Ancient Pingyao and the famous Grottoes

	Great Wall winding along the mountain ranges

Day 2 BEIJING (AB,L,SD)

The excursion today includes a visit to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space on earth and the Forbidden City. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You can take a stroll along the cobblestone paths which were once only used by the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, and visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. After lunch there will be a tour of the Summer Palace, which is a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. There you can visit Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, and take a leisurely walk down the Long Corridor.Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.
Optional program: A lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre.


Day 3 BEIJING (AB, L)

Today's highlight is a trip to the astonishing Great Wall of China. Leaving the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind, you will travel through the countryside to see The Great Wall in Mutianyu. There you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World (a cable car ride is included). Time is available for you to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel, or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain,where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” lined with stone statues of different kinds of animals, such as lions, elephants, camels and etc. Then you are on your way back to Beijing.

Day 4 BEIJING / DATONG (AB, L, D)

Early in the morning, you will take a 6-hour train ride to Datong. After lunch, you will visit the famous Yungang Grottoes. Making the UNESCO World Heritage list, and with a 1,500-year-old history, these 252 caves and 51,000 statues represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th century. Then you will visit the Nine-Dragon Wall, which was built in 1392 to conceal the palace of a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) prince and Huayan Monastery.

	Wodden Pagoda reaching to the sky

Day 5 DATONG / TAIYUAN (AB, L, D)

After breakfast, you will take a scenic drive to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. On the way, visit the Wooden Pagoda, which is the oldest and the highest wooden pagoda in China. The Wooden Pagoda was built only with wood and not a single nail was used. Then visit the Hanging Monastery, a rare alpine complex built 1400 years ago, with about 40 halls and chambers hanging on the rock face of a sheer cliff.

Day 6 TAIYUAN / PINGYAO (AB, L, D)

Today you will visit the Jin Ancestral Temple, the shrine of the king of Jin state, is one of China's key cultural-relic reserves. And it enjoys the reputation of being the “Little South of the Yangtze River.” Continue to the Double-Pagoda Temple, it was built in the 36th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1608). The two pagodas in the temple are considered the symbol of Taiyuan City. En route to Pingyao, visit the Qiao Family Compound, a well preserved and exquisite structure, featuring 6 main courtyards and 313 rooms. It was where the movie, Raise the Red Lantern, was filmed. Arrive in the ancient town of Pingyao.

Day 7 PINGYAO (AB, L, D)  

Pingyao is the best-preserved of the four ancient towns in China. Inside the intact Ming Dynasty city wall, this town features exceptionally well-preserved buildings dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasty. It looks just as it did in centuries past. After breakfast, you will visit the City Wall. First erected nearly 3,000 years ago, it retains the appearance of its early-Ming Dynasty reconstruction. Next, visit Rishenchang, the first bank like financial institution in China. Then stroll along Ming and Qing Dynasty Street, the old downtown thoroughfare, which is preserved in traditional style. 

	Yungang Grottoes

Day 8 PINGYAO / TAIYUAN / XI’AN (AB, L, D)

Today you will be transferred to Taiyuan Airport for your flight to Xi'an, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. This afternoon you'll enjoy a tour of the ancient City Wall, the Bell Tower, the emblem of Xi'an City, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda,built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. Tonight you will be served with a delicious dumpling dinner banquet. Optional program: Enjoy the on-stage performance of Tang Dynasty dance and music in the evening. 

Day 9 XI’AN (AB, L, SD)

Today's highlight is a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. After lunch, you’ll stroll through Xian’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial Museum of History where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans. The rest of the day is yours to explore.

Day 10 XI’AN / SHANGHAI (AB, L)

This morning you will take a flight to Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, often regarded as the Paris of the East. Upon your arrival at Shanghai, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. After a short rest in the hotel, you will walk down Nanjing Road to the Bund and have a Cruise on Huangpu River. Along the river, you can see row upon row of high-rises standing on both banks of the river and ships cruising one after another on the river. Then get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the Jinmao Tower.

Day 11 SHANGHAI (AB, L, D)

Today's excursion you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which chronicles Shanghai's past, present and future, then take a stroll through the Yuyuan Garden, one of the best Suzhou-style gardens in southern China, and after get a taste of Shanghai's local life in the Yuyuan Market, you can immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of the Jade Buddha Temple. In the evening you enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show. 
  
Day 12 SHANGHAI / SUZHOU / SHANGHAI (AB, L, D)

Today, you will travel to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East.” You will visit the Lingering Garden and the ancient Panmen Gate and cruise on the world famous ancient Grand Canal of more than 2400 years. Then you will visit the picturesque water town Tongli, known for its winding canals, arched-stone bridges and well-preserved architecture from Ming and Qing Dynasty. Back to Shanghai.

Day 13 DEPART FROM SHANGHAI (AB)

You will be free on this day until the time for your personal guide to escort you to the airport for your flight home.