14 Days China Ancient Architecture and Culture Tour

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing: Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Beijing National Olympic Stadium
Day 4 Beijing: Panjiayuan Antique Market, Beijing Hutong, 798 Art Zone
Day 5 Beijing--Datong by flight: Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Monastery, Nine Dragon Scream
Day 6 Datong--Pingyao: Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wood Pagoda
Day 7 Pingyao: Qiao Family Courtyard, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming Qing Street
Day 8 Pingyao--Xi'an by bullet train: Wang's Courtyard, leave for Xi'an by train
Day 9 Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower, Tang Dynasty Dance & Music Show, Dumpling Banquet 
Day 10: Xi'an--Shanghai by flight: Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Big Goose Pagoda
Day 11 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar, Shanghai Musuem, Bund, Nanjing Road
Day 12 Shanghai--Suzhou by bullet train: Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill, Pingjiang Ancient Street, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory
Day 13 Suzhou-- Shanghai by bullet train: Tongli Water Town
Day 14 Departure Shanghai

Day 1

Welcome to China! Upon your arrival in Beijing, our Beijing local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". And you will be escorted to your hotel directly, our tour guide will help you check in, and the rest of the day is free on your own to recover the jetlag or expore the city.

Day 2

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel lobby.

Firstly, you will pay a visit for Tian'an men Square. It is the largest city plaza in the world. Tian'an men Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 1000000 people at one time. Tian'an men Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Tian'an men Square

Then walk into the Tian'an men you will meet the one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City, The Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, shares the honor of being one of five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia. The incomparable palace occupies an area of 720,000 square meters (177.9 acres) and has approximately 8,700 rooms. A high red wall with a total length of 3,400 meters (3,718 yards) encases the palace. 

Forbidden City

Your lunch will be arranged at the local famous Peking Roast Duck restaurant, taste the most famous duck in Beijing. Roast duck — or Peking Duck, as it's often known — has been served in Beijing for around 600 years, according to Liu. First served by palace chefs during the Ming dynasty, it has royal pedigree.

In the afternoon, continue your tour to Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was enlarged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of the Chinese people created in ancient times. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres). Emperors of the two dynasties used to worship the heaven and pray for rich harvests, as the feudal emperors thought they were the son of the heaven. 

Temple of Heaven

Next, you will visit Summer Palace. It first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886 – is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value.

Summer Palace

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 3

In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby. You will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall (around 1 hour for one way). 

There is an old saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Many of your friends who visited China before might have told you this. It is indeed an experience of life. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. It's known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. 

Mutianyu Great Wall

After lunch, you'll visit the Sacred Way, affiliated with the Ming Tombs, is a main attractions arranged for you. The Ming Tombs lie in Changping County, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest from the urban area of Beijing. It is actually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.  

Ming Tombs

After finished the visit of Ming Tombs, drive you back to Beijing downtown. On the way back to hotel, you will see the Olympic Green Park, constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Visit the National Stadium ( bird's nest & water cube from outside). Beijing National Stadium located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US$428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. 

Water Cube

"Water Cube" ( National Aquatics Center),  is one of the best venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, built with donations from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriot and overseas Chinese. It was chosen through public appraisals as one of “China ten big new architecture views” by The U.S. magazine "Business Weekly". 

Your dinner will be arranged at your hotel.

Day 4

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel.

Your first stop for today is Panjiayuan Antique Market. Panjiayuan market covers an area of 4.85 hectares of land and accommodates over 3,000 stalls. It is the largest antiques market of its kind both in China and Asia.Located at the southeast corner of the 3rd Ring Road in Beijing,it is the largest,most complete, cheapest and most popular market selling second hand goods and curios in China. There are so many types of goods in the market that it is like a museum. It is a heaven for buying and appreciating antiques, crafts, collectibles and decorations.

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Later, take you to Beijing Hutong alley and taking the rickshaw to experience the old life of Beijing. Hutong is a window into Beijing folk life. Nanluoguxiang Hutong area is one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing, is famous for its hutong and siheyuan courtyards. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise after 2008 Olympic Games. You will do a short walk along the authentic Beijing Hutong, which give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live. 

Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area

In the afternoon, you will visit 798 Art Zone. It is located in the Dashanzi area, to the northeast of central Beijing. It is the site of state-owned factories including Factory 798, which originally produced electronics. Beginning in 2002, artists and cultural organizations began to divide, rent out, and re-make the factory spaces, gradually developing them into galleries, art centers, artists' studios, design companies, restaurants, and bars. 

789 Art Zone

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 5

In the morning, our driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to Beijing airport for your flight to Datong. Once you arrived, our Datong local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". And you will start your tour directly.

The first stop is Yungang Grottoes. It represents the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. Yungang Grottoes has 252 caves and 51,000 statues, the Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design,constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art.

Yungong Grottoes

After lunch, you will visit Huayan Monastery, positioned at the heart of Datong old town and it is one of the most prestigious Buddhism temples across the country. The Huayan Monastery was erected during the Liao Dynasty and is an excellent example of architectures combining both Khitan and Han characteristics. The Monastery consists of two main structures, the Upper and Lower Huayan Monastery.

Huayan Temple

Continue your tour to Nine Dragon Screen. Nine Dragon Screen was built over 600 years ago, is presently the oldest and largest glazed screen in China today. It is three times larger than that in Beihai Park , Beijing City. The screen, built for the thirteenth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), has been well preserved and remains intact to this day.

Nine Dragon Screen

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Datong.

Day 6

In the morning, our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel.

Today, you will visit Hanging Temple, also Hanging Monastery or Xuankong Temple. Hanying Temple was built into a cliff near Mount Heng in Hunyuan County, Datong City.The temple was built more than 1500 years. Along with the Yungang Grottoes, the Hanging Temple is one of the main tourist attractions and historical sites in the Datong area.

Hanging Temple

Afterwards, drive about another 1 hour to Yingxian County, you will have lunch at a loacal restaurant.

After lunch, you will pay a visit for Yingxian Wood Pagoda. Yingxian Wood Pagoda was built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty (916–1125),75km from Datong. It is the oldest all-wood pagoda in China, as well as the only Buddhist temple that was totally built with wood.It is also called Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple. It is the tallest all-wood pagoda in the world.

Yingxian Wood Pagoda

Later, you will be transferred to Pingyao Ancient City. Your dinner will be arranged at a local Chinese restaurant after arrived in Pingyao. After dinner, drive you to your hotel, our tour guide will help you check in.

Day 7

In the morning, our tour guide will drive you to Qiao Family Courtyard. Qiao family were among many successful businessmen in Shanxi, who later spent their fortune to build the luxury courtyards with the traditional Chinese building art.It is a huge courtyard with 6 large courtyards and 19 smaller courtyards. The estate covers 9000 square meters with 313 rooms. Architects think it to be one of the refined existant examples of private residences in northern China.It has been turned into a folk museum.

Qiao Family Courtyard

After lunch, you will explore the Pingyao Ancient Town. SIn the Piangyao Ancient Town, you can explore Rishengchang Exchange Shop,was established in 1823 of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it is the first private financial organization of China majoring in deposit schemes, loans and remittance services. The headquarter was situated at Pingyao old town with an area of 1,600 square meters; its 35 plus branches are widely spread all over China mainly in those big commercial cities. The business lasts 108 years, playing an important role in the development of civil economy and industries.

Pingyao Ancient Town

Then take a walk along the Ming Qing Street. It was founded in the year of 1856 and went out of business in the year of 1913, is also called South Street and had been the most prosperous business hub of Pingyao County since ancient times. Along the street, architecture of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1616-1912) are here and there. In June, 2009, it was designated as the first batch of Renowned Chinese Cultural-Historic Street.

Ming Qing Street

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Pingyao.

Day 8

In the morning, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby. 

