mention visiting the world-renowned history and culture heritages in these old Chinese cities that is always exciting and inspiring.
- Tour Route: Beijing (China's Capital)
Taiyuan (Capital of Shanxi)Pingyao (An Ancient City)Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors)
- Tour Code: COT-B-008-P1
- Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
- Starts/Ends: Beijing/Xian
- Trip Type: Promotional Tours, 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:
- Visit ordinary families to spend a real Chinese New Year, eat New Year feast, light fireworks, paste red couplets, and a lot more cultural experience.
- Attend a New Year lantern fair held on the Ancient City Wall of Xian, and marvel at the life-size Terracotta Warriors, 8000-strong underground army guarding the First Emperor's mausoleum for more than 22 centuries.
- Participate in various Spring Festival events in Pingyao, the best preserved ancient town in China, for the most original ambience of Lunar New Year.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive / Beijing
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel 
Upon arriving 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, or step out for an adventure on your own in this amazing metropolis that has been dressed up for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Day 2 Beijing (B,L)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world, followed by the magnificent Forbidden City, which is the largest palace structure in the world and the place where China's emperors ruled for over 600 years. In the afternoon, you will marvel at Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven, where China's emperors annually went to pray for a good harvest. The decorations for Spring Festival will make these amazing places ever more inspiring.
The amazing Summer Palace in winter looks more elegant and special.
The amazing Beijing opera and the sacred Temple of Heaven show you the real China.
Day 3 Beijing (B,L)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Great Wall, Sacred Road
You will visit to the magnificent Great Wall (Badaling section) and Sacred Road. Be free after your day tour and explore the how Chinese people celebrate the New Year during the night. Light fireworks and mix with locals, be part of the Spring Festival.
Day 4 Beijing / Taiyuan (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Shanxi Hotel
Sites visited: Hutongs
After breakfast, you will visit some of Beijing's Hutongs by traditional rickshaw. Lunch will be served in one of the local's house during the tour. You could feel the family atmosphere of Spring Festival in real life of Chinese people. In the afternoon you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Taiyuan. Upon your arrival at Taiyuan, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your comfortable hotel.
Day 5 Taiyuan / Pingyao (B,L)
Accommodations: Hongshanyi Old Hotel
Sites visited: Pingyao, Qiao Family's Compound, Pingyao Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming and Qing Street
In the morning, drive to Pingyao (2-hour drive), pay a visit to Qiao Family's Compound en route. After checking in the hotel in Pingyao, enjoy a tour including the Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming, and Qing Street. You will have some free time to explore this old city's traditional New Year events and activities, which are famous through out China.
The massive Qiao Family Compound is full of the festive atmosphere.
You could see many Chinese red couplets and lanterns in the Ming and Qing Street.
Day 6 Pingyao / Taiyuan / Xian (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Shuanglin Temple, Jinci Temple, Twin Pagoda Temple
After breakfast, you will be taken to Shuanglin Temple before heading back to Taiyuan, visit Jinci Temple and Twin Pagoda Temple before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out to discover what this amazing city has to offer.
Day 7 Xian (B,L)
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Ancient City Walls, Bell Tower, Terracotta Warriors and Horses
You will visit the amazing life-size Terracotta Warriors in the morning. After lunch, you will visit Xian's ancient Bell Tower. If your tour date fits, in the evening, you will pay a visit to the Ancient City Walls where will be holding a New Year Lantern Fair.
You could see thousands of auspicious red lanterns on the extraordinary Ancient City Walls.
Terracotta Warriors and Horses - Chinese first emperor's underground army afterlife.
Day 8 Xian / Departure (B)
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
Sites visited: Big Wild Goose Pagoda
After breakfast, you will tour Big Wild Goose Pagoda before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to the next destination.
Price & Included Features
- China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
- Accommodations: for 7 nights at four star hotels in comfortable twin-bedded rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar.
- 13 meals: 7 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 0 dinners
- Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers
- A local English-speaking guide in each city
- Entrance fees to all 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
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. Detail
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. Detail
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. Detail
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.
