Day 1: Xi'an
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2: Xi'an/Pingyao
Board a morning fast train to the ancient city of Pingyao. On arrival, get hands-on with a paper cutting class.
Day 3: Pingyao/Datong
Hop on a train to Datong after a free morning in Pingyao.
Datong is famous for its temples, pagodas, and other Buddhist structures in the area. The Huayan Monastery and Nine-Dragon Screen are excellent examples of the treasures found in the middle of the city.
Day 4: Datong/Datong
Set eyes on the gorgeous Hanging Monastery and visit the Yungang Grottoes to see the thousands of Buddha statues.
The Hanging Monastery (or Hanging Temple) is a wooden structure built into a cliff at the foot of a mountain more than 1,500 years ago. It includes Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian elements.
Further afield are the Yungang Grottoes; there are currently 53 grottoes with 51,000 statues of the Buddha remaining. Enjoy a guided visit to the grottoes to marvel at them in person. Beyond that is Mt Hengshan, one of the five sacred mountains of China.
Opt to check out Datong's six remaining pagodas, which gave the city the nickname "City of Pagodas".
Day 5: Datong/Beijing
Take a final morning to explore Datong. Later, board a local train to Beijing and arrive in the evening.
Day 6: Beijing
Enjoy a visit to the famed Forbidden City then take the rest of the day to explore on your own.
Day 7: Beijing
Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall.
Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and enjoy time to wander around, take photos, and pick up souvenirs.
Opt to pre-book the Beijing Kung Fu Show and/or the Beijing Acrobatics Performance on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 8: Beijing
Depart at any time.