13-Day Guided Bullet Train Tour from Beijing to Chengdu

Welcome to Beijing. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. At 6 p.m., we will have a pre-tour briefing. afterwards, we will have a group meal--Beijing Roast Duck.

In the morning, we will visit the Forbidden City, namely the Palace Museum, was once the Chinese imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is known as the largest, best-preserved ancient timber-built palace complex in the world. The buildings are all covered with yellow glazed tile roofs with red columns and high walls beneath, symbolizing the noble status of the royal family. In addition to its magnificent appearance, the Palace Museum also houses numerous cultural relics and treasures. Visiting to the Palace Museum can help us travel for time and space and appreciate the time-honored Chinese culture.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was built for emperors to pray for a good harvest, with an orderly arrangement showing Chinese nobility and regality. The temple of Heaven is a cultural museum of offering sacrifices to Heaven, which merges architecture, aesthetics, acoustics, astronomy, calendar, music and dance into an integral whole. It is an important window through which we can learn the history of China.

In the morning, we will drive one and a half hour to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections with gorgeous scenery along the way. Take your time strolling along the wall and look far into the distance to enjoy the splendid landscape.

This morning we will visit the Summer Palace, “the Museum of Royal Gardens”. With luxuriant Longevity Hill and vast Kunming Lake, the big garden was built for the imperial family to flee the summer heat. Nowadays, it is accessible for everyone to enjoy the view of beautiful scenery and have fun here. After sightseeing, we will take the bullet train for two and a half hours to Datong. Upon arrival, you tour guide will escort you to your hotel. The rest of day is free for you to relax.

We will visit Yungang Grottoes this morning.Yungang Grottoes are one of the largest grottoes in China and are the first large-scale grottoes operated by the royal family in Chinese history. It holds a vivid record of the history of the development of Buddhist art from India and Central Asia to China and reflect the process of the secularization and nationalization of Buddhist culture.

After lunch in a local restaurant, let’s head to the Hanging Monastery. Protruding from the cliff of Cuiping Peak and facing the main peak, Hanging Monastery boasts a long history more than 1,500 years. The building well practices principles of mechanics and uses rocks and invisible supports. The hanging wooden structure roots in holes and pillars that hook each other into rocks. The temples can also be highlighted for its fame of the oldest temple amalgamating three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Here, you can not only appreciate the spectacular architecture but also discover the religious beauty of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Depart Datong in the morning and take bullet train to Pingyao. It will take you about three hours to Pingyao Ancient City. The rest of day is free for you to explore Pingyao Ancient City at your pace.

Today let’s discover the traditional beauty of Pingyang Ancient City together. Pingyao is the birthplace of the Jin Businessmen and play a crucial role in the economic development of Shanxi during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a good place for you to feel the glorious past of Han People. Strolling in the ancient city, you can not only appreciate the quaint architecture but also experience the local traditions and custom unique to Han.

Say goodbye to Pingyao and take bullet train to Xi’an. It takes you about two and a half hours to Xi’an. Once the imperial center of China for 2,000 years, Xi’an is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with interesting historical sites. After checking in, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the hotel. In the late afternoon, your tour guide will take you to the Datang Night City Scenic Area, where you can take a stroll along the pedestrian street and enjoy an astonishing variety of performances, including the tumbler performance, light show, fountain show and live music show. The glitzy nightlife will make you amazed.

Today we will journey outside of Xi’an and visit the Terracotta Warriors, one of the man-made wonders of the world. After being buried for 2,000 years, the discovery of such a large-scale terracotta army makes the world surprise. These life-size clay models are distributed in three terracotta pits which in total cover an area of 19,120 square meters equivalent to 50 basketball courts. None of the seven thousand warriors look the same. They wear different clothes, each with the unique facial features. Come to see if there is a face that seems familiar to you!

We have a free morning in Xi'an and you can explore the city at your pace. We recommend a visit to Shaanxi History Museum, a tour around the City Wall or a city-walk in Muslim Quarter.

Xi'an City Wall, also known as the Fortifications of Xi'an, is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. (Admission Fee CNY-54) You can tour the whole circle of the wall if you like and appreciate the beautiful cityscape around it.

Shaanxi History Museum, known as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”, gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden time. You can appreciate a large collection of precious cultural relics, such as sancai, bronzes, etc., giving you a deeper understanding of ancient Chinese history and culture. In the late afternoon, we will catch the bullet train to Chengdu. It will take approximate four hours.

The Muslim Quarter, also known as Huimin Jie in Pingyin, is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi'an City. It is a good place to have a free city-walk. Walking along this twisted, narrow street, which is aligned with stores on both sides, you can find many beautiful mosques, Muslim food and souvenirs.

Let’s start our journey in Chengdu by a visit to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center. You can have a close encounter with adorable pandas here. Hopefully, you can catch the best time and witness them doing different things. It is a time-smart visit for you to understand pandas’ physical features and living habits.

In the afternoon, we can visit the Broad and Narrow Alley. It is a microcosm of the past of the ancient but vibrant city. Taking a stroll here, you can not only appreciate the quaint buildings but also taste delicious local food. It is a good place to experience Chengdu People’s laid-back lifestyle and feel the profound history of Chengdu.

Travel by private car this morning to Leshan. After about two and a half hours, you will get to Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest and tallest stone-carved Buddha statue in the world. Over 1,300 years ago, the Giant Buddha was built to bless the passing boats. For several decades, it has attracted flocks of travelers to witness the grand Buddha statue. When you arrive here, you can climb to the mountain top to have a closer look of the Giant Buddha or go on a cruise to catch a panoramic view of it. Afterwards, drive about 45 minutes to Baoguo Temple, the biggest temple at the foot of Mount. Emei, which is blessed with a huge porcelain Buddha, Buddhist sutras, and several beautiful plants. Wandering along the serene paths, you can appreciate beautiful scenery and soak yourself in the atmosphere of Buddhist Culture.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will send you off. If you want to extend your stay in China, we are willing to make customized tour plans for you.