Our tour to China starts in the capital city of Beijing, known for its unparalleled combination of ancient imperial history and rapid modern development. Beijing is an exceptionally popular, top-tier global tourist destination and the number 1 destination in China, frequently ranked for its 3,000+ years of history, UNESCO sites and fast-paced atmosphere.

We are making a daytrip today. Specifically, we are taken by car to a famous, well-preserved and scenic section of the Great Wall of China called Mutianyu. There we take the cable car up to the Great Wall. This section of the Great Wall was originally built in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577 AD) and rebuilt and strengthened in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to protect the capital and imperial tombs.

After visiting the Great Wall, we are taken back to Beijing, specifically to Qianmen Street. There we experience Beijing’s blend of heritage and contemporary life. This street offers a glimpse into old Beijing with traditional architecture, unique shops (like famous Peking Duck restaurants) and street food, all connected to Tiananmen Square by a pedestrian path featuring historic trams and side alleys.

Today we are exploring Beijing further. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Temple of Heaven Park. This ancient sacrificial complex features stunning imperial architecture and vibrant daily life where locals practice a ‘meditation in motion’ called Tai Chi as well as sing and dance. The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast park showcasing intricate Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, all set within beautiful gardens. After the Temple of Heaven Park, we are taken to the Forbidden City. This is a stunning and vast complex of preserved ancient wooden architecture, the world’s largest of its kind. This UNESCO World Heritage site gives you a taste of Ming and Qing dynasty emperors’ opulent lives.

After visiting the Forbidden City, we are taken to a park called Jingshan. From the mountaintop, we can enjoy a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. Next, we are taken to an area called Nanluoguxiang. It features narrow alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences. Nanluoguxiang offers a unique blend of ancient neighborhood charm and modern trendy shops, cafes and bars. After Nanluoguxiang, we are taken back to our hotel.

We are relocating by train to the city of Datong. After settling in, we are taken on foot to the Datong Prince’s Palace (a.k.a. Residence of Prince Dai). It’s a prime example of a grand, well-preserved mansion with intricate courtyards, showcasing imperial-era living and design. After visiting the palace, we are provided with a walking tour of the ancient city of Datong, checking out the pretty streets and shops. After the tour, we can be walked back to our hotel or left in town for dinner.

We are making a daytrip today. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Yungang Grottoes. It is considered one of the world’s greatest ancient stone carving treasures, showcasing the fusion of Indian and Chinese artistic styles. These grottoes feature over 51,000 well-preserved statues in 252 caves carved 1,500 years ago. Next, we are taken to the Hengshan Hanging Temple. It is known for its unique engineering, clinging to a cliff face by stilts and beams. This is the only temple in China that integrates Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, with statues of all three faiths present. After Hengshan Hanging Temple, we are taken back to our hotel.

Firstly, we are relocating by train to the city of Pingyao. Upon arrival, we are taken to the ancient town, which we explore on foot. This is essentially a living museum. Specifically, we visit Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop, Ming-Qing Street, City God Temple, Ma Family Compound and the city wall. There are several pretty streets to walk along and we will try to see as many of those as possible. After Pingyao, we relocate by train to the city of Linfen. Upon arrival, we are taken to our hotel.

We are making a daytrip today. Firstly, we are taken by car to visit the yellow-brownish Hukou Waterfall from the Linfen side. We will not cross over the Yellow River, to the Shaanxi province side, to see Hukou Waterfall. The Linfen side is far more attractive. Next, we are taken to the Xiaoxitian Temple, located in the city of Linfen. At first glance, Xiaoxitian Temple is nothing special. Wait until we check out the inside. It is a pleasant surprise and quite unique in its design. After visiting the temple, we are taken back to our hotel.

We are relocating by train to the city of Xi’an. After settling in, we start a guided cycling tour along the city walls. There we enjoy the panoramic views of the ancient city. After our tour, we are taken by car to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Close to this pagoda starts the walk along a beautiful pedestrian street called ‘Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City’ (a.k.a. Tang Dynasty Never Sleeps). Along this street we find tall historic buildings, fountains, artistic objects, statues and nice lighting.

