| Day 1: Australia / Shanghai | |
| Depart on your flight to Shanghai, the largest city in China. Your tour guide will meet you the airport and try the Shanghai Maglev the fastest train in the world, then transfer you to the hotel. |
| |
| Day 2: Shanghai | Meal: B/L/D |
| 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 Dim Sum lunch at famous Lvbolang Restaurant; then followed by a stroll along the spacious promenade of the Bund, window-shopping in bustling Nanjing Road. After dinner you will enjoy the amazing Shanghai Acrobatics Show. |
| |
| Day 3: Shanghai /Zhengzhouv / Kaifeng | Meal: B/L/D |
| Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Zhengzhou. Upon arrival, meet and drive to Kaifeng, one of the capitals in ancient China. 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. |
| |
| Day 4: Kaifeng / Shaolin / Luoyang | Meal: B/L/D |
| In the mmorning you will visit to the Iron Pagoda-the symbolic building of Kaifeng City. Then drive to Shaolin. Visit the Shaolin Monastery. Built in 495AD, 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. |
| |
| Day 5: Luoyang | Meal: B/L/D |
| 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. |
| |
| Day 6: Luoyang / Xian | Meal: B/D |
| You will take morning train from Luoyang to Xian, 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. |
| |
| Day 7: Xian | Meal: B/L/SD |
| 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 stage show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre. |
| |
| Day 8: Xian / Taiyuan v Pingyao | Meal: B/L/D |
| Fly to Taiyuan, we drive to Pingyao ancient town (2 hours). On the way, 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. |
| |
| Day 9: Pingyao / Taiyuan | Meal: B/L/D |
| Morning 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. After lunch you will drive back to Taiyuan On the way, we will visit Qiao’s Grand Courtyard, with the area of 8724 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. |
| |
| Day 10: Taiyuan / Datong | Meal: B/L/D |
| Drive to Datong (3.5 hours), on the way, we will visit Hanging Temple and Yinxian Wooden Pagoda. The Hanging Temple was built during 386-534AD, 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. |
| |
| Day 11: Datong | Meal: B/L/D |
| 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 Nice Dragon Screen |
| |
| Day 12: Datong / Beijing | Meal: B/BD |
| In the morning, you will take the train to Beijing. Upon arrival, met and transfer to hotel. This afternoon is at your leisure. A buffet dinner will be served at your hotel. |
| |
| Day 13: Beijing | Meal: B/L/D |
| 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. Later, take a traditional Chinese sculled cruise on Houhai Lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery while being serenaded by a local musician playing classical Chinese music (available from April to October). |
| |
| Day 14: Beijing | Meal: B/L/D |
| 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. |
| |
| Day 15: Beijing | Meal: B/L/SD |
| Morning tour the magnificent Temple of Heaven, a Ming Temple where the Emperors performed annual rites essential for the well being of their land. You will also have a photo stop to the new icon of Beijing, spectacular the Bird’s Nest, Water Cube. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Peking Duck Banquet. |
| |
| Day 16: Beijing / Australia | Meal: B |
| Today is at your own leisure. A late checkout till 6pm, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight bound for Australia. |
| |
| Day 17: Australia | |
| Arrive in Australia in the morning. |
| |
|
|
