China: Our Tour
Below is the tentative schedule of our first week for our tour of Northern China. We are currently asking to see if it would be practical to see a different segment of the Great Wall of China. The Badaling section is supposed to be very touristy, but well reconstructed. I want to see if there is any way we can see perhaps the Badaling site and perhaps the Mutianyu site (much less touristy).
I also want to perhaps tack on the Mansion of Prince Gong to Day 4 if time allows. But I don't want to give up my dumpling cooking lesson either! So I asked about that too to see what can be done. Hopefully they can provide me an hourly itinerary for while we are in Beijing and that will help us see if there is any free time left over to add more tours or see things on our own.
Day 1 Sat 08-Mar-08
Arrival / Beijing
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Tel: 010-65285566
Fax: 010-65598993
Add: No 58, SuZhou Hutong, Youtong Road, Dongcheng Area, Beijing
http://www.harmony-hotel.com.cn/index.htm
Day 2 Sun 09-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, and then the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will marvel at Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven.
- The Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square: the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday.
- The Forbidden City: located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, it is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China.
- The Temple of Heaven: the place which was visited yearly by the emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 3 Mon 10-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
Today you will visit the majestic Great Wall(Badaling section), the Ding Tomb of Ming Tombs and Sacred road.
- The Great Wall: the most famous symbol of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders, it was built over 2,000 years ago and stretching about 6,700km.
- The Great Wall at Badaling: the most outstanding representation of China's Great Wall, located 70km northwest of Beijing, at an elevation of 1000m, this section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and heavily restored in the 1950s and 1980s.
Standing at the strategic highest point from northwest of Beijing and giving access to every direction, Badaling section is the important pass for protecting Beijing City.
Badaling section is composed of Guan City and its affiliated Wall, with city platforms, wall platforms and watchtowers along the Wall. The Wall is 8.5 meters high, 6.5 meters wide at the bottom and 5.7 meters wide on the top, which makes it possible for 5 horses or 10 people march abreast on the top. And the surrounding scenery is magnificent and impressive.
- The Ding Tomb: the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620, it is the only underground tomb of the thirteen Ming tombs of the emperors ever excavated.
- The Sacred Road: the path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the sitting emperors would go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors once a year.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 4 Tue 11-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
After breakfast, you will first visit Hutongs by rickshaw, lunch will be served in one of the local people's home during the tour, when you can learn how to make dumplings. And then the Summer Palace.
- Hutongs: the old narrow paths with lots of courtyard homes where common people are living, they are like villages within megalopolis, through the hutongs' teeming maze of alleyways, you will see the old houses and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens.
- The Summer Palace: Located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, it was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 5 Wed 12-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing / Chengde
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrnangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
In the morning, our local guide will help you transfer to the railway station for your train to Chengde. Arrive at Chengde, you will be met and escorted to the hotel. The tour this afternoon will bring you to the Imperial Summer Villa.
- The Imperial Summer Villa: started to be built in 1703 and finished in about 90 years, it is now the biggest Imperial Garden in China covering 590 hectares. The area, encircled by a splendid 10km wall, was where the emperors and dignitaries in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) retreated from the summer heat, and where they would also handle political affairs and meet envoys during their stay, so the Villa actually served as the second political center of the Qing government. Set in a mountain valley, with its own lakes, pine forests, hunting ground and pavilions, now it is a great place to wander around.
Accommodations: Shanzhuang Resort***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Addr: 11, Lizhengmeng
Tel:0314-2022097
Fax：0314-2034143
Day 6 Thu 13-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Chengde / Beijing
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrnangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
Enjoy a tour to Puning Temple and Putuozongcheng Temple before your train back to Beijing. Our local guide in Beijing will meet you at railway station and escort you to the hotel.
- Puning Temple: puning means "universal tranquility", mixing Chinese and Tibetan styles, it was built by Emperor Qianlong in 1755 AD to commemorate his victory over Mongolian tribes. The huge Mahayana Hall of the temple houses an enchanting golden statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Mercy , which is made from five different types of wood (pine, cypress, elm, fir and basswood) and is the highest of its kind in the world with 22 meters high and an eye on the each palm of its 42 arms.
- Putuozongcheng Temple: built in 1767 for visiting minority group leaders from all over China to celebrate Emperor Qianlong's 60th birthday, it is a replica of Lhasa's Potala Palace and the largest of the eight remaining outer temples in Chengde with an area of 220,000 square meters. The temple is set against a backdrop of piney hills offering a stunning view from the top.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 7 Fri 14-Mar-08 (B, )
Beijing / Datong
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
After breakfast, our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward train to Datong. Upon your arrival at Datong, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- Datong: Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi, and is known as the coal capital due to its abundant coals powering the whole of Shanxi and other cities beyond. The city is one of China's most polluted, yet there are some relics worth a visit.
