( Luoyang : Shaolin Temple )

Day 1/Arrive in Beijing                                                
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Meet your guide upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. (D)

Day 2/Beijing                                                               
Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Tian'anmen was built in 1417 and served as the entrance gate to the Imperial Palace. Move on to visit the Imperial Palace, well-known as Forbidden City which is the large scale construction of the palace extended from 1406 to 1420. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 24 emperors lived and ruled China from here. Stop at the National Center for the Performing Arts, which adjacent to the Tian'anmen Square (No entry). In the afternoon, visit the enchanting Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. As a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, it integrates the natural landscape of hills and open water with manmade features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole. (B,L,D)

Day 3/Beijing                                                              
Today's highlight is the visit to the Great Wall, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Then, drive to visit the statue-lined Shenlu (Spirit Road) leading to the Ming Tombs, here you can see some marvelous stone sculptures. The Ming Tombs area is for 13 deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Visit the Changling Tomb which is the largest of the 13 as you can imagine it is quite impressive.  Enjoy a Peking Duck for dinner. On the way back to hotel, stop at Olympic Park and outside view the National Stadium (Bird's Nest, no entry) and the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube, no entry), which are the main stadium of the 29th Olympiad in 2008. (B,L,D)

Day 4/Beijing-Luoyang                                              
After breakfast, visit Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., which was originally the platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The buildings and parklands reflect an ancient Chinese thought of "the Heaven is round and the earth is square". In the afternoon, visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the largest and most perfectly preserved Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple outside Tibet. It was built in 1649 as the residence of Prince Yong of Qing Dynasty, and was converted to a temple after he became Emperor moving to Forbidden City. Then, ride in rickshaw through some old "Hutongs", lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). Take an overnight train to Luoyang with soft sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day 5/Luoyang                                                           
Arrive in Luoyang, an ancient capital for a long period of time. Pick up from the railway station. Begin today's activity to visit the Shaolin Tempel, located at the foot of Songshan Mountain - the central of the five scared mountains in China. The temple was founded in 527 A.D. by a monk, Bodhidharma. He developed a form of physical movement which is based on the natural motions of animals, hence the origin of Shao Lin Kung-fu. The main scenic spots are Permanent courtyard, the Forest of Stupas, the First Founder's Hall, the Second Founder's Hall and Dharma Cave, etc. Then, pay a visit to Longmen Grottoes, built in the year of 494, during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Longmen Grottoes is one of China's three leading treasure houses of grotto art, with 2,100 grottoes. The largest Buddhist sculpture stands 17.14 meters tall. (B,L,D)

Day 6/Luoyang-Xi'an                                                 
Take a train to Xi'an. As regards the number of dynasties and span of time, Xi'an served as an ancient capital beyond compare. Xi'an is also renowned for being the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Transfer to the hotel on arrival. (B,D)

Day 7/Xi'an                                                                 
Begin the day's activity with an once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors and Horses, 2,200-year-old underground army of he first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. Stop to visit a mountain village on the back way. After lunch, visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 A.D. in Tang Dynasty (618-907A.D.), it functioned to collect large volume of Buddhist scriptures that were taken from India by the eminent monk of Xuanzang. (B,L,D)

Day 8/Xi'an                                                                        
Visit Shaanxi History Museum, the first huge state museum with modern facilities in China, and given the reputation of "bright pearl of ancient city, treasure house of China". Visit Forest of Steles Museum, with 900 years of history, it 3,000 pieces of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Then, pay a visit to the Great Mosque, built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, and it is the largest and best-preserved one of the early mosques of China. Enjoy a characteristic Dumpling Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 9/Xi'an-Shanghai                                              
Take a morning flight to Shanghai, known as "Paris in the East". Visit the Bund in the morning, at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the splendid row of early 20th century Europe buildings remains the quintessential Shanghai sight. Pay a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, which was specially built for Pan's parents as a place to enjoy themselves a tranquil and happy time in their old age. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters are unique characteristic. And also take a walk through Chenghuangmiao (known as Yuyuan Garden Markte) built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. It filled with antique markets and specialty stores. Enjoy a fabulous Acrobatic Show in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day10/Shanghai                                                       
This morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum, a leading attraction of the city since it opened in 1994, containing some priceless collections of paintings, porcelains and bronzes. Then, move on to visit Xujiahui Cathedral (St. Ignatius Cathedral), Shanghai's great cathedral, opened by the Jesuits who'd had a church here as early as 1608 (today's structure dates to 1910). Proceed to visit Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1882 to keep two jade Buddha statues which had been brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen. The two precious jade Buddha statues, one sitting Buddha and one Recumbent Buddha, are carved with whole white jade. Some free time is for you to explore the city. (B,L,D)

Day11/Leave from Shanghai                                  
Transfer to the airport and prepare for boarding on your homebound flight. TOUR ENDS! (B)

Note: B-Breakfast  L-Lunch  D-Dinner

Hotel List (or the same standard) & Price:                                                                                                  

Following price is based on private China tour, why to choose our private tour:
√ Travel with private van and guide
√ Flexible to customize your China Tour
√ Flexible departure date, whenever you want

 4-star hotel:

Price in standard room, with 2 person in 1 double room: USD--pp

 3-star hotel:

Price in standard room, with 2 person in 1 double room: USD--pp

Included:
- Twin sharing accommodation with buffet breakfast
- Domestic fights in economic class with airport tax: Xi'an-Shanghai
- Train tickets (overnight train with soft sleeper, daytime train with soft seat):Beijing-Luoyang, Luoyang-Xi'an
- Lunch and Dinner as mentioned in the itinerary in local good restaurant
- (first) Entrance fee mentioned in the itinerary
- Individual English speaking guide (No private guide on the Yangtze Cruise)
- All Transfers specified in the itinerary by air-conditioned van

Excluded:
- International flight and airport tax
- China Entry Visa
- Tips, personal expenses
- Single room supplement
- Transfer, guide service for "day at leisure"
- Guide service during the plane, train or cruise

*  High season: May, Sep & Oct 2009 (Nov in Shanghai) 
* Shoulder season: Mar, Apr, Jun 01 - Aug 31 & Nov 2009
*  Low season: Dec 2009, Jan, Feb 2010