China Temple Tour

Tour Features: Although Buddhism first entered China from India during the later Han Dynasty (AD 58-76), it did not become popular until the end of the 3rd century. Buddhism has been the most widespread and influential religion in China. Buddhist grottoes, pagodas and temples spread all over the country. China Temple Tours will bring you a spiritual journey to the most famous Buddhist sites in China associated with acknowledging the way and culture that local Buddhist believers are practicing their belief.

Tour Code: CCT-CTT16

Destinations: Beijing, Datong, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Xian, Lhasa, Shanghai

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Depart on your flight bound for Beijing, the capital of People's Republic of China. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2 Beijing

Full-day tour will begin at the magnificent Forbidden City, home to emperors for over 500-years, you will get the chance to stroll through Tiananmen Square, which is the largest square in the world. This evening, you are invited to an authentic Peking duck banquet.

Day 3 Beijing

A full-day tour will take in the grandeur of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Great Wall, built more than 2000 years ago to protect China from northern invaders. On the way back to Beijing stop and visit the sacred Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty were buried.

Day 4 Beijing

Today you will admire the beauty of the Temple of Heaven where the emperor beseeched Heaven to provide good harvests. In the afternoon, you will continue to visit the Yong He Gong Lama Temple, a renowned Lama temple of the Yellow Hat Sect of Lamaism.

Day 5 Beijing / Datong

In this morning, you will admire the beauty of Summer Palace,built as a royal garden for Qing Dynasty Emperors. Then transferred to the railway station and board the soft-seat train to Datong, arrival and check into the hotel.

Day 6 Datong / Mountain Wutai

Today you will continue to travel to the famous Mountain Wutai and visit the breathtaking 1400-year-old Hanging Temple, built clinging to the edge of a precipice that overlooks a valley far below. Arrival and check in your hotel.

Day 7 Mountain Wutai / Taiyuan / Luoyang

Continue the trip to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. Arrival and visit the Jinci Memorial Temple, Jinci Temple is regarded as the most worthy sight in Taiyuan of Shanxi Province with its three treasures - Nanlao Spring, Zhou Cypress and Saint Mother Hall. After dinner, you will board the overnight soft-sleeper train to Luoyang.

Day 8 Luoyang

Arriving in Luoyang this morning, after the breakfast and short rest, you will visit the Longmen Caves that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and representing the highest level of Buddhist art. Then drive to the birthplace of Chinese Kungfu at Shaolin Temple, which is also considered as the cradle of the Chan Zen Sect of Buddhism in China. The temple is located at the Mountain Songshan. The Middle Sacred Mountain (4, 959 feet above sea level) is famous for the 72 temples on the 72 slopes. Tonight you will check in the local hotel.

Day 9 Luoyang / Xian

Morning trip to the famous White Horse Temple, in AD 67, two Indian monks came to Luoyang, Emperor Ming Di ordered the construction of the temple and asked them to translate Buddhist scriptures into Chinese. The temple turned out to be the first Buddhist temple in China formally built. After lunch, take the express soft-seat train to the ancient capital city of Xian. Arrival and check into the hotel.

Day 10 Xian

A full-day tour will take you to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at Da Ci En Temple (Temple of Great Mercy). Tonight you will be invited to attend two local specialities, Dumpling Banquet and Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 11 Xian / Lhasa

Today you will fly to the holy city of Lhasa. Tibet is home to hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and temples, most of which are Tibet's architectural masterpieces, more mysterious than those in other parts of China. Arrival and check in the hotel to relax to acclimatize yourself with the high altitude.

Day 12 Lhasa

In this morning, you will Visit Jokhang Temple that was built on the first residential site of Wencheng Princess of Tang Dynasty. Then continue your trip the famous Barkhor Square. Attending a typical Tibetan dancing and singing performance with a lavish buffet-style welcome dinner.

Day 13 Lhasa

Whole day visit Potala Palace. Situated at the downtown of Lhasa, it is the most magnificent building in the city. The construction was started by King Songtsan Gambo of Tubo Dynasty in the 640s. The palace covers an area of 41 hectares, and its 13-story main building is 115.703 meters high with a total area of 120,000 square meters, which consists of 1,000 rooms of living quarters of the Dalai Lamas, ceremonial halls, funerary pagoda halls and the servants' bedrooms.

Day 14 Lhasa

Tour the Sera and Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in Tibet, was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa under the patronage of a noble family and later enlarged by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Drepung, which means rice heap in Tibetan, lies 8 kilometres west of Mt. Gambo Utse. The monastery covers a floor space of more than 200 thousand square meters. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 thousand monks. Many high and learned lamas had studied here.

Day 15 Lhasa / Shanghai

Fly to Shanghai today. Meet and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will take a leisure walk along the world famous waterfront - The Bund. It was once part of the foreign concessions and out-of-bounds to locals. Then explore the magnificent Nanjing Road.

Day 16 Shanghai

Morning tour to the magnificent Shanghai History Museum and the largest temple in Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple, enjoy the leisure time in the afternoon for shopping or other arrangements. The Shanghai History Museum, located just below the Oriental TV Tower at Pudong New Area. There are three major exhibition units reflecting Shanghai's history, modern and recent revolutionary history. Jade Buddha Temple is one of Shanghai's few Buddhist temples, attracting lots of local and overseas Chinese tourists every year.

Day 17 Depart

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight and depart.