Legend of Kungfu & Panda Tour

Welcome to Beijing! After your arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport arrival hall. Then, we will drive you to the hotel and help you check in. We won’t arrange any activities today and you are recommended to have a rest to get over jet lag and refresh yourself for our exciting journey tomorrow. We hope you will feel at home. China Tour Star is glad to be with you in the coming days.

Beijing is not only China’s capital city but also the center of politics, culture, international exchange as well as science and technological innovation of China. Being a combination of history and modernity, Beijing boasts a large number of ancient buildings, for instance, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace, which are all included in our trip. More than 90 universities are located here including the well-known Peking University and Tsinghua University. It is a city with the most abundant cultural heritages in the world. Moreover, the 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Beijing.

In the morning, we are going to visit Tian’anmen Square first. Tian’anmen Square is located in the center of Beijing. It has a length of 880 meters and a width of 500 meters. It covers an area of 440,000 square meters and can accommodate 1 million people for grand gatherings. The flag-raising ceremony is held on the square every morning, depending on the specific time of sunrise. It is a sacred place for China to hold major celebrations, grand gatherings, and other foreign affairs like welcoming leaders from other countries. Here you can see the magnificent building – Tian’anmen Gate standing in north of the square, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was the main gate of the Imperial City of Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Then, walking through Tian’anmen Gate, we will enter the Forbidden City (closed each Monday). The Forbidden City is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with an area of approximately 720,000 square meters. There are more than 70 halls of different sizes and more than 9,000 rooms. It is one of the largest and well-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. It was listed as a world cultural heritage in 1987. The Forbidden City receives an average of 6 to 8 million Chinese and foreign visitors each year. When stepping into the Forbidden City, we can see the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian) first, then the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe Dian), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian), which are collectively referred to as the Three Main Halls. In ancient times, they were the places for great ceremonies. We will visit them one by one. Moreover, our guide will lead you to visit the palaces where the empresses and other concubines once lived as well as the Imperial Garden that was used for entertainment.

After lunch, we are going to the Temple of Heaven. With an area of about 2.73 million square meters, a world cultural heritage, the Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty. It is the largest building complex to sacrifice to heaven in the world. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the great temple served as a place where emperors worshipped heaven and prayed for a bumper harvest of grains. One of the interesting places in the Temple of Heaven is called the Echo Wall. When a person speaks at one end of the wall, the sound waves will continue to be refracted along the wall and spread to the other end. No matter how small the voice is, people at the other end can hear it clearly. You can have a try once you get here.

After that, we will drive you to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace, a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) in China, has a total area of over 3 square kilometers, four times that of the Forbidden City. It was included in the “World Heritage List” in 1998. The Summer Palace was for the royal family to live far away from high temperatures in the Forbidden City. Empress Dowager Cixi spent all summer days here in her late years, so it is called “Summer Palace”. At present, there are more than 40,000 pieces of cultural relics preserved in the Summer Palace. The categories involve bronze, jade, porcelain, calligraphy, painting, ancient books, and so on.

Our trip today will end here, and we will go back to the hotel. Have a good rest and see you tomorrow.

Option:

For dinner, we offer one option for you. That is Peking Roast Duck, a famous Beijing dish with a world reputation. The whole duck is cooked on a charcoal fire and is ruddy. The cook will cut it into pieces for you to enjoy. It tastes crispy and tender. Have a try and you will fall in love with this delicious food.

Forbidden City

Temple of Heaven

In the morning, we will start our journey from the Sacred Way. It is located northwest of Beijing, about 50 kilometers away from the city center, so we need to drive about one hour to get there. The Sacred Way is the front part of the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs, with a total length of about 7.3 KM. Alongside the Sacred Way, the stone statues in the shapes of human beings (generals, civil servants, and heroes), animals (lions, camels, elephants, and horses), and the ancient Chinese mythical animals (Kylin and Haechi) are vivid and lifelike. Kylin symbolizes auspiciousness and Haechi is viewed as a fabulous animal, reputed to be able to distinguish between good and evil. When walking through the Sacred Way, we will come to the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs. Chang Tomb is one tomb of the 13 Ming Tombs. It is the co-burial tomb of Emperor Zhu Di and his empress. The tomb covers an area of about 120,000 square meters and it is the largest one among the 13 tombs. In 2003, the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs was included in the World Cultural Heritage List.

