China Tour

The Shaolin Temple was established in the 6th century in the Chan Buddhism, which attaches particular great importance to meditation. But over the years, the Shaolin Temple ascertained that the long motionless sedentary meditation in the long run impairs the body and as a result affects the meditation adversely. Thus, physical exercises were devised, which imitate the motions of animals. The aim was to reconcile the body with the mind. This kind of meditation was later combined with martial art techniques and it was named Kong Fu. During your journey, you will get to know Kong Fu of the Shaolin Temple as well as visit the famous sightseeings between Beijing and Luoyang.

Arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport and greetings by your tour guide. Transfer to the hotel. After lunch, you will visit Beijing’s landmark - the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), the most significant imperial temple complex of the city. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, because it is a unique expression of the Chinese concept of the relationship between heaven and earth.

Make a trip to the Badaling Great Wall, which is located nearby Beijing. You can climb up to the wall and walk on it within the beautiful mountain landscape. In the afternoon, you will visit the Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan), an imperial garden, with the seemingly endless colonnades, the large Kunming Lake, temples, theater buildings and many other sightseeings. This garden is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, because the art of the Chinese gardening is perfectly reflected here.

In the morning, take a walk at the well-known Tian'anmen Square (Tian'anmen Guangchang), the largest square within a city worldwide. Walk through the Tian’anmen Square Gate to the palace of the emperor (Gugong), which the Chinese officials call the Palace Museum (better known as the Forbidden City). This palace of the Ming and Qing dynasty is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a masterpiece of Chinese palace architecture and it demonstrates imposingly the integration of traditional architecture in ancient northern China into the art of palace building. Afterwards you will climb up the Prospect Hill Park (Jingshan Gongyuan), which is located in the North of the Forbidden City, where you can have a marvellous view of the site of the Palace Museum and the centre of Beijing. At the end of the day, you will visit the Tibetan-Buddhist Lama Temple (Yong He gong), the largest and best preserved temple site in Beijing. The former residence of the Prince Yong was transformed under the emperor Qianlong into a Tibetan monastery. It is a successful mixture of Han, Mongolian, Man and Tibetan architecture and culture. In the evening, transfer to the train station. Go from Beijing to Luoyang by night train in a first class sleeping wagon.

Arrival in Luoyang and transfer to the hotel in the morning. After breakfast, go to the Longmen Thousand Buddha Grottos near the former capital Luoyang, which are carved into the cliffy bluff of the Yi River. The about 1.350 grottos with approximately 100.000 sculptures of the 5th to 10th century demonstrate the importance of the Buddhism in China at that time. It is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Afterwards you will visit the Temple of the White Horse, which is said to be the first state-aided construction of a Buddhist Monastery (68 AD under Emperor Ming of the East Han Dynasty). Afterwards, you can relax yourself in the spacious Wangcheng Park, which is particularly a great attraction during the bloom of the Peony.

Today, you will go by bus to the Shaolin Temple, where, nearby the sacred mountain Songshan, you will participate in a course in the martial art technique of the Shaolin Monks during the next days. After the arrival, you will first of all visit the famous Shaolin Temple, which was founded in the year 495. There you will enjoy the Martial Art Performance of the monks. Afterwards, you will visit the cemetery of the abbots and famous monks – the so-called Pagoda Forest. There are more than 240 stupas of a height between 1 and 14 m and a diversity of shapes, which have developed within 1,200 years. Overnight stay nearby the Shaolin Kong Fu Training Center.

Every day Kong Fu training lessons under the guidance of the master take place (two hours in the morning and in the afternoon respectively). You can take a taxi to cover the distance from the hotel to the Kong Fu Training Center. The training program will be designed according to your abilities and knowledge.

Today, you will go to the ancient Emperor City Kaifeng, one of the six ancient capitals of China. There, you will visit the Iron Pagoda, a 55 m high timber construction, which is encased by reddish brown glazed tiles that give it the appearance of an iron building. Afterwards you will visit Qingming shanghe yuan, a new garden construction, which is based on a famous scroll painting of the Song Dynasty. Then you can continue your journey to Zhengzhou, where you will go to Beijing by night train in a first class sleeping wagon.

After the arrival in Beijing, transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Saunter through the "Hutongs", the lanes of Beijing’s Old Town, or buy some gifts and souvenirs in the department stores of the Wangfujin Road. One can rent a bicycle if he or she likes, and explores Beijing in this typical manner.

Transfer to the airport and return flight.

End of the travel.


B: Breakfast     L: Lunch    D: Dinner

Number of participants	Peak season	Single room extra charge	Shoulder season	Single room extra charge	book
2-5 pers.	1110 USD	270 USD	1070 USD	220 USD

Note:
-- Children less than 12 years old can be given discounts.
-- The hotels, trains and flights listed in the itinerary may be changed into the     ones of similar category if necessary.
-- The prices do not apply to the Peony Festival in Luoyang (10th April – 8th     May, 2006), the May Day Holiday (30th April. –7th May) and the National Day    Holiday (30th Sep.–7th Oct.), -- If you need more information, please contact    us.