Highlights
12 days linking Beijing, Pingyao, Luoyang, Xi’an and Chengde
Good to know
Arrival in Beijing: Great Wall
Arrive in Beijing, settle into the selected hotel, then use an easy orientation around Great Wall and Forbidden City. The first evening is paced gently after international travel.
Beijing: Forbidden City
Spend the day in Beijing around Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Imperial capital with the Great Wall, palaces and living hutongs. Routing keeps the sightseeing in one practical city base, with meal breaks and transfer buffers planned for international travellers.
Beijing: Temple of Heaven before moving on
Use the last full block in Beijing for Temple of Heaven, Imperial capital with the Great Wall, palaces and living hutongs and Great Wall before packing and preparing for the next city. Activities stay close enough to keep the onward transfer realistic.
On to Chengde: Puning Temple
Travel on to Chengde by the most reliable rail, flight or private-transfer option, then begin with Puning Temple and Putuo Zongcheng Temple. The day avoids backtracking to the previous city.
Chengde: Putuo Zongcheng Temple
Spend the day in Chengde around Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Qing imperial summer retreat with temples and mountain gardens and Mountain Resort. Routing keeps the sightseeing in one practical city base, with meal breaks and transfer buffers planned for international travellers.
Chengde: Qing imperial summer retreat with temples and mountain gardens before moving on
Use the last full block in Chengde for Qing imperial summer retreat with temples and mountain gardens, Mountain Resort and Puning Temple before packing and preparing for the next city. Activities stay close enough to keep the onward transfer realistic.
On to Pingyao: Shuanglin Temple
Travel on to Pingyao by the most reliable rail, flight or private-transfer option, then begin with Shuanglin Temple and Walled Ming-Qing banking town preserved in brick and lantern light. The day avoids backtracking to the previous city.
Pingyao: Walled Ming-Qing banking town preserved in brick and lantern light before moving on
Use the last full block in Pingyao for Walled Ming-Qing banking town preserved in brick and lantern light, Ancient City Wall and Rishengchang Bank before packing and preparing for the next city. Activities stay close enough to keep the onward transfer realistic.
On to Luoyang: Ancient capitals, Buddhist grottoes and peony season
Travel on to Luoyang by the most reliable rail, flight or private-transfer option, then begin with Ancient capitals, Buddhist grottoes and peony season and Longmen Grottoes. The day avoids backtracking to the previous city.
Luoyang: Longmen Grottoes before moving on
Use the last full block in Luoyang for Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple and Luoyang Museum before packing and preparing for the next city. Activities stay close enough to keep the onward transfer realistic.
On to Xi'an: Terracotta Army
Travel on to Xi'an by the most reliable rail, flight or private-transfer option, then begin with Terracotta Army and City Wall. The day avoids backtracking to the previous city.
Departure from Xi'an: City Wall
Keep the final morning in Xi'an light, with time for City Wall or nearby neighbourhoods before a private transfer to the airport or rail station.
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