Our tour guide will take you to Wang's Courtyard. Wang's Courtyard is a rare example of vintage Chinese civilization handed down through the ages. Built by the Wang family of Jingsheng in Lingshi County, descendants of the Wang family of the city of Taiyuan some 150 kilometers to the north and one of the four prominant merchant families of Shanxi Province during the Qing (CE 1644-1911) Dynasty, the compound is an unsurpassed masterpiece of Chinese residential architecture from the Qing Dynasty period.

Wang's Courtyard

After lunch, drive you to Pingyao train station for your bullet train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, our Xi'an local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of train station with a welcome sign "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel directly.

Day 9

In the morning, our guide will meet you at the pointed time. Your tour in Xi'an included the following attractions.

Firstly, drive you to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum(around 40 minutes), it known as "the eighth Wonders of the world", the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century. Up to now, there has discovered a total of 179 accompanying burial pits of different connotations and various shapes in Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum area. 

Terracotta Warriors

Your lunch is arranged at local Chinese restaurant that serves authentic Xi'an cuisine. 

After lunch, you will Bell Tower, which is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and the best-preserved one in China. The Bell Towers located in the center of the ancient city of Xian, are two of its most famous symbols.

Contunie to visit the Muslim Quarter. It is a fascinating area where you can find exotic food, interesting people (some of the residents are still look like their Arabian cousins) and great souvenir stalls. You can taste many authentic Islamic snacks, like beef or mutton Rou Jia Mo (Chinese Hamburger), northwestern style noodles, Yangrou Paomo and many other attractive snacks that will not make you disappointed. The restaurants and eateries here are serving their food in budget prices. 

Muslim Quarter

After finished the day tour, you will enjoy Xi'an Dumpling Banquet as dinner in Shaanxi Grand Opera House. It's a must for visitors to try the delicious dumplings. While tasting those dumplings, customers will be astonished by the cooks' smart cooking methods include steaming, boiling, pan-frying, deep frying, and roasting. It seems that all of the indigenous meat and vegetables can be used for the dumplings' stuffing, such as pork, mutton, beef as well as celery, radish, cabbages, etc. Nowadays, by the cooks' continuously improving, the dumpling has been one of the local best foods to entertain visitors from home and abroad...

Dumpling Banquet

After dinner, you will enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Dance & Music Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian.

After finished the show, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 10

In the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel. 

Today, you will visit Xi'an Ancient City Wall. As one of the UNESCO's World Heritage Site, Xi'an Ancient City Wall was built in the 14th century, under the regime of Emperor Zhuyuanzhang in Ming dynasty, had the function of protecting the cities or towns as military defense systems in ancient China. Xi'an Ancient City Wall is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls.

Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Next, visit the Big Goose Pagoda. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda attracts numerous visitors for its fame in the Buddhist religion and its simple but appealing style of construction. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve. 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 traveler Xuanzang.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After lunch, transfer to Xi'an airport and you fly to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our Shanghai local guide will pick you up at the exit of airport with a signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 11

In the morning, drive you to visit Shanghai Museum. It houses a comprehensive collection that perfectly showcases the Middle Kingdom’s millennia old history. Spread over five floors, covers most of the major categories of Chinese art with a collection of 12, 300 pieces in 21 categories of valuable cultural relics.

Shanghai Museum

Next you will visit Yuyuan Garden. It not only regarded as best private garden in Shanghai but also the best in southeast China.The garden enjoyed a history over 400 years since its first establishment by Pan Yunduan who had intended to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives. 

Later walk to Yuyuan Bazaar, where are many small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.It is an ideal place for you to find some specialists.

Yuyuan Garden

After lunch, drive you to the Bund area. The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. When you come here, you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions and know why Shanghai is glorified as "Paris of the East". There are a number of attractions in the area, such as Shanghai World Financial Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Park, Century Boulevard, Jinmao Tower etc. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai.

Shanghai Bund

Your final stop for today is Nanjing Road, another highlight of Shanghai. Nanjing Road is a shopping paradise as well as a ideal place tootake a wonderful walk to explore the modern atmosphere of the city.

Drive you back to your hotel after dinner.