We are making a daytrip today. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Lishan Garden. It showcases significant archaeological finds, most notably exquisite bronze chariots and horses. Next, we are taken to an underground archeological site called the Terracotta Army. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its breathtaking scale, intricate craftsmanship and immense historical significance. It offers a unique glimpse into the power and beliefs of China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It features thousands of life-sized, unique soldiers and horses built to serve him in the afterlife, revealing details of ancient military organization, weaponry and artistry.

After visiting the Terracotta Army, we are taken back to town, specifically to the Muslim Quarter’s Huimin Street. This is home to arguably the city’s greatest food. We recommend you purchase dinner upon arrival. After our meal, we are guided along this street. Among the many attractions, we also pass by a historic mansion called Gao Family Mansion. Afterwards, we are taken back to our hotel.

We are making another daytrip today. Firstly, we are taken by train to the city of Luoyang. Upon arrival, we are taken by car to the Yingtian Gate (a.k.a. Yingtianmen). The interior serves as a museum and houses objects and artifacts. Across from Yingtian Gate, we see two historic buildings, Mingtang (a.k.a. Hall of Enlightenment) and Tiantang (a.k.a. Heavenly Hall). Mingtang was the main ceremonial hall for political and ritualistic functions while Tiantang was a towering Buddhist hall built by Empress Wu Zetian. The interiors of both structures are impressive.

After visiting the Yingtian Gate and its surroundings, we are taken to the entrance of the Longmen Grottoes. Upon arrival, we take the shuttle to the Dongshan Grottoes. We are provided with a guided tour there. Next, we are taken on foot to Xiangshan Temple. Across the river from these grottoes and temple we can see the Longmen Grottoes. These are some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art and house tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples. Once the sun sets, we walk across the river again, so we can see the Longmen Grottoes illuminated at night. We then take the train back to Xi’an.

We are relocating by flight to the city of Kashgar. It offers a unique blend of Central Asian and Uyghur (a Turkic minority) culture, 2,000-year-old history and vibrant, traditional Islamic architecture. After settling in, we visit the ‘East Gate’ side of the city. This is a lively area known for its food scene and popular photo spots and otherwise features a vibrant night market. We can purchase dinner at a restaurant that offers live music and entertainment. After our meal, we are taken back to our hotel.

Today we are exploring Kashgar further. Specifically, we are visiting the ‘West Gate’ side of the city, starting with the square in front of Id Kah Mosque. Whereas the square itself is lively, the mosque’s interior is quite plain. Thus, we see this mosque from the outside only. We are avoiding attractions that are a bit plain, whether the interior of Id Kah Mosque or Xiangfei Garden (a.k.a. Xiang Fei Park) or the Tomb of Xiangfei. We want to make good use of time, as there is so much to appreciate in the old town: streets, music, traditional attire, food and people.

We are not relocating by flight to the city of Lanzhou just yet. Beforehand, we are taken to Kashgar’s Gaotai Ancient Residential Area. There we are provided with a guided tour of this historic village. Next, we are taken on foot to the Kunlun Tower. There we ascend to the top and enjoy the nice panoramic views.

We are making a daytrip today. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Bingling Temple. There we are provided with a guided tour, both on foot and by boat. Bingling Temple is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. The boat tour is especially enjoyable. After Bingling Temple, we are taken back to the city, specifically to Zhengning Road. This is Lanzhou’s largest and most popular night market. We recommend purchasing street food as we are provided with a guided tour in this area.

We are relocating by train to the city of Yinchuan. After checking into our hotel, we are taken by car to a unique and large sculpture called the Alashan Hero Club. Next, we are taken to an entrance of the Tengger Desert. There we go on a guided tour in a 4×4. We experience activities like dune bashing and sand sledding. We also check out two red-colored lakes, including Ulan Lake. We also walk into one of the two lakes and are provided with drone footage. After our tour, we are taken back to our hotel.

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Yinchuan.