China Kung-Fu Tour August 5th – 21st 2010
Legend – B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Day1: Arrive Shanghai
Group arrive Shanghai Pudong international airport. You will be met by your trip leader and transfer to your hotel in Shanghai. Shanghai, once a small fishing village became an important trading port for tea and silk after the Opium War. In 1920s, the city was called “Paris of the Far East.” Nowadays Shanghai undergoes one of the fastest economic expansions that the world has ever seen. It is now a leading business city in China which remains retains deep links with its colonial past. (D)
Overnight in Shanghai
Day2: Shanghai--- Suzhou
In the morning enjoy a walk along the Bund, the elegant riverside promenade which symbolized European and foreign influence and affluence in the 1930s. See the ships and barges on the Huangpu River, en route to the sea or going upstream to the interior of China. The modernistic Oriental Pearl TV tower looms in the background redefining the skyline. The so called Pudong Development zone has transformed from once fertile farmland, this new area is rapidly becoming the symbol of modern China with its world class hotels, international financial institutions, and commercial centers. From Bund, you will enjoy some free time to walk in the famous shopping street; the Nanjing Road. In the afternoon, we will drive to Suzhou, also known as "Venice of the Orient”, is a celebrated retreat brimming with gardens and canals. It is also a famous silk production centre in China. Upon our arrival you will be check into the hotel and rest. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Suzhou
Day3: Suzhou
In this morning, we will visit the Great Canals of the China. Alone the canals you will find the old houses and water markets. After the trip, we will visit the Silk Spinning Factory where we will learn how the silkworm cocoons change into beautiful silk. Suzhou’s privet gardens are famous in China. We will visit one of them called “Garden of the Fishing Net Master”. The garden is looked upon as works of art—a fusion of nature, architecture, poetry and painting designed to ease, move or assist the mind. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Suzhou
Day4: Suzhou---Hangzhou
In this morning, we will visit some of other beautiful sites of the city. Our first stop will be the Tiger Hill---a artificial hill for memory of He Lu---founding father of Suzhou. Then, we will visit Coiled Gate where you can find the only remaining ancient city gate of Suzhou. After lunch in Suzhou, we will drive to Hangzhou. As the Chinese saying goes: “In heaven there is paradise, on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou. The famous Italian traveler Marco Polo commented Hangzhou as the finest and most splendid city in the world. We will arrive the city in the late afternoon. After check into the hotel, you will have some free time to walk around the city. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Hangzhou
Day5: Hangzhou
This morning, we will take a boat to tour on the famous West late. As the symbol of Hangzhou, you will find most of the city’s beauty on the lake while the boat pass through many gardens, bridges and pavilions. We will also stop at Red Carp Pond where you will find a few thousand red carp. Afterwards, we drive to visit the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei. Yue Fei was commander of the Song armies during the war with Jin Empire from North. Despite his successes against the invaders, he was recalled to the Song court where he was executed after being deceived by a treacherous court official Qin Hui. After the death of Yue Fei, he was buried here. Later, people set up iron statues of Qin Hui and his wife. Many people spat upon the figures to show their angry and burn incenses for memo ring his patriotism. Tea is another Hangzhou’s specialties. We will visit Dragon Well Tea Village this afternoon to learn how the people there plant and process the famous Dragon Well Green tea. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Hangzhou
Day6: Hangzhou--- Shanghai---Xi’an
Today, we will visit Leifeng Pagoda---an important land ancient mark of Hangzhou where you can have bird eye view of the lake and city. After the visit, we will tour on the old town of Hangzhou and walk on the famous Hefangjie shopping street where you will find many shops built in traditional Chinese style buildings and sell different kind of exotic products. Walking on the narrow cobbled alleys, Time seems turn to Mark Polo’s age. In the afternoon, we will drive you to Shanghai Pudong international airport where you will flight to Xi’an. An ancient capital and the historic gateway to the Silk Road, Xian was the capital of the Middle Kingdom for 11 dynasties. In a time when ancient Beijing was just a remote trading post, Xian was the capital of China and one of the world’s largest and richest cities, with a population exceeding one million in the 10th century. After arrive the city in the evening, you will be transfer to hotel to rest. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Xi’an
Day7: Xi’an
