Day 1 USA - Beijing

Today we board an international flight bound for Beijing, China. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxury hotel for rest and relaxation.

Day 3 Beijing - Datong

After breakfast, we take the high speed train to Datong, Shanxi Province. Tour Yungang Grottoes. The Yungang Grottoes are well-known as a treasure-house of ancient Buddhist art and one of the three largest major cave complexes in China - the other two being the earlier Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang and the later Longmen Grottoes at Luoyang. Thanks to their large scale, rich content and exquisite carving techniques, the Yungang grottoes were included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2001. Over 50,000 figures are contained in the 21 major and 32 smaller caves. You will also tour the Nine Dragon Screen, a 50-yard long Ming Dynasty mosaic of glazed tiles and Huayan Monastery.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Datong - Mt. Wutai

After breakfast, we drive to Mt. Wutai. On the way, we visit Hanging Monastery. It was originally built more than 1400 years ago. There are 40 halls and pavilions in all. They were built along the contours of the cliffs using the natural hollows and out crops for support. The buildings rest on timbers jutting out from the cliff, their weight further supported by vertical beams. And then you will tour the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, the oldest and largest pagoda of China. Arrive at Mt. Wutai. Enjoy the local vegetarian for dinner. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Mt. Wutai - Taiyuan

Mt. Wutai is one of the sacred Buddhist mountains of China. It is actually a cluster of five peaks of which the northern peak, Yemenfeng, is just over 3000 meters high and is known as the roof of northern China. In the afternoon you will visit Yan Xishan's former residence. Drive to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. Enjoy the local special noodle soup at Dinner. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Taiyuan- Pingyao

After breakfast you will tour Jinci Temple. It has three most famous treasures: Zhou Cypress, the Sacred Lady and Forever Young Spring. Then you will tour Qiao Family Court Yard House. In the afternoon, we arrive at Pingyao. Tour the well-know old bank, the city walls and the local government office in feudal China. Pingyao, originally built in Xi Zhou Dynasty, is the one of the national financial centers. The streets, buildings, banks and temples are well-protected. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Pingyao - Mt. Mianshan - Linfen

Drive to Mianshan, a tourist attraction of Daoism. Your tour will include Daluo Palace, Yunfeng Temple and Shuitaogou Scenic Area. Drive to Linfen. You will visit the Chinese Scholar Tree Park from where the Hakka people started their immigration. You will visit the prison first built in the Ming Dynasty. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Lingfen - Hukou -Yuncheng

Drive to Hukou and tour to Hukou Waterfall. Travel to Yuncheng in the afternoon. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Yuncheng - Luoyang

After breakfast, we drive to Xiezhou, visit to General Guan's Temple. In the afternoon, we drive to Luoyang, the ancient capital of China. On the way you will pass Sanmenxia City. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Luoyang

We will tour the Longmen Caves. In 494 AD the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital from Datong to Luoyang. At Datong the dynasty had built. The impressive Yungang Caves and now at Luoyang they began work on the Longmen Caves. Over the next 200 or so years, more than 100,000 images and statues of Buddha and his disciples were carved into the cliff Walls on the bands of the Yi River, 1 km south of city. Visit the Huangcheng Park (royal town). Built on the ruins of the imperial palace. Visit the peony garden. Visit General Guan's Mausoleum, the burial of general Guan Yu from Three Kingdoms Period. Visit the Folk Craft Museum. We continue on to the White Horse Temple, the first temple constructed after Buddhism was introduced to China. Enjoy the local cuisine "water banquet".

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Luoyang - Xian

After breakfast, we take the express train to Xian, the cradle of Chinese civilization, was the state capital of 73 emperors spanning 11 dynasties during 1100 years dating from 4,000 B.C. In the afternoon we will enjoy a tour of the Bell Tower, the ancient City Wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Xian

Visit another wonder of the ancient world the Terra-Cotta Warriors, concealed under earth, those thousands of life-sized clay warriors, horses and chariots, as one part of the tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang, were accidentally discovered by a farmer while he was digging out a well. You would also see some archaeologists still working on site to uncover the rest part of the vast tomb complex of Emperor Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, and also the initiator of the Great Wall. After viewing the fine troops, we head to the nearby Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang. This evening after an Imperial Dumpling Banquet Dinner, you will see a wonderful stage opera show of the Tang Dynasty, the one as being a “must see” in Xian.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Xian - USA

After breakfast, you are transferred to airport for your return flight back to your home. You will be in the United States the same day. End of tour.

• Includes Breakfast