Day 1 Zhengzhou Arrival
Once arrive, you will be picked up from the train or airport and taken to your downtown hotel to check in. You have the remainder of the day to yourself to enjoy the sights of Zhengzhou!
- Zhengzhou
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Day 2 Zhengzhou → Guoliang Village → Anyang
After breakfast, you will take three-hour drive to reach Guoliang Village, a hamlet tucked away in the Taihang Mountains. Once you reach the parking lot at the base of the mountain, transfer to a scenic bus operated by an experienced veteran. You will travel through the second most dangerous road in the world, a hanging tunnel carved out by the local villagers in the 1970s, and take in the unmatched beauty that is rewarded by its perilous and remote locations.
After that, drive another three hours to Anyang to spend the night.
- Anyang
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Day 3 Anyang & the UNESCO-listed Yinxu Museum
Anyang is a destination that history buffs and archaeologists should not miss. Here were found the ruins of Yinxu, the last capital of the Shang Dynasty, which was the first in Chinese history to have written records. Oracle bone inscriptions were found to be the oldest examples of Chinese writing once they were excavated.
You will explore the Yinxu Museum‘s vast collection of artifacts to learn about the beginnings of Chinese civilization today in Anyang. You will also go to the National Museum of Chinese Writing to gain an understanding of the development of Chinese characters. If you have time, go to the Yuefei Temple, which honors Yufei, a national hero in Chinese history and literature.
- Anyang
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Day 4 Anyang → Kaifeng
Anyang is a destination that history buffs and archaeologists should not miss. Here were found the ruins of Yinxu, the last capital of the Shang Dynasty, which was the first in Chinese history to have written records. Oracle bone inscriptions were found to be the oldest examples of Chinese writing once they were excavated.
You will explore the Yinxu Museum‘s vast collection of artifacts to learn about the beginnings of Chinese civilization today in Anyang. You will also go to the National Museum of Chinese Writing to gain an understanding of the development of Chinese characters. If you have time, go to the Yuefei Temple, which honors Yufei, a national hero in Chinese history and literature.
- Kaifeng
- B/L
Day 5 Kaifeng → Zhengzhou
Take some morning strolls across the historic campus of Henan University, one of the first Chinese public colleges, to get a feel for what modern students are studying.
After that, make the 1.5-hour drive back to Zhengzhou to visit the National Henan Museum. There, you will quickly learn about the ups and downs of China’s central region while ignoring the museum’s enormous collection of prehistoric items, old bronzes, ceramics, and other antiques.
- Zhengzhou
- B/L
Day 6 Zhengzhou → Dengfeng → Luoyang
The legendary Shaolin Temple is located in the Mount Song hinterland, some 70 km southwest of Zhengzhou. It is the cradle of Chinese Kung Fu and the birthplace of Zen Buddhism. Spend the day exploring the magnificent halls and temples as well as the Pagoda Forest, taking in a Kung Fu demonstration, and stopping by the Songyang Academy, one of the four most renowned universities in ancient China.
After the tour, continue driving for 1.5 hours to spend the night in Luoyang.
- Luoyang
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Day 7 Luoyang City Tour (Longmen Grottoes+ Luoyang Museum+Ancient city)
Luoyang was the capital of minor kingdoms or large empires for more than 1,500 years out of the 5000 years that make up the history of Chinese civilization. It peaked in grandeur during the eighth century, at the same time that the excavation of the Longmen Grottoes, which we will be visiting today, achieved its pinnacle. Spend some time reading the beautiful captions on the many Buddhist statues (don’t miss the elegant Vairocana monument), and hear your guide narrate the histories of them.
Visit the Luoyang Museum and then spend the remainder of the day exploring Luoyang’s ancient city, trying some regional delicacies, and shopping for mementos.
- Luoyang
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Day 8 Luoyang Departure
Your guide will meet you at the designated time and take you on a private transfer to the railway station or airport.
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