Trans China Train Journey from Mongolia

Today, we head to Hustai national park, a member of the world biosphere network of natural reserves certified by the Man and the Biosphere Reserves organization of UNESCO. The Takhi wild horses in this park is the last remaining wild horses on earth. You can see them graze peacefully with other wildlife. Hike around and enjoy the beautiful serene nature.

Meal: B, L

This morning, you will be transferred to Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire between 1235 and 1260, and of the Northern Yuan in the 14–15th centuries. Visit the historic sites such as the legendary Erdene- Zuu monastery and its surroundings like ruins of Tumen Amgalant Palace, Museum of Karakorum and King’s Monument. Admire the breathtaking UNESCO world heritage site Orkhon valley, as representing the evolution of nomadic pastoral traditions spanning more than two millennia.

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Continue our excursion to Elsen Tasarkhai through the green grassland, and arrive at the stunning sand dunes, streams and rocky mountains. Here, you will enjoy a camel riding for 1hr, hike through Hugnu Khan Mountain and Erdenehamba. Visit nomadic families to learn their ways to tend their livestock and live within the harmony with the mother nature.

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Transfer back to Ulaanbaatar after breakfast and arrive at lunch time. This afternoon, you will start the city tour of Ulaanbaatar, which takes you through some of the principal sights of this unique city. You visit the Gandan Monastery, housing a 26 meter high gilded statue of the Buddha. Then we take a tour to Ger district near where you will see part of rural lifestyle. Visit Narantuul black market, the biggest open-air market of Mongolia. It’s a good place to make your last minute shopping before leaving Mongolia. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Dinner at local restaurant.

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You will be picked up from your accommodation and transfer to the train station for train departs at 8.15am.Overnight on train.

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The train arrives at Beijing Station at 11:40. Be welcomed by your guide and then take private car to hotel check in. After some refreshment, you will take a guided tour local Hutongs, an old quarters of Beijing. Hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Ride on a pedi-cab through the alleys to see different buildings and local people’s lifestyle. In courtyard family, you have chance to learn China Calligraphy or paper cutting (optional and pay locally). Transfer to hotel after the visit.

Meal: L

Experience a full day guided tour by public transportation today. The guide will meet you at your hotel, and then walk to nearby metro terminal for metro to Temple of Heaven. This spectacular temple was built in Ming Dynasty, and is one of the main symbols of Beijing. As an imperial complex, it was the place the Emperors visited for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Nowadays, it is the park for local people to spend their spare time, doing exercises, singing and dancing, playing chess and practicing the ancient art of Taichi.

After the visit, take taxi to Qianmen Dashilan Pedestrian Street for a short walk tour. For centuries, this traditional commercial street has held quite a few China Time-honored Brands, such as Neiliansheng Shoe Store, who made shoes for Mao and it has a small museum on the 3rd floor. Ruifuxiang silk shop, Tongrentang Chinese herbal medicine store and Liu Bi Ju pickle shop are interesting shops to learn Chinese traditional cultures. Try different foods at snacks street here.

Walk through Qianmen Gate, you will get to the largest public square in the world, and the Forbidden City is to the other side of it. With a history of 600 years, this imperial palace is the largest and most complete group of ancient buildings in China. It was home to 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing emperors. You can now walk on its walls to have a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. Take taxi back to hotel after the visit.

Meal: B, L

Private excursion to Mutianyu Great Wall with your English-speaking guide today. 75km northwest from city center, Mutianyu is a section of the Great Wall with lesser tourists than the most famous Badaling. Take cable car to the wall and take your time to walk on the wall and towers. From No. 24 tower, it connects to Jiankou Great Wall, which is a wild section of the Great Wall. Descend by cable car or optional toboggan ride, you will have lunch in local restaurant before transferring back to hotel. Free at leisure for remainder of the day. Optional tour to a tasty Peking duck dinner or Kungfu Show in the evening.