Today, you will be taken to visit modern China’s greatest archaeological discovery – The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, which silently guarded the tomb of China’s First Emperor for over 2200 years. In 1974, a local farmer uncovered the first of three massive earth and timber vaults, while digging a well. The extensive excavation, still in progress, has yielded over 6000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, each individually sculpted, with the physical characteristics of the humans they were modeled after. Archers, infantrymen, horses and bronze chariots have also been unearthed. A Circle Vision documentary is available on site. In the afternoon, tour to the Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty landmark. This seven-story pagoda was initially constructed in 652 AD to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk, Xuan Zang, who later translated them into Chinese. His pilgrimage to India is immortalized in the Chinese classic – The Journey to the West. Then tour to the City Wall. It is one of the best preserved city walls in the country. It is wide enough for 4 chariots to drive on the same direction. You can take a golf cart or rent a bicycle to tour the city around. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Xi’an
Day8: Xi’an---Wudangshan
In the morning, we drive to Wudangshan. Arrive in the afternoon, transfer to the hotel. Visit some of the most famous sites of the mountain. In the evening visit Wushu school with performance. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Wudangshan
Day9: Wudangshan---Xi’an
We will spend the morning in touring on the mountain. After lunch, we take the bus back to Xi’an. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Xi’an
Day 10---Day12: Learn & practice Kungfu in Xi’an
Overnight in Xi’an
Day 13: Xi’an Group leaving & Optional Tour
Today, we will transfer some of our passengers to the airport for flight to Shanghai. For them, our service will be ended when they leave Xi’an. For some other passengers, if you choose to join our Optional Luo Yang and Shaolin Temple tour, we will transfer you to Xi’an railway station to take a train to Luoyang. Like Xi’an, Luoyang also served 13 of Chinese ancient dynasties until 12th century Junchen invaders from the north of China stormed and sacked the city, which never quite recovered. Today, it is hard to imagine that Luoyang was once the center of Chinese world except several historical sites which scattered around the city. The train journey will take 5 hours and will pass some of Chinese beautiful mountain, Loess plateau and Yellow River. You will arrive Luoyang in the afternoon (14:10). Upon arrival, you will visit the famous Kuankong Temple. Kuan Kong is a famous general during Three Kingdom period. He is highly admired by Chinese for his royalty and righteousness. He is also considered to be a God by most of Chinese Kongfu practicers.
Overnight in Luoyang
Day 14: Shaolin Temple---Beijing
Check out from your hotel, today, we will drive to Dengfeng County where the famous Buddhist temple Shaolin located. Shaolin temple was said one of the cradle of Chinese martial arts. Each year, thousands of Kung-Fu students from all over the world enroll at Shaolin’s martial art schools. Apart from Kung-Fu, the temple itself is also worth a visit. The temple is the birth place of Zen Buddhism. Despite fires and vandalism, many of the monastery buildings are still standing. What’s more, the pagoda forest---cemetery of the famous monks in different period is also an interesting place to visit. After the tour, we will have our lunch near the temple and then, you will be transferred to Zhengzhou—capital of Henan province—for catching the Fast Train to Bejing .The Train will arrive Beijing and you will be transferred to your hotel to rest. (B,L,D)
Overnight in Beijing
Day15: Beijing
Departure early from your hotel to visit China’s most renowned monument – the Great Wall. The ’original’ wall was begun in the 5th century B.C. to keep foreign invaders out. Construction continued for centuries, eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China’s northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert – a distance of over 3500 miles! You will have ample time to climb a section of the Great Wall and to get a sense of the enormity of this ancient edifice. Then, you will be driven back to the city to visit the famous Tian’an Men Square and Forbidden City. The Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world, capable of holding a million people. Stroll across its vast expanse. An assortment of historical buildings, Communist monuments and huge museums, including Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the Great Hall of the People – home of the National People’s Congress, flank the Square. Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under the famed portrait of Chairman Mao, to enter the Forbidden City, a 9,999-room compound, where the 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years (1420-1911). Experience the architectural splendor of the palaces, ceremonial courtyards and private quarters. (B, L, D)
Overnight in Beijing
Day16: Beijing---Shanghai end of the tour
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai and connecting your international flight home. (B)
Optional tour for passengers who are not practice Kungfu:
One day tour to Huashan
After having your breakfast in the hotel, depart for Huashan. The driving will take about 2 hours. Known as 'The Number One Precipitous Mountain under Heaven'， MT Huashan is one of the five sacred mountains in China. From a distance the five peaks of this mountain seem to form the shape of a 'flower' (hua in Chinese), hence the name 'Huashan'. It is famous for its natural vistas of steep and narrow paths, precipitous crags, and a high mountain range. It is home to several influential Taoist temples where emperors of past dynasties made pilgrimages, making Mt. Huashan the holy land of Taoism. Cable car will take you to the north peak of the mountain. Then, you will enjoy a 2 hour free time to trekking on the mountain’s other 4 peaks. If time is available, we will show you the Western MT Temple. Called the “forbidden city of Shaaxi, this huge complex had been serviced as the emperor’s palace when he prays for this mountain.
