Sacred China
19 Days

Days 1-4: China’s capital is a fitting starting point for this incredible journey – a vast and vibrant city of great historic sights and cultural enclaves. Tiananmen Square, the elaborate grandeur of the Forbidden City and 2000 year old Great Wall are just a few of the attractions that Beijing has to offer.
Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, shields the Forbidden City from the vase expanse of the Square. Its lavish palaces and ornate courtyards telling their own story of China’s rich history.
On Day 2 you will take a trip to the Great Wall at Mutianyu with time in the afternoon to visit one of Beijing’s great clothing or souvenir markets.
In the evening of Day 4 board your overnight sleeper train to Qufu.

Days 5-6: A quiet rural town and birthplace of Confucius. The high esteem in which he is held remains in evidence throughout the town. The grand Temple of Confucius rates with the Forbidden City among the great classical architectural complexes of China - laid out in the design of an imperial palace. Confucius' descendents continuously occupied their opulent mansion for 74 generations (2500 years) and were buried in the Confucian Forest a few kilometers north of town.

Days 7-8: The holiest of China's five sacred Taoist mountains, Tai Shan has been a place of worship longer than recorded history - emperors made sacrifices and paid tribute here. The scenic mountain is scattered with ancient and restored temples and pavilions as well as the modern paraphanalia of tourism and pilgrimage as Taoism again florishes in China. The 8km ascent by one of two routes takes 4-5 hours, although you can take a bus half way and cable-car the rest, or half/half - allowing more time to enjoy the temples and tea houses.

Days 9-10: A city which has witnessed the highs and lows of humanity. Explore the Fu Zi Miao Area with its many interesting side streets with Qing buildings, gateways and cobblestone paths. There is a wonderful night market with souvenirs and antiques amongst everything else – including Yu Hua Shi, multicolored rocks special to Nanjing, Some believe the colors come from Chinese blood spilled during the upheavals of Nanjing’s tumultuous history that then seeped into the local rock. And on the canal there are paddle boats available for hire – great for summer evenings as the canal is all lit up!
The pride of the Nanjing Museum's collection is the life sized Han Dynasty (206BC – AD221) jade burial suit. The suit is made of 2,600 jade pieces held together by silver wire. The museum is a tribute to 5,000 years of Nanjing history. The ‘Rape of Nanjing’ is unfortunately a large part of Nanjing’s history. For Nanjing residents today, memories of the events in December 1937 are personal, for the rest of China; the massacre embodies the national humiliation and numerous atrocities associated with the Japanese invasion during WW2. This well presented museum displays memorabilia, photos, enough English annotation to be informative & actual buried remains . The exhibits are at times very graphic.

Days 11-13: The cloud covered peaks of Huang Shan or Yellow Mountain have been an inspiration for Chinese poets and painters for centuries. As with Tai Shan there are two main routes up the mountain, either poses a steep climb. Cable cars take you higher up the mountain from where there are many hours of beautiful trails and paths leading around the rocky spires.

Days 14-15: Long perceived as one of the world’s most exotic destinations, today Shanghai remains a glamorous, vital consumer paradise and architectural marvel - a mesmerizing array of old and new and walking is a great way to explore the streets and get a feel for this enormous city. There are many options - stroll along the Bund with its spectacular array of art deco-style buildings, or cross the river and take in the sights of Pudong - one of China's 'special economic zones' - with its amazing skyscrapers.

Days 16-18: Renowned as an earthly paradise, the city of Hangzhou is a great place to soak up the local atmosphere. One of the main attractions of beautiful Hangzhou is the West Lake; surrounded by hills and gardens, its banks are dotted with temples and pavilions. Hangzhou is the centre of one of China's most famous tea-growing areas and home to numerous traditional teahouses. The city is also known for its superb food. Visit Lingyin Si one of the largest temple complexes in China, founded in 326. It is set in a vast park with hundreds of Buddhist sculptures, rock formations. Explore the complex before heading to Dragon Well village on the outskirts of the city is the origin of Longjing Tea, the finest green tea produced in China. In the evening of Day 17 return for a final night in Shanghai.

Tour Costs
PRIVATE DEPARTURES
from €1450p/p

single supplement:
€310