After lunch, we will drive to Mutianyu Great Wall which situates 40 kilometers northeast of the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs. It takes about one hour to get there. Constructed in 1368, it is the longest section of the Great Wall in China with a length of 5,400 meters. In the past, the Great Wall served as an important military project to resist northern invaders. There is an old Chinese saying, “One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero” because the Great Wall is built on precipitous mountains and it is difficult for people to climb on to it on foot. You can imagine that one part of it stretches straightly from the mountainside to the top of the mountain. Another part of it suddenly descends from a height of more than one thousand meters above sea level to a height of several hundred meters. The slope of the Mutianyu Great Wall is mostly around 50 degrees, while there is one section of it that is close to 90 degrees, almost vertical, and the steps are only a few inches wide. Those who are not brave dare not step onto it. I would like to assure you that the best place for photo-taking is No. 14 Beacon Tower.

After visiting Mutianyu Great Wall, we will go back to the hotel, and your tour in Beijing ends here.

Sacred Way

Chang Tomb

In the morning, our guide will take you to the train station and you will travel to Luoyang by taking the estimated train G671 07:49/12:10. Your Luoyang guide is waiting for you at the railway station.

Locating in the west of Henan Province, Luoyang boasts a history of more than 5,000 years. It is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, which was the passage of communication, trade and cultural exchanges between China and the western countries in ancient times. Known as one of China’s four major ancient capitals, Luoyang is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. There are six world cultural heritages in Luoyang. Furthermore, it’s home to peony, the city flower of Luoyang. As for dishes, Pepper and Chili Soup called “Hu La Tang” by local people, is the first choice for breakfast.

After being picked up from the railway station, you will visit Longmen Grottoes. It is reputed as the world’s largest treasure house of stone carving art with the most sculptures. It was praised as “the top of Chinese stone carving art” by UNESCO and was listed as a world cultural heritage. The statues in Longmen Grottoes were mostly built under the order of the royal family. All of you will be attracted by the charm of the grottoes. The legendary story of “Carps Leaping over Longmen (Longmen means Dragon Gate)” took place in this place. It is said that the carps in the Yellow River swam upstream to Longmen every year for transformation. When they got here, the river flow would surge severely. They must jump over the torrent. Those carps which succeed in jumping over would turn into dragons, while those who failed would have a black scar on their foreheads. This is the origin of “Carps Leaping over Longmen”, which is a metaphor for one’s promotion or progresses in a career.

After that, you will be transferred to the hotel and our guide will help you check in. Today’s journey will end here. Hope you have a good rest. See you tomorrow.

Longmen Grottoes

Longmen Grottoes

According to the schedule, we are going to visit White Horse Temple first. It is ranked the top among ancient temples in China. Built in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), it was the first government-run temple built after Buddhism was introduced to China. It is also the only temple around the world that embraces Buddhist architectural features from four countries including China, India, Myanmar and Thailand.

After lunch, our next destination is Shaolin Temple. We will spend 1.5 hours driving to Dengfeng where the temple locates. It is about 55 kilometers southeast of White Horse Temple. Built in 495 of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), Shaolin Temple is one of the most important Buddhist temples in China and also the birthplace of Chinese Kungfu. As a world cultural heritage, it owns a high reputation all over the world for its Shaolin Kungfu created by Shaolin monks who devoted themselves to the creation and development of Chinese Kungfu. There are more than 40 overseas Kungfu institutions established by Shaolin Temple in dozens of countries, which have made Chinese Kungfu spread to more than 300 cities worldwide. Monks from the temple teach Chinese martial arts in these institutions. Shaolin Temple also held Shaolin Cultural Festivals in Europe and North America to convey the spiritual connotation of Chinese culture and values to the outside world. In 2004, the California House of Representatives and the Senate passed two votes to establish March 21 every year as the “Songshan Shaolin Temple Day in California”, which became a legislative holiday established by the California Assembly. In addition, you can watch a Kungfu Show performed by the monks in the temple for about 30 minutes. You will be shocked by their unique skills and the amazing martial arts.

White Horse Temple

Shaolin Temple

We have almost completed half of the tour. Today, you will go to Xi’an. We will drive you to Luoyang railway station to take the estimated train G655 13:59/15:00. Our tour guide will wait for you at Xi’an railway station and pick you up there.

Prior to your arrival in Xi’an, I would like to give you a brief introduction to this city. Being one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization as well as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi’an is a “World Historic City” designated by UNESCO in 1981. More than a dozen dynasties in Chinese history established their capitals here. Xi’an boasts six heritage sites included in the “World Heritage List”, such as the Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It’s also a gathering place for many colleges and universities. Currently, Xi’an has become an international and metropolitan city. Local dishes are highly recommended here. You cannot miss them at all.

