Visit Datong with your own car and tour guide,explore the prosperous historical and cultural relics, including Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Monastery, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, etc.
BJ-164
See the highlight attractions –Yungang Grottoes,Hanging Monastery,Nine dragon screen Datong,Datong Wooden Pagoda
Enjoy 2 Chinese lunches
Your own private transportation between cities
Helpful and knowledgeable private English speaking tour guide
Our Driver will pick you up from your hotel in Beijing at 8:00am.Take a private car or van to Datong.If you choose to have a tour guide, your local guide will meet you in Datong. The Beijing-Datong drive takes about 4-5 hour. On the Way you will enjoy the beautiful countryside view and ourskirt of the city.
Once arrive Datong you will have a lunch in the local restuarant.
Then heading to the Yungang Grottoes,The three main sites in China that are famous for their stone sculpture are Dunhuang, Longmen and Yungang. Among these, the Yungang grottoes are considered first among equals, for their tremendous size, their ancient history, and their relatively complete state of preservation. In 1961, the State Council of China declared this a National Key Cultural Relics Protected Unit, and in 2001 the site was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site.Fifty-three grottoes remain at Yungang today, with some 51,000 statues. The tallest among these is 17 meters high, the smallest is only a few centimeters. Carving techniques build on and further develop the traditional arts of the Qin and Han dynasties, but also absorb and merge into these the artistic traditions of both India and western regions
Heading back to Datong, then Visti the Famous Nine-Dragon-Screen
Located in the southern side of Dong Street, is the Nine-Dragon Screen built for the Prince Hongwu, the 13th son of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). It is presently the oldest and largest glazed screen in China and even before 350 years. It is three times larger than the one in Beihai Park, Beijing City.
The screen is made up of yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white and other colored glaze. It can be divided into three parts such as the pedestal, body and roof. The picture depicts the blue sky, the rising sun and moon in the east and west of the screen respectively. The picture also shows flowing water and cloud. The life-like glass glazed animals are inlaid in different postures and arranged in two layers on the border of the pedestal. The first layer consists of giraffe, lion, tiger, deer and Pegasus while small dragons are inlaid on the second layer.
Heading to your hotel, check in and then free for the rest of the day
Check out your hotel, then depart at 8:30am
Move on to the Hanging Monastery(around 1.5 hours driving). the Hanging Monastery of Hengshan Mountain is one of China’s most unique and remarkable feats of wooden architectural complex. The monastery is also the only one built in honor to Sakyamuni, Laozi, and Confucius, who are founders of Buddism, Taoism and Confucianism respectively.The monastery is founded during the Northern Wei period (386-584) in the 6th century, boasting a history of over 1,400 years. An architectural complex was built on the base of the natural hollows and outcrops along the contour of the cliff. Over 40 halls and pavilions within an area of 152.5 square meters are connected each other by corridors, bridges, boardwalks. They are evenly distributed and well balanced in height. Inside the monastery are over 80 statues; some are cast with bronze, some with iron, some with clay and some are carved out of stone. Founders of Buddhism , Taoism and Confucianism are living friendly and harmoniously with each other.
Stop at a local restaurant for lunch
Heading to Yinxian County to visit the Famous Wooden Pagoda.
It is shaped in an octagon and is 67.13 meters high and 30 meters in diameter at the bottom. A Liao dynasty structure, it was built in 1056. The wooden tower was completely made of wood without a single nail used.
The tower offers valuable information for the research of calligraphic arts and the construction of the wooden tower.The real name of the Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County, located in the Fogong (Buddha´s Palace) Temple in the northwestern corner of Yingxian County, is the Sakyamuni Pagoda.
Since it was built completely of timber, it has been well known as the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County. After several renovations throughout the dynasties, except for the wooden tower of the Liao Dynasty, other structures, like the Bell and Drum Tower and the Daxiong Palace, were all rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).During the repair work in 1974, a number of important and valuable cultural relics were found in the pagoda, including a picture of medicinal herbs and Buddhist scriptures, all belonging to the Liao Dynasty. Scripture scrolls include both hand-written and block-printed ones; some of them are more than thirty meters long when spread out and date back to as early as 990´1003 or 1071.
Features
The wooden pagoda is one of the planet´s oldest wooden buildings. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the nine-storey, 67m-high structure, which has thus far survived seven major earthquakes.
They are regarded as rare treasures both at home and abroad, providing important data not only for the collating of Buddhist scriptures, but also for the study of the development of printing technology in China.
Transfer back to Beijing, which will take 4-5 hours.
DEPARTURE TIME & LOCATION
PICK-UP LOCATION
The pick up location is in your hotel’s lobby,your guide will hold a sign with your name writen on
If you are travelling between different cities,then once you arrive the destination,get your luggage,walk out the hall then find your name sign.Our guide or driver will be there
Notes
It’s a heavy itinerary,So be sure to wear comfortable shoes and have a good sleep the day before
This is an exclusive private day Tour. Once your tour is confirmed, that tour will no longer be available to anyone else except for your own traveling party.
We offer the Authantic Chinese food in the local restaurant,if you have special request please tell us in advance
The itinerary is flexible,we can adjust it according to your personal interests/weather/any unexpected conditions
A Full payment or a Deposit of 100USD is required for this tour to pay through Paypal.please contact us to send you the invoice.
At the moment we only have three English speaking drivers,don’t worry if they already booked ,we do have Chinese speaking driver available, they can use their phone to call our translator at any time for help
If you choose to use the driver only, the price is for the driver and private car/van only,please pay your own entrance fee and food
Discover Beijing Tours offer these services for free, let us know in advance if you need
Child safety seats
Wheelchair
If you want breakfast or dinner which is no including in the price,just tell our guide,they will help you find the place to eat,please pay your own.
Please book your own Hotel in Datong, The quotation already including our guide and driver’s hotel
Children’s Discount
In China,children’s discount are based on height,please let us know your children’s height,so we can give you the children’s discount accordingly
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by Discover Beijing Tours, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you and Discover Beijing Tours, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
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Experienced Tour Guide(If you choose)
Comfortable Transportation with an Experienced Driver
.Entrance fees