Standard Modern China Trips with Ancient Cities

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Place & Transport:  Arrive in Beijing, Airport-hotel transfer

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Place & Transport:  Beijing

Today's Activities:  Tiananmen Square,Forbidden City,Summer Palace

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Tiananmen Square (50 minutes):

In the middle of capital Beijing, there lies Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen Square is not only the largest city square in China, but also the second largest city square in the world. It is 880 meters long and 500 meters wide with an area of 440,000 square meters. It is also a representative place in the long development of China. In Tiananmen Square, there stand many constructions. Great Hall of the People connects the Tiananmen Square to the west. The National Museum connects the Tiananmen Square to the east. The Tiananmen Tower stands in the northern part of the Tiananmen Square. The capacity of the square is up to 1 million people at the same time.

Forbidden City (4-5 Hours):

The Forbidden City is located at the heart of Beijing City, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. In history, there were 24 emperors living in the Forbidden City. During the year between 1420 and 1911, the Forbidden City reached the most prosperous position. It was a product of Chinese feudal society. In the year of 1987, the Forbidden City was included in the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. At the same time, it is the best-preserved royal palace in China. It represents the history and culture of ancient China. What’s more, it is not a single scenic spot. Around the Forbidden City, there are Maozedong Memorial Hall, the Monument of People’s Heroes, Tiananmen Square and so on.

Summer Palace (3 hours):

The Summer Palace is located in the Haidian district. Haidian lies in the northwestern of capital Beijing. It is a little long away from the middle of Beijing, nearly 10 kilometers. It is the famous tourist attraction all over the world with an area of 3,000,000 square meters. The Summer Palace is composed of two main parts: the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. The Summer Palace is an imperial garden. It is still preserved well after many years. It beautiful scenery and history attract many tours and views at home and abroad. And on the Kunming Lake, you can take a ferry boat to enjoy the scenery. It is wonderful.

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Place & Transport:  Beijing

Today's Activities:  Badaling Great Wall,Changling Tomb

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Badaling Great Wall (2 hours):

Badaling Great Wall is the best preserved section of Ming Great Wall. And it is also the most representative section of Ming Great Wall. It is located in the northwestern part of the Beijing city, about 60 kilometers long. The height of the Badaling Great Wall is up to 1015 meters. As the essence of Ming Great Wall, it plays an very important part in protecting the nation. Badaling Great Wall is the first section of Great Wall open to the tourists. It is also included in the World Heritage List. It is well known for the splendid landscape, complex construction and the long culture. In addition, transportations there are quite convenient.

Changling Tomb (1 hours):

Changling Tomb is a primary and best preserved part of the Ming Tombs. The Ming Tombs was included in the World Heritage List in the year of 2003. The Ming Tombs was the mausoleums of 13 emperors of dynasty Ming. Changling Tomb was originally built in the year of 1409 and completed in the year of 1427. It was the mausoleum of emperor Zhuli and his queen Xu. It has the largest scale in the Ming Tombs. It covers an area about 12,000 square meters. The construction of the Changling Tomb has the function of research. As an imperial mausoleum of dynasty Ming, it represent the features of constructions and the culture of that period.

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Place & Transport:  Beijing to Xian, Flight to Xian

Today's Activities:  Temple of Heaven,Hutong Tour in Xicheng District

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Temple of Heaven (1.5 hours):

Temple of Heaven is situated in Beijing City, the capital of China. It covers an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. That Temple was originally built in the year of 1420, the Ming dynasty. It was built to serve as the place to pray. The emperors prayed for the Heaven and God for good harvests and peace. UNESCO listed the Temple of Heaven in the World Cultural Heritage in the year of 1998. And it was included in the China World Records Association in the year of 2009. As an ancient construction of China, Temple of Heaven has high value of research and visiting. It consists of two main parts: the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar.

 

Hutong Tour in Xicheng District (50 minutes):

Hutong is a typical place in the Beijing City. It is also named lane or alley. The history of Hutong can be traced back to the dynasty Yuan. Its initial meaning was a well with water in Mongolian. In the period of Yuan Mongolia, water was very important and precious, like gasoline or gas oil to the cars. In the year of 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded in Beijing city. And the government decided to develop the Beijing into a modern city. Many old Hutongs disappeared. The wide streets and avenues became the main parts of transportation instead of old Hutongs. Fortunately, there are a few Hutongs existing in Beijing. The Hutongs represent the development and culture of ancient Beijing.

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Place & Transport:  Xian

Today's Activities:  Shaanxi Historical Museum,Big Wild Goose Pagaoda,Xian City Wall

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Shaanxi Historical Museum (2 hours):

As the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization, Xian City boasts the honor to be the capital city of thirteen dynasties along Chinese history, which in total lasted over 1100 years. The Shaanxi History Museum is consequently be a showcase of ancient civilization.

Situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, Shaanxi Historical Museum is in the northwest end the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, opened to the public in 1991. Owing to its internal apparatus, grand architectural buildings, and large quantity of exhibits, it is rated as the first-class museum in China.

Big Wild Goose Pagaoda (2 hours):

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists，situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, about 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) from the downtown area of Xi'an.

It was originally built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), standing among the Da Ci'en Temple complex, it is a famous tourist site attracting large quantity of visitors every year, noted for simple but peculiar style of construction, rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve as well as an AAAA Tourist Attraction. And it can be divided into three parts: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Da Ci'en Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Xian City Wall (3.5 hours):

The Xi'an city wall was initially constructed in the Tang dynasty (618 -907) and later enlarged in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), creating the present Xian City Wall. It's the among the best preserved city walls in China, and also one of the largest ancient military defensive systems among the world.

After three times restoration, it is 12 meters (40 feet) in height, 12-14 meters (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 meters (50-60 feet) thick at the bottom, occupying 13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles) in length with a deep moat encircled.

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Place & Transport:  Xian to Guilin, Flight to Guilin

Today's Activities:  Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum,Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum (3 hours):

The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is situated about 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province，occupying in total an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into three sections: No. 1 Pit, No. 2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit respectively, tagged according to the time of their excavation.

No. 1 Pit is the largest one and also the first opened to the public. No. 2 Pit, found in 1976, situated 20 meters northeast of No. 1 Pit. And the No. 3 Pit is about 25 meters northwest of No. 1 Pit.

Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum (One Hour):

As the first emperor in ancient China, Emperor Qinshihuang has the biggest imperial mausoleum then, which is situated five kilometers east of Lintong County, 35 kilometers from Xi'an City in Shaanxi Province. Owing to its important position in history and culture area, the State Council decided the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang would be a key cultural relic under state protection in 196I. Emperor Qinshihuang was named Ying Zheng and was a great politician and militarist of China's ancient feudal society. If you are interested in China’s history, you can’t miss it.

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Place & Transport:  Guilin, Yangshuo, Guilin

Today's Activities:  Li River Cruise,West Street

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Li River Cruise (4 hours):

Li River is a famous river in Guilin city, Guangxi province. The section connects the Guilin city and Yangshuo is called the Li River. It attracts many tourists at home and abroad each year with the jade wade and verdant mountains. You can enjoy the scenery on the cruise. The cormorants catch the fishes in the river for the fishermen. You can have a taste of the natural fish. In addition, the view on the cruise is great different. You can stand on the board to feel the wind.

West Street ( half day):

Yangshuo West Street is located in the center of Yangshuo County. The Street is 517 meters long and 8 meters broad. The street is paved with marble. As an ancient street, West Street has many buildings in the ancient Chinese style. There are lots of stores along the street. Since 1980's, West Street is the place mixing the eastern and western culture together. It is also the place gathering the most foreigners in China. Over 10,000 tourists come to West Street each year to enjoy leisure life, taste the snacks and have the sightseeing.

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Place & Transport:  Guilin to Shanghai, Flight to Shanghai

Today's Activities:  Elephant Trunk Hill ,Reed Flute Cave ,Seven Star Park

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Elephant Trunk Hill (40 minutes):

Elephant Trunk Hill is located in the Guilin city, Guangxi province. Li River and Peach Blossom River go through it. It is also called Elephant Hill. It gets the name for the shape likes an elephant drinking water in the river. Elephant Trunk Hill is about 55 meters high. Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of Guilin scenery. As one of the popular tourist attractions, it is a good place to spend the vacation. The fresh air, the clean water and the hill attracts more and more tourists.

Reed Flute Cave (3 hour):

Reed Flute Cave is located in northwestern part of Guilin city, Guangxi province. It is about 5 kilometers away from the center of the Guilin city. The cave is 240 meters long. There are many strange and beautiful scenery in the cave, such as stone pillars, a magic land of stalagmites, stone curtains, stalactites. Reed Flute Cave was discovered in the year of 1959. And now it becomes the hot spot of tourists. It is the remarkable place of Guilin tourism. Visitors from home and abroad must go to Reed Flute Cave while tour in the Guilin.

Seven Star Park (1 hour):

Seven Star Park is located in the east bank of the Li River in Guilin city, Guangxi province. It is about 1.5 kilometers far from the center of the Guilin city. It is named after the Seven Star Hill. It covers an area over 120 hectares. Seven Star Park is the biggest park in Guilin city. It is also the most popular park with the viewers. Seven Star Park is a comprehensive park, including water, mountains, caves, stones, courtyards, buildings and cultural relics. It is the miniature of Guilin Scenery.

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Place & Transport:  Shanghai

Today's Activities:  Jade Buddha Temple,Yuyuan Garden,The Bund

Breakfast,Chinese Lunch

Jade Buddha Temple (1 hour):

Jade Buddha Temple，situated in the western part of Shanghai, was initially constructed in 1882 to keep two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma.

The two jade Buddhist statues are precious artworks, both the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are carved with whole white jade. The sparkling and crystal-clear white jade makes the Buddhas more sanctity and vivid. The Sitting Buddha is 190 centimeters high and encrusted by agate and emerald, portraying the expression of meditation and enlightenment. The Recumbent Buddha is 96 centimeters long, lying on the right side with the right hand supporting the head and the left hand on the left leg, displaying peaceful mood of Sakyamuni when he leaving this world.

Yuyuan Garden (1.5 hours):

As a famous classical Chinese garden, Yuyuan Garden was constructed in 1577, situated in Anren Jie, Shanghai. Along the 400 years of its existence, Yuyuan Garden had undergone many changes, and was once being dilapidated.

Encompassing an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres), though small, pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters well placed in the garden all bearing unique characteristics. Views in the garden can mainly be divided into six main scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden.

The Bund (2 hours):

The Bund is a well-known waterfront in Shanghai, situated at the west bank of Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge, it has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years, winding 1500 meters (0.93 mile) in length.

The highlight of the Bund lies at the west side, namely, 26 various buildings of different architectural styles including the Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque and Classicism. The flood-control wall, at a length of 1,700-meters (1,859 yards), known as "the lovers' wall", once was the most romantic corner in Shanghai. After renovation, it has been improved into hollowed-out railings peculiarly known for romantic atmosphere. Standing by the railings, you can enjoy a "snap-shot" view of Pudong Area and Huangpu River.

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Place & Transport:  Hotel-airport transfer, Depart Shanghai

Breakfast