14 Days Cultural Heritages Tour for Seniors

Welcome to Beijing! Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide and driver, and then transferred to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the nearby areas if you want. Or just have a relaxing time after a long flight.

Meal: No

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

After breakfast in the hotel, you will head out on a city tour beginning with a visit to Tiananmen Square which is located in the city center of Beijing, and also the biggest city plaza in the world. It is the place where the Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s republic of China. Tiananmen in Chinese means “Gate of Heavenly Peace”, and the gate separates the square from the Forbidden City. The square contains the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall.

Passing through Tiananmen Gate, you will be in the enormous Forbidden City. This amazing complex was the former imperial palace of the emperors of China in Ming and Qing dynasties. You may be surprised by the immense size of the palace as it contains over 9000 rooms and covers about 1,000,000m2 (10,800,000 sq ft), the size of 140 football fields. While the most fascinating parts are the splendid colorfully painted ceilings, sophisticately carved walkways and exquisite collections.

Afterwards, visit the Jingshan Park where you will get the best panoramic view of the Forbidden City so that you can take your time to enjoy the aftertaste of your “city tour”.

Then spend your afternoon exploring the Hutongs which are remnants of Beijing. Hutongs are small and narrow alleys formed by neighboring quadrangle dwellings that once radiated outwards from the Forbidden City. During the Qing dynasty, the proximity to the Forbidden City of the Hutongs indicates the social status of the residents. Although today Hutongs have no such function anymore, we still can get a feel of the old Beijing life style there and also see the historical changes of Beijing city. To have in-depth experience, we will also visit a local family’s home in the Hutongs.

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

Today we will drive out of the city to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall. As the sections that closer to the city are more heavily visited and renovated, while the further sections are less crowded and more authentic. We will visit Mutianyu section, which is well-preserved and has many excellent watchtowers and view points. The Mutianyu section is also the most popular one among travelers from other countries. And because of its conventional and original appearance, this section is perhaps the most frequently used one on post cards and videos of the Great Wall.

We will take the cable car firstly, then climb up along the rising towers to enjoy the most beautiful and spectacular sceneries of the Great Wall. “He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man”, Chinese people were told so from a young age. Hiking in the Great Wall can rank among one of the greatest experiences on earth! Descend by cable car or hiking for another 40 minutes depends on your energy, and both are quite fun to experience.

On the way back of Beijing city, we will visit the Sacred Way which is a passage with 7 kilometers long leading to the Imperial Tombs of 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty. In China, for almost all the imperial tombs, the sacred way is an inseparable part. Because the emperors were viewed as the son of the heaven and came from heaven through the invisible sacred way, they would also return to heaven through this way. To make people know that, constructing a visible way in front of the tomb became a tradition, and it represents the absolute authority of emperors. We will walk through the Sacred Way and you will see the majestic stone guard of 12 sets of mythical animals and 12 officials standing alongside the way. They are expected to escort the imperial families to heaven and forever protect and serve them.

After the long journey, we will be back to the downtown and have a short stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to have a look of the famed Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside.

Recommended optional activity: you can choose to taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude for your dinner after the whole day’s tour.

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

First, you will visit the Summer Palace which is one of the finest sights in Beijing as it’s the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. After lunch, Stroll around the beautiful garden and meander through the airy pavilions just as the imperial families once did. As a marvel of Chinese garden design and a must-see in Beijing, Summer Palace was a retreat for royalty to escape from the summer heat. A boat cruise in Kunming Lake is highly recommended.

Next, go to visit the Lama Temple, which is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the northeast, corner of Beijing and it was first built in 1694 as the residence of Prince Yong of the Qing dynasty.

Then, head to the Panjiayuan Antique Market. It was founded in 1992 and it is the most popular of all the markets for handicrafts, fakes and real antiques, books, stoneware, militaria and whatever. It is a real shoppers and hagglers heaven.

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

In the morning, we will start our tour today from the Temple of Heaven. It is the most perfect example of Ming architecture with original function of praying for good harvests and as a vast stage for solemn rites performed by the son of heaven. Inside the Temple of Heaven, except the main buildings, there is an interesting Echo Wall. If a person whispers close to the wall at any point, his voice can be heard distinctly at any other point along the wall. Try that by yourself, but be careful, don’t whisper any secret there. In addition, you can join in the morning exercises by taking the Taichi lesson with the guidance of the master and have a better understanding of Chinese culture. 