One day tour to Famen Temple
Departure from your hotel after breakfast in the morning we will drive to visit the famous Famen Temple. Located at 120KM west of Xi’an, Famen Temple is one of the holiest Buddhist temple in China. It was firstly built in 1700 year’s ago. When the pagoda in the temple collapsed in 1987, a treasure house was found in the basement. The finds include four Buddhist relics, 121 pieces of gold and silver ware once for used for Buddhist worship in the temple, 400 pieces of colored glass and ceramics and a lot of silks contributed by emperors and empresses during the Tang dynasty more than 1300 year’s ago. Among them, the most precious one is the veritable finger bone of Sakyamuni--- the founder of Buddhism who lived in Indian about 500 BC. The finger bone was enshrined in a little gold tower. This would be the only remaining fragment of Buddha in the world today. After the holly remains of Buddha were discovered, millions of people from China and abroad come to the temple to visit and worship, made it a must-see highlight in Xi’an. A new museum had been built to house these treasures and opened to public this year. We will pick up a local farmer’s family for you to have your lunch, a unit chance to taste the local delicacy. After the tour, drive back to the city for dinner.
One day tour to Louguantai temple and Shaanxi Rare Wild Animals Rescuing and Raising Center
Today, we will drive to visit Louguantai temple.--- Located at 80KM southwest of Xi’an, the temple was built at the foot of the famous Qinling Moutain. Legend has it, that it was in this area that the great sage Lao Tzu completed his classic Tao Te Ching in the 6th century BC and gave lectures on his work before leaving China on his journey westwards to an unknown destination. The scenic hills around the Lougantai Taoist Temple are heavily forested with pine, oak, juniper and bamboo and the area is crossed by a number of fast-flowing mountain streams. Taoism stresses longevity, humility, non-action (wu wei), and reverence for nature. It is easy to see in the natural surroundings of Louguantai what may have drawn Lao Tzu to the area, on his spiritual search for truth, thousands of years ago. We will also visit Shaaxi rare wild animals rescuing and raising center. In this center you can find 18 Giant Pandas and many other rare animals such as Asian Takin, golden monkeys, black bears, leopards, peacocks, antelope, white lipped deer, musk deer, vulture and owl. The center is also the first crested ibis breeding centre in China. Unlike a zoo, all the animals from this centre are from the Qinling Mountain. They are either injured or sick, of which were taken here to be cured. Judging from their conditions, some will be sent back to wild and some, if not capable to be sent back, will be kept in this center. We will drive you back Xi’an in the late afternoon.
Legend – B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
In USD
Tour $1100.00 USD/Per Person
Single Room: $280.00 USD/ Per Person
Prevailing exchange rate: USD1 = RMB6.7
What's Included:
What's not Included：
My Own Room:
Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops with additional 280$
Transport:
air-conditioned bus, soft-seat train.
Meals Included:
All meals included.
Important Note: Prices are subject to increases that may occur in conjunction with governmental surcharges, increases in suppliers’ prices or currency fluctuation.