Ancient China & Watercolor Lake

In this 11 day journey, you will experience the ancient capitals in different dynasties. The history air is still has a tight grip on those places, well revealing in the ancient wonder-- Great Wall, the time-worn Pingyao Ancient Town, the time-honored Terracotta Warriors plus the old Longhua Temple. It is also a good chance for those who want to delve into the Chinese history.

  • Engage in the exercise that local do to keep healthy in the Temple of Heaven
  • Have a private mask drawing lesson and try your hand at drawing the Beijing Opera Masks with an experienced master
  • Challenge Great Wall at Mutianyu -- the less-commercial section and enjoy an overlooking view on the cable car(Round trip)
  • Explore a local village where the residents are still living off the land and visit a family to know their common life and enjoy a delicious farmhouse meal
  • Get lost in fast-disappearing Hutongs by rickshaw and have a close contact with a courtyard family
  • Soak in the thick ancient air through a list of ancient buildings in the Pingyao Ancient Town
  • Touch the past hisitory of the Qin dynasty by visiting the Terracotta Warriors in the tomb of qinshihuang, the first emperor in China
  • Learn about the Chinese medicine in a museum of Hangzhou
  • Savor a vegetarian meal in the Longhua Temple
  • Stop at Shanghainese home nestled at a alley, explore an ingredient bazaar and cook lunch with them to soak in the commoner's lifestyle

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing
Airport to hotel transfer

Day 2: Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Draw Beijing Opera Masks, Beijing Opera

Day 3: Beijing
Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car, Sancha village, Bird's Nest (National Stadium), Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), Peking Duck

Day 4: Beijing - Taiyuan - Pingyao
Hutong tour by Rickshaw, Private Museum of Old Beijingners' Stuffs, Fly to Taiyuan and transfer to Pingyao

Day 5: Pingyao - Xi'an
Half a day of exploration tour in Pingyao Ancient Town, Rishengchang Draft Bank, Mingqing Street, Ancient City Wall, Night train to Xi'an

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

Day 7: Xi'an - Hangzhou
Fly to Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Tea Plantation, Six Harmonies Pagoda

Day 8: Hangzhou - Shanghai
Strolling or cycling along the West Lake, Boating on the Lake, Huqingyu Tang (Chinese Medicine Museum), Hefang Old Street, a train trip to Shanghai

Day 9: Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, World Financial Center, a vegetarian lunch in Longhua Temple, Temple of the Town Gods, the bazaar around the temple, Yuyuan Garden, Acrobatic show

Day 10: Shanghai
A Shanghai family visit

Day 11: Farewell Shanghai

Vivid Terricotta WarriorsA Peek into the Pingyao Ancient TownTranquil Riverside Scene Hangzhou