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The Summer Palace was an imperial garden in the Qing Dynasty, and in 1998, UNESCO included it on its World Heritage List as “a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value”. This morning, you will go to visit this stunning garden – walk along the Long corridor at the foot of Longevity Hill and by Kunming Lake, view the three-storey Great Opera Hall where Empress Dowager Cixi enjoyed opera performances, take a boat ride on Kunming Lake. Finish the leisure time in the garden, you will go for lunch and then take high speed train to Xian. The train runs around 4hrs. Upon arrival in Xian, you will be met by your local guide in Xian and transfer to hotel with private car. 

Meal: B, L

After breakfast in hotel, you will drive 40km northeast out of the city to see the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Three pits are opened for visitors in the museum. As the dig is still in progress, you may see researchers are working in the pit. Transfer back to Xian in early afternoon, en route you will go to visit a Yaodong (Cave Dwelling), a particular form of earth shelter dwelling common in China's north.

Visit the Great Mosque (also called Huajue Mosque) in the afternoon. The mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty. Unlike other typical mosques, this mosque's architecture combines a traditional Chinese architectural form with Islamic functionality. After the visit of the mosque, take a leisure walk in the nearby Muslim Quarters. You can also view the famous Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the area.

Meal: B, L

Xian was the imperial capitals of thirteen ancient dynasties or kingdoms since Qin Dynasty. The current Ancient City Wall was first built in Ming Dynasty in the 14th century and has been refurnished many times later. It is now the oldest, largest and best preserved city wall in China. The total length of the wall is 13.74km (8.54 miles). Take a walk on the wall will take you back to the ancient time. You can also rent a bicycle to ride on it. After the visit, you will take a home visit to local family, including learning how to make dumplings with families. You will go to the local wet market to discover the basic ingredients of Chinese food, and learn how to choose the good one and bargain to buy them. Make dumpling and learn one or two simple Chinese dishes, and chat with the families to learn their life. Enjoy what you make for the lunch. Transfer to train station and take high speed train to Shanghai. Buy some foods or order boxed food on the train for dinner. Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be met by your guide and transfer to hotel check in.

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Full day Shanghai city sightseeing today to explore this metropolis mixed with east and west cultures. Tour starts from Yu Garden, a typical traditional Garden in south China. After the visit, you can take a short visit to the adjoining market. Continue to the former French concession (Xintiandi) area for some walking. Many historical buildings can be seen or visited, such as Former residence of Sun Yat-sen, Former Hôpital Sainte Marie, etc. And you can also visit some small museum like the Propaganda Poster Art Centre, which exhibits posters from the Maoist period of communist China, especially from the Cultural Revolution period.

After a dim sum lunch, visit Shanghai Museum, a large museum of ancient Chinese art. It boasts 120,000 pieces of rare and precious cultural relics in twenty-one categories, including bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, sculpture, furniture, jade and ivory carvings, bamboo and wood carvings, lacquer ware, oracle bones, seals, coins, and handicrafts of ethnic art. Today’s tour ends at the Bund with a walk along the Huangpu River and view the historical buildings dated back to early 1930s. On the opposite of the river, it is the most developed economic and financial center of China – Pudong District. You can view the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the 632 meter high Shanghai Tower. Transfer back to hotel after the visit.

Meal: B, L

Free at leisure in the morning, and you will be picked up by your guide and transfer to train station for high speed train to Hong Kong. The train for this route is the fastest commercial high-speed train “Fuxing Hao” with an average speed of 350kph. It departs Shanghai Station at 14:10 in the afternoon and arrives at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at 22:30 after around 8.5hrs riding. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, you will be met and transfer to hotel check in.

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Full day guided tour to explore Hong Kong Island and Kowloon today. You will be picked up from hotel and drive to visit Victoria Peak for bird view of the island. Optional Peak tram is available and pay locally. And then go to Aberdeen Fishing Village, a charming and traditional neighborhood that feels like a step back in time. Discover traditional junks, sampans, house-boats and luxury yachts against the backdrop of rolling hills and towering skyscrapers as the harbour opens out into the South China Sea. In the afternoon, experience local transport star ferry and get to Kowloon side, visit Star Avenue and then transfer to visit Chin Lin Nunnery, one of the most arresting and tranquil escapes in Hong Kong. Before transfer back to hotel, you will take walk at bird and flower market.

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Private transfer to airport in time for your flight back to sweet home.

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