If you are interested in this tour, just let us know the tour name, we will send you detailed itinerary and quote as quickly as we can.If all of these tours featured on the web are not what you want, please fill out “customize design my trip” form at the bottom of this page (or on our homepage) so that we can design a tour based on your preferences and interests.Please contact us at chinaonyourmind@hotmail.com
17 days Religion tour of Beijing, Datong, Wutaishan, Xi’an, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shanghai
There are five major religions/philosophies in China: Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. Among them, Taoism and Confucianism are uniquely Chinese. The other two three later imports. This tour will focus on the three major religions in China. During this tour, you will have opportunity to learn its history, development and present situation. It is very helpful for westerns to better understand Chinese culture. We will also experience the warm welcome of the Chinese people as we visit their charming country and colorful vibrant cities. We begin in Beijing, capital almost without interruption since the 12th century. Xian most vividly exemplifies the extraordinary continuity of Chinese civilization.…We will also explore Shanghai, China's largest city and vibrant commercial heart. Our time in Shanghai will give us a sense of emerging China and provide a lovely ending to the tour.
Day 1: Arrive Beijing
Arrive at Beijing, China's exciting and cultural heart. The local guide will meet you at airport and transfer to hotel. Rest day is free for jet-leg.
Day 2: Beijing
B,SL,D (breakfast, special lunch, dinner)
The day begins at Tiananmen Square, the largest City Square in the world. From there you will enter the Forbidden City, a powerful maze of ancient palaces and courtyards from which the emperor ruled the land for 500 years. Also visit the Emperor's Clock Collection and the Jewelry and Relic collection (which westerners rarely see). Special Imperial lunch at Beijing Fangshan Restaurant in BeihaiPark, Afternoon, we will take you to the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties prayed for good harvests. The temple is not only especially glamorous, it is an architectural wonder because not a single nail was used for its construction. Enjoy Chinese Kongfu or Peking Opera show after dinner.
Day 3:BeijingB,L,SD (special dinner)
Today's excursion to the Great Wall (Juyong Guan section) of China promise to be a highlights of our travels. We'll have a chanceto take a hike along one of the most beautiful sections and examine first-hand one of the most scenic portions of its 3700 miles length. Then visit the workshops of a Cloisonne factory to see workers practice this unique art. After lunch, you will be taken to The Summer Palace, a vast and beautiful landscape of elegant garden, lakes and pavilions. We’ll admire the famous Marble Boat and take a Kunming lake cruise during the visit. The Peking Duck banquet will be at famous Duck King Restaurant.
Day 4:Beijing
B,L
This morning you will take trishaw into Hutong, which is an ancient city alley, to experience the life of the local people. Visit the old quadrangles inhabited by Beijing residents. Tour in the Prince Gong’s Palace and have a cup of tea. You also have an opportunity to visit a local family and chat with local people. After lunch, you will be taken to The Lama Temple, where is thecenter of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism with considerable religious and political sway. It once had a community of 1,500 Tibetan, Mongol and Chinese lamas. Even today there are still a number of Mongolian lamas tending the temple. If time permit, we will get to the 2nd Hand Street Market, which is where the Beijingers shop. Here, you can find many incredible deals on things, if you know what you are looking for and you know how to bargain.
Day 5:Beijing/DatongB,L
Today you visit White Clouds Taoist Monastery, which is a famous Taoist temple in Beijing. Built originally in 739 during the Tang Dynasty. Many famous Taoist priests had lived there, but today only one pagoda remains in the backyard.After buffet lunch at four star CTS hotel, we take afternoon train to Datong. The trip is about 7 hours through interesting countryside in Northwest China where you will glimpse ancient sections of the Great Wall and Chinese rural county life. Meet and transfer to hotel.
Day 6:Datong/Wutaishan B,L
Today you will visit Yungang Grotto, which is the best preserved in China. They stretch for about a km and are grouped into three main sections: east, central and west. The earliest caves were carved around
AD450. Drive to Yingxian country to see one of architectural wonder in the world, the Hanging Temple. Then Journey to Wutaishan, which has been venerated by Buddhists as one of China's four sacred sites since ancient times. It consists of five towering peaks. Yedou, the tallest of them all, is 3,058 meters above the sea level, know as the "Roof of North China."
