Qufu Holiday Planner. Tailor-made Holidays to Qufu in China

Day 1: Beijing

Huan ying, welcome to China and the start of your holiday! Airport arrival transfer and hotel check in.

This morning, we embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the nation’s capital. Tiananmen Square is essentially the heart of Beijing. Heading back a few centuries we step into the Forbidden City, the walled city of the former Chinese emperors.This afternoon we take rickshaws to explore the Hutongs of Beijing. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a city restaurant.

Day 3: Beijing

Today, we drive beyond Beijing to Badaling, where we can walk a section of the famous Great Wall, built during the Ming Dynasty. Later we visit a cloisonne workshop demonstrating the ancient Chinese art of combining copper and enamel to make decorative pieces. Tonight, an evening of choreographed acrobatic performance.

Day 4: Beijing - Luoyang

Morning market walk and a visit to the Summer Palace. We explore the lavishly decorated temples, halls and courts, reconstructed in 1902 at the whim of the extravagant Dowager Empress Cixi. Visit to the famed Silk Alley markets and drive by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium en route to the train station.

Day 5: Luoyang

Arrive Luoyang and transfer to hotel. We explore the UNESCO world heritage listed Longman Caves etched into the cliffs along the River Yi. Carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty the caves are adorned with more than 100,000 statues and images of Buddha. Later we tour the stunning White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in China.

Day 6: Luoyang - Xi'an

Early this morning we walk to Peony Square to watch or partake in a little exercise. Many Chinese get their daily exercise by practising ballroom dancing, performing tai chi, sword fighting and playing hacky sack in the early hours of the morning. Boarding the morning train, we travel onward to Xi’an. Arrival into Xi’an, hotel check in and rest of day at leisure.

Day 7: Xi'an

Xi’an in Shaanxi Province is perhaps most famous for the discovery of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Warriors. The 2,200 year old warriors comprise more than 7,000 life-sized soldiers which stand battle-ready in excavated pits. We tour the site and a workshop where replicas are crafted. This evening we have a Tang Dynasty dinner and performance.

Day 8: Xi'an - Shanghai

This morning visit China's most iconic mammal - the giant panda. The Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Centre is home to 20 odd pandas and hopefully this morning you'll get to see them enjoy a meal of bamboo. Later in the afternoon we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and enjoy a bike ride on top of the City Wall. A legacy of the Silk Road, we visit the Muslim Quarter. Later we board our overnight express train bound for Shanghai.

Day 9: Shanghai

Arrive Shanghai and hotel check in. Focus your eyes on spectacular Shanghai. Perhaps China’s most modern city, its amazing Pudong skyline is breathtaking. After time to freshen up we enjoy a tour of the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, old Shanghai, the Bund and take a Huangpu River cruise.

Day 10: Shanghai

Today, we journey to Suzhou. A sort of oriental Venice, ancient Suzhou is interwoven by a series of canals and pretty waterways. We enjoy a cruise on the Grand Canal and visit a silk workshop.

Day 11: Shanghai - Qufu

There’s plenty to see and do in Shanghai. Today is free for you to venture to the Old City, French Quarter or opt to shop along the famous Nanjing road. This evening we bunk down in our soft sleeper train cabins en route to Qufu.

Day 12: Qufu

Qufu, birthplace of Confucius and home to the Confucius Temple, ranks with Beijing’s Forbidden city as a great classic Chinese architectural complex. After visits to the mansion and temple we take a rickshaw ride to the eerie Confucius forest, studded with tombs and graves of Kong family members. Evening stroll through the colourful night market.

Day 13: Qufu - Jinan

A short drive leads us to Bu Yang Village,where we stop for lunch at Mr Peng’s home. A short stroll leads us to the village prep-school, (our Change 4 Children project) we step into the class room to be swarmed by the mass of 5yr olds. Later we drive to Mt Tai Shan. There are more than 6000 steps to the summit, we take the cable car. A short drive to Jinan.