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13 Days Pingyao International Photography Festival Tour

Destination:Beijing, Pingyao, Shanghai, Taiyuan, Xi'an

Tour Code: CPT04

Tour Duration: 13 Days

Tour overview:
Pingyao, one of the ancient city that are well preserved, is known for its historical culture as well as Lijiang of Yunnan. In Pingyao you will be immerged in the old sights, e.g. Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Draft Bank, Ming and Qing Street, etc. And the best amazing highlights in China, including Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, Yuyuan Garden,the Bund… will be included within this tour for your remarkable photographing...

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Day by Day Itinerary

Tour Summary

Reviews

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Day 1

Beijing Arrival

Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement

Upon your arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.

Day 2

Beijing (B, L)

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City

Our morning photo-shoot will take place at the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.

Then move onto Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.

The afternoon is devoted to photographing the Forbidden City. Experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.

Day 3

Beijing (B, L)

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Summer Palace

In the morning we will visit the Summer Palace, Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called "Yiheyuan" (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. Until nowadays, it is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. You will regret it if you leave Beijing without having visited this grand imperial garden.

Then we will photograph the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium) and the National Swimming Centre(The Water Cube). Stay overnight near Jinshanling Great Wall.

Afternoon, we drive to Jinshanling and shoot the sunset over the Great Wall. Jinshanling Great Wall, located about eight kilometers (five miles) southeast of the Bakeshiying Township in Luanping County in Hebei Province, starts from the Wangjinglou Tower in the east and ends at Longyukou in the west; The 20-kilometer-long structure, although a bit smaller and narrower compared to Badaling Great Wall and Mutianyu Great Wall features complicated and well preserved fortifications systems and fantastic natural scenery. 

Day 4

Beijing to Pingyao (B, L)

Beijing to Pingyao (B, L)

Transfer Via: High speed train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: photo shoot Sunrise over the Great Wall, Hike along the Great Wall

If weather permits, this morning we will get up early to photograph the sunrise over the magnificent Great Wall. After sunrise photo shoot, we take a short hike along the Great Wall for some more photo opportunities.

Late afternoon, we will drive back to Beijing railway station to take high speed train to Pingyao.

Day 5

Pingyao (B, L)

Pingyao (B, L)

Sightseeing: Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Draft Bank, Ming-Qing Street

You will have a half day orientation tour of this ancient walled city to familiarize yourself with the venues of the photography festival. Visit to the Ancient City Wall in Pingyao Town located in the middle of Shanxi Province. First built about 2,700 years ago, it was expanded in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is the most well-preserved wall among the ancient historical and cultural cities in China, and also an early and largest city wall in Shanxi Province. The present city wall is mainly in the form and structure of Ming Dynasty, with a total length of 6.4 kilometers.

Rishengchang Draft Bank is a financial institute which appeared from Qing Dynasty, the earliest draft bank is Rishengchang Draft Bank, whose owner is the Li Family of Pingyao County of Shanxi Province. It was mainly devoted in handling remittance, money exchange, deposit, loan and other financial business. There were 35 branches in China's big and medium-sized cities. Its business covered Europe, America and Southeast Asia. And the Rishengchang Draft Bank had been the financial center of China for about 100 years.

The Ming-Qing Street is located in the South Street of the town. With a length of 440 meters, the street used to be the commercial center of Pingyao ancient city. The traditional and orderly-located shops of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are still well preserved. The cross-street Town House is the highest building of the city (18.5 meters high). On its top, you can take a whole view of the Ming–Qing Street. Walking along the street, tourists can get the first-hand experience of ancient China.

Day 6

Pingyao (B)

A free day to explore the photography festival （usually held in September each year), visit workshops and galleries or take your own shots.

Day 7

Pingyao (B)

A free day to explore the photography festival, visit workshops and galleries or take your own shots.

Day 8

Pingyao to Xi'an (B, L)

Pingyao to Xi'an (B, L)

Transfer via: High speed train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Jin Si

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Taiyuan, stopping off at Jinci Temple with time to view and photograph this fabulous old temple. Then continuing onto Taiyuan with free time until you catch the high speed train to Xi'an.

Day 9

Xi'an (B, L)

Xi'an (B, L)

Sightseeing: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower

In the morning, you will visit and photo-shoot the amazing 2000-year-old Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang in search of immortality, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors and buried with him to protect his empire after his early death.

Another highlight today is to photographing the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated at south of the Xi'an city, as one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple - Da Ci En Temple, where Famous Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his well-preserved collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of the Xi'an.

Then we go on to visit the Bell Tower, which is the most well-preserved and best-known one among many ancient cities of China. The Bell Tower was built in 1384. In early morning of ancient times it had the mission of ringing the bell and giving the correct time to the whole city, so it is called "The Bell Tower". With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant.