After arriving in Xi’an, our guide will take you directly to the Ancient City Wall. The Ancient City Wall, also known as Xi’an Ming City Wall, is the largest and best-preserved city wall in China. It is located in the central area of Xi’an, with a height of 12 meters, a top width of 12-14 meters, and a bottom width of 15-18 meters. You can take a walk on the Ancient City Wall, overlooking the landscape nearby.

Free Time Suggestion:

You can visit Luoyang Old City in the morning. In ancient times, it was a gathering place for merchants, and later became one of the important commercial areas of Luoyang. Nowadays, it also serves as a place where you can taste local snacks.

Ancient City Wall

Ancient City Wall

Today, we will visit the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The museum is 40 kilometers northeast of the center of Xi’an, and we need to drive for about an hour to get there. In 1987, it was approved by the UNESCO to be included in the “World Heritage List”. Being made into burial objects of the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), in the shape of chariots, war horses, and soldiers, it belongs to the category of ancient tomb sculpture. There are more than 7,000 lifelike warriors, 100 chariots, and 100 war horses discovered so far. Particularly, the warriors with different characteristics are tall, generally around 1.8 meters. Some of them stand straight and some kneel down. It has been hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” as well as one of the world’s eight rare treasures of ancient tombs. It will be really an unforgettable attraction for you.

Then, we will go back to Xi’an downtown and have lunch. In the afternoon, we will go to Small Wild Goose Pagoda (closed each Tuesday). It was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). With more than 1,200 years of history, it has withstood over 70 earthquakes. It is indeed a wonder that this pagoda made of brick hasn’t collapsed after these earthquakes. In 2014, the pagoda was successfully included in the “World Heritage List”. Furthermore, at the gate of Small Wild Goose Pagoda, there is a Chinese Calligraphy Class. You can learn to write Chinese characters with a Chinese writing brush and ink.

Then, we are going to Muslim Quarter. Muslim Quarter is a famous food street in Xi’an, gathering various local snacks. The restaurants with strong Muslim characteristics are all operated by the Hui people who believe in Islam. The famous local snacks are Rougamo (marinated meat in a baked bun), Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup or Beef Soup, and Biangbiang Noodles, etc. Known as the most delicious food in Shaanxi, Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup dates back to the 11th century BC. We highly recommend you have a taste here.

The Great Mosque, located within the Muslim Quarter and firstly built in 742, is the largest of its kind in China. As a famous tourist attraction, the mosque still remains a holy place for Muslims to worship to this day. Its unique characteristic is that it is in the traditional Chinese architectural style from the outside while keeping the features of the Islamic mosque inside.

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

Great Mosque

Today, our guide will take you to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to Chengdu by taking the estimated flight MU6796 12:40/14:20. Our guide will greet you at the arrival hall of Chengdu airport, then pick you up to the hotel, and assist you with the check-in. We do not have any arrangements for the rest of the day. You can have a rest and expect tomorrow’s exciting journey.

In the morning, we are going to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It is a world-famous base for protecting, researching, and breeding giant pandas. At the same time, it integrates public education and tourism. It owns a worldwide reputation for protecting and breeding giant pandas, red pandas and other endangered wild animals. The base simulates their wild ecological environment, where giant pandas of different ages live, to make captive-bred giant pandas behave more naturally. At the same time, some innovative and recreational facilities are added to improve giant pandas’ quality of life. For example, swings and hammocks are equipped for the pandas to play. The giant pandas like to climb trees in order to avoid danger. They have well-developed volar pads and fairly sharp claws, which can help them when climbing trees. For example, “Gungun”, a popular “Internet panda celebrity”, is very relaxed when it is on the tree. It often likes to pose differently on the tree, sitting on the branches, smiling slyly, hugging the tree tightly, standing or sleeping. When entering into the base, please note that you should not use flash when taking photos, because their eyes are very sensitive to light and flashes are likely to harm them.

Then, we will visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage. It was the residence of the great poet Du Fu in the Tang Dynasty. Du Fu has a profound influence on Chinese classical poetry. He has been reputed as the “saint of poetry” by later generations, and his poems have been called “the history of poetry”. A total of about 1,500 poems created by him have been preserved.