Afterwards, drive to the railway station in Beijing for your next destination, Pingyao.

Meal: B

Altitude: 768m

Traffic: Car, High Speed Train

Hotel: In Pingyao

Go appreciate the castle-like buildings and rich and exquisite carvings which were described in flowers, birds, fishes, insects, and tales etc. in Wang Family Courtyard. Built after 300 years, the momentum and scale are second to none in the Jin Shang houses. Besides, exquisite sculpture art and atmospheric spatial pattern are important factors that deeply attract tourists to visit. You can take some nice shots and learn more about Chinese traditional architecture culture. 

Drive to Zhangbi Ancient Village, which is a rare ancient small “castle” in China that integrates military, residential, production, astrology and religious activities. In addition to the characteristic ancient military castle, there is a true Wu temple built on the north gate of the fort, which aims to bless the people in the fort. There are Guandi Temple, Erlang Temple, Kongwangxing Temple and other temples to visit.

Meal: B

Altitude: 768m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Pingyao

After having a breakfast, we will drive to visit the World Heritage listed ancient town of Pingyao. You will see there the city surrounded by Ming City Walls. Pingyao was China’s banking center and has many mansions, courtyard house, temples, museums and historic shops. You will stroll from Ming Qing street to Town Tower, Armed Escort Company Museum. Ming Qing street, also known as ‘South Street,’ was the center of commercial activities in Pingyao and is lined with shops and courtyard residences. The 18-metre high City Tower, one of the highlights of the old city, straddles Ming Qing Street, and many of the main tourist sites can also be found close by. 

Then, we’ll pay a visit to Qiao’s Family Compound, which is a large architectural complex whose magnificent building reflects the unique living styles of northerners in ancient China during the Qing Dynasty. 

Afterwards, drive to the railway station in Pingyao for your next destination, Xi’an.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1027m

Traffic: Car, High Speed Train

Hotel: In Xi’an

Drive to the countryside of the Xi’an city about 1hrs, we will start our journey from the most impressive historic site Terracotta Warriors which are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum in Lintong, It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. Believe you will be amazed by the culture and history to get a feeling back to Qing Dynasty during the 3hrs experience. （No flash when take photos)

Lunch will be in the local restaurant, we will proceed to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built to house Buddhist scriptures collected by a Chinese Monk. Big Wild Goose Pagoda has 7 floors in total. Architecture is traditional Chinese style decorating with some Buddha statues. Tourists can see variety of Buddha statues and see the whole Xi’an city at the top floor.

Then, go to visit the Xi’an Ancient City Wall. It is also known as Xi’an Ming City Wall, is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Golf car on the wall is quite a different experience as there is no traffic on the wall. Xi’an is famous for its flour food. Xi’an is famous for its flour food. Be ready to visit a local family and learn to make dumplings with the guidance of the locals. The dumplings made on your won will taste more delicious.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1027m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Xi’an

Spend the other whole day exploring culture and customer in Xi’an. we will go to the Shaanxi Province Museum, This provincial museum is one of the major museums in China. It holds numerous unearthed cultural artifacts from within the Shaanxi province as well as the rest of China. The newly built modern building recreates Tang-dynasty architecture and successfully symbolizes the great extent of Shaanxi history and its remarkable culture. Afterwards, drive you to the Ancient City Wall, This is the most complete city wall that has survived in China as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. you will enter the city wall through the ticket gate. Standing on the wall, you can’t use your eyes to judge how long the wall is. You can walk around the city wall or experience the cycling, and then explore the Muslim Street, relax with free walking along the street tasting he local delicious food and exploring the local lifestyle. 

Afterwards, we’ll head to the railway station to take a high speed train to visit Luoyang. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 147m

Traffic: Car, High Speed Train

Hotel: In Luoyang

Full day sightseeing in Luoyang. Journey will begin from Longmen Grottoes, one of the well-known grottoes along the silk road. The grandiose cave filled with immense Buddha decorated with intricated designs is a testament to the skill and wealth of the people who inhabited Luoyang and their devotion to Buddhism. The caves are divided into West Mountain and East Mountain. Dongshan Grottoes are mostly works of the Tang Dynasty, and the West Mountain Grottoes were excavated in the Northern Dynasty and the Sui and Tang dynasties. 

