14-day Ancient China Heritage Wonder Tour

Day 1Arrival/Beijing

Upon arriving in Beijing, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or explore Beijing on your own.

Day 2Beijing

In the morning, after you have had breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to The Forbidden City. Built over 500 years ago, it is the largest imperial palace complex in the world. It never fails to awe visitors with its grandeur. You will then be driven to one of Beijing's premiere, the Yuanhou Silk Factories, where you will learn about the history of Chinese silk and witness how it is turned, from a simple cocoon into shimmering fabric. You will then be driven to the Summer Palace. The largest Chinese imperial garden, it was the summer home of the Emperor and his family. It is a magnificent place filled with surprises.

Special cultural experience: In the evening you will be taken to enjoy a Peking (Beijing) Duck Banquet at the oldest and most famous Peking (Beijing) Duck restaurant in China.

Day 3Beijing

After you have had breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to The Great Wall (Badaling Section). No amount of photos can prepare you for the majesty of The Great Wall. After visiting The Great Wall, you will be driven to the Sacred Road. The road leads to the Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is lined with huge ancient marble statues of animals, mythological creatures, and government officials.

Day 4Beijing/Pingyao (Overnight Train)

In the morning, after having breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to the Temple of Heaven. The temple of heaven was where China’s Emperors would go each year to pray for good harvests for the whole country. You will then be driven to two of the 2008 Beijing Olympics'Venues. You will visit the Water Cube and Bird's Nest stadiums. After you will be driven to take a rickshaw ride through the labyrinth of Beijing's Hutongs. They will give you a glimpse into what life was like in old Beijing. In the evening you will then be driven to the train station to board your comfortable overnight train to Pingyao.

Day 5Pingyao

After you took off your train your local guide will meet you and take you to have breakfast for local food. You will first visit the Qiao Family's Mansion. Built by successive generations of the Qiao family, this mansion is one of the most opulent in China. It was used as the backdrop for many movies including the famous “Hang the Red Lantern”. After visiting the mansion you will be driven to Pingyao's Ancient City Wall. Used as a defensive network for the city, the gates and gate towers are very impressive. You will then be driven to the Rishengchang Exchange Shop. The shop was essentially China's first bank and the shop is in a fantastic state of preservation including its secret vaults which held their client's gold. After visiting the exchange shop you will be driven to the Ming and Qing Street. Lined with ancient architecture, this street shows visitors what shopping was like during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Day 6Pingya/Xian (Overnight Train)

In the morning, after you have had breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to Pingyao's Shuanglin Temple. Built over 1,400 years ago, the temple is famed for its more than 2,000 sculptures which represent the height of artistry in the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty. In the evening you will take on your nighttrain for the 1st class softsleeper to Xian.

Day 7Xian

After you took off your train your local guide will meet you and take you to have breakfast. Then you will be driven to visit the incredible Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, you will appreciate Chinese calligraphy and stele culture at Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

Optional: In the evening you will be taken to an amazing Jiaozi (Dumpling) Feast followed by the Tang Dynasty Show, which bring the pageantry and music of the ancient Tang Dynasty to life.

Day 8Xian/Shanghai

After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to the Shaanxi History Museum to discover Xian's amazing history. You will then be driven to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Housed in a huge temple complex, the ancient pagoda was built to house Buddhist Sutras brought to China from India. After visiting the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival in Shanghai, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to your hotel.

Day 9Shanghai

In the morning after having breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to the Yuyuan Garden, the only ancient traditional Chinese garden left in Shanghai. You will then stroll through the streets lined with traditional styled architecture of the Yuyuan Market located outside the garden and get a glimpse into the local's lifestyle. After take a quick visit to a medicine factory then visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower to get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from within its unique architectural orbs. Also visit the Shanghai History Museum on the first floor of the TV tower where you can see old Shanghai people's life style. After visiting the tower, you will stroll along The Bund, known as a museum of Western architecture, and the nearby Nanjing Road, the No.1 shopping street in China.

Day 10Shanghai/Huangshan

In the morning after having breakfast in your hotel, you will go to visit the famous Jade Buddha Temple. Your local guide will then escort you to the airport for your flight to the city of Huangshan. Upon your arrival in Huangshan City, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax.

Day 11Huangshan

In the morning after having breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain. You will take a cable car to the top of the mountain. You will then check into your hotel and have lunch. After lunch, you will begin your unforgettable tour of the mountain. You will first visit Brush Pen Peak, followed by Begin to Believe Peak. You will be truly awed by the beauty of Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain, its ancient pines, bizarre rock formations and flora and fauna. You will then climb to the Xihai Grand Canyon, perhaps the most beautiful section of the mountain. In the evening you will watch the sun set from the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion.

Day 12Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain

In the morning your guide will waken you early to catch Huangshan's magical sunrise. You will then have your breakfast in the hotel before continuing your tour of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). You will pass Flying Rock, Brightness Apex, and Turtle Peak before taking the cable car down the mountain, where your car will be waiting. You will then be driven back to the city of Huangshan to visit the Ink Stick Factory which will demonstrate for you how China's famous inks were created using natural ingredients. These inks are used in traditional Chinese paintings. You will then visit the Tunxi Ancient Street before checking into your hotel for the evening.

Day 13Huangshan/Xidi/Hongcun/Shanghai

After having breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi. These two ancient villages have remained virtually untouched for centuries and their unbelievable architecture and feng-shui design never fails to enchant visitors.Then you will be transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. You Shanghai local guide will be waiting for you at the airport and then transfer you to hotel for rest.

Day 14Shanghai/Departure

Today after have breakfast in your hotel you will be free to pursue your personal activities until being escorted to Shanghai airport for your flight to your next destination.