Over 5, 000 years old, China has one
of the world’s longest civilizations. While modern China rapidly modernizes, explore
the corners
of the Middle Kingdom that have maintained their ancient heritage
18 Days –
Glory of the Northern Tribes – Datong, Wutaishan, Taiyuan, Pingyao, Yinchuan, Xiahe, Tongren, and Xining
Yungang Grottoes •
the Hanging Temple • Buddhist Mountain Wutaishan • Pingyao Old Town • China’s Pyramid ‘Xixia Mausolea’ • Labrang Tibetan Monastery • Tongren Regong Arts •
the Salar Muslims • Ta’er Tibetan Monastery • Qinghai Lake • Descendents
of Tuguhun Kingdom
Day 1 Beijing
Arrive at Beijing Capital Airport and meet your tour guide. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and relaxation before meeting your fellow travelers for an Evening Reception and tour update.
Grand Hotel Beijing (Reception)
Day 2 Beijing – Datong
Morning at leisure or you may go to visit a couple
of sites you missed in your previous China trips. Take an afternoon train through
the mountains
of Hebei Province to Datong in Shanxi and arrive in
the evening. You are met by your local guide and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a local cuisine dinner.
Yungang International Hotel (B-D)
Day 3 Datong
Datong, center
of the Northern Wei Dynasty about 1, 500 years ago, served as
the military stronghold
of numerous dynasties. Here, visitors discover towering temples, magnificent grottoes, exquisite murals, sculptures and
the meandering Great Wall and its many fortresses. First visit
the Yungang Caves, where elaborate and colorful Buddhist art works have been well preserved for over a thousand years. Next, move on to see a less famous but older and more authentic section
of the Great Wall outside Datong. Return to
the city in
the afternoon and stop by Huayan,
the Hanging Temple, near Datong Temple for a view
of its elegant architecture.
Yungang International Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 4 Datong – Wutaishan
A full-day journey to Mount Wutaishan, one
of China’s five sacred mountains. Travel south by private vehicle from Datong and first stop in Hunyuan, a small county town with appealing Ming street architecture. Next, arrive at
the renown Hanging Temple. This remarkable Temple has clung to a sheer cliff for over 1400 years. Head west through
the golden hills to see
the stately Yingxian Pagoda. Built in 1056 in
the Liao Dynasty, it is
the oldest original wooden building in China, a masterpiece
of structural engineering that looks solid enough to stand for another millennium. Arrive in
the town
of Taihuai, in
the shadow
of Mount Wutaishan, 3, 058 meters (10, 032 feet) high. Check in to your hotel and enjoy a local cuisine dinner.
Wutaishan Huahui Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 5 Wutaishan
Wutaishan (five plateau mountain) has been a religious center at least since
the reign
of Emperor Ming Di (58- 75 AD)
of the Han Dynasty. Each Buddhist Mountain is dedicated to a particular Bodhisattva, and Wutaishan became
the sacred mountain dedicated to Manjusri (also known as
the Wenshu Buddha), god
of wisdom. Spend
the day exploring
the elegant temples with exquisite sculptures and murals. Marvel at
the architectural varieties, fresh air, superb alpine scenery and
the peaceful spiritual tone in this Buddhist shrine. Meet pilgrims from all over China and around
the world. Visit
the centuries old Tayuan, Xiantong, and Shuxiang Temples. Hike along
the mountain trails for great views.
Wutaishan Huahui Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 6 Wutaishan – Taiyuan
Traveling by private vehicle to Taiyuan, capital
of Shanxi (West
of the Mountains) Province visiting several charming Buddhist temples along
the way.
the Jinge Temple has an impressive 17-meter-tall (56 feet) Guanyin statue,
the Buddhist Goddess
of Compassion and Mercy,
the largest at Wutaishan. Some
of the original Tang structure remains within
the inscribed base
of the pillars. Nanchan Temple’s small main hall, built in 782 AD, is
the oldest wooden hall existent in China.
the Foguang Temple is a huge complex
of more than one hundred buildings. Check in hotel upon arrival in Taiyuan late afternoon.
