7 Days Three Ancient Capitals Tour: Beijing Luoyang Xian

Nihao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Beijing, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Beijing. The rest of the day is free on your own so you can have a good rest for the jet lag or explore by yourself around your hotel.

Arrival Ideas:

Beijing is well connected by air and high speed rail. There are two airports - Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport operating many international and domestic airlines. Travelers can go to Beijing by air from most cities of China, like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Wuhan, Xiamen, Guiyang, Chongqing, and Lanzhou. In addition, travelers can take the high speed train to Beijing from Xian (4-5 hours), Shanghai (4.5-6 hours), Zhengzhou (2.5-3 hours), Wuhan (4-5 hours), Harbin (5-5.5 hours), etc.

Free Time Ideas:

You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and royal gardens.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and then head to Tian’anmen Square, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day.

Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. Listed as a world heritage site, Forbidden City has about 500 years’ history, and served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.

In this afternoon, drive to the “Museum of Royal Garden” - Summer Palace, which used to be the resort for royal families to flee summer heat. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

Recommended Optional Activity: You can try the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude this evening.

In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Great Wall boasts a history over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. Mutianyu Great Wall is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!

After the once-in-lifetime experience, head back to downtown Beijing and have the chance to take photos with the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). They were both designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and used for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. After that, transfer back to your hotel and have a good rest tonight.

This morning, you will be escorted to the railway station for a high-speed train from Beijing to Luoyang (4-4.5 hours). Upon arrival at the train station, our local guide and driver will meet you at the exit and escort you to downtown Luoyang.

Luoyang (洛阳), located in the western part of Henan Province, east of Xi'an, is one of China's Four Ancient Capitals. It served as the Capital for 13 Dynasties and marked the eastern starting point of the Ancient Silk Road. During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), Luoyang flourished as the Eastern Capital, rivaling the Western Capital, Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an). In 684, under the reign of Wu Zetian (武则天), China’s first female emperor, Luoyang became the official capital and earned the title "Divine Capital". The highlight of Luoyang is the Longmen Grottoes, heavily influenced by Wu Zetian’s era. Luoyang is also known as the "City of Peonies", and if you visit in spring, you can admire its beautiful peony gardens and parks.

After breakfast, our experienced guide will lead you to the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟), located south of Luoyang city. Recognized as the most outstanding of China's Four Great Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes house the largest and most remarkable collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316–907). This UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2000, consists of over 2,300 caves and niches carved into steep limestone cliffs spanning a 1 km stretch. Inside, you will discover nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, over 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. These masterpieces, entirely dedicated to Buddhism, represent the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving.

Longmen Grottoes is divided into the Western Hill Grottoes and the Eastern Hill Grottoes, with the Western Hill being the highlight. The most iconic grotto is the Fengxian Temple (奉先寺), dominated by the colossal Vairocana Buddha at its center (17.14 meters tall). This statue, believed to represent Empress Wu Zetian, exudes elegance with its serene smile, earning it the title of the "Eastern Mona Lisa". Flanking the Buddha are four pairs of figures: disciples, Bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and warriors. You will also explore Wanfo Cave (万佛洞), named for its 15,000 small Buddha statues intricately carved into its walls, with the smallest being only 2 cm tall. This cave, completed in 680 AD during the Tang Dynasty, is the most complete in terms of statue combinations. Don’t miss the Three Bingyang Caves (宾阳三洞), excavated during the Northern Wei Dynasty and commissioned by Emperor Xiaowen to honor his father. Another highlight is Yaofangdong Cave (药方洞), which features 140 inscriptions detailing treatments for various diseases. Finally, visit Guyang Cave (古阳洞) for an awe-inspiring experience.

Recommended Visiting Route for Longmen Grottoes:

North Gate → Yu Wang Pool → Qianxi Temple → Three Binyang Caves → Cliffside Three Buddhas Niche → Wanfo Cave → Lianhua Cave → Fengxian Temple → Guyang Cave → Yaofang Cave → South Gate. Exploring the highlights of the Western Hill Grottoes takes 2–3 hours. If time permits, visit the Eastern Grottoes across the Yi River.

After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Luoyang.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to the Shaolin Temple (74 km, about a 70-minute drive) in Dengfeng City, located east of Luoyang. Shaolin Temple is renowned as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. Here, you can immerse yourself in an incredible Kung Fu experience.

Upon arrival, you will first enjoy a Kung Fu performance at the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall, lasting about 30 minutes. Afterward, explore the Shaolin Temple complex, which consists of seven main halls along its central axis and seven additional halls surrounding them. The first hall, known as Shanmen or "Mountain Gate" Hall, features a large black tablet inscribed with "Shaolin Temple" in gold, written by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. At the heart of the complex lies the Mahavira Hall, where daily prayers and significant celebrations take place. The floor of this hall contains 50 small pits, believed to be the footprints left by monks practicing Kung Fu.

Next, visit the Pagoda Forest, hailed as the "Museum of Ancient Chinese Pagoda Art." This area houses over 250 tomb pagodas of varying sizes, dedicated to eminent monks, abbots, and ranking temple monks. The forest, the largest of its kind in China, showcases diverse architectural styles spanning the Tang to Qing Dynasties, offering a visual feast of history and culture.

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to the train station in Luoyang for your onward high-speed train to your Xian (about 1.5 hours). Welcome to Xian, the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties! Upon arrival at the train station, your driver will greet you at the exit and escort you to your hotel in Xian.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Drive about 40km (about 1 hour) to uncover one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world - the Terracotta Army Museum, built by the first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, to protect him in the afterlife. Around 8,000 vivid life-size Terracotta Warriors have been found so far. First, visit the largest and most imposing pit, believed to contain over 6,000 terracotta figures of soldiers and horses. You will be amazed by this subterranean life-size army of thousands standing silently to guard the emperor. Marvel also at the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans. Next, move to another pit where you can see around 1,300 warriors and horses. Examine the ancient army formation, including the kneeling and standing archers, the chariot war array, and numerous troopers holding weapons.

After lunch, head to visit the Ancient City Wall, also known as the Fortification of Xian, representing one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Chinese city walls. Spend time leisurely walking the wall and enjoying its inner and outer walls, watchtowers, and moat, taking in panoramic views of modern Xian, there, you will also visit the awe-inspiring Bell Tower and Drum Tower, both landmarks from the Ming Dynasty dating back 600 years, will be beautifully illuminated, creating a captivating backdrop for stunning photos showcasing the harmonious blend of ancient history and modernity in Xian. In the evening, you may also have the chance to witness the enchanting musical fountain and lively square dancing near Bell & Drum Tower Square (Zhongulou Square), allowing you to immerse yourself in Xian's vibrant nightlife like a local.

After the tour, be escorted back your hotel in Xian.

This morning, you will go to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xi'an's most recognizable landmarks and symbol of the magnificence of the Tang Dynasty. This seven-story pagoda standing in the tranquil Da Ci'en Temple is one of China's best examples of a Tang-style pagoda (squarish rather than round). It was completed in AD 652 to house Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk Xuan Zang. His travels inspired one of the best-known works of Chinese literature, Journey to the West. Later, you will have the opportunity to explore the vibrant and bustling Muslim Quarter (Muslim Street). This historic quarter, situated just behind the Drum Tower about 430 meters west of the Bell Tower in downtown Xian, has been around for over 1,000 years.

After the tour, your 7-day Beijing Luoyang Xian Tour concludes. Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or train station in Xian for your onward flight or high-speed train to your next destination.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China Tour! We are always here to assist you and look forward to seeing you again for your next trip to China/Asia!