Day 12

In the morning, our driver will meet you at your hotel and drive you to Shanghai train station for your bullet train to Suzhou. Upon arrival, our Suzhou local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of train station with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". 

The first stop is Lingering Garden. It is one of the four most famous gardens in China with plenty of exquisite halls in various sizes, shapes and colors, possessing Qing style. If you want to savor a natural beauty in a man-made garden? Lingering Garden (Liu Garden in Chinese),such a famed garden with delicate designed architecture, featured shaped stones and idyllic scenery, can satisfy your needs. As one of the Four Famous Garden, Lingering Garden will give you a visual treat. 

Lingering Garden

Next to Tiger Hill, one of the most renowned tourist destinations in Suzho.However, this tourist attraction site comprises nearly a dozen of historic and cultural relics to see, including Tomb of King He Lu, Yunyan Pagoda, Sword-testing Stone, the Thousand Men Rock, and the Sword Pond. The millennium-old Tiger Hill Yunyan pagoda stands on the top of the hill and is considered as the symbol of Suzhou.

Tiger Hill

After lunch, you will have a lesuire time to walk along the ancient street- Pingjiang Ancient Street. With the length of 1,606 meters, Pingjiang Road parallels with Pingjiang River. The typical houses of ancient Suzhou with white walls and black tiles are standing by the street, simple and unsophisticated. Today, the old town of Suzhou centred around Pingjiang Road in the northeast, remains little changed since Song Dynasty, some 800 years ago.

Pingjiang Road

The last stop for today is Suzhou No. 1 Silk Factory. Suzhou has a long and rich history of silk culture, including mulberry tree and silk worm cultivation and turning raw silk into beautiful fabric. The Suzhou No. 1 Silk Factory more like a museum which shows you how the silk is made from cocoons from the beginning and the whole silk process.

After dinner, drive you to your hotel in Suzhou.

Day 13

After breakfast, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel. You will be transferred to Tongli Water Town, it takes around 1 hour for one way. 

Tongli water town is an aged town located a short drive from Suzhou, which is about a hour drive outside of Shanghai. Tongli water town is over 1000 years old and has only recently been changed into a tourist attraction. The town is characterized by stone bridges and well preserved ancient architecture including private gardens, temples and houses. 

Tongli Water Town

Firstly, pay a visit for Retreat and Reflection Garden, a traditional Suzhou-style garden. Built in 1885, it joined Suzhou's other classical gardens in 2001 in becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In spite of the garden's similarities to other standard Suzhou-style layouts, the east-west axis is unique for the region. Your private guide will accompany you along the way, introducing the varied and unique features. 

Next, move on to Luo Xingzhou, a small island town at the heart of Tongli Lake. Regal housing and gardens and ancient bridges and walkways merge to create a magical isle. Cruise the tranquil waters in a traditional wooden boat, taking in the river's vistas before wandering the island town. 

Tongli Water Town

After lunch, go to Chongben Hall to explore its intricate collection of wood carvings inspired by the folklore of the Yangtze River Delta. You will also walk around Jiayin Hall, a traditional mansion constructed in 1912. Scattered with engravings depicting "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", a seminal Chinese novel, the complexity and precision of the craftsmanship and carvings in this mansion are simply astounding. 

Afterwards, go for visiting the Three Bridges. Tongli has more than 50 bridges, however the three most popular are the Taiping, Jili, and Changqing bridges. When celebrating milestones such as births, weddings or birthdays, locals will cross the bridges and pray for health, happiness, and future prosperity. As you walk the bridges, your guide will explain their folklores while you take in the scenery. 

Tongli Water Town

Free on your own for a while until our tour guide take you to Suzhou train station to catch your train to Shanghai. Our Shanghai driver will take you to your hotel in Shanghai once you arrived in Shanghai.

Day 14

Today is free on your own to explore Shanghai with your camera until our driver transfer you to the airport. And your 14 days China Architecture Culture Day Tour come to the ends. Have a pleasant trip!

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All  transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharing one standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels, Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered 6. Admission Fee: All first admission/entrance fee     s in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.