Forbidden City, Beijing

Day 01Entry Beijing

Our guide will hold a welcome sign to meet you outside the baggage claim area at the Beijing Capital Airport according to your international (internal) flight schedule. Transfer to the 4-star hotel for 3 nights stay and relax for the rest of the day. 

Meals: We do not arrange any meals for you today because of the different arrival flights

Hotel: Holiday Inn Central Plaza  - the best Holiday Inn Hotel in Beijing (4 star)

Day 02Beijing

Morning excursion transfers you to climb the China Great Wall - Badaling section. A spicy Sichuan cuisine lunch is served at a notable restaurant to recruit your physical energy. This afternoon, stroll across the Sacred Path and reach the Ming Tomb. On the way back to downtown, drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium). You will see its appearance at a distance. 
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Descriptions:
Great Wall - Without any modern communication facilities, the information transportation along the Great Wall just depended on the dense beacon towers which were built every 2.5 kilometers to 5 kilometers. From the Han Dynasty, the complex codes for alarm signals were listed as the nations' top secret. There are mainly two methods to transport information- heavy smoke was used in daytime and bonfire was used at night. At the early time, waving bright flags and beating drums for warning and communication were also adopted by soldiers.

Pingyao Ancient Town

Day 03Beijing - Pingyao

Stroll along the famous Tiananmen Square - the largest square in the world, and reach the Forbidden City. This afternoon, transfer to visit the Temple of Heaven. After dinner, ride a soft sleeper train to Pingyao.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: an overnight soft sleeper train

Descriptions:
Tiananmen Square - Between the Tiananmen Square and the imperial palace, there are five Golden Water Bridges well sculptured of white marble. The midmost Imperial Bridge, which is 8.55 meters wide and engraved with dragon, was for the exclusive use of the ancient emperors. The two 5.78-meter-wide bridges on both sides were constructed for the royal family and so called the Royals' Bridges. The outmost two bridges were called the Ministerial Bridges, both of which are 4.55 meters in wide and were used by the civil military officials above the third rank. 
 
Forbidden City - The Forbidden City has four gates in four directions: the south is the Meridian Gate, the north is the Divine Prowess Gate, the east is the Donghua Gate and the west is the Xihua Gate. Among these four gates, the Meridian Gate is the frontispiece, where the emperor issued proclamations and gave orders to the army. When the emperor announced proclamations, all the civil and military officials should assemble at the square in front of the Meridian Gate and listened very carefully. The entrance in the middle of the Meridian Gate is especially intended for emperors.

Qiao Family’s compound, Pingyao

Day 04Pingyao

TCG guide will wait for you at the Pingyao railway station ahead of the train schedule and transfer you to hotel. After breakfast at the hotel, you will touch Pingyao by visiting the Ming - Qing Street, the Chenghuang Temple, the Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop and the Tongxinggong ancient bank safeguard. Then visit the City Wall in Piangyao ancient town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Yide Guest House

Descriptions:
Ancient Ming-Qing Street - As one of the notable attractions in Pingyao, the Ancient Ming-Qing Street, also named the South Street, was the prosperous commercial center of the county. In this 750-meter (820 yards) long ancient street, there are hundreds of various stores selling grocery, silks, tobacco, meat and medicine.   

City Wall in Pingyao

Day 05Pingyao - Taiyuan - Beijing

Continue to tour Pingyao by visiting the Shuanglin Monastery and have a stop at Qiao Family's compound. Drive back to Taiyuan. Jinci Temple visit will be arranged on the way. Ride an overnight soft sleeper train back to Beijing. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: an overnight soft sleeper train

Descriptions:  
Qiao Family's Compound - Located in the Qixian County in Shanxi Province, the Qiao Family's Compound is 54 kilometers (33.5 miles) away from Taiyuan. Also named the Zaizhong Hall, the compound was the well-known capitalist Qiao Zhiyong's residence. Originally built during the Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty, it has been restored for several times. Now the majestic complexes represent the unique architectural style of the residence in North China during the Qing Dynasty. 

Shuanglin Temple - The Shuanglin Temple lies in the southwest part of Pingyao. Covering an area of 15,000 square meters (3.7 acres), the temple is composed of two parts, the East and the West Parts. The main constructions are in the West Part, including ten halls, namely the Shijia Hall, Luohan Hall, Wusheng Hall, Tudi Hall, Yanluo Hall, Tianwang Hall, Main Hall (Daxiong Baodian), Qianfo (Thousand Buddha) Hall, Buddha Hall, Niangniang (Queen Mother) Hall and Zhenyi Hall. Jinci Temple - Being 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) far from Taiyuan, the Jinci Temple was considered as the most famous attraction of the city. Built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the temple was in memory of Ji Yu, the second son of Zhou Wuwang (the second emperor of the Zhou Dynasty). The expansion and reconstruction to the temple lasted for the later Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Jinci Temple - Being 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) far from Taiyuan, the Jinci Temple was considered as the most famous attraction of the city. Built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the temple was in memory of Ji Yu, the second son of Zhou Wuwang (the second emperor of the Zhou Dynasty). The expansion and reconstruction to the temple lasted for the later Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Our clients at the Summer Palace, Beijing

Day 06Beijing

TCG guide will wait for you at the railway station ahead of the train schedule and transfer you to the hotel. Have the breakfast at the hotel and relax for the morning. Visit the Summer Palace and the Lama Temple after lunch. 

Specials: Peking Roast Duck Banquet & Peking Opera Performance 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Holiday Inn Central Plaza - the best Holiday Inn Hotel in Beijing (4 star)

Descriptions:
Summer Palace- The Summer Palace is known as an entertainment place for emperors during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). But do you know there is also administrative area for emperor inside the park. The place is called the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshoudian). There you will experience the emperor's administrative life by viewing the furnishings remained in the hall, such as a platform with a throne furnished with nine dragons, a delicate peacock-feather fans, a monster-shaped censer, and an elaborate red sandalwood screen. 
 
Lama Temple - The Lama Temple, also known as Yong He Palace in China, is noted not only for its profound Tibetan religious culture, but also for its inseparable relationship with the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. From 1694 to 1722, it is the dwelling of the Emperor Yongzheng, when he was just the fourth prince of Emperor Kangxi and came to the throne in 1722. During this period, another emperor of the Qing Dynasty was also born here, who is the fourth son of Yongzheng - the Emperor Qianlong.

Day 07Beijing Exit

Private transfer takes you to the airport and your pleasant China tour ends here. 

Meals: Breakfast