China Discovery Tour
Multi City | China
29 Dec 2019 | 14 Jan 2020
Trip Itinerary
For this trip we are using China Discovery Tours located in Chengdu, China.
Here’s a link to their website:
https://www.chinadiscovery.com/
China Discovery Tour – Destination Map
China Discovery Tour – Trip Itinerary
1 – Beijing – Dec 28th-31th, 2019
– Tiananmen Square – city square in the center of Beijing
– Forbidden City – was the former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (the years 1420 to 1912)
– Great Wall (Mutianyu) – section of the Great Wall of China located in Huairou District
– Beijing Olympic Village – Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
– Temple of Heaven – imperial complex of religious buildings – visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties
– Visit Beijing’s “Hutongs” – a narrow lane, alley, or small street between rows of single-story Siheyuan dwelled by Beijingers in the past.
– Summer Palace – imperial garden in the Qing Dynasty (vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces)
Beijing Hotel: New World Beijing (3 Nights)
2 – Harbin – Dec 31th, 2019-Jan 02nd, 2020 – Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival 2020
– Unit 731 Museum – covers horrible experiments on humans by Imperial Japanese Army’s Unit 731 (World War II). Long denied and covered up by Japanese until 1984, this is the actual site where these experiments took place.
– Sun Island Scenic Resort Area (Festival) – Harbin’s main park and recreation area and site for Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
– International Snow Sculpture Art Fair (Festival) – snow sculpture display area
– Ice and Snow World (Festival) – largest ice and snow festival in the world
– Sophia Square – Square and site of Saint Sophia Cathedral
– St. Sophia Cathedral – former Russian Orthodox church built in 1907, now a museum
– Zhongyang Pedestrian Street (Central Avenue) – currently the longest pedestrian street in China and the only cobbled street in Harbin (built in 1898 by Russian constructors)
– Lao Daowai – Older part of town, considered birthplace of Harbin
– Jiuzhan Park – popular park in Harbin
Harbin Hotel: Splendent Holiday Hotel Harbin (2 Nights)
3 & 4 – Dengfeng, Zhengzhou & Luoyang – Jan 02nd-Jan 04th, 2020
– Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng) – the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and the cradle of Kung Fu
– Pagoda Forest (Shaolin Temple) – hundreds of stone or brick pagodas built in Henan province, China from 791 AD
– White Horse Temple (Luoyang) – first Buddhist temple in China
– Luoyang Tianzi Jialiu Museum – burial of the royal horse and chariots that were sacrificed during Eastern Zhou Dynasty
– Luoyang Old Town – includes some ancient ruins and remains along with old architecture and old narrow streets
– Longmen Grottoes – UNESCO World Heritage Site Longmen Grottoes contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907)
Zhengzhou Hotel: Crowne Plaza Zhengzhou (1 Night)
Luoyang Hotel: Lee Royal Hotel Mudu (1 Night)
5 – Xian – Jan 04th-Jan 06th, 2020
– Terracotta Warriors – collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China (with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife)
– Ancient City Wall – largest and best preserved ancient city wall in China
– Muslim Quarter – known as Huimin Jie in Pingyin, is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi’an City
– Da Cien Temple – famous Buddhist sutra translation site during the Tang Dynasty
– Big Wild Goose Pagoda – one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China (inside Da Cien Temple)
– Shaanxi History Museum – known as “ancient capital pearl, Chinese treasure house”, is an artistic hall which displays Shaanxi history, culture and Chinese ancient civilization.
Xian Hotel: Sofitel Xian On Renmin Square (2 Nights)
6 – Zhangjiajie – Jan 06th-Jan 10th, 2020
– Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon – famous for world’s longest & highest glass bridge
– Yellow Dragon Cave – underground-lost palace with two underground rivers, four waterfalls, 13 caverns and 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites
– Yuanjiajie – situated in the north of Zhangjiajie National Park, this scenic area is world famous as the mountains here inspired the floating mountains in the Hollywood movie Avatar
– Tianzi Mountain – four wonders in Tianzi Mountain: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter.
– Tianmen Mountain – standing 1,500 meters above sea level, boasts miraculous and unique geographic landform, unparalleled natural landscape, profound cultural connotations. Also includes: Avenue toward Heaven, Cliff-Hanging Walkway, Glass Sky Walk and Tianmen Cave
Zhangjiajie Hotel: Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel (3 Nights)
Sunshine Hotel Zhangjiajie (1 Night)
7 – Guilin – Jan 10th-Jan 12th, 2020
– Sightseeing Cruise along the Li River – winding river, green limestone karst mountains, fascinating countryside views
– Yangshuo Town – stunning countryside views
– West Street – mix of western and Chinese cultures
– Elephant Trunk Hill – giant rock hill shaped like an elephant
– Reed Flute Cave – natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting
Guilin Hotel: Sheraton Guilin Hotel (1 Night)
Yangshuo Hotel: Yangshuo Green Lotus Hotel (1 Night)
8 – Shanghai – Jan 12th-Jan 14th, 2020
– Tianzifang – tourist shopping and cafe area in Shanghai in the Old French Quarter
– Shanghai French Concession – a residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses.
– Yuyuan Bazaar – traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works
– Shanghai World Financial Center. – visit 100th floor (474m) of “the Eye of Shanghai”
– Nanjing Road – shopping paradise
– the Bund – perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while at the same time taking in the stunning Shanghai skyline
– Huangpu River Night Cruise
Shanghai Hotel: The Yangtze Boutique Hotel (2 Night)