Shaolin Kung-fu Learning Tour - 11 days/ 10 nights

Highlights:
The Simatai Great Wall (Beijing)
Yellow River River (Zhengzhou)
Shaolin Monastery & Kung-fu Performance (Shaolin)
Terra-cotta Army (Xi’an)

Day 01: Beijing
Arrive in capital city Beijing, the political and cultural center of China, a city of relatively clean and orderly design. You're met and transferred to your hotel, and a welcome dinner
Note: It's about 50 minutes' driving from Beijing International Airport to hotel

Day 02: Beijing
Full day excursion to the Simatai section of the Great Wall (World Cultural Heritage), 120 km from Beijing center, is built in the early Hongwu years (1368 – 1398) of the Ming Dynasty. 5.4 km long with all together 35 watchtowers, the Wall still retains all its original appearance and it’s often described with the following five words: perilous, dense, diverse, ingenuous and peculiar. The Simatai Wall is a remarkable place for sightseeing, hiking and exploration.

Day 03: Beijing/Zhengzhou
Morning sightseeing to Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest plaza, line with monumental public buildings, and The Temple of Heaven, a group of 15th century ceremonial buildings, which is the consummate expression of the philosophy that architecture is “music in space”. At noon fly to Zhengzhou, middle of the whole China. Afternoon visit the Yellow River Scenery area to approach our Mother River, the muddiest river in the world, 5464 km long

Day 04: Zhengzhou/Shaolin
Private car to Dengfeng township (approximately one hour’s driving) for Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of real Chinese Kung-fu and breath-taking Shaolin Kung-fu performance, more visit to the Pagoda Forest, the largest one of its kind in China, totally over 400 pagodas

Day 05: Shaolin
Kung-fu training from 09 :00 – 11:00am, and 15:00 – 17:00pm

Day 06: Shaolin
Morning Kung-fu training from 09:00 – 11:00am; afternoon tour to Fawang Temple built under imperial edict in 71 AD of Eastern Han dynasty, the first Buddhist temple since the Buddhism introduction from India. One more place is the Astronomical Observatory since 1267 AD, which is so far the oldest one of its kind still existing in the world.

Day 07: Shaolin
Morning Kung-fu training from 09:00 – 11:00am; afternoon climb up Mountain Songshan, one of the 4 famous sacred mountains in China, World Geological Park, the tallest Junji Peak is 1512 meter in height

Day 08: Shaolin/Luoyang
Morning Kung-fu training from 09:00 – 11:00am; afternoon private car to Luoyang (approximately one hour’s driving), the ancient capital for 9 dynasties; finish the day with big Water Banquet

Note: Luoyang Water Banquet is not simply a drinking test, but one of the most traditional Chinese cuisines. The history of this local custom can be traced back over a thousand years. Luoyang is a city surrounded by mountains, and the weather here is cold and dry. In ancient time, people hardly got any fruit to enjoy, thus they invented various soup to make up the need of water. There are two reasons why the banquet has this name. The main reason is that, unlike most meal customs in China, the dishes served in this banquet are brought one after another, like flowing water, hence the name "Water Banquet". The second reason is that around one third of the dishes served are soup or semi-soup. There are 24 courses in the banquet and the food is noted for its various soups with sour and spicy flavors.

Day 09: Luoyang/Xi'an
Excursion to the world cultural heritage – Longmen Grottoes, containing over 10,000 stone figures and the biggest one is 17.14 meters high while the smallest one is only 2 centimeters. Take soft seat train to Xi'an, cradle of Chinese civilization and capital of 11 imperial dynasties.

Day 10: Xi'an/Beijing
Pay a visit to the Terra-cotta Army, three vaults containing eight thousand terra-cotta figures and hundreds of chariots and lots of real weapons were found in 1974,praised as "Eighth Wonder in the world"; en route to see Huaqing Hot Spring Pool, a magnificent summer residence for Tang emperors. Early evening fly back to Beijing.

Day 11: Beijing departure
Transfer to airport to connect your departure international flight