Then continue the tour to Yingtianmen Gate, built in Sui Dynasty, The Yingtianmen Gate was the main entrance of the Sui and Tang Palace Complex, and it was used continually during the Song Dynasty. The site of the Gate is presently located between the two work units of the Luoyang Daily Newspaper and the Capital City Museum.

Evening walk around the Luoyang Old City to experience the lifestyle of Luoyang and taste various local delicacies.

Meal: B

Altitude: 147m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Luoyang

Morning depart from the hotel and you will enjoy a tour at the White Horse Temple, it was built in Yongping 11 years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 68). It has always been respected as the “The Cradle of Chinese Buddhism”. According to legend, the name of the temple was derived from the allusion of “White Horse Fu Sutra”. Continue to visit, you will see the “Treasure of the Town Temple” and the only “statue of dry lacquer in storage” of Yuan Dynasty inside of the Daxiong Hall. The statues of “Ramie Dry Paint” in the palace are all made of silk and linen, each statue’s weighs is between 3 to 5 kilograms. Which is surprised that the statues have not been repaired since the Yuan Dynasty for more than 700 years, but it still have bright colour.

Afterwards, we’ll head to the railway station to take a high speed train to visit Chengdu.

Meal: B

Altitude: 502m

Traffic: Car, High SpeedTrain

Hotel: In Chengdu

In the morning after breakfast, you will be met at the hotel lobby. We will drive about 1.2 hours to Mount Qingcheng. If you a a mountain climber and nature lover, it is really a wonderful place for you to get more close to nature. Mount Qingcheng is one of the four major Taoist shrines in China, in this fairyland you can not only admire the great masterpiece of nature, but also feel its unique Taoist culture.

Then we will drive to visit the magnificent World Cultural Heritage Dujiangyan, which is the world’s oldest, the only remaining dam as well as a grand hydraulic project. At the same time, it is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people and an epoch-making masterpiece of Chinese culture. Besides, it is the only great ecological project left in the world so far, opening a new era in the history of water resources in ancient China and marking a new stage in the history of water resources in China.

Meal: B

Altitude: 502m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Chengdu

We will visit the famed Leshan Giant Buddha today, which is a huge statue carved into the side of Lingyun Mountain. Taller by 17 meters than the standing Buddha in Afghanistan, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest and largest Buddha in the world. It is carved on the cliff of Lingyun Mountain with a delicate design of drainage system. There is a local saying: “The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain”. It was included by UNESCO on the list of World Heritage sites.

Next, drive back to urban area to experience the local customs of old Chengdu by visiting the relaxing Broad and Narrow Alley. It is a relatively large existing Qing Dynasty ancient street in Chengdu; in Broad Alley, you can enjoy the most authentic Sichuan cuisine and experience the local customs of old Chengdu while the Narrow Alley is a leisure life area focusing on the Western-style food culture, art and leisure. 

Then, head to the antique commercial street – Jinli, it is one of the most popular scenic spots in Chengdu, and also a part of WuHou Shrine Museum. Here, you can enjoy the craft of making clay figures and sugar painting, and also browse the shops with unique characteristics of The Three Kingdoms. There are various of characteristic snacks, tea houses, cafes, bars, inns, etc. You can take some terrific photos especially at dusk the whole street looks surprisingly beautiful. After visiting the Jinli Street, your driver will escort you back to the hotel. Have a good rest. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 502m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Chengdu

After breakfast, start your day with an exciting trip to the Giant Panda Base, which completely simulates the wild living environment of Giant Pandas, it looks so natural that also has lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns, etc. There are more than 100 giant pandas, you can observe the Giant Pandas in a close distance and learn about their living habits. In addition to Giant Pandas, you can also see small animals such as black-necked cranes, peacocks and ospreys. Besides, you can send postcards with panda postmark at the Panda Country Post Office near the gate of the museum or watch documentaries about pandas at the cinema in the museum.

Then, head to the majestic Wenshu Temple to have a spiritual trip. It was built in the Sui Dynasty, houses plenty precious cultural relics and thousands of Buddhist scriptures and documents. After appreciating art treasures, you can enjoy Sichuan’s unique bowl tea in the tea house of Wenshu Temple. After lunch, your tour guide will take you to the entertaining Renmin Park, which is considered as one of the best places to truly experience the life style of “leisure Chengdu city”.

In the afternoon, tour guide and driver escort you to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to your next destination. Tour ends.

Meal: B

Altitude: 502m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: No