Accommodations: Taihechun Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
I also want to perhaps tack on the Mansion of Prince Gong to Day 4 if time allows. But I don't want to give up my dumpling cooking lesson either! So I asked about that too to see what can be done. Hopefully they can provide me an hourly itinerary for while we are in Beijing and that will help us see if there is any free time left over to add more tours or see things on our own.
Day 1 Sat 08-Mar-08
Arrival / Beijing
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Tel: 010-65285566
Fax: 010-65598993
Add: No 58, SuZhou Hutong, Youtong Road, Dongcheng Area, Beijing
http://www.harmony-hotel.com.cn/index.htm
Day 2 Sun 09-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, and then the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will marvel at Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven.
- The Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square: the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday.
- The Forbidden City: located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, it is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China.
- The Temple of Heaven: the place which was visited yearly by the emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 3 Mon 10-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
Today you will visit the majestic Great Wall(Badaling section), the Ding Tomb of Ming Tombs and Sacred road.
- The Great Wall: the most famous symbol of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders, it was built over 2,000 years ago and stretching about 6,700km.
- The Great Wall at Badaling: the most outstanding representation of China's Great Wall, located 70km northwest of Beijing, at an elevation of 1000m, this section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and heavily restored in the 1950s and 1980s.
Standing at the strategic highest point from northwest of Beijing and giving access to every direction, Badaling section is the important pass for protecting Beijing City.
Badaling section is composed of Guan City and its affiliated Wall, with city platforms, wall platforms and watchtowers along the Wall. The Wall is 8.5 meters high, 6.5 meters wide at the bottom and 5.7 meters wide on the top, which makes it possible for 5 horses or 10 people march abreast on the top. And the surrounding scenery is magnificent and impressive.
- The Ding Tomb: the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620, it is the only underground tomb of the thirteen Ming tombs of the emperors ever excavated.
- The Sacred Road: the path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the sitting emperors would go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors once a year.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 4 Tue 11-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing
After breakfast, you will first visit Hutongs by rickshaw, lunch will be served in one of the local people's home during the tour, when you can learn how to make dumplings. And then the Summer Palace.
- Hutongs: the old narrow paths with lots of courtyard homes where common people are living, they are like villages within megalopolis, through the hutongs' teeming maze of alleyways, you will see the old houses and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens.
- The Summer Palace: Located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, it was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 5 Wed 12-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Beijing / Chengde
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrnangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
In the morning, our local guide will help you transfer to the railway station for your train to Chengde. Arrive at Chengde, you will be met and escorted to the hotel. The tour this afternoon will bring you to the Imperial Summer Villa.
- The Imperial Summer Villa: started to be built in 1703 and finished in about 90 years, it is now the biggest Imperial Garden in China covering 590 hectares. The area, encircled by a splendid 10km wall, was where the emperors and dignitaries in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) retreated from the summer heat, and where they would also handle political affairs and meet envoys during their stay, so the Villa actually served as the second political center of the Qing government. Set in a mountain valley, with its own lakes, pine forests, hunting ground and pavilions, now it is a great place to wander around.
Accommodations: Shanzhuang Resort***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Addr: 11, Lizhengmeng
Tel:0314-2022097
Fax：0314-2034143
Day 6 Thu 13-Mar-08 (B, L, )
Chengde / Beijing
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrnangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
Enjoy a tour to Puning Temple and Putuozongcheng Temple before your train back to Beijing. Our local guide in Beijing will meet you at railway station and escort you to the hotel.
- Puning Temple: puning means "universal tranquility", mixing Chinese and Tibetan styles, it was built by Emperor Qianlong in 1755 AD to commemorate his victory over Mongolian tribes. The huge Mahayana Hall of the temple houses an enchanting golden statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Mercy , which is made from five different types of wood (pine, cypress, elm, fir and basswood) and is the highest of its kind in the world with 22 meters high and an eye on the each palm of its 42 arms.
- Putuozongcheng Temple: built in 1767 for visiting minority group leaders from all over China to celebrate Emperor Qianlong's 60th birthday, it is a replica of Lhasa's Potala Palace and the largest of the eight remaining outer temples in Chengde with an area of 220,000 square meters. The temple is set against a backdrop of piney hills offering a stunning view from the top.
Accommodations: Harmony Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Day 7 Fri 14-Mar-08 (B, )
Beijing / Datong
Transfer via: Soft train on our arrangement (train fare is included in the quotation below)
After breakfast, our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward train to Datong. Upon your arrival at Datong, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- Datong: Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi, and is known as the coal capital due to its abundant coals powering the whole of Shanxi and other cities beyond. The city is one of China's most polluted, yet there are some relics worth a visit.
Accommodations: Taihechun Hotel***3 star hotel on our arrangement
Labels: China
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