Day 10

Xi'an to Shanghai (B, L)

Xi'an to Shanghai (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi Provincial Museum

This morning, we will have photo-shots at Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and best preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world. If you want to, you can rent a bicycle for a ride on top of the spectacular city wall. The wall was built in the Tang dynasty (618-907) and enlarged in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Then we will move on to visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. It is a magnificent architectural complex in the Tang Dynasty style. The Museum possesses a treasure of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi, and it covers an area of 1,100 square meters for exhibition.In the afternoon, you will be transferred to airport for flight to Shanghai.

Day 11

Shanghai (B, L)

Shanghai (B, L)

Sightseeing: Yuyuan Garden, Old Shanghai, the Bund

Early morning arrival in Shanghai. You will be met and transferred to your hotel to freshen up.

Then, we will take a relaxing walk to the lovely Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Wandering through it, you will find pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural features.

Once entering Shanghai Old Street, you would feel returning to the bustling market of Shanghai 100 years ago when Shanghai was made the first open port. Here you can find the folk life style of old Shanghai, a miniature of old Shanghai Downtown Street. It is a characteristic street centered on tourism, shopping and culture-exhibition. Various old stores are gathered here: exchange shops, jewelry shops, taverns, tea houses, theatrical stages and business houses… Known as Fangband Road, it is always the "crowd corridor" with a total of 825 meters, being adjacent to the Yuyuan Garden Bazaar Area and runs in an east-west direction from Zhonghua Road to Henan Road South.

Afterwards, you will take a walk to the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund. They are among the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai and therefore a must-see when visiting Shanghai

Day 12

Shanghai (B)

Today is a free day for you to explore the metropolis by yourself. You can do some shopping as your like.

Day 13

Shanghai Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Your time is your own, until our guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Tour Dates Destinations Services Provided Meals Included
Day 1
Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, be met and transferred to your hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Wangfujing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Redwall Hotel
B L D
Day 2
Beijing

Our morning photo-shoot will take place at The Temple of Heaven , Then move onto Tiananmen Square . This afternoon is devoted to photographing the Forbidden City .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Wangfujing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Redwall Hotel
B L D
Day 3
Beijing

In the morning we visit the Summer Palace , and then we will photograph the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium) and the National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube') Beijing . Afternoon, we drive to Jinshanling Great Wall and shoot the sunset over the Great Wall. Stay overnight near Jinshanling Great Wall.
B L D
Day 4
Beijing/Pingyao

If weather permits, this morning we will get up early to photograph the sunrise over the magnificent Great Wall.
After photo shoot, we take a short hike along the Great Wall for some more photo opportunities. Late afternoon, drive back to Beijing and take high speed train to Pingyao.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Pingyao Yunjincheng Folk Hotel Hongshanyi Old Hotel, Pingyao Yu Feng Heng Hotel
B L D
Day 5
Pingyao

You will have a half day orientation tour of this ancient walled city to familiarize yourself with the venues of the photography festival （usually held in September each year). Visit the Ancient City Wall of Pingyao , Rishengchang Draft Bank and The Ming-Qing Street .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Pingyao Yunjincheng Folk Hotel Hongshanyi Old Hotel, Pingyao Yu Feng Heng Hotel
B L D
Day 6
Pingyao

A free day to explore the photography festival, visit workshops and galleries or take your own shots.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Pingyao Yunjincheng Folk Hotel Hongshanyi Old Hotel, Pingyao Yu Feng Heng Hotel
B L D
Day 7
Pingyao

A free day to explore the photography festival, visit workshops and galleries or take your own shots.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Pingyao Yunjincheng Folk Hotel Hongshanyi Old Hotel, Pingyao Yu Feng Heng Hotel
B L D
Day 8
Pingyao/Taiyuan/Xi'an

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Taiyuan, stopping off at Jinci Temple with time to view and photograph this fabulous old temple. Then continuing onto Taiyuan with free time until you catch the high speed train to Xi’an.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Hotel Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square Mercure on Renmin Square Xian Ibis Xian
B L D
Day 9
Xi'an

In the morning visit and photographing The Terracotta Army and Horses , the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Hotel Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square Mercure on Renmin Square Xian Ibis Xian
B L D
Day 10
Xi'an/Shanghai

In the morning, visit the Ancient City Wall and Shaanxi Provincial Museum . In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for flight to Shanghai.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 11
Shanghai

In the morning start the city tour to the Yuyuan Garden Old Shanghai, and strolling along The Bund .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 12
Shanghai

Free time.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 13
Shanghai

Free at leisure till be transferred to airport for your flight departure.
B L D

-NOTE:

1. Normally hotels allow a maximum of 3 adults per room with an extra bed, at extra charge. Some hotels will allow three adults and a small child.

2. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.

3. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.

Price Includes

A. Entrance fees：To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
B. Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary.
C. Private Transfers: Among airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the above cities by the private air conditioned vehicle.
D. Guide and Driver: As outlined in the itinerary, a well selected English-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
E. Hotels: Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
F. Luggage Transfers: Between airports and hotels.
G. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
H. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
I. Arrangements: The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Quick Questions

Our team is waiting for your questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions you might have about our China package tours, Chinese culture, or the sites available. We will gladly help you with any special needs you might have and all questions, like our trip designing is completely free of charge.