Hidden Treasures of the North - 13D/12N

photo courtesy of Chinese Tourist BoardChina, one of the countries with the longest history in the world, China lies in the eastern part of Asia to the west of the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of about 9.6 million square kilometers, almost the size of whole Europe, taking the 3rd place in the world. China has land boundaries totaling over 20,000 kilometers, some 5,000 kilometers across from east to west, spanning over 60 longitudinal degrees and with 4 hours difference. It is 5,500 kilometers from north to south, spanning over 50 latitudinal degrees. Most of the area lies in the North Temperate Zone. While still a world of ice and snow in the northeast, spring is already in the air south of the Yangtze River. It is even greener in the country of Guangdong and Guangxi areas. Chinas coastline totals over 18,000 kilometers, embracing more than 5,000 islands of varying sizes.

Beijing, capital of China, lies in the northern part of the North China Plain, covering an area of 16,800 square kilometers with a population of 9.23 million. It is the nation’s political, cultural and communication centre and one of the world’s famous ancient cities, with a history of over 3,000 years. It has been the provisional capital of the Liao dynasty and capital of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, totalling over 700 years. It has a large number of historical relics and beautiful gardens, such as the magnificent Great Wall (Badaling), the resplendent architectural complex of the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, the Ming Tombs and the Lama Temple, etc., which have always been tourist attractions for both Chinese and foreign visitors.

Included: Accommodation with meals as indicated in the programme. Transfers and tours as indicated with services of an English-speaking guide in each city. Entrance fees. Soft seat train ticket Beijing/Datong. Domestic air tickets Taiyuan/Xian/Shanghai and domestic airport taxes.

photo courtesy of Chinese Tourist BoardAccommodations
Standard Hotels
BEIJING: NOVOTEL PEACE
DATONG: HONG’AN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
TAIYUAN: SHAN’XI GRAND HOTEL
PINGYAO: HONGSHANYI HOTEL
XIAN: GRAND MECURE ON RENMINSQUARE
SHANGHAI: FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON DANING

Superior Hotels
BEIJING: SOFITEL WANDA
DATONG: HOANG’AN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
TAIYUAN: TRADERS HOTEL
PINGYAO: YUNJINCHENG HOTEL
XIAN: SHANGRI-LA
SHANGHAI: WESTIN ON THE BUND

photo courtesy of Chinese Tourist BoardItinerary

  • DAY 1 BEIJING - Arrive Beijing International Airport. Meet and greet by your guide and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Beijing.
  • DAY 2 BEIJING (B L D) - Visit the Forbidden City, Tian’an Men Square and Summer Palace. (Boat cruise is included if weather permits) Lunch in local restaurant. Beijing Roast Duck Dinner. Overnight in Beijing.
  • DAY 3 BEIJING (B L D) - Visit Great Wall at Badaling and Ming Tombs at Changling. Peking Opera show in the evening. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Beijing.
  • DAY 4 BEIJING-DATONG (B L) - Visit Shichahai Hutong tour with lunch in local family. Transfer to station for TRAIN to Datong K615 (14:57-20:50) soft seat. Lunch lunch in local family and dinner in own arrangement. Overnight in Datong.
  • DAY 5 DATONG (B L D) - Visit the Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple and Nine-Dragon Screen. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Datong.
  • DAY 6 DATONG-MT. WUTAI (B L D) - By road to Hunyuan (75 km, about 1.5 hours). Visit the Hanging Temple. Continue to Yingxian (50 km) and visit the Wooden Pagoda. Continue to Mt. WuTai (150 km). Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Wutai.
  • DAY 7 MT. WUTAI/TAIYUAN (B L D) - This morning explore the Wutaishan area with its magnificent temples : Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple and Pushading Temple. After lunch, continue by coach to Taiyuan (about 250 km). Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Taiyuan.
  • DAY 8 TAIYUAN/PINGYAO (B L D) - In the morning, drive to Pingyao (110 km, about 1.5 hours). Enroute, visit the Qiao Family Grand Courtyard and Shuanglin Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage Site. PM: Visit the ancient city of Pingyao, also listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour includes city wall, West Street and “Rishengchang” Remittance Bank. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Pingyao.
  • DAY 9 PINGYAO/XIAN (B L D) - Transfer to Taiyuan airport (about 2 hours drive) for FLIGHT to Xi’an CZ6469 (1040:1140). Visit the Great Mosque and the Muslim quarter in the afternoon. Lunch in local restaurant. Dumpling Banquet Dinner. Overnight in Xi’an.
  • DAY 10 XIAN (B L D) - Visit Terra-cotta Army Museum, Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. Lunch in local restaurants. Have Tang Dynasty dinner show in the evening. Overnight in Xi’an.
  • DAY 11 XIAN/SHANGHAI (B L D) - Transfer to airport for FLIGHT to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the visit the Bund and Nanjing Road. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Shanghai.
  • DAY 12 SHANGHAI (B L D) - Visit Shanghai Museum (with audio guide), and then take a free walk in Xintiandi. In the afternoon, visit the Yuyuan Garden and leisure time in the Old Town Bazaar area. Evening Shanghai acrobats performance. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Overnight in Shanghai.
  • DAY 13 SHANGHAI (B) - Transfer to airport for homebound flight. End of services.

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Also tagged with: Asia, China, Educational, Cultural, Art / Architecture, Culinary / Wine Discoveries, Religion, Photography


Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

Insure My Trip We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.