16 Days China Central Plains Culture & Taoist Sanctuary Explore Tour
Destination:Beijing, Luoyang, Shanghai, Shiyan, Wuhan, Xi'an, Zhengzhou
Tour Code: CWHT02
Tour Duration: 16 Days
- Tour overview:
- Taking you to some of the best sites listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, this tour of China will surprise and delight you. You will see China’s imperial palaces in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, the Longman Grottoes in Luoyang, the Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, the Taoist Shrine in Wudangshan, the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, and so much more. This itinerary is filled with surprises and is one that you will never forget.
Tour Summary
Day by Day Itinerary
Reviews
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Tour Dates | Destinations | Services Provided | Meals Included | ||||||||||||||
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Day 1 |
Beijing
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Arrive in Beijing, be met and transferred to hotel.
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Day 2 |
Beijing
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Full day visit Tiananmen Square Forbidden City The Temple of Heaven
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Day 3 |
Beijing
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Full day visit Badaling Great Wall Ming Tombs The Sacred Way exterior visit to Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium) National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube') Beijing feel free to take some photos of the stadiums.
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Day 4 |
Beijing/Xi'an
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In the morning, visit Hutong Tours in Rickshaw Summer Palace .Then be transferred to airport for flight to Xian, arrive in Xian, be met and transferred to hotel.
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Day 5 |
Xi'an
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Full day visit The Terracotta Army and Horses Big Wild Goose Pagoda Bell Tower
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Day 6 |
Xi'an/Luoyang
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In the morning,visit Ancient City Wall Shaanxi Provincial Museum Farmers' Painting in Hu County .After the tours, you will be transferred to train station and take train to Luoyang. Arrive in Luoyang, be met and transferred to hotel.
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Day 7 |
Luoyang
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Full day visit to The Longmen Grottoes The Baima Temple
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Day 8 |
Luoyang/Zhengzhou
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Today we will drive to Zhengzhou, on the way visit Shaolin Temple (including Shaolin Kungfu Show).
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Day 9 |
Zhengzhou
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Visit Yellow River Scenery Area
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Day 10 |
Zhengzhou/Shiyan
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Be met and transferred to railway station to take train to Shiyan. When you arrive at Shiyan, you will be met and transferred to Wudangshan, check in the hotel.
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Day 11 |
Wudangshan
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Leave hotel for Taoism Shrine, Visit the Taoism Shrine.
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Day 12 |
Wudangshan/Wuhan
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Drive to Wuhan by car, check in the hotel.After a rest then visit Guiyuan Temple
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Day 13 |
Wuhan/Shanghai
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Visit Yellow Crane Tower Hubei Provincial Museum then be transferred to airport for your flight departure. Arrive in Shanghai, be met and transferred to hotel,
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Day 14 |
Shanghai
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Full day visit The Bund Nanjing Road Yuyuan Garden Jade Buddha Temple
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Day 15 |
Shanghai
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Full day visit to Shanghai Museum Oriental Pearl TV Tower Shanghai French Concession
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Day 16 |
Shanghai
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Free at leisure till be transferred to airport for your flight departure. |
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-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.
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Day 1
Beijing Arrival
Transport via: 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)
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
World Heritages Sites included Today: Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of 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
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of
From here we will walk across the
Day 3
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way
World Heritages Sites included Today: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors.
On the way back to hotel, you will be driven to visit the main 2008 Beijing Olympic venues, take an exterior visit of both the, Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium), National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube'),feel free to take some photos of the stadiums.
Day 4
Beijing TO Xi'an (B, L)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Hutongs, Summer Palace
World Heritages Sites included Today: Summer Palace
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw this morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.
We will continue by visiting 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. Later that day you will take the flight to Xi’an. After your arrival there, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
Day 5
Xi'an (B, L)
Sightseeing: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower
World Heritages Sites included Today: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Today you will experience the highlights of Xi’an. After breakfast, you will depart you’re your hotel. You will visit 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, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors in search of immortality. After his early death they were buried with him to protect his empire.
Another highlight today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated in the south of Xian city, it is one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple-Da-Ci-En Temple. There, the well-known Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of Xian.
Then we will go on to visit the Bell Tower, which is the best-preserved and best-known one among many. The Bell Tower was built in 1384. In early mornings of ancient times it had the mission of ringing the bell and giving the correct time to the whole city, hence called "The Bell Tower". With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant.
Day 6
Xi'an to Luoyang (B, L)
Transfer via: Train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi History Museum, peasants’ painting in Huxian county
In the morning we will visit the Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the 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 History 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
Then dirve to see the famous Huxian county and enjoy the local peasants’ painting and other culture there.Then you will take train to Luoyang. After you arrived in Luoyang, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
Day 7
Luoyang (B, L)
Transfer via: Train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Longmen Grottoes, Baima Temple
World Heritages Sites included Today: Longmen Grottoes
In the morning you will drive to Longmen Grottoes, located near Luoyang. They are a treasure house of ancient Buddhist cave art. The grottos were hewed and carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), when the rulers relocated their capital at Luoyang near the end of the 5th century. At that time Buddhism was spreading east into China and was venerated by the imperial court. The Buddhists adopted the practice of carving rock temples, dedicated to the Buddha.
