China Cultural Tour
16 day tour to Shanghai, Kaifeng, Shaolin Temple, Luoyang, Xian Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong & Beijing
16 day tour to Shanghai, Kaifeng, Shaolin Temple, Luoyang, Xian Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong & Beijing
Download PDF BrochureShaolin Temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin Martial Arts. Ping Yao is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city which was the major centre for the whole of China in the 19th and early 20the centuries. The Yungang Grottoes are an outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. Plus Forbidden City in Beijing, all of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Depart on your flight to Shanghai, the largest city in China. Your tour guide will meet you at the airport then transfer you to the hotel
After breakfast, the day begins with a grand city tour of Shanghai – the classical Ming Dynasty Yu Yuan Gardens with pavilions, towers and terraces and Pudong, the new economic district across from the Bund. The tour continues after lunch by a stroll along the spacious promenade of the Bund, window-shopping in bustling Nanjing Road.
This morning you will take high speed train to Kaifeng city (approx. 4.5 hours), one of the capitals in ancient China. Upon arrival, you visit to the Millennium Theme Park of Qingming Festival where you will experience the social life of Ancient China dated back to 11 century AD. Then visit the dragon pavilion—the original site of the ancient imperial palace. You may also walk around the imperial street of the Northern Song Dynasty.
In the morning you will visit to the Iron Pagoda-the symbolic building of Kaifeng City. Then drive to Shaolin. Visit the Shaolin Monastery. Built in 495 AD, it is the cradle of Kung Fu (wushu) and the Chinese Zen Buddhism. There are many attractions here including the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Temple Martial Art Training Centre. After sightseeing, you will drive to Luoyang in the late afternoon.
Today you will visit Longmen Caves, which contains the largest and most impressive collection of Early Chinese Buddhist cave art represented by well-preserved pagodas, carvings and statues. You will also visit the White Horse Temple. Established by the Han Dynasty in 68 AD, it is the first temple built by the government after Buddhism of India reached China.
You will take high speed train from Luoyang to Xian (approx. 1.5 hours), the most historic city in China and the capital of ancient China for 11 dynasties. Upon arrival Xian, you will take afternoon tour to Shanxi Provincial Museum.
Today’s touring is to the vast treasure of the underground army of the Terracotta Warriors. They are to be found at an archaeological site which so far has yielded some 8000 ancient terracotta soldiers and horses, each a unique, finely detailed sculpture. In the afternoon, you will visit the ancient City Wall and Grand Mosque. Dinner is a sumptuous dumpling banquet and a spectacular Tang Dynasty Show.
Today you will take high speed train from Xian to Ping Yao (it takes approx. 3 hours). You will visit the old town of town of Pingyao. It is the best preserved among the ancient towns in China. It is the assembly place of folk houses in north China where rows upon rows of buildings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties stand in well-preserved conditions.
Today you will drive to Taiyuan. On the way, we will visit Qiao’s Grand Courtyard, with the area of 8,724 square meters; it was the house of the richest family Qiao in Qing Dynasty in China. Though 2 centuries have been passed, it still keeps its original splendor in architectural style. We will visit the Jin Ancestral Temple; it was originally started in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 532 AD) to commemorate the memory of Shu Yu (Zhou Wu), the founder of the state of Jin.
Today drive to Datong (3.5 hours), on the way, we will visit Hanging Temple and Yinxian Wooden Pagoda. The Hanging Temple was built during 386-534 AD and restored in 1900 and there are 40 wooden halls and structures linked by an ingenious system of pillars, posts and walkways. Yingxian Wooden Pagoda was built in 1056 and is the oldest wooden Buddhist pagoda in existence; this pagoda is a 9 story octagonal building and was constructed without using any nails.
Tour to Yungang Grottoes, which has 252 caves and 51,000 statues, the grottoes represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. The Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art; afterwards we will visit Nine Dragon Screen.
Today you will take train to Beijing. Upon arrival, met and transfer to hotel. (Soft sleeper will be arranged for normal train (6 hours) before High spend train expected to open in 2020 which takes 2 hours).
Today you will visit the Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. From Tiananmen Square enter the Forbidden City. This massive complex was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With almost 10,000 rooms, this well-preserved imperial palace is the largest in the world. After lunch, ride a trishaw to tour the ancient city alleys of the Hutongs and experience the lifestyle of the local people.
Today you will experience the splendour of the Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is an amazing manmade structure built over 2000 years ago to protect China from northern invaders. Next to the Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Marvel with fascination at the Marble Boat and the ornately painted Long Corridor.
Today is at your own leisure. You are transferred to the airport for your flight bound for Australia.
Arrive in Australia in the morning.
# Land Only: $3680 Single supplement: $920
Pre / Post Stay Hotel: $150 (Shanghai) / $198 (Beijing) - per room per night with breakfast
Remarks
- This tour is a guaranteed departure based on a minimum of 4 people. Full package prices above include airport taxes and fuel surcharges.
- Land only price: Tour starts from Arrival transfer in Shanghai to Departure transfer in Beijing, including all domestic 2nd class train travel but excluding any International air tickets.
- 2nd class high speed train from Shanghai - Kaifeng; Luoyang - Xian - Pingyao included and upgrade to 1st class with surcharge $150 pp subject to availability. Datong - Beijing (Soft sleeper 4 sharing) included and will change to 2nd class high speed train expected put into service in 2020.
- China Visa: All travellers need visas to visit China. For single entry visa, one visa application form, one recent photo & visa application fee of $110 per person are required for Australian passport holders.
- Package prices of China Eastern Airlines are for departures from Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane.
- Package prices of Cathay Pacific / Qantas are for departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. Any cost including hotel or meals incurred due to the connecting flight in Hong Kong will be at your own expenses.
- One stopover in Hong Kong permitted if flying with Cathay Pacific. Extra airport taxes apply. Land arrangement in Hong Kong can be arranged at additional cost.
Inclusions
- Return economy class airfares departing from Australia with selected airlines and all domestic flights (unless specified), including ticketed airport taxes & fuel surcharges as at October 2019 (CBT reserve the right to charge extra if airlines increase their fuel surcharge).
- Fully inclusive tour with all transfers between airports / piers / stations and hotels in each city; daily sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary; evening entertainment; professional English speaking local guides and cruise etc. Most meals - breakfasts are Western / local cuisine style buffet at hotel, while lunches and dinners are mostly local cuisines served at selected restaurants, please refer to meal code on itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, BD=buffet dinner, SD=specialty dinner, WD=western dinner).
- Most of our hotels are 4 star international standard hotels with twin share superior class accommodation. All rooms have private facilities, telephone, colour TV and in-room internet facilities. Many hotels have a swimming pool.
- Professional English speaking National guide will accompany the group throughout the trip, in association with the local tour guides. This is subject to the minimum of 10 clients for each tour. Should the group be less than 10 people, the local guide will meet you at the airport / station upon your arrival and return you to the station / airport for your next destination.
- CBT Holidays travel wallet and travel kits.