Day 1

Arrival Beijing Arrive in Beijing, the Capital city of China. Be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Meals: No meals
Accommodation: In Beijing

Beijing, China's capital and one of the great travel destinations of the World, offers sights and cultural relics found no where else on Earth. The city has a character all its own; there are quadrangles, small alleys, tricycle, boiled mutton, roasted duck, arts and crafts, Peking Opera, The Great Wall, the 2008 Olympics venue and a vibrancy that is the distinctive flavor of Beijing.

 

Day 2

Beijing
Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tian'anmen Square, the World's largest urban square and the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Peking Opera is available for your optional night entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

As the biggest city center square in the world, Tian’anmen Square covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. A few steps away, come to visit the Forbidden City, which was the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and, it is one of the largest, and certainly the most completely restored, ancient architectural complex in the world. Walk in the footsteps of Emperors; come to the museum and see with your eyes, and feel with your hearts; you’ll begin understand what life in this richest of feudal realms was like for the Imperial Rulers, their concubines and their slaves.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. Departing from the Imperial vermilion and gold hues of the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven is decorated in blue, the color of the Heavens. The perfect harmony between the architectural environment and nature can be felt here; you might easily imagine the vivid spectacle of a great sacrifice to the Heavens for a good harvest. The magnificent Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest is one of the most important and impressive building in China.

In the evening, we offer you an opportunity to enjoy Peking Opera. Expert performers convey powerful emotions to the audience through song, dance, facial make-up, exquisite masks and costume, skilled use of body language and sympathetically integrated musical accompaniment.

 

Day 3

BeijingIn the morning, take a driving for 75km to visit the Badaling Great Wall first, then Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb), the once lavish burial chambers of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Peking Roasted Duck is available for your optional dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Just 75km North-west of Beijing, along a smooth and comfortable highway is the Badaling Great Wall, which is one of the best-preserved and most accessible sections. The Great Wall is an internationally admired structure, symbolic of the cruelty of the ancient rulers, and the stoicism and determination of the Chinese people. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 5th century BC.

Then, you will have chance to visit the Ming Tombs which located in the northern suburbs of Beijing. Altogether there are thirteen tombs of Ming Dynasty Emperors from the period after the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. You’ll visit the Changling Tomb, burial site of Emperor Yong Le, the biggest and first built at this historic site. The Lingsi Palace in Changling Tomb's second yard really deserves a visit. This is unique, a magnificent palace made of camphor wood. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor is decorated with gold bricks.

For today’s dinner, how about taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck, as it is the best-known dish in Beijing. It is very tender and unforgettably delicious. You’ll visit a local restaurant to enjoy a full meal and learn the proper way to experience Peking Roasted Duck. From the whole roasted duck to the soup of duck bones, you'll enjoy a banquet made from every part of the duck. Moreover, the chef will demonstrate his skill of cutting the skin of the duck for your entertainment.

 

Day 4

Beijing    Hohhot In the morning, you can first take a relaxing tour to the Summer Palace, the largest well preserved imperial garden in China. After lunch, how about enjoy a Hutong Tour by Rickshaw to visit the ancient lanes and alleyways of Beijing. After the tour, be transferred to the railway station for your overnight train to Hohhot.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: On the train

Originally known as the “Garden of Clear Ripples ", the Summer Palace is a magnificent imperial garden located 15 km north of Beijing City. This is the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer retreat for Emperors and the chosen few! The site includes more than 100 ancient style pavilions, mansions, towers, halls, temples, bridges and an enormous clear water lake. What is most enjoyable about the Summer Palace, it is simply a gorgeous place to relax, escape the smoke and crowds of the city and spend an afternoon walking. It is said one could just as easily spend one week out here as one afternoon. Here is a rare chance in Beijing, to lose the crowds and ‘clear away the cobwebs'.

If exploring the Forbidden City has improved your understanding of the lifestyles of China’s ancient Imperial Court, then this Hutong Tour will give you an insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people and reveal their social culture in today's Beijing City. The narrow streets of old Beijing are known as Hutongs. You’ll take a pedicab tour along the Hutongs and see the 100-year-old houses, courtyards and a vanishing way of life in today’s Beijing.

Hohhot is the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, located in Tumochuan Plain, the central part of Inner Mongolia. "Hohhot” means the “Green City” in Mongolian language. Another nickname called “Zhao City” is titled because of the visours Zhao temples. This city is a famous one in southern China. The unique ethnic characters and countless historic scenic spots, the magnificent natural sceneries and the multi-color minority culture, the joyful Mongolian dances, songs and the sport, all of these can be found in Hohhot. The experience in this city may be unforgettable in your life time.

 

Day 5

Hohhot
In the early morning, you will reach Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia Province. Your local guide will meet you at the railway station and accompany you for the city tour to Dazhao Temple, Inner Mongolia Museum and Five Pagodas Temple.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Hohhot

Dazhao Temple is located in the northern Hohhot. Built in 1580, it is the first Lamaism Temple in Hohhot. And originally set the silver Buddha figure of Sakyamuni, the lamasery was called silver Buddha figure temple in the ancient time.

