Classical China and Chengdu

<span style="font-size: 12px;">Welcome to China! Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. We arrive in Shanghai, a cosmopolitan city of over 15 million residents, home to China’s largest commercial port and its most international metropolis.</span>

<div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Our tour of Shanghai will take us through its most iconic sights. We´ll begin in Pudong, Shanghai’s modern financial district, located across the Huangpu River. This area is home to towering skyscrapers, including the iconic Pearl Tower.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">We’ll then take a scenic ferry ride across the Shanghai River, offering spectacular views of both the historic and contemporary sides of the city.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Next, we’ll stroll through the Old City and visit the serene Yuyuan Garden, a beautifully preserved private garden built during the Ming Dynasty. Here, we’ll also experience a traditional tea ceremony, an integral part of China’s rich cultural heritage.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Our tour will continue through Xintiandi, one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, known for its stylish boutiques, cafés, and vibrant atmosphere.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Lunch will be included.In the afternoon, we’ll explore Tianzifang, a former residential district now famous for its maze-like alleys, charming craft shops, and contemporary art galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">We’ll conclude our day with a walk along The Bund, where grand colonial-era buildings reflect the influence of European trade in Shanghai.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Free afternoon. If you wish, you can enjoy a boat trip to see Shanghai at night, it will be an unforgettable experience.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div>

<div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Transfer to the train station to board a high-speed train (scheduled departure at 07:17 a.m.). In just over five hours, we’ll travel 1,000 km through picturesque landscapes, passing through beautiful stretches of countryside before arriving in Luoyang.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Lunch will be included.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Our visit will begin at the awe-inspiring Longmen Buddhist Caves, an extraordinary complex stretching over a kilometer along the rocky cliffs of the river. Here, more than 100,000 Buddha statues and carvings have been sculpted into the stone, creating one of China’s most remarkable archaeological sites. To fully appreciate the grandeur of this site, we’ll also enjoy a scenic boat ride along the river.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Afterward, we’ll transfer to the ancient city of Luoyang, where we’ll pass through its imposing walls and immerse ourselves in the lively atmosphere of its illuminated streets, filled with traditional charm and vibrant local activity.</span></div><div><br></div>

<div><span style="font-size: 12px;">In the early morning, on the outskirts of Luoyang, we’ll visit the White Horse Buddhist Monastery, a vast and historic center of Buddhist learning that welcomes scholars and practitioners from around the world.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">We’ll then continue our journey to Sanmenxia, a city rich in history. Here, we’ll admire the mighty Yellow River and visit the Baolun Temple, known for its striking tall pagoda. We’ll also explore the renowned Guo Museum, considered one of the finest in China, where we’ll see the ancient funeral carriages of the former State of Guo, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Lunch will be included.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Our journey eastward will take us past the sacred Mount Hua, one of China’s holiest mountains, known for its dramatic peaks and spiritual significance.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">By late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Xian, where our day will come to an end.</span></div><div><br></div>

<div><span style="font-size: 12px;">We have arrived in Xian, the fascinating city where the ancient Silk Road began.</span>In the morning, we’ll visit the legendary Terracotta Army, an astonishing archaeological site where thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, hidden underground for centuries, stand guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor.</div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Afterward, we’ll return to Xian to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautiful Buddhist structure that has stood for over a thousand years.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Next, we’ll explore the city’s historic walled center, passing through the vibrant Muslim Quarter, where we’ll visit the Great Mosque. This unique site reflects the rich blend of cultures and religions that have shaped China over the centuries.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Our tour also includes entrance to the Drum Tower, where we’ll enjoy a short performance of traditional Chinese music played on ancient instruments.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12px;">Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace.</span></div><div><br></div>

<span style="font-size: 12px;">We leave Xian in a very modern high-speed train, and in just over three hours we cover the 700 km that separate us from CHENGDU. On arrival we will go to the Panda Bear research and breeding centre, a reserve where 120 giant pandas and 76 red pandas live. Lunch included. In the afternoon we will take a stroll through the People´s Park, with its small lake, the local people doing Taichi, and its tea houses.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12px;">Today we include full-day tour of Sichuan Province, with its pleasant landscapes and traditional villages. In DUJIANGYAN we see the traditional irrigation system, which has been working for more than 2000 years and is a world heritage site. QUINGCHENG SHAN, “mountain of the green city” is a Taoist holy mountain. Its paths through the forests show us caves, pavilions and centuries-old wooden temples, lunch included. Finally, we will visit the ancient city of JIEZI with its alleys with over a thousand years of history. Return to CHENGDU.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12px;">After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.</span>