Then you will visit the Baima Temple, which is one of, if not the, oldest Buddhist Temple in China. From the outside, the Baima Temple looks as if it houses the common collection of ornaments, decorated with cartoon style colors and images that are so prevalent in many of China's cities. However, this is in fact one of the most impressive and truly holy temples in the entire province.
Afterwards you will be transferred to the railway station to take the train to Zhengzhou. Arrive at Zhengzhou, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 8
Luoyang to Zhengzhou (B, L)
Transfer via: Private Vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shaolin Temple
In the morning you will drive to Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple, in the region of Song Mountain, Dengfeng City, is reputed to be 'the Number One Temple under Heaven'. The temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin Martial Arts such as Shaolin Cudgel. One can see wild flowers and pines on the mountain. With birds singing and a brook spattering, a beautiful scene full of life and vitality is revealed to the visitors.
Afterwards you will be transferred to Zhengzhou.
Day 9
Zhengzhou (B, L)
Sightseeing: Yellow River Scenic Spot, Shangcheng Relics Site (Shang Dynasty Ruins)
After breakfast, you will first visit the Yellow River Scenic Spot. The Yellow River scenic area is located 30 km northwest of Zhengzhou City, it is bounded by the Yellow River, according to South Mountain. Mountain is covered with green trees here, matched Pavilion, a beautiful and scenic.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Shang Dynasty Ruins. Located in Zhengzhou of Henan Province, the ruins of a Shang Dynasty city are a large site featuring the Erligang Culture of the Shang Dynasty. After the foundation of the Shang Dynasty, its capital was relocated eight times. This site is presumed to be Aodu (Capital Ao) to which Zhong Ding (a Shang Dynasty Emperor) moved his capital, or Bodu (Capital Bo) where Emperor Tang of Shang lived. This city is square in shape, with a city wall of 7 kilometers in perimeter. In the northeast of the city, several sites of rammed soil foundations have been discovered. These sites used to be palace areas. There are also pottery making, bronze casting and bone processing workshops and tombs scattered in and out of the city.
Day 10
Zhengzhou to Shiyan to Wudangshan (B)
Transfer Via: Train & Car on our arrangement
After breakfast, you will be transferred to railway station to take train to Shiyan. Upon arriving at Shiyan railway station, you will be met and then be transferred to your hotel in Wudangshan. Check in the hotel.
Day 11
Wudangshan (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Wudangshang
World Heritages Sites included Today: Wudangshang
After breakfast visit the most famous Taoist mountain in China. A full day tour of Mt. Wudang include: Heavenly Pillar Peak, Golden Hall, Taihe Temple, Southern Crag Palace, Purple Clude Palace etc.
Wudangshan Mountain scenic area is located in the northwest part of Hubei Province. It is linking eastward with Xiangfan city, a famous cultural and historical city in China, and facing the massive Danjiangkou Reservoir, which is the water source of South to North Water Project. And behind it is the Shennongjia virgin forest area. It is one of the world cultural heritages issued by UNESCO and one of Chinese key scenic areas. It is the famous Taoism Mountain and cradle-land of Wudang Boxing. The main peak of Wudangshan Mountain is Tainzhu Peak with the altitude of 1612 meters.
Day 12
Wudangshan to Wuhan (B, L)
Transfer via: Car on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Guiyuan Temple
After breakfast transfer to Wuhan. Upon your arrival in Wuhan, you will be transferred to your hotel in Wuhan for Check in .
In the afternoon, visit the Guiyuan Temple. This Buddhist temple was built at the end of the Ming and early Qing dynasties, with a history of approximately 400 years. "Guiyuan" in Chinese means achieving sainthood and becoming a Buddha. In this temple, many works of art such as a number of valuable Buddhist images and steles have been preserved. The arhat hall contains 500 goldpainted wooden statues of Buddhist monk-saints, no two are the same.
Day 13
Wuhan to Shanghai (B, L)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum
Today we will have a visit to the famous Yellow Crane Tower. Enjoying the fame of 'The First Scenery under Heaven', it is one of the most renowned towers south of the Yangtze River. Its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan City.
Later we'll visit the Hubei Provincial Museum. Since 1953, the museum has collected over 200,000 cultural relics, including pottery, porcelains, jade, bronze vessels, ancient weapons, and ancient musical instruments. Among these cultural relics, 812 are listed as first-class relics of China, and 16 are considered national treasures.
After the tour our guide will escort you to the airport for your flight Shanghai.
Arriving in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide. The rest of the day will be free for your own purposes.
Day 14
Shanghai (B, L)
Sightseeing: Nanjing Road, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple
In the morning 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.
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.
Finally we head to the Jade Buddha Temple. The old-time and classical architectural style makes the temple unique and inimitable in this modern city. Both, the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are carved with whole white jade. If you're lucky, you can watch the monks serving a ceremony in a side room.
Day 15
Shanghai (B, L)
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Oriental Pearl Tower,former French Concession
Today you will visit Shanghai Museum which is the biggest museum of China. It incorporates a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics and is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy.
After lunch, we will visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV Tower in Asia, which creates a picture of 'twin dragons playing with pearls'. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors all year-round.
Visit the former French Concession, characterized by beautiful,tree-lined streets and weathered European architecture. Then finish the tour today.
Day 16
Shanghai Departure (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Today will be free for your own purposes, until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.

I hope this letter finds you well. We finally arrived home from our trip last Thursday the 17th. As promised I am writing to you about our experience in China and we thank you very much for your organizing. On the whole we had a wonderful time and were very well looked after by both guides and drivers we would especially like to thank Linda and Cynthia which we would highly recommend. They both gave really excellent service in every way including punctuality, information and restaurants that were chosen for lunches, the food was delicious. The cruise on the Huangpu River was cancelled because of bad weather which couldn't be helped so the guide offered us an Acrobatic Show which we enjoyed very much. We had a lovely time on day 3 to Tongli water town. Our stay in China was wonderful. Best regards, Kathleen Pam
- Booking Code:VOC-20190905-S
- Tour Starting Date:Thursday, 5 September 2019
- Client's information:Kathleen & Pam, Australia
Dear Molly, Hope you have been well. We will be returning to Singapore in a couple of hours. Would like to commend on the tour guides, drivers and accommodation that VOC has arranged for us. The guides and drivers are very professional,very helpful, thoughtful, caring and experienced. They practised good ethics as well. We definitely have a wonderful touring experience and I will definitely recommend your company to my friends. Regards, Mrs Wee
- Booking Code:VOC-20190605-M
- Tour Starting Date:Wednesday, 5 June 2019
- Client's information:Chew Huay Huay, Singapore

Hi Sandy, Thank you for a great first tour together. I appreciate that it was a big commitment for you to be away from your office family for such a long time. I know you would have missed your young son a lot. I am also very grateful for your huge personal effort that you put into the detailed planning. The local guides were all great - Sally, Amanda Benny. Regarding the itinerary, I think we have an excellent itinerary for the beginning and the end, but the middle of the tour needs to be changed. Thank you again for all your excellent work. I look forward to visiting you in your home town for our first Tibet tour in August 2020. Jo I might travel up one day ahead of the group to meet you and have dinner with you. Best regards, Brod
- Booking Code:VOC-20190528-S
- Tour Starting Date:Tuesday, 28 May 2019
- Client's information:Brod, Australia
Van and I thought you put together a wonderful itinerary for our two-week vacation in China. Even though we missed a day in Beijing due to bad weather, our guide was very accommodating and helped us see as much as possible in the two remaining days. We enjoyed our guides, the food, and the hotels. Thank you for all of your help in putting together this trip. Best, Jayne
- Booking Code:VOC-20190517-S
- Tour Starting Date:Friday, 17 May 2019
- Client's information:Jayne Ellen Wilgus, USA
Dear friends of visitourchina, We went to visit Nanning between April 28th and May 3rd 2019 with my wife and my daughter. For us, it would be the first visit to China and we needed some support to organise this as I wanted to organise it all by myself (hotel, plane, visa, …). But as I was organising everything I felt the need of some extra support and help from people of China (for instance English talking guide, English talking organiser in China to take us around in a personal tour). “By accident” we get contact with visitourchina. And they “give” us Molly Mo as contact person. It was a winning number from the lottery ! Molly took care of us like “a real mother” ! No question I’ve asked her, she answered them immediately with her advice and experience. Always in a very friendly and positive way, adding a human sense so we were even more longing to visit Nanning and it’s people. Molly organised our guide in Nanning, Wendy, who was TOP for us. Wendy took care of us, from early morning till evening with a very professional view on guiding adding a good human sense to her work. We were so good prepared we had one day on our own and we could fill in without problems. It has been one of the best trips we ever had, we’ve learned very much of this part of China, enjoying the people we’ve met and with who we’ve got contact. It give us a real view of Chinese people and community and for us, a new world opened. A very good society, well organised, Nanning very good organised concerning environment and climate. So, we came back from Nanning after a too short stay with very positive feelings, hoping once more to visit China again. We’re very grateful to Molly in the first place. She is the ideal person to represent Visitourchina. She take care of my many, many questions with a great heart, she had many patience with us and she never disappointed us, her answers give us the extra love for China and it’s people. Visitourchina m...
- Booking Code:VOC-20190428-M
- Tour Starting Date:Sunday, 28 April 2019
- Client's information:Arnold Demeyere, Belgium
Hi Molly, The tour was great. Both guide and driver are very friendly and helpful. For the meals on the trip, so much food and delicious dishes. We loved the trip. Thanks for all your help. Best wishes, Brandon
- Booking Code:VOC-20190426-M(A)
- Tour Starting Date:Friday, 26 April 2019
- Client's information:Brandon Michael Driggs,USA
Quick Questions
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