13 Days The World Heritage Sites Trail in North China

After you arrive in Beijing, our local guide will pick you up and then drive to hotel for a good rest.

Tiananmen Square (50 minutes): Tian'anmen Square has great cultural significance as it was the site of several key events in Chinese history.  It is surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

The Forbidden City (2 hours): The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors between 1368 and 1911.This "city within a city" is a World Heritage Site, and is the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in the world.

Treasure Houses (30 minutes): Treasure house has undergone 4 time renovations, the present one takes up almost 220 square metres, more than 440 treasures on display belonged to Qing dynasty royalty, half of which have not never been on display in the old one. It's worthy of visiting.

Hutong Tour in Xicheng District (1 hour): Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single storey traditional courtyard houses. You can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family then walk on the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) .

Lizexiang Pearl Store: See how  freshwater pearls  are produced including some of the latest technology, and learn how to spot a fake. The outlet also offers a range of items produced from pearls and pearl oysters which goes far wider than jewellery.

Traditional Mongolian Restaurant: Traditional Mongolian Restaurant is located near the Forbidden City.It brings Mongolia's long and distinguished cultural and literary history. A traditional Mongolian yurt (tent) is available on the third floor but a reservation is needed and a surcharge applies. Live performances of Mongolian music are sometimes preformed in the restaurant.

Temple of Heaven (1.5 hours): Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties visited for annual ceremonies of pray for good harvests. 

Summer Palace (1.5 hours): Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. It is the largest and best preserved imperial garden in China, and also a World Heritage Site. 

Lama Temple (1 hour): The colourful Yonghe Lamasery is the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It's still very active, and the beautiful halls and courtyards are thronged with devotees come to worship or seek good luck. 

Beijing Ba guo bu yi Restaurant: Ba Guo Bu Yi is located in Xizhimen next to the Beijing Youth Palace at No. 68 Nanxiao Road. It serves some of the heartiest and most authentic Sichuan fare in town with its traditional Chinese style decorations. 

The Jinshanling Great Wall (2 hours): Originally built in the period from 1368 to 1389 during the Ming Dynasty, the Jinshanling Great Wall section is 140 kilometers long and at the north-east end of Beijing.

Jinshanling Restaurant: Jinshanling Restaurant is located at the foot of Jinshanling Great Wall. The restaurant can serve local Chinese dishes only.

Chengde Summer Palace: Chengde Summer Palace, located in the north of Chengde city, was a place where emperors from the Qing dynasty spent their summers to escape the heat in Beijing.

Putuozongcheng Temple: Putuozongcheng Temple is reminiscent of the Dala Lama’s Potala Palace in Tibet. It is considered as a great place to go if you cannot travel to Tibet. The temple was built to show the imperial family's respect for the minority groups and their beliefs. 

Pule Temple: Pule Temple was built in 1766 for visiting Mongolian and minority dignitaries. The temple combines the styles of traditional Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetan buildings in a tranquil setting. At the rear of the temple is the Round Pavilion, a replica of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. 

Puning Temple: Punning Temple, also called Big Buddha Temple, has the world's largest wooden Buddha. This Buddha has thousands of hands and eyes. It is 22 meters high and 15 meters wide. The temple was built to commemorate Emperor Qianlong's victory over the Mongolian rebellion.

Zhengyang hotel: The restaurant is located at Zhengyang hotel. It serves Chinese food and local snacks.

Yungang Grottoes (2 hours): As a World Heritage Site, Yungang Grottoes were carved out of sandstone cliffs on Wuzhou Mountain. Yungang Grottoes were dug over a span of forty years (CE 453-493). It stretches some 1000 meters continuously from east to west and it is one of the four famous grotto complexes throughout China. Of the 53 original grottoes of the Yungang Grotto complex, only 45 remain intact. These remaining 45 grottoes contain some 250 niches and 51,000 Buddhism statues and murals.

Datong Nine-Dragon Screen Wall (30 minutes): Built over 600 years ago, Nine Dragon Screen is the oldest and largest glazed screen in China. It is 45 meters long, 8 meter tall and 2 meters tall. The screen was tiled with 426 specially made multi-colored glazes. The nine dragons on the screen appear vivid and marvelous.

The Huayan Temple (2 hours): Huayan Temple is the largest and most perfectly preserved temple of the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties in China. It is considered a museum of art of the Liao Dynasty. Its buildings, statues and frescos all present the masterpieces of the Liao Dynasty. Inside the temple 31 statues made in the Liao Dynasty are well preserved. 21 large-scale frescos of the Qing Dynasty are still bright colored and resplendent.

Shanhua Monastery (1 hour): Located in central Datong within the old city walls. It was first constructed during the Tang dynasty (618-907) though most of the present wooden building dates back to the 12th century. The temple houses some intricately carved Jin dynasty (265-420) statues and has a screen wall decorated with dragons.