After lunch, we will go to Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum. It was built in 221, originally serving as a temple dedicated to worshipping Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Shu Kingdom (221-263), and his great dedication. There is a story about Zhuge Liang. During the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), the Shu Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom united to resist the Wei Kingdom. Zhou Yu, a famous general of Wu Kingdom, was jealous of Zhuge Liang’s talent and made things difficult for him intentionally. He asked Zhuge Liang to produce 100,000 arrows in ten days. However, Zhuge Liang finished the task only in three days. On the first two days, he secretly prepared twenty large ships with a thousand scarecrows on each ship. On the evening of the third day with heavy fog, Zhuge Liang led the ships to the waterside barracks of the Wei Kingdom and ordered the soldiers on the ship to beat drums and shout loudly to pretend to start an attack. The soldiers of Wei Kingdom mistakenly thought that they were about to be attacked and shot arrows at the ships on the river. Numerous arrows all pierced the scarecrows on the ships. Then, Zhuge Liang brought back 100,000 arrows successfully.

Jinli Street is our next attraction. CNN selected the most beautiful streets in the world, and Jinli Street in Chengdu ranked first on the list. This street restores the bustling life in Chengdu during the Shu Kingdom period. There are wooden houses and shops on the street, hanging red lanterns and traditional signboards. In addition, you can see the performances of folk artists at different stalls, such as paper-cutting, sugar figure blowing, shadow puppetry play, etc.

Options:

For dinner, you can have Chengdu Hot Pot, the most famous local food.

You can also watch the Sichuan Opera performance at Shufeng Yayun Theatre. It begins at 20: 00 in the evening and lasts 90 minutes.

Du Fu Thatched Cottage

Jinli Street

Today, we will take the estimated flight HO1098 14:55/17:40 to Shanghai. Our guide will take you to the hotel after you arrive in Shanghai.

Free Time Suggestion:

If you would like to explore Chengdu by yourself in the morning, Kuan Zhai Alley is recommended to you. Kuan Zhai Alley is the most famous historical and cultural commercial pedestrian street in Chengdu. It was built in the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays, it is also a tourist landmark in Chengdu. There are many buildings built in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China in Kuan Alley (the north part of Kuan Zhai Alley), including some Western-style buildings left by churches. Kuan Alley is a “leisure life” area, representing a reproduction of old Chengdu. The Zhai Alley (the south part of Kuan Zhai Alley) shows the folk courtyards of old Chengdu. Most of the courtyards are used as bars and restaurants now.

In the morning, we are going to visit Yu Garden (closed each Monday) first. It was originally a private garden built by a government official of the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy a peaceful and happy time in their late years. As the only fully restored classical Chinese garden in Shanghai, it has become one of the must-visit places for visitors coming to Shanghai.

After appreciating the marvelous views in the Yu Garden, we will visit Shanghai Museum (closed each Monday). Shanghai Museum was established in 1952. Its collections focus on ancient Chinese artworks. There are nearly 1.02 million cultural relics, especially bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings. One of the most famous collections in the museum is the Yuan Square Ding (bronze food vessel), dating back to the late 11th century BC, with a height of 22.7cm, length of the mouth of 18cm, and width of the mouth of 14.5cm.

After lunch, we will go to Shanghai Tower, taking a lift to the 118th floor to visit. With a height of 632 meters, the tower ranks as China’s tallest skyscraper and the second in the world. You can overlook the whole modern city on it.

After visiting the tower, we will go to the Bund. The Bund, located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, is a historical legacy of old Shanghai. It was the financial center of the whole country and even the Far East. Now, many classical buildings of various styles have been kept on the Bund. You can take beautiful photos here.

Nanjing Road, next to the Bund, is a commercial street where businesses gather. It is the window of Shanghai to the outside world and a paradise for domestic and foreign shoppers. It is one of the earliest and most prosperous areas in Shanghai. There are hundreds of stores along both sides of the road. Here, you can buy some local cakes and pastries at the shop named Shendacheng (No. 505), and other souvenirs like Chinese folding fans and silk scarves.

Optional Activity:

You may take a Huangpu River Night Cruise for about one hour to admire the night views on both sides of the Huangpu River.

You may watch an Acrobatics Show in Shanghai Center Theatre from 19:00 to 21:00.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Tower

Our 12-day Legend of Kungfu & Panda Tour in 2022 & 2023 will end here. I believe you have enjoyed yourselves. We will help you check out and drive you to the airport according to your flight. Thank you for choosing China Tour Star. If you have any questions or advice, please contact us. See you on your next tour.  

Author: Kun Wang

Proofreader: Vivian Zhou