Upon arrival at Beijing International Airport, your dedicated guide will greet you outside baggage claim. En route to your booked four or five-star city center hotel, your guide will introduce you to Beijing’s highlights and history. You can spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.

Meals included: None

Your Beijing tour begins this morning with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest city square. Even by Chinese standards, Tiananmen Square is huge, and as the political center of China, it is flanked by the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, and the National Museum of China. Your guide will take you across the street to the stunning Forbidden City. A cultural and historical landmark in Beijing, the Forbidden City seems endless. Every part of this former residence of Chinese royalty is worthy of admiration for its detailed planning, elaborate construction, and symbolic representation. Prepare to be amazed. From the Forbidden City, your guide will take you to the Summer Palace to admire its unique design, beautiful gardens, and man-made Kunming Lake. It’s easy to imagine Empress Dowager Cixi spending her summers here, overseeing the intrigues and schemes of imperial life. Stop by to visit the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube (a stadium and swimming pool built for the 2008 Summer Olympics) to get a feel for China’s opening up to the world. After a full day of touring, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Note: Your guide may adjust your itinerary as the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays.

China is home to many iconic historical buildings and monuments, but few are as striking as the Great Wall. Today you’ll have the opportunity to climb the Mutianyu Great Wall and learn about its impressive history. A short stop en route at Sanyuanli, a famous local food market, will allow you to stock up on fruit and snacks for today’s tour. Every section of the Great Wall is interesting, but the Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the less visited. About 90 minutes from Beijing, you can sit back and enjoy the drive while having the opportunity to ask your guide about the sights along the way. The Great Wall can be reached by cable car, and the short trip offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It also allows you to reflect on this incredible feat of construction, which involved more than 800,000 soldiers and civilians. Walk like a guard on the Great Wall, admiring Ming Dynasty guard towers and stunning views. There will be plenty to talk about on the return trip to Beijing. In the afternoon you will visit the Temple of Confucius, which was built in 1302 to honor Confucius and the philosophers who have studied Confucianism over the centuries. You will also visit the Imperial College Museum, where you will learn about its importance to scholars from ancient times to the present, who studied and took exams there to advance their careers. End the day with a stroll through Wudaoying Hutong. This is a chance to visit one of Beijing’s most creative and artistic hutongs, where you can visit quirky shops, cafes like a local and witness the lifestyle of a unique Beijing community.

Meals included: Breakfast

Every Chinese emperor built important buildings, and the Yongle Emperor was no exception. He was responsible for the construction of the Temple of Heaven (as well as the Forbidden City) and established it as an important place of worship during his reign, a tradition that continued until 1900 by the subsequent Ming and Qing emperors. Your guide will explain the significance of the Temple of Heaven’s numerous elements, each of which was carefully designed. Learn how the emperor and the people of the time performed rituals and ceremonies to pray for a good harvest and national well-being. Watch locals practice Tai Chi, singing and dancing, accompanied by water calligraphy. Expect a change of pace as you are transferred to the train station to catch the high-speed train to Luoyang. The journey is approximately five hours (at 300 kilometers per hour), giving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the diverse landscapes and views along the way. Upon arrival in Luoyang, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your four- or five-star hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Be sure to have a hearty breakfast, as there is a full day of exploration ahead. Luoyang’s highlights are special and rare. The day’s sightseeing begins at the Longmen Grottoes, which are approximately a 40-minute drive from your centrally located hotel. First, take an escorted electric car ride along the Yi River to the scenic area, where you will marvel at the amazing feat of creating more than 100,000 famous Buddha statues. Due to the continuous construction over hundreds of years, there are different styles of Buddha statues here. You will see Buddha statues from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557 AD) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Inside the Longmen Grottoes, you will have time to explore the Ten Thousand Buddha Caves, so named for the fifteen thousand Buddha statues carved on the north and south sides. Incredibly, each statue is only about four centimeters (the smallest is only two centimeters!) Despite centuries of destruction and looting, thousands of Buddha statues have survived. The Longmen Grottoes tour includes a visit to the largest cave, the Fengtian Temple. In addition to the extraordinary natural beauty of the site, the Fengtian Temple also has some of the most exquisite carvings in China. It is here that the Vairocana Buddha is located. Standing 17 meters tall, the Buddha’s imposing and impressive presence will captivate you, and you will be mesmerized by the Buddha’s calm expression. Before driving to Dengfeng, you will have time to hike across the Yi River to add to your memories of the day’s travels. Be sure to snap at least one or two panoramic photos of the Vairocana Buddha.

Note: Today’s itinerary offers the option of a short cruise on the Yi River. A cruise is an ideal way to enjoy the beauty of the Longmen Grottoes caves and limestone cliffs. Please let us know if we can book this extra for you.

The afternoon’s sightseeing continues with the Buddhist theme, exploring the White Horse Temple. Incredibly, the White Horse Temple is known as the first Buddhist temple in China. Historians date its initial construction to around 68 AD, though it has undergone reconstruction and renovations over its 1,900-year history. The White Horse Temple is an iconic destination for Buddhists from China, India, and elsewhere. Today, you can soak up the tranquility of the thousand-year-old temple and gain a deeper understanding of its charm. You can increase your knowledge and experience by contemplating the rich history shared by your local guide. From the White Horse Temple, you will continue your 90-minute drive to Dengfeng, home to the Shaolin Temple. Upon arrival in Dengfeng, check into your hotel and recharge your batteries in preparation for the next day’s Kung Fu experience.

Meals included: Breakfast

While the highlight of the day is the visit to the Shaolin Temple, you will start the day by attending a one-hour Kung Fu class held by a local martial arts school. Marvel at the martial arts skills and virtuosity before watching a performance at the Shaolin Temple. You will have the opportunity to watch a thrilling Kung Fu performance at the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, an inspiring martial art that has been studied for centuries. You will be impressed and excited by the athletic performances of Tongzi Kung Fu, Mantis Fist and Monkey Fist. After the performance, you will have the opportunity to continue exploring and learn about the history involved. You will walk through the mountain gate and along the paved road that leads to the ancient temple complex. Like any other historic site in China, the Shaolin Temple has witnessed the rise and fall of various dynasties and exudes the atmosphere of a bygone era. This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in history amidst the majestic halls, bell and drum towers, colorful murals and ancient stone tablets from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Not far away, you’ll find the peaceful Pagoda Forest, a cemetery of more than 230 brick pagodas where the ashes or remains of great monks are interred. Your guide will explain that the height and size differences of the tombs reflect each monk’s Buddhist achievement or merit (the taller, the better). After a stroll through the Pagoda Forest, you’ll return to Luoyang, where you’ll catch a train or flight to your next destination.

Meals included: Breakfast

Travel Tip: We love to help our customers make the most of their available travel time. Need help planning your next destination? We can help. With a network across China, we can take care of every detail and arrange your train or flight from Luoyang—or anywhere else in China. (Surcharge applies).