13-day Essence of China Tour (2012)

Shanghai - Zhengzhou - Shaolin Temple - Luoyang - Xi'an - Beijing

Scroll down to bottom for departure dates, prices and hotel list.

Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
Depart home city and cross the International Date Line.

Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive in late afternoon and transfer to hotel upon meeting your guide.  

Day 3/Wed: Shanghai
Our sightseeing today begins with a walk on the Bund, a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. We then visit Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden and the bazaar at the Temple of Town God. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Thu: Shanghai - Zhengzhou
Free morning to explore on your own. Afternoon flight to Zhengzhou. With a history dating back to Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1100 BC), Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan Province and boasts a population of close to 4.5 million. (B/L/D)

Day 5/Fri: Zhengzhou
Our schedule today includes Henan Museum, Yellow River Scenic Area and the Shang Dynasty Ruins. Zhengzhou's most notable cultural institution is the Henan Museum, one of China's most important museums. The huge quantity of impressive exhibits ranges from prehistoric times, including dinosaur bones, up through the Qing Dynasty. (B/L)

Day 6/Sat: Zhengzhou - Shaolin Temple - Luoyang
After breakfast we drive 80km to legendary Shaolin Temple. Shaolin is a Chan (Zen in Japanese) Buddhist monastery at Song Hill (Song Shan). It was built by Emperor Xiao Wen in 477 AD and the first abbot was an Indian dhyana master who came to China in 464 AD to spread Buddhist teachings. Long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu, it is perhaps China's best known Mahayana Buddhist monastery to the Western world. Later this afternoon we continue on to Luoyang (60km). (B/L/D)

Day 7/Sun: Luoyang
Morning visit to the magnificent Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating as far back as 493 A.D., the grottoes house a huge collection of ancient Buddhist sculptures carved out of cliffs on both sides of the Yi River. Afternoon sightseeing takes in Luoyang Folklore Museum and 20-century-old White Horse Monastery. (B/L)

Day 8/Mon: Luoyang - Xi’an
Travel to Xi'an by air-conditioned express train departing at 10:06 AM, arriving in Xi'an in less than 2 hours. The 387-km daytime train journey, which cuts through highly cultivated farmland on the Loess Plateau, serves as a good introduction to crops grown in Northern China. Afternoon sightseeing at the Grand Mosque and Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History. The modern, well-organized museum was completed in 1992 and traces the history of Xi'an from prehistory to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The extensive galleries and exhibitions offer the visitor an excellent introduction to the area that greatly improves understanding of the numerous historical sites in and around the city. (B/L/D)

Day 9/Tue: Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity. Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. A stroll on the ancient wall before dinner is also on our schedule. Tonight we enjoy a spectacular music and dance show reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), a period generally considered a golden era of the Chinese civilization. (B/L/D)

Day 10/Wed: Xi'an - Beijing
We travel to Beijing by morning flight. Beijing is China's political and cultural centre, having served as the country's capital for several dynasties over many centuries. Beijing is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates. Its art treasures and universities have long made the city a centre of culture and art in China. The city ranks second to Shanghai by population (22 million).

Afternoon sightseeing in Beijing includes the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square.  (B/L/D)

Day 11/Thu: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall at Mutianyu, 70km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. (B/L)

Day 12/Fri: Beijing
Today we visit the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, Jingshan Park and a traditional neighbourhood known as hutong - a narrow alleyway lined with courtyard residences. We wrap up the day with a sumptuous Peking Roast Duck farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 13/Sat: Returning Home
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board return flight departing in the afternoon. Cross the International Date Line and arrive home the same day. (B)

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Hotel list
City	Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou
Zhengzhou	2	Crowne Plaza Zhengzhou
Luoyang	2	Lee Royal Hotel Mudu
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Beijing	3	Crowne Plaza U-Town

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