Day 7:Wutaishan B,L
After breakfast, visit the LongQuanTemple and Nunnery. Then visit XianTongTemple and other famous temples in this Buddhist sanctuary. You will have vegetarian meal with the Wu Tai Buddhist monks.
Day 8:Wutaishan/Taiyuan/Xi’anB,L
Drive to Taiyuan for your flight to Xi’an, China's former capital, and gateway to the legendary Silk Road, Upon arrival, meet and transfer to your hotel.Sightseeing today features the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shanxi provincial museum. The experience of riding bicycle on the top of the wall will be unforgotten.
Day 9:Xi’anB,L,SD (special dinner)
Today's highlights is the most spectacular and important places in China: the ArchaeologicalMuseum with more than 6000 life-size Terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of Qin Dynasty. Oftentimes, one of the farmers who discovered the site is actually there. You could possibly ask him some questions through your guide. Then visit Relics of BanpoVillage, a civilization of well over 6,000 years old, an entire chapter of Chinese history.Also walk to get to know the Moslem Quarter of this ancient city, including the Great Mosque, and open-air food markets under the ancient city walls. Enjoy Tang Dynasty dinner show at TangDynastyPalace.
Day 10: Xi'an/ChengduB,L,SD (special dinner)
This morning, you will stroll along the South Gate, a lively pedestrian quarter where you'll see locals practising Tai Chi exercises, street artists demonstrating their wonderful skills. Then take flight to Chengdu, the capital of SichuanProvince. Meet and transfer to hotel.Afternoon visitSanxingduiMuseum, which is Sichuan's most important archaeological finds linked to the ancient Shu culture.Relax ina famous teahouse with the locals, who are full of character and life. Dinner will be served at a local popular Sichuan Food restaurant. Evening enjoy Changing Faces, a performance featuring the unique, magical skills of the Sichuan Opera.
Day 11:ChengduB,L
The first stop of today is Panda Research Center, a study center that is home to more than 20 pandas. You’ll learn about China’s panda conservation efforts and get an up-close view of these magnificent
animals. Then take an excursion to Green City Mountain, which is one of the birthplace of Taoism in China and densely covered with green woods and the skyline of its peaks resembles that of city battlements; hence the name. You will visit a lot of cultural relics of Taoism.
Day 12:Chengdu/LhasaB,L,D
Take flight to Lhasa and land in the "Roof of the world". Transfer to hotel and a complete rest for acclimatization in the afternoon.
Day 13: LhasaB,L,D
Wonder through the ancient Bakhor Market and gaze in the awe the Jolkhang Temple, that are full of timeless treasures and the highlight of today's tour is the extraordinary, exquisite and magnificent Potala Palace, which dates back to the 7th century and looms large over the city of Lhasa.Three meals will be at hotel.
Day 14: LhasaB,L,D
Today visit such wonders as the Norbulinka, the Dalai Lhama's summer Palace, Drepung, the largest monastery in the world, and Sera Monasteries famous for its antiquity.
Day 15:Lhasa/ShanghaiB,L
Take flight to Shanghai via Chengdu.After finishing checking-in, our guide will take you to visit the Xin Tian Di, which is a newly developed recreation area in Shanghai with old styled buildings. You may find a cafe or western-styled restaurant to have your own dinner. Or do some shopping through the bustling Nanjing Road.
Day 16:ShanghaiB,L,D
Today our guide will take you for a walk along the Bund, the city's landmark, to view the neo-Classical and Art Deco buildings from Shanghai's heyday of 1930's Then visit YuyuanGarden, formerly a private garden with rookies, pavilions, halls and ponds. Also walk around the Chenghuangmiao Area (old town), the most-lively place in Shanghai. Lunch will be at SeagullPalace (Shanghai Cuisine) beside HuangpuRiver.Afternoon you will visit world-class ShanghaiMuseum with its many fine exhibits (especially of note is the Chinese Minority exhibit).. Enjoy Portman Acrobatic show after dinner.
