DAY01:

BEIJING - DATONG
Take an overnight train from Beijing to Datong.

DAY02:

DATONG
Arrive in Datong in the morning. Rest and enjoy breakfast in your hotel before sightseeing. Take a whole morning to wander the extensive Yungang Grottoes, one of the most important sites of Buddhist art in China. In the afternoon, wander around Datong’s Old Town to discover treasures such as an original Drum Tower, the largest Wall of Nine Dragons in China and the Huayan temple built in the Liao Dynasty. Spend the night in Datong.

DAY03:

Travel to the Xuankong Hanging Monastery, 60km north-west of Datong. Built entirely of wood on the side of a cliff, the site served as a place of shelter and worship for pilgrims. It is the only temple in China featuring the nation’s three religions: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Take a picturesque road that winds slowly upwards till you reach Wutaishan which is roughly translated as the Five Terraces Mountain because of its five flat summits. Spend the night in Wutaishan.

DAY04:

WUTAISHAN
You have a whole day to explore the many temples and monasteries nestled amongst the mountain tops. Visit Xiantong Temple, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China. Join the pilgrims and take the famous 1,080 steps to the Daluoding Temple. Be rewarded with a magnificent view of the valley. Breathe in the fresh air in this tranquil environment free of pollution and enjoy lower temperatures in summer due to the altitude. Spend the night in Wutaishan.

DAY05:

WUTAISHAN - PINGYAO
On the drive to Pingyao, visit the Qiao Family Compound, a traditional merchants’ residence made famous by the film Raise the Red Lantern. Explore the large Jinci Buddhist Temple complex. The original pavilions, towers, shrines, ancient opera stages statues and carvings make this collection a rare find outside Beijing. Spend the night in Pingyao.

DAY06:

PINGYAO - XIAN
Be enchanted by the Old Town of Pingyao. Walk on top of the City Walls. Walk under the Drum Tower and inside the Temple of the City God. Then drive into the countryside to visit the peaceful Shuanglin Temple where you will see statues preserved with original pigments. Drive to Taiyuan. Catch an overnight train to Xian.

DAY07:

XIAN
Arrive in Xian. Check into your hotel before heading out to start sightseeing. Visit the three tombs of the massive Qin Dynasty Terracotta Army. Return to the city and walk the City Wall. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After dark, view an impressive lights and fountain show in front of the pagoda. Spend the night in Xian.

DAY08:

XIAN
Take a day trip to one of the five most famous Buddhist Mountains in China, Huashan. Hike or take a cable car to reach the five summits which all offer breathtaking views. Adventure seekers can “walk the plank” across one of the most treacherous sections of the track. Spend the night in Xian.

DAY09:

XIAN - LUOYANG
Take a one hour fast train from Xian to Luoyang. Check into your hotel in Luoyang, another former capital of China. In the afternoon, visit Longmen Grottoes where more than 2,000 caves were decorated with more than 100,000 images and statues of Buddha over three centuries. Spend the night in Luoyang.

DAY10:

LUOYANG - BEIJING
Drive into the Song Mountains and enter the Shaolin Monastery, the cradle of traditional Chinese martial arts known as Wushu or Kungfu. See a demonstration of different styles of martial arts by trainee monks. Visit the Pagoda Forest where the tombs of monks have been erected for many hundreds of years. Explore the White Horse Temple which was the first major Buddhist temple built in China. Take an evening fast train back to Beijing, taking only four hours.

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