7 Days Beijing&Shanxi Culture Tour

• Tian'anmen Square - Forbidden City - Jingshan Park - Summer Palace
• 4+stars Hotel
• None

After breakfast, our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby to start today's journey.

First, we will reach the Tian'anmen Square. Standing in the North Square, you can look up at the Tian'anmen Tower, where Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Passing through Tian'anmen Square, you will step into the Forbidden City, a magnificent palace complex that was once home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Then we will make a short trip to Jingshan Park, where we will enjoy the entire Forbidden City from the Watchtower at the top of the hill.

In the afternoon, we will drive to the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Here, you can stroll among the ancient pavilions, mansions and temples, enjoying the beauty of small bridges and winding corridors.

Recommend for Free Time

Experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
Watching Peking Opera Show, Acrobatic Show or Kung fu Show(Performances are usually from 19:15 to 20:15)

• Great Wall - Bird's Nest/Water Cube
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive about 70 kilometers to the Mutianyu section of the world-famous Great Wall. It is well-preserved and relatively unvisited and impresses visitors with its rich vegetation and magnificent natural scenery.

You will take an easy cable car ride up the Great Wall. Then Climbing up to the towering towers overlooking the Great Wall as it winds along the ridge will surely keep you coming back for more. At the end of the Great Wall tour, we will take the cable car down the mountain.
(Note: If you are physically fit, you may also choose to hike up and down).

Afterwards, we will return to Beijing, stopping on the way to visit the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube from the outside in the Olympic Village.

Recommend for Activities

You can choose foot massage, houhai night bars or Sanlitun bar street at night.

• Temple of Heaven - Hutongs - High speed Train to Shanxi
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

We will visit the Temple of Heaven, a sacred site used in ancient times to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. Nowadays, it has become a lively place where locals perform traditional activities such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying and calligraphy.

Then we will visit the Hutongs(old alleyways) and take a rickshaw ride through Beijing's hutongs. For lunch you will learn to make and eat dumplings in the hutongs for an in-depth experience Beijing local lifestyle.

In the afternoon, you will take a train to Datong, Shanxi, a city full of history and culture. Upon arrival, you will check into our carefully selected hotel and take a short rest to reserve energy for the rest of the journey. In the evening, you can enjoy free time in the night market of Datong, tasting local specialties and experiencing the night life of the city.

• Yungang Grottoes - Xuankong Temple - Wutai Mountain
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will proceed to Yungang Grottoes, where there are 254 Buddhist grottoes stretching for about 1 kilometer as if a gallery of history. Among them, some 5,100 precious sculptures are breathtaking. These sculptures come in all sizes and shapes, with the largest statue standing 17 meters tall and solemn, while the smallest is just 2 centimeters high and delicate. Among the Yungang Grottoes, you can't miss Cave 5 and Cave 6, which are undoubtedly the jewels of the entire cave complex.

You will then proceed to the Xuankong Temple. This ancient temple, founded in 491 in the Northern Wei Dynasty, has survived for more than 1,500 years. What is even more rare is that the Hanging Temple is also a temple that integrates Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, reflecting the profoundness of Chinese culture.

After visiting the Xuankong Temple, you will travel to Wutai Mountain where you will check into your hotel to refresh yourself for tomorrow's trip.

• Wutai Mountain - Taihuai Town - Tayuan Temple - Shuxiang Temple - Xiantong Temple - Bodhisattva's Peak
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will set foot in the heart of Wutai Mountain, Taihuai Town, and explore four of its most influential temples: Tayuan Temple, Shuxiang Temple, Xiantong Temple, and Bodhisattva's Peak.

The Tayuan Temple is named after the Great White Pagoda, the landmark of Wutai Mountain. Standing at a height of 75.3 meters and a circumference of 83 meters, this towering white pagoda is not only a landmark, but also carries a profound Buddhist culture.

Next, you will visit Shuxiang Temple (Temple of Manjushri). Many historical emperors and empresses have visited this temple, adding to its rich historical heritage.

Afterwards, you will arrive at Xiantong Temple, one of the largest and oldest temples in Wutai Mountain. It is home to a bronze hall built in 1610, which is made of 50,000 kilograms of cast bronze and is one of the best-preserved bronze buildings in China. Most major Buddhist events and ceremonies are held here, highlighting its importance in the Buddhist community.

Finally, you will climb to the Bodhisattva's Peak, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Wutai Mountain. Legend has it that this is the true abode of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva, and the architecture is grand and stately.

After exploring these four temples, you will return to the peaceful Taihuai Town by coach, bringing your trip to Wutai Mountain to a successful conclusion.

• Taihuai Town - Qiao Family Courtyard - Pingyao Ancient City - Mingqing Street - City God Temple
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will depart for the Qiao Family Courtyard to explore the history and culture.

Afterwards, you will go to Pingyao Ancient City, which is known as the "Museum of Ming and Qing Dynasty Architecture". With a history of more than 2,700 years, Pingyao Ancient City is not only one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its rich cultural connotation and unique architectural style. Here, you can witness the towering ancient city walls, exquisite courtyards and quaint temples, each of which speaks of the vicissitudes of history and the accumulation of culture.

First, you can climb the Pingyao Ancient City Wall to get a full view of this ancient town and experience its unique urban planning and layout. Then, you will visit the Rishengchang Old Bank to experience the financial landscape of that era and learn about the operation of ancient banks.

Then, you can stroll along Mingqing Street, a cobblestone road full of historical flavor, lined with ancient buildings that seem to bring you back to the bustling bazaar of the old days.

At the end of the tour, we will go to the City God Temple, which is an ancient temple full of mysterious colors, in which the wood carvings, paintings and sculptures are even more exquisite. Here, you can feel the ancient people's devotion to their faith and desire for a better life.

After the ancient city tour, we will proceed to the hotel for check-in and a short rest.

Recommend for Activities

If you are so inclined, you can also choose to enjoy the wonderful theater performance of See Pingyao Again, which will present the prosperity and decline of Pingyao during the Qing Dynasty and give you a deeper understanding of the city's history and culture.

• Zhangbi Ancient Fort - Wang Family Courtyard - Shanxi Departure
• None
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will proceed to Zhangbi Ancient Fort. Originating from a series of tunnels and tunnels dug to escape from war more than 1,380 years ago, this ancient fortress displays a breathtaking display of ancient architectural and engineering skills.

We will then proceed to the Wang Family Courtyard. Known as the "Art Museum of Traditional Chinese Architecture" and the "Forbidden City of Folk", the compound is a brilliant architectural complex built by the Wang family of the Ming and Qing dynasties over 300 years and several generations. It includes five alleys and six castles, 231 courtyards, 2,078 rooms, and a street covering 250,000 square meters. Here, each courtyard contains rooms, kitchens, a schoolhouse and a prayer pavilion, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of life.

After finishing the exploratory tour of the Wang Family Courtyard, we will choose to return to Beijing by high-speed train or transfer you directly to the airport or train station according to your schedule to bring this trip to a successful end.