Shanxi Grand Hotel (B-L)
Day 7 Taiyuan – Pingyao
Take a city tour and visit
the Double-Tower Temple with a 13-story octagonal tower made
of brick and stone. Continue traveling south by vehicle to Pingyao, a well preserved old town in central Shanxi Province. On
the way, you will first visit Jinci Monastery – situated on
the foot
of Mount Xuanweng and built in memory
of Jiyu,
the founding father
of the Jin State. Pay a visit to
the 300-year old residence
of a rich merchant family in
Northern China –
the Qiao Family Compound. This was
the film site
of the Zhang Yimou (2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony director) film “Raise
the Red Lantern. ” Arrive in Pingyao in
the late afternoon and check into your hotel for a hearty dinner.
Yunjincheng Courtyard Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 8 Pingyao
You will be given a half-day guided tour
of Pingyao Old Town, a walled city with a 2000-year history and many old Ming and Qing dynasty houses, compounds, temples, and defensive structures. Pingyao has
the best preserved protective walls
of any city in China.
the original walls still circle
the town, and its narrow streets restricted from motor vehicles are lined with small but unique family-owned shops and restaurants. Sites to visit include
the Confucius Temple and Rishengchang Bank Compound,
the first bank established in China. After lunch take an excursion to
the exquisite Shuanglin Temple, a structure over 1500 years old that houses more than 2000 clay statues
of dieties and religious icons.
the balance
of the day is free for your own relaxation and exploration in Pingyao.
Yunjincheng Courtyard Hotel (B-L)
Day 9 Pingyao – Yinchuan
After breakfast, transfer to Taiyuan airport and board a morning flight to Yinchuan, capital
of Ningxia Hui Muslim Autonomous Region. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Yinchuan is an ancient city on
the banks
of the strategic Yellow River with a unique Muslim character. Arab and Persian merchants came to China over 1000 years ago via
the Silk Road. Just a few international visitors have come to this remote but historic locale for a visit. Your afternoon sightseeing includes Haibao Pagoda, featuring unusual angular shapes with niches and ledges that protrude from each
of the eleven stories. Nanguan Mosque, first built at
the end
of Ming dynasty and rebuilt in 1980, has a classic Islamic architectural style, complete with majestic green domes. Enjoy a local Muslim Cuisine Dinner.
Ningxia International Hotel (B-D)
Day 10 Yinchuan – Lanzhou
The little-known highlight
of Yinchuan is
the Western Xia Mausolea, on
the slopes
of Helan Mountain to
the west
of the city. These high pointed burial mounds are called
the “Chinese Pyramids”. These mausolea contain
the nine tombs
of the Buddhist emperors
of Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227A. D. ) which was established by
the Daxiang people. Under every tomb is a complete set
of structures Grand Summons Ceremony at Labrang Monastery, Xiahe Western Xia Mausolea, Yinchuan that include watchtowers, sacred walls, stele pavilions, halls and pagodas.
the 13th century Mongol invasion stripped
the ornate facades
of the tombs. Afternoon excursion to Najiahu Mosque, Hengcheng Crossing on
the Yellow River, and
the Ming Great Wall. After dinner, transfer to
the train station and board an overnight train that follows
the Yellow River to Lanzhou.
Overnight Soft Sleeper Train (B-L-D)
Day 11 Lanzhou – Xiahe
Arrive in Lanzhou, capital
of Gansu Province, by train this morning. Met and transfer to a hotel restaurant for breakfast and refreshment. Next set out for
the legendary Tibetan town
of Xiahe in mountainous southern Gansu. On
the way, you will stop in a few towns in
the Linxia Muslim Area for rest and lunch. Arrive in Xiahe in
the afternoon and check in your hotel for a local cuisine dinner.
