Day 1
Arrival into Beijing. Meet with our local guide and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free. Meal plan: n/a
Day 2
Visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace. Evening free. Meal plan: B, L
Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China. The name "Beijing" means "Northern Capital". It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions. The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", each rectangular in shape, which circle the metropolis.
Tiananmen Square in the Dongcheng District is the centre of Beijing and its most important landmark. It is the world's largest public square and a must see for all visitors to Beijing. The square is surrounded by grand buildings including the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of Chinese History, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Qianmen Gate and the Forbidden City. It is also home to the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Monument to the People's Martyrs. It is perhaps most famous however as the site of the infamous massacre of student activists by the Peoples Liberation Army in 1989.
The UNESCO heritage site of The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment. The Palace Museum is a veritable treasure trove of Chinese cultural and historical relics. Dating back to the 12th Century The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Its Chinese name, Yi-He-Yuan, translates as 'Garden of Nurtured Harmony'. As its English name implies, the Summer Palace was used as a summer residence by China's imperial rulers - as a retreat from the main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or 'Forbidden City') - a pleasure-ground in the countryside, yet near to the city.
Day 3
Visit the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and Sacred Road. Dinner at a famous Peking duck restaurant. Meal plan: B, L, D
The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. The Great Wall winds across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching more than eight and half thousand kilometres (5,500 miles) from east to west. With a history of more than two thousand years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared completely. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.
The Ming Tombs form the most extensive burial complex of any Chinese dynasty and are one of the finest preserved examples of 15th century Chinese art and architecture. The Ming Tombs, where thirteen Ming Dynasty Emperors were buried, were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August 2003. Closely associated with the Ming Tombs, the Sacred Road was originally built to lead to the Changling mausoleum. It was considered to be the road leading to heaven as Chinese emperors were known as the Sons of Heaven. After an emperor’s death, the funeral procession would pass along the Sacred Road as a symbol of the emperor's journey to the afterlife.
Day 4
Visit to a Chinese cooking school for a cooking class. Eat the dishes you learned to cook for lunch and visit the Temple of Heaven. Meal plan: B, L
Constructed between 1406 and 1420 during the reign of Ming Emperor YongLe, the magnificent and colourful Temple of Heaven (TianTan) was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would make offerings to heaven and pray for good harvests. The three main constructions of the Temple of Heaven lie on a central north-south axis and are surrounded by trees and gardens. Some of the trees here, mostly cypresses, are many hundreds of years old. The gardens are alive with locals practicing tai chi, playing instruments, board games and badminton, singing and dancing and flying kites.
Day 5
Transfer to airport for flight to Xian. Visit the Terracotta Warrior Army. Meal plan: B, L
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The collection was discovered by accident in 1974 at Xian, in China, when local farmers digging a well came upon some life-sized statues. The statues were buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and their purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife, and to ensure that he had people to rule over. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses - the majority of which are still buried in the pits. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found including officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.
Day 6
Visit the Ba Xian Taoism Temple, LouGuanTai temple and National Park. Pay a visit to the kitchen of the Taoism Temple. Meal plan: B, L
Ba Xian An Monastery (Taoist Temple of the Eight Immortals), as its name indicates, is mainly dedicated to the legendary Eight Immortals of Xian. It is the largest Taoist temple in Xian and is the most famous example of Taoist architecture in northwest China.
Lou Guan Tai temple is the most ancient temple where Taoism came into being. Chinese great thinker Lao Tzi once gave classes to his disciples in this place. The temple is set in Lou Guan Tai Forest Park which is among the oldest national forest parks in China, and is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life including pandas, monkeys and takin.
Day 7
Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Ancient City Wall. Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai. Meal plan: B, L
As the symbol of the old-line Xian, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Pagoda) is a well-preserved ancient building and a sacred place for Buddhists. Originally built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), one of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveller Xuanzang. His statue now stands in front of the temple area.
Xian's City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Started under the Tang dynasty (618 -907), it was extended to it current dimensions by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). After the extension, the wall now stands 12 meters (40 feet) tall, 12-14 meters (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 meters (50-60 feet) thick at the bottom.
Day 8
Visit Yu Garden and City ~God Temple, Jade Buddha Temple and Nanjing Road. Meal plan: B, L
Shanghai, with a population of more than 23 million (including over 9 million migrants), is the largest and most developed city in China, and far more Western-oriented than Beijing. Once a playground for foreign adventurers and socialites, today it is home-grown tycoons that build soaring monuments to capitalism and the locals party all night.
Yu (a.k.a. Yuyuan) Garden is a famous classical garden located in the Anren Jie district of Shanghai. It occupies an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres). Despite its small size the pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters all have unique characteristics. The centrepiece is the Exquisite Jade Rock, a porous 3.3-metre, 5-ton boulder. Rumours about its origin include the story that it was meant for the imperial palace in Beijing, but was salvaged after a boat carrying it sank off Shanghai. However hidden behind its modern exterior are ancient buildings, Buddhist temples and street food stalls.
Founded in 1882, The Jade Buddha Temple (Yu Fo Si) in Shanghai is famoua for its two magnificent white jade Burmese Buddha statues. Both depict Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha) but the most impressive of the two is the seated Buddha, 2 metres (6 feet 5 inches) tall, weighing 205 kg (452 lb) and decorated with semi-precious stones. The other statue is a serene and beautiful Reclining Buddha about 1 metre (3 feet 4 inches) long.
Nanjing Road (Nánjīng Lù) is the main shopping street in Shanghai, and is one of the world's busiest shopping streets. Nanjing Road is also the world's longest shopping district, around 6 km long, attracting over 1 million visitors daily. As a rough generalisation, Nanjing East Road (Nanjing Donglu) is more historical but these days a little more downmarket, whereas Nanjing West Road (Nanjing Xilu) is brash, modern and caters more to the status-conscious luxury shopper.
Day 9
Relaxed day. Visit local market with a local family to buy ingredients. Go to family home and learn to cook traditional Chinese recipe before dining together with the family. Afternoon free. Meal plan: B, L
Day 10
Transfer to Shanghai airport for onward flight. Meal plan: B
This trip can be run as required, please contact us for more information.
