Ancient & Martial China

Day 1 Beijing

Upon your arrival at Beijing, your private tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to take a good rest or just wander around your hotel to get familiar with the local situation.
D


Day 2 Beijing

Get up early and we would go to the Temple of Heaven to enjoy the morning exercise. In the early morning, the locals do morning exercise there where you can join in many interesting activities like practicing Taichi, kicking a shuttlecock, flying a kite and so on. Then let's have a walk at Tiananmen Square before getting into the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is living textbook telling stories about the imperial life in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Learn to draw a Beijing Opera mask with your private teacher when you can increasing your understanding of the subtleties of performances. Time permitting, you can pick up something typically Chinese on a shopping street. In the evening, enjoy Beijing Opera which would delight your eyes and ears.
B, L


Day 3 Beijing

Today we go to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for its less-crowded, less-commercialized and yet more beautiful. For your convenience, a scenic round trip by cable car are offered to you an easy access to the wall. Still, please wear your skid proof outdoor shoes to make sure you can have a comfortable walk. In a nearby village, savor a tasty farmhouse lunch and have a look at the unrepaired section of Great Wall in a distance. If interested, you could climb up it to experience this section with your guide. We drive back to visit the 2008 Olympic stadiums- Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center). At the end, the tiredness of a whole day touring will be expelled by a feast of Beijing roast duck.
B, L, D


Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

Today, let's pay a visit to the local flower and pet market --Guanyuan Market to catch the life interest of the locals (or visit Panjiayuan Market at weekend -- a market for all kinds of old stuffs). Visit fast-vanishing Hutong by rickshaw to catch the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people and make dumplings with a local family to feel the hospitality of Chinese. Especially, the Private Museum of the Old Beijingners' Stuffs in the Hutong trip will unveil to you the past lifestyle of the Beijingners. Say Goodbye to Beijing, we fly to another ancient city --Xi'an. Optional visit to the Giant Music Fountain of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square is recommended if you're still eager for more exploration.
B, L


Day 5 Xi'an

The trip to the Banpo Museum shows the ancestors' life in prehistoric time before we go to see the Terracotta Warriors. Face to face with the amazing and the life-size Terracotta armies in the museum, you can also watch a short film about the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors. Tour the Shaanxi History Museum to learn about the history of Xi'an as a capital of ten dynasties. All of these will give you a memorable experience of long history. Then we'll climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to enjoy a bird eye view from it. This evening's Dumpling Dinner will live up to your expectation of the gourmet's paradise.
B, L, D


Day 6 Xi'an - Luoyang

Ride a bike around the broad City Wall to recall the historical vicissitudes. The Great Mosque, located in the Muslim Quarter, will provide you a tranquil oasis to shelter from the tumultuous bazaar and a glimpse into the Muslim customs. Also the Gao's Courtyard, a well-preserved architecture of the courtyard will unveil you the past luxury life of the local wealthy family and enjoy a "shadow puppet" play which is a traditional performance originated over 2000 years ago. Depart Xi'an and board a 350-km-per-hour high speed train to head for another ancient city-- Luoyang.
B, L


Day 7 Luoyang neighborhood

Today's trip includes the Longmen Grottoes and the Shaolin Temple. Compared with Mogao Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes were carved into the cliff walls on the banks of the river. And it represents the apex of Buddhist cave art in China. Drive to the famous Shaolin Temple, the home and origin of Chinese Kung Fu. It's an exciting place to see authentic Chinese Kung fu and you may learn some basic Kong Fu actions from a martial expert. Contrast to the heavy history flavor in the former destinations, the modern vigorous metropolis-- Shanghai is our next destination after a flight transfer.
B, L


Day 8 Shanghai

Learn the history of Shanghai in the Shanghai Museum and have an all-embracing view from the top floor of the new Shanghai landmark--the World Financial Center. Then we visit the tranquil Longhua Temple and try its vegetarian dishes which are good to your health. If you're not full enough, then indulge yourself in the dizzying variety of Shanghai snacks in a nearby market after visiting the Temple of the Town Gods. We also won't miss the Yuyuan Garden, a garden full of exquisiteness for your detailed eye! A stunning and incredible acrobatic show will end today's trip.
B, L


Day 9 Shanghai

Be a Shanghainese in a host family. You can buy cooking ingredients with the host in a local market and learn cooking Chinese cuisine under the guidance of your host family. And you can also engage yourself in the colorful community activities with the locals. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.
B, L


Day 10 Depart Shanghai

Nestle into your luxury seat of the maglev train (the fastest train in the world) to go for your departing plane at lightning speed!
B


  • B: Breakfast
  • L: Lunch
  • D: Dinner