Beijing and North China
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Faune and flora, Discovery.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté.
Petit Futé
Where to stay ?
The map of your stay "Beijing and North China"
Detail of the stay : Beijing and North China
How to get there
The heart of Beijing
Steps: Pekin
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, with its 72 hectares of halls, apartments and courtyards. Afterwards, you can watch the sunset over the glazed roofs of the Forbidden City from the Coal Hill. A Peking opera show or a combination of opera, acrobatics and magic in the Lao She tea house will finish recreating the atmosphere of imperial China.
Places of interest : CITÉ INTERDITE PLACE TIAN'ANMEN
Visit to the Temple of Heaven
Steps: Pekin
The Temple of Heaven, one of the symbols of the Chinese capital, is located in the south of the city, in a huge park of 27 hectares. Dating from the Ming Dynasty, this complex offers architectural forms directly referring to the themes of heaven (circle) and earth (square). It is also the only temple in the capital to be covered with blue tiles. The park itself allows you to experience the Beijing way of life: morning taiqi, bird walk,erhu (a kind of Chinese violin) players and opera singers. The afternoon can be spent at the Summer Palace, its temples and its amazing stone boat, or shopping in Hongqiao, where you can find clothes and accessories at unbeatable prices. In the evening, dinner in a Peking duck restaurant and, eventually, a farewell drink around Houhai Lake.
Places of interest : PALAIS D'ÉTÉ TEMPLE DU CIEL
On the way to Chengde
Leaving early in the morning for Chengde, and day in the city to visit the city's summer Palace. Overnight on site.
Transfer to Datong
Steps: Datong
From Chengde, go to Datong (train) to visit the city and especially its wall to the nine dragons, similar to that of Forbidden City. Overnight on site.
Architectural achievement of the suspended monastery
Steps: Datong
Enjoy the day to discover the immediate vicinity of Datong, especially the Yungang Buddhist caves (morning). In the afternoon, you will visit the suspended Monastery to admire one of the architectural wonders of North China.
Places of interest : MONASTÈRE SUSPENDU
Heading for Taiyuan
Steps: Taiyuan
From Datong, go to Taiyuan (by bus). In the city, you will discover the provincial museum of Shanxi and its unique exhibits.
Places of interest : MUSÉE PROVINCIAL DU SHANXI
Visit Pingyao
Steps: Pingyao
Pingyao (bus). Visit of one of the last fully fortified medieval citadels in North China. Overnight stay.
Transfer to Xi'an
Steps: Xining
Departure for Xi'an (train). Visit of the city and in particular of its great mosque. The day could end with a walk along the ramparts.
Places of interest : GRANDE MOSQUÉE
Discovering terracotta warriors
Steps: Xi'An
The day can begin with a long visit to the Buried Army. After a lunch on the go in the old town, you will visit the historic museum of Shaanxi.
Places of interest : MUSÉE DE L'ARMÉE ENTERRÉE
Around Xi'an
Steps: Xi'An
You will take advantage of this day to visit the surrounding areas of Xi'an, including the two very close pagodas (the large and small pagoda of wild goose). In the afternoon, you will go to the mausoleum of Emperor Liu Qi. If you have planned for a guide and independent transportation, you can continue by visiting the many other sites in the immediate vicinity of the mausoleum.
Places of interest : PAGODE DE LA GRANDE OIE SAUVAGE PAGODE DE LA PETITE OIE SAUVAGE MAUSOLÉE DE L'EMPEREUR LIU QI
The "Miracle of Gobi Desert"
Steps: Dunhuang
Departure to Dunhuang (by plane). Visit of the crescent moon lake (ming shashan). Overnight on site.
Places of interest : LAC DU CROISSANT DE LUNE
It's movies.
Steps: Dunhuang
Visit of the caves of Mogao, which should remind you of the visit of the caves of Datong. In the afternoon, you will visit the old town of Dunhuang, which is in reality a film set! Unreal effect guaranteed.
Places of interest : GROTTES DE MOGAO
Around Dunhuang and returning to Beijing
You will leave to visit the immediate vicinity of Dunhuang (if you have organised independent transportation), especially the jade door passage. Returning to Beijing (by plane).