Labrang Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 12 Xiahe
Xiahe is a tiny yet bustling town located in a high valley in southwestern Gansu Province. At 3000 meters (10, 000 feet) above sea level and surrounded by mountains, this rural haven centers upon its famous Buddhist monastery. Xiahe’s alpine landscapes and ubiquitous Buddhist architecture present an accurate depiction
of Tibetan culture.
the town has a diverse ethnic mix
of Tibetan, Han, and Hui muslim people.
the focus
of today’s visit is
the renowned Labrang Monastery, one
of the six major Yellow Hat Sect (Gelupa) monasteries, and second only to Lhasa’s Potala Palace in size. It also houses China’s largest Buddhism Academy.
the monastery was built in 1709 by a monk named E’angzongzhe, who was to become
the first
of the monastery’s Living Buddhas (Jiemuyang). At its height, 6000 monks lived and prayed in
the temple. Today there are around 2000 monks, mainly from Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Inner Mongolia. In total
the monastery holds over 60, 000 Tibetan sutras and thousands
of rare Buddhist relics, including a statue
of the most famous Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. In
the afternoon, venture out to
the grasslands west
of the town and meet local Tibetan nomads who herd their sheep and yaks on
the highland pastures. Spend some time exploring
the town’s main street lined with shops, restaurants, and small markets. Dinner is on your own.
Labrang Hotel (B-L)
Day 13 Xiahe – Tongren
Bid farewell to Xiahe and travel by vehicle over grasslands and mountains to Tongren, Qinghai Province, land
of the renowned “Regong Arts” created by local Tibetan and other ethnic artists.
the Thangka medium
of paintings, sculptures, embroidery, and architecture, it is a way
of life in this region.
the history
of “Regong Arts” goes back almost seven hundred years. Upon arrival in Tongren, visit Upper & Lower Wutun Temples, Longwu Monastery, and Regong Arts Exhibition Hall. Later in
the day, visit homes
of local Tibetan and Tu families and tour
the old town Longwu. Check into your hotel and enjoy a Local Cuisine Dinner.
Tongren Huangnan Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 14 Tongren – Xining
After breakfast, we travel north by land to Xunhua. Enjoy
the dramatic mountainous scenery along
the way. Xunhua is
the only Salar Autonomous County in China.
the origins
of the Salar People are uncertain but according to their legend, during
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries their ancestors, possibly from an Oghuz tribe
of the Seljuk Turks, left Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan and eventually settled in their present location. You will visit Jiezi Mosque and a Salar village to meet local farmers in their homes. Also visit
the Residence
of the Tenth Panchan Lama, who was second only to
the Dalai Lama in
the Tibetan Buddhism hierarchy. Continue traveling by road to Xining,
the capital
of Qinghai Province. Arrive in Xining in late afternoon and check into your hotel and enjoy dinner.
Qinghai Yinlong Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 15 Xining
Morning excursion to
the famous Ta’er Si (“Kumbum” in Tibetan) Monastery south
of Xining. This monastery, built in 1560 AD by Emperor Jiajing, was one
of the six most important Tibetan monasteries in China.
the temple is most sacred due to
the personages who have graced it with their presence. It was originally built upon
the birthplace
of the founder
of the Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Hat)
of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong Khapa. Two
of his disciples went on to become famous in
the Buddhist world, one becoming
the fourteenth Dalai Lama,
the other
the tenth Panchan Lama. A Salar Muslim woman selling fruits, Xunhua. In
the afternoon, we travel to Huzhu County to visit a village
of Tu People, an ethnic group who migrated from northeast China in ancient times and established
the Tuguhun Kingdom in
the 4th century AD. Visit
the large Dongguan Mosque built by Muslims at
the center
of Xining. Enjoy a local cuisine dinner in
the evening.
Qinghai Yinlong Hotel (B-L-D)
Day 16 Xining
Today, we travel west by vehicle for an extraordinary excursion to
the huge Qinghai Lake, from which
the province got its name. At 3, 205 meters (10, 515 feet) it is one
of the highest lakes in
the world.
the salt water lake is China’s largest and
the scenery along
the way is stunning. Meet local Tibetan nomads and watch wild flowers and birds while hiking along
the lake shore. Return to Xining in late afternoon. Balance
of the day is free for your own exploration or relaxation.
Qinghai Yinlong Hotel (B-L)
Day 17 Xining – Shanghai
Transfer to
the airport and take a noon flight across China to Shanghai. Met and check into hotel upon arrival. Late afternoon is free to explore this modern metropolis. In
the evening, celebrate
the completion
of this grand adventure with a Farewell Banquet.
Shanghai Ruijin Hotel (B-D)
Day 18 Return Home Transfer to
the airport and fly home.
价格: € 4800
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