The temple covers an area of 30,000 square meters, with the construction area of more than 8,000 square meters. The main architectures in Dazhao Temple are the main gate, the Heavenly King Palace, the Bodhi Palace, the Scripture Hall and the Buddha Hall. The Scripture Hall and the Buddha Hall are well connected, and so called the Grand Hall.

Inner Mongolia Museum is located in the city center of Hohhot City. Built in May 1, 1957, it is the only provincial comprehensive museum in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Administrative Region. With a total area of 15,000 square meters, the exhibition area is about 7, 000 square meters, boasting a good selection of Mongolian items and a historical lineage of this vast grassland. The running horses on the top of the building aim to express the rapid developing Inner Mongolia. Since the opening day, this museum has been the symbol of Hohhot till now.

Five Pagodas Temple was built in Qing Dynasty, with a total height of 16.5 meters. The distinctive five pagodas surmount contains a temple with 1563 images of Buddha carved into its walls each differing slightly to the other. Inside is a rare Mongolian cosmological map carved into a large stone which illustrates the zodiac and positions of numerous stars.

The pagoda consists of three parts; the foundation, Jingangzuo, and the five square pagodas. Compared with other pagodas, Five-Pagoda Temple is unique in at least two aspects: its special structure, pagodas over pagoda, and the green and yellow colored glazes on the short eaves and tops of pagodas. Those make Five-Pagoda Temple quite special, a treasure of Hohhot City.

 

Day 6

Hohhot   Xilamuren Grassland Depart from your hotel in the morning, you will take about 1.5 hours driving to reach Xilamuren Grassland, which is one of the must-see attractions in Inner Mongolia. In the evening, you will stay in a Mongolian-style tent. Far away from the light pollution, you will have chance to see the stars shinning in the night sky.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mongolian-style Tent

Xilamuren Grassland is one of the must-see attractions in Inner Mongolia. In Mongolian language, Xilamuren means “yellow water”, and some people would like to call it “Zhao River”. This grassland is about 90km away from Hohhot in the north.

Xilamuren Grassland is that it remains cool even during hot summer. It houses a total number of 62 Mongolian yurts of which 30 are standard. Another important site here is the magnificent Puhui Monastery built during the Qing Dynasty in 1769. It was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, primarily for the Sixth Living Buddha. Now it is a complex of three halls with carved ceilings and painted beams. The beautiful Xilamuren River surrounds the temple, presenting a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. Boasting of more than 6000 square metres, Xilamuren Grassland includes reception facilities and is able to accommodate even 2,500 guests.

 

Day 7

Xilamuren Grassland    Resonant Sand Gorge    ErdosGet up early this morning, you will then spend about 3.5 hours to reach Resonant Sand Gorge, which lies on the east part of Kubuqi Desert. After the tour, you will continue your driving to Erdos and take a short visit to its trade market of cashmere productions. Stay overnight in Erdos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Erdos

Resonant Sand Gorge means “the desert with horns” in the Mongolian language. Located n the east side of Kubuqi Desert, this site is in a crescent shape with gold color. Resonant Sand Gorge is featured by its amazing desert landscape and the whispering sand dunes. In the conditions of the dry climate, people will hear sounds like a bugle and drumbeat in the sand if they surf along the slopes of the dunes.

It received its name from the echoing "Shhhh" that the sand makes as you step on the surface. It is filled with junes of dunes trapped within steep rock walls. It's said that the noise of sliding sand, after which the place is named, was thought by Marco Polo to be demons seeking to lure travellers to their death.

Kubuqi Desert is located in the north Ordor highland. It is the seventh biggest desert in China. The 262-long meters desert covers an area about 18,600 sq km. And the highlight of this desert is the Resonant Sand Gorge which is located in the northeast side of Kubuqi Desert.

 

Day 8

Erdos    Mausoleum of Genghis Khan    Erdos    BeijingAfter breakfast, you will spend about 1 hour on the way to reach Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, a monument erected in honor of the great Genghis Khan. After the tour, you will be transferred back to Erdos for your flight to Beijing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is a national heritage site located in the Gandeli Grassland in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. And because secret funeral is popular among Mongolian group, it is hard to find out the real tomb of Genghis Khan. And the present one is just a tourism site for visitors to get close touch with the famous historic figure Genghis Khan. It was built between 1954 to 1956 by the government of the PRC in the traditional Mongol style. The mausoleum is 115 kilometers (62 miles) north of Yulin, and 55 kilometers (30 miles) south of Dongsheng. There is a new interchange on highway 210 leading directly to the site.

The total area of the Mausoleum is over 50, 000 sq. m. There's a spacious square at the front of the main hall. Two masts are set up on the square and the pattern of nine steeds was embroidered on the banner. It is said that that the patter is a symbol of flourishing and happiness. On the wall, there is a range of murals reflecting the life story of the emperor and his achievements. Although not his actual grave, the mausoleum welcomes numerous people each year to pay their respects to the emperor.

 

Day 9

Departure BeijingBe transferred to the airport for your homebound flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Service End