Lvyuan Restaurant: The Lvyuan Restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Datong. It specializes in Shanxi Cai (cuisine from north-western China). It is highly recommended by customers for its good food and reasonable prices.

Hanging Monastery (2 hours): It is a wondrous monastery listed as a World Heritage Site. The Hanging Monastery was magically built into a near vertical rock face and hangs about 50 meters above the ground. The monastery is the only one in China that enshrines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism within one monastery.

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (1 hour): Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in China. The pagoda was built in 1056. It remains a mystery to scientists and tourists alike that this pagoda withstood several natural disasters and still was able to maintain its original condition.

Hongtai Restaurant: The Hongtai Restaurant is one of the best restaurants around the Wooden Pagoda. It specializes in Shanxi Cuisine (cuisine from north-western China). It is highly recommended by customers for its good food and reasonable prices.

Wutai Mountain Scenic Area (3 hours): The beautiful scenery of Mt. Wutaishan is a masterpiece, nature at its most exquisite. There are five glorious peaks: Wanghai Peak in the east, Guayue Peak in the west, Jinxiu Peak in the south, Yedou Peak in the north, and the central Cuiyan Peak. 

Pingyao Ancient Town: Located in the middle of Shanxi Province, this World Heritage Site is one of the four best-preserved ancient towns in China. Inside the intact Ming Dynasty city wall, there are exceptionally well-preserved buildings built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties centuries ago.

Wang Family Courtyard (2 hours): This huge and magnificent courtyard complex occupies a higher ground and overlooks a vast horizon. Its total area is about 250,000 square meters, among which 45,000 square meters (one fifth) is open to tourists, with 123 courtyards and 1118 rooms.

Shuanglin Temple (1 hour): Also known as "Double Forest Temple", Shuanglin Temple is located about 20 minutes drive from Pingyao Ancient Town. Shuanglin Temple was built about 1,500 years ago, and is renowned for ancient locust trees, steles, frescos and especially the vivid and well-preserved colored-painting mud sculptures which number over 2,000.

The Rishengchang Draft Bank (1 hour): Established in 1823, Rishengchang is the first and was the biggest draft bank in China at that time, and had been famous for "Hui Tong Tian Xia", meaning "business conneting the whole world". Rishengchang is located on the West Street of Pingyao Ancient Town. From its establishment via prosperity till its closure, it operated for over 100 years. At Rishengchang, visitors will learn about its development and how it was managed via the exhibitions.

The Mingqing Street (1 hour): Mingqing Street is the South Avenue of Pingyao Ancient Town. Buildings and houses of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are preserved quite well, and it is the bustling area and axis of the ancient town. Over 100 shops, restaurants and bars line on this 800-meter-long ancient street. Visitors can shop for some inexpensive souvenirs, watch the ancient buildings and local life, or learn some ancient techniques of making handicrafts.

Armed Escort Company Museum (30 minutes): The museum is located at the South Avenue of Pingyao Ancient Town. Covering an area of over 2,000 square meters, the museum’s exhibitions introduce the emergence, development, management and operation of this ancient business, and how it played a significant role in promoting commerce. The museum also tells stories of the founders and some famous wings of martial arts.

Ancient City Wall (2 hours): The Ancient City Wall of Pingyao was constructed nearly 3,000 years ago, and at present it still keeps the original appearance of the city wall renovated in the early Ming Dynasty which is several hundred years ago. The contruction method is simply but delicate. Its circumference is about 6,163 meters, with a height at 6 to 10 meters. There are 6 city gates, every day local people and tourists go in and out of the ancient town via the city gates.

Ancient City Wall (30 minutes):  Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City, it s surrounding the city centre. You can walk or pay extra cost to rent a bike,  rickshaw or an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, with great views of the city on either side. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. 

Shaanxi History Museum (1.5 hours): The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. 

Xi'an Imperial Fine Arts center: Xi'an Imperial Fine Arts mainly manufactures jade carvings and lacquer ware. Tourists can learn how the fine Chinese jade carved and the function of jade.

 Little Conch Restaurant: Little Conch Restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Xi’an. The restaurant specializes in Cantonese cuisine with a variety of seafood and fish dishes. It is highly recommended by customers for its good food and reasonable prices.

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses (2 hours): Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (1 hour):The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals. 

A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch): A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant was established in 2004, mainly specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine. It provides delicacy by using the material from Shanxi, obtaining a nationwide reputation from customers. It would be a nice choice to dine while traveling the nearby Terra cotta Warriors and Horses.

Our Xian tour guide would escort you to  airport and  take flight back to Beijing. You wonderful Heritages Sites Trail in North China Tour ends.