12-day's tour with the following route:

Peking (2N) - train (1N) - Luoyang (1N) - Xi'an (2N) - train (1N) - Taiyuan (1N) - Datong (1N) - train (1N) - Peking

The empire China has six different capitals in the course of about 2100-year-old history. The Buddism, while spreading to China 2000 years ago along the trade routes, had initially manifested itself artistically in caves and temples with sculptures and mural paintings. Three most important grottos have represented the development of Buddhism in China at that time. Please, participate in this journey to discover 3 of the 6 ancient capitals and 2 of the 3 great old grottos! Besides, you will visit the oldest wood pagoda in China and some excellent ancient buildings.

Itinerary (12 days, 11 days in China):

Day01 Flight to Peking

Day02 Peking 2N in 3*Taiwan hotel L

In the morning greeted in the airport and transfer to hotel to have a rest. In the afternoon visit the Temple of Heaven, the biggest and most important imperial temple in China where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties would go twice a year to carry out ritual ceremonies of sacrifice, expressing gratitude to the previous harvest and praying for it to bless the next one

Day03 Peking B/L

After the breakfast go to the Great Wall, one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see in the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. It was built as a defensive structure and gradually become the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Then visit the Ming Tombs, which is a group of mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors and their empresses and concubines. Two of the toms are opens to the public. The most famous is the Dingling, an underground palace. As an saying goes "Who is in Peking and has never eaten Peking-duck, he has not ever been in Peking". In the evening enjoy the famous specialty: Peking-duck.

Day04 Peking - Luoyang night train K131 1940/0602 1N in the train B/L

Stroll in the Tian An Men square, which is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. Then go to visit Forbidden city (Gugong) the emperor's palace which was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. Facing south and rising from a terrace, the largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties as well as best exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. In the afternoon visit Summer Palace which was built in 1153 in northwest of Peking. I t is an outstanding example of imperial gardens in classical Chinese style, housing tens of thousands of precious cultural relics. In the evening transfer to the railway station and leave for Luoyang by train (soft sleeper, 4-bed-compartment).

Day05 Luoyang - Shaolin temple - Luoyang 60 km 1N in 3*Peony hotel L

Early in the morning arrive in Luoyang. After a short rest and breakfast in the hotel visit Shaolin monastery, which is located in the Song Shan mountain, one of the five mythical mountains in China (Wu Yue). The well-known Shaolin-Wushu originated from this mountain. It is worthwhile to enjoy a performance of the Shaolin Kung Fu.

Day06 Luoyang - Xi'an train 387 km K761 1302/1826 2N in 4*Royal Nikko hotel B/L In the morning visit Longmen-Grottos 14 km to south of the city, which were excavated in 5th century. After the lunch transfer to the railway station, go to Xi'an by rail (soft seat) along the powerful Yellow River, crossing through the loess mountainous region. In the evening arrive in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, which was once the capital of eleven Chinese feudal dynasties and the original starting point of the Silk Road.

Day07 Xi'an B/L

In the morning visit the Museum of Terracotta-Army where three underground vaults open to the public, displaying thousands of life-sized terra-cotta warriors, horses and chariots, all arranged in battle formation of that time. Besides, visit Da Yan Ta (Big-Wild-Goose-Pagoda), which was allowed to establish in 650 by Li Zhi, an emperor of Tang Dynasty.

Day08 Xi'an - Taiyuan night train 651 km K126 2142/0815 1N in the train B/L

In the morning visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the Ming City Wall. After lunch visit the Great Mosque of Ming Dynasty in which Muslims worship. The minaret is built in Chinese pagoda style and the mosque resembles the Chinese temple and monastery that shows the integration ability and the influence of Chinese culture. In the afternoon transfer to railway station, go to Taiyuan by rail (soft sleeper, four-bed-compartment).

Day09 Taiyuan - Pingyao - Taiyuan 90+90 km 1N in 4*Shanxi Grand hotel L

In the morning arrive in Taiyuan and continue the trip to Pingyao by car. The ancient town of Pingyao was built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. A group of ancient buildings reflect the town's heritage. In 1997, the town was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. On the way visit Qiaojia Dayuan, the court of the family Qiao which is named "a pearl of the civilian buildings in north China". In the afternoon visit the Jinci Temple with hundreds of buildings like pavilions, halls, terraces and bridges as well as the Chunyang Palace temple of Twin Pagodas.

Day10 Taiyuan - Datong 310 km 1N in 3*Yungang hotel B/L

After the breakfast drive to Datong. On the way pass the wood pagoda and the Hanging monastery. The octagonal Buddhist wood pagoda with six roofs is considered as the oldest one in China. The Hanging monastery in a cliff was built in the 6th century during the Northern Wei Dynasty. In the evening arrive in Datong.

Day11 Datong - Peking night train 374 km No. 4431 2240/0551 1N in the train B/L

In the morning visit the Yungang-Grottos 16 km away from the west of the city. Most status in Yungang-Grottos were built between 460 and 495 during the reign of Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535). On the way you still visit a small temple of the goddess of mercy (Guan yin seaweed). In the afternoon visit Hua Yan temple. After return to the city to visit the Nine-Dragon-Wall (Jiu Long Bi), which was built in 1392. In the evening transfer to the railway station, take the train (soft sleeper, four-bed-compartment) to Peking.

Day12 Flight Peking - home B/L

In the morning arrive in Peking and then transfer to a restaurant. After breakfast have a Hutong-trip by rickshaw in the narrow lanes of the city. These well-preserved country style residence characterized the capital's residential architecture for centuries. By this way learn the life of ordinary Chinese. After lunch transfer to airport for flying back home.

End of the tour.