15 Days China Confucians Culture & Central Plains Tour

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 Beijing.

After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit 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.

From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and 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)

Sightseeing: Mutianyu Great Wall, the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium) National Swimming Centre (The Water Cube),Hutong Tour

World Heritages Sites included Today: Mutianyu Great Wall

After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Mutianyu 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 on the 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!

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.

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.

Day 4

Beijing to Jinan (B, L)

Transport via: Train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Summer Palace. Mount Tai Tourist Attraction.

World Heritages Sites included Today: Summer Palace

This morning will start the tour with the visit to 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 be transferred to railway station to take train to Jinan. After your arrival there, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 5

Jinan to Taian to Qufu (B, L)

Transport via: Private car arranged by us
Sightseeing: Dai Temple. Mountain Tai

After breakfast, we will drive to Mount Tai Tourist Attraction. Take Car & Vehicle to the Top of the Mountain. Mountain Tai, Covering an area of 426 square kilometers with the highest peak 1,545 meters above sea level; the majestic Mt. Tai is one of the China's national parks and the first of the Five Sacred Mountain in China.

Have a visit to the Dai Temple. First built in Han Dynasty, it is the largest and most completed ancient building complex of Mount Tai. Emperors of the past dynasties held celebrations in the temple to worship heaven and earth, and sacrificed to the God of the mountain. Besides, it was also the first stop for the pilgrims on their way to the Tai Mountain.

Later that day you will get down the mountain and then be drive to Qufu by car. Qufu, it is the former resident of Confucian.

Day 6

Qufu to Jinan (B, L)

Transport via: Private car arranged by us
Sightseeing: Confucian temples, Confucian Mansion, Confucian family graveyard.

World Heritages Sites included Today: Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius / San Kong

Today we will learn the Confucian culture with the visit to Confucian temples, Confucian Mansion and Confucian family graveyard. They are called Three Confucians, which are now one of the four extant great architectural complexes in China.

Among many preserved Confucian temples of different dynasties all over China, the Confucian Temple in Qufu is the largest and earliest one. It represents the culture and history of Confucianism.  Confucian Mansion: It is also called Yanshenggong Mansion, a large house consisting of 463 halls, rooms, towers and houses, covering an area of 13.3 hectares-the largest landlord manor in China's history. The courtyard is divided into three family temples. The main building in the center was first used as a government office then changed to dwelling house later. Confucian family graveyard: It is the graveyard of the Confucian family and has a history of more than 2340 years. There are about ten thousand tombs inside the graveyard .Also many stone steles, lanes and pavilions can be found here.

After the tours, you will be driven to Jinan. Check in the hotel.

Day 7

Jinan to Zhengzhou (B, L)

Transfer via: High speed train-on our arrangement
Sightseeing: The Yellow River Scenery Area, the Shangcheng Relics.

After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to railway station to take high speed train to Zhengzhou. Arrive at Zhengzhou, be met and then start the tour to visit Yellow River Scenery Area where you can feel the majesty and immensity of the Chinese mother river.

Continue the tour to see Shangcheng Relics. Shang Dynasty is the earliest dynasty with written evidence. The ancient Shangcheng is the town of Shang Dynasty which enjoyed a high level of Shang Dynasty. Civilization was a series of towns united under the Shang king. Shangcheng is the capital city of Shang.

Day 8

Zhengzhou to Anyang to Zhengzhou (B, L)

Sightseeing: Yin Ruins, Yuefei Temple

World Heritages Sites included Today: Archaeological Site of Yin Xu (Yin Ruins)

In the morning, drive to Anyang (around 3 hours), visit Yin Ruins, Yin Ruins is the capital city's ruins of the late Shang Dynasty, which controlled China from 1300 BC to 1046 BC. The total area is about 24 square kilometers. Yin Ruins is the key cultural relics unit under the government's protection. The oracle bone inscriptions were found at the site; Yin Ruins enjoys a high reputation because of its unique styled and large-scale palace construction and its grandest mausoleums. After 60 years of archaeological excavations, starting in the 1920s, the ruins of palaces, temples, workshops, tombs and sacrificial pits have been found in this site.

Continue the tour to visit the Yuefei Temple. Located in Tangyin County 25 km away from Anyang City, Yuefei Temple covers a total area of over 4,000 square meters with approx. 100 rooms in it. The first gate is the noble spirit arch tower with the words "Yue Zhong Wuwang of Song Dynasty", behind the arch tower, down the stair case, five iron statue headed by Qinhui, the eternal historic criminals are kneeling there. Behind the kneeling statues, there is one gold-coated bronze statue of Yuefei with angry face, there are stone inscriptions and tablets forest inside the temple. Inside the main hall, there is a huge horizontal inscribed board with the words "Return Our Land", with a painted statue of Yuefei below it.

Drive back to Zhengzhou after the tours.

Day 9

Zhengzhou to Luoyang (B, L)

Sightseeing: Shaolin Temple & Pagoda Forest, White Horse Temple

After breakfast, we will drive to visit the famous Shaolin Temple & Pagoda Forest. The pagoda forest in Shaolin Temple was a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks, abbots and ranking monks at the temple. A rough count shows more than two hundred fifty tomb pagodas of various sizes, making it the biggest pagoda forest in China. The forest stands at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain about half a kilometer west of Shaolin Temple and is composed of pagodas dating from 791 to 1803. Most are stone and brick structures of one to seven storeys, under fifteen meters high--much smaller than pagodas for Buddhist relics--but they all carry the exact year of their construction and many carvings and inscriptions. They are in a variety of styles, but are mainly multi-eaved and pavilion-style. Their shapes are varied, including polygonal, cylindrical, vase, conical and monolithic, making the pagoda forest an exhibition of ancient pagodas, carvings and calligraphy of various dynasties.

Then be transferred to Luoyang, one of the seven capital cities in ancient China.

In the afternoon, visit the White Horse Temple. White Horse Temple (Baima Temple) is located 12 km away from Luoyang City. Established by the Han Dynasty in 68 AD when Buddhism started to spread, this temple is believe to be the first Buddhist temple built by the government in China.

Day 10

Luoyang to Xi'an(B, L)

Transfer via: Train-on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Longmen Grottoes

World Heritages Sites included Today: Longmen Grottoes

In the morning, we will visit Longmen Grottoes. The Longmen Grottoes are located in the south of Luoyang City. They are between Mount Xiang and Mount Longmen and face Yi River. Longmen Grottoes, Yungang Caves and Mogao Caves are regarded as the three most famous treasure houses of stone inscriptions in China. Lots of historical materials concerning art, music, religion, calligraphy, medicine, costume and architecture are kept in Longmen Grottoes.

After lunch, you will be transferred to railway station to take train to Xian. Arrive at Xian, be met and transferred to hotel.

Day 11

Xi'an (B, L)

Sightseeing: The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall

World Heritages Sites included Today: The 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, you will visit 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).

Day 12

Xian to Shanghai (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight –on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shaanxi Provincial Museum

This morning, we will 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 you will be transferred to airport and take flight to Shanghai. Arrive at Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to hotel.

Day 13

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 14

Shanghai (B,L)

Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Oriental Pearl Tower, French concession region.

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.

Day 15

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.