Beijing Datong Pingyao Xian Luoyang 8 Day Tour

Pick up from your hotel in Beijing around 14: 00 and transferred to Beijing West Train Station. Take the daytime train No.615 leaving Beijing around 15:40 and arriving at Datong around 21:45. Our tour representative in Datong picks you up and returns you to our designated hotel in Datong. Free for rest of the day.

After breakfast at the hotel, first visit Yungang Grottoes . These grottoes are the main attractions most people make a trip to Datong. The grottoes hold over 50,000 Buddihist statues and stretch for about 1 km east to west.

After lunch, drive to Huayan Temple 65 km away south-east of Datong. The temple hangs on the west cliff of a hill with over 50 meters above the ground, hence Hanging Monastery. Hanging Monastery was first built in 491. The present monastery was mainly rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The biggest attraction of Hanging Temple is the fact that the temple includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Then ove on to Yingxian County to visit the Wooden Pagoda , the oldest wooden Buddhist pagoda in existence in China. The pagoda is a 9 story octagonal building 67 meters high. It was was built without using any nails. After visit, transferred back to your hotel in Datong.

After breakfast, drive to Pingyao. Arriving at Pingyao in the afternoon, The rest of the day is free for your to relax.

Your tour begins with the Mingqing Street . Ming and Qing Street, also called Nanda Jie (South Avenue). It is one of the busy and interesting streets in which to experience ancient Chinese culture. It is 440 long, Ming and Qing Street used to be the commercial center of Pingyao ancient city.

Then visit the Ancient City Wall of Pingyao City . The city of Pingyao is one of the four remaining well-preserved ancient cities in China. The city wall has a perimeter of 6.4 kilometers and is over 12 meters high and 3.5 meters wide.

Continue to visit the Rishengchang Exchange Shop . It is the earliest bank in China, first opened in the 18th century. Rishengchang was the first money exchange shop in the history of China. Move on to Armed Escort Company Museum . It offers an eye-opening armed escort in protecting commerce. Cash moving from one area needed the armed escort firm to thwart thieving hands. Finally visit County Government Office , an ancient city hall and law court.

Xian

Take the 3-hour morning highspeed train from Pingyao to Xian. Arriving at Xian at noon, , met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Xian.

Arriving in Xian at noon, met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Xian. After lunch, first visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum , a large modern museum of the national level. It is a giant architectural complex in the Tang-dynasty style.

Then visit Big Goose Pagoda for its outside visit (stop for photos and no ascending). Big Goose Pagoda is one of the oldest structures in China. Move on and ascend the Bell Tower . In Chinese history from Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), each city had a bell tower and a drum tower. The bell was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in ancient time, a means of telling time.

Finally come to the Muslim Quarters (excluding the visit to the Great Mosque). Xian Muslim Quarters is just located behind ( north of ) the Drum Tower. The Xian muslim quarters is a delightful place you mustn't miss! The bazaar in the Muslim area is most attractive with a wide area of stalls selling everything. Stay overnight in Xian.

Xian

Luoyang

Pick up from your hotel in Xian. First visit the Terra-cotta Army . The original site was found by a local farmer drilling a well in 1974. Now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xian - Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum. The museum and the mausoleum are listed the world's cultural legacies as the UNESCO.

After lunch, transferred to Xian Railway Station and take the high speed tran ( second class tickets ) for Luoyang. Arriving at Luoyang and transfferred to your hotle in Luoyang. The rest of the time is free for you to relax.

Pick up from your hotel. Have one day excursion tour to the Shaolin Temple . Shaolin Temple is located in the Songshan Mountains, 100 km south-east of Luoyang and about 90 km southwest of Zhengzhou-Henan's provincial capital.

Shaolin Temple is famous not only as one of China's most important Buddhist temples, but also as the center of Chinese kung-fu. First constructed in 495, the temple was mainly designed to accommodate Batuo, a famous Indian monk. After many years of preaching Buddhism, he was later respected as Fo Tuo, or Grand Monk. In 537, another respected Indian monk, Boddhidharma, came and stayed in the temple.

On the way back, continue to visit the White Horse Temple , the first Buddhist Temple ever built in China! Then go on with a tour of Guanlin Temple, also called Warrior Guan Yu's Tomb, a site where the head of Guan Yu was buried

After the tour, transferred back to your hotel in Luoyang. The rest of the time is free for you to relax.

After breakfast, first visit the Longmen Grottoes . It is situated on the Yihe River bank, about 12 kilometers from Luoyang city. It is one of the three most valuable Buddhist cave and rock carvings in China. The grottos were first carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), when the rulers relocated their capital from Datong to Luoyang at the end of the 5th century. The Longmen Grottoes were listed as a World Heritage Site in Nov, 2000.

Then move on to Luoyang Museum . The Luoyang Museum is a city-level historical museum of China. The Museum shows over 1,700 cultural and historical relics in 5 showrooms -- a presentation of 5 different social development periods such as the Primitive Society, the Slavery Society, and the Feudal Society.

After the tour in Luoyang, you are transferred to Luoyang Railway Station, or Luoyang Airport, or free on your own.