Culture Roots and Routes

• Find out what kind of different exercises that local do to keep healthy in the Temple of Heaven, and join in them if you want to
• Have a private mask drawing lesson and try your hand at drawing the Beijing Opera mask with an experienced master
• Make a private drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu--the less-commercial section and enjoy an overlooking view of this winding man-made structure on the cable car (Round trip)
• Recall the 2008 Beijing Olympic Game in the Water Cube and Bird's Nest
• Get lost in fast-disappearing Hutongs by rickshaw and have a close contact with a courtyard family
• Experience the thick ancient air through a list of ancient buildings in the Pingyao Ancient Town
• Touch the past history of the Qin dynasty by visiting the Terracotta Warriors guarding the tomb of qinshihuang, the first emperor in China
• Experience China's fastest train at a speed of 350 km/h
• Visit the legendary Shaolin Temple--the cradle to the Chinese Kong Fu
• Stop at Shanghainese home nestled at a alley to explore an ingredient bazaar and cook lunch with them so as to soak in the commoner's lifestyle

Day 1: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, Airport to hotel transfer, welcome dinner, Free time

Day 2: Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Paint Beijing Opera mask, Beijing Opera

Day 3: Beijing
Great Wall at Mutianyu, A village visit, Water Cube, Bird's Nest, Peking Duck

Day 4 :Beijing - Taiyuan - Pingyao
Hutong tour by rickshaw, Traditional courtyard (Siheyuan), Private Museum of the Old Beijingners' Stuffs, Fly to Taiyuan and transfer to Pingyao

Day 5: Pingyao - Xi'an
Pingyao Ancinet Town, Take a night train to Xi'an

Day 6: Xi'an
Banpo Museum, Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Banquet

Day 7: Xi'an - Luoyang
350 km/h high-speed train ride to Luoyang, Tianzi Jialiu Museum, Luoyang Old Town

Day 8: Luoyang neighborhood - Shanghai
Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Fly to Shanghai, The Bund

Day 9: Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, World Financial Center, A vegetarian lunch in Longhua Temple, Temple of the Town Gods, Temple market, Yuyuan Garden, Acrobatic show

Day 10: Shanghai
A Shanghai family visit

Day 11: Depart Shanghai
Bid farewell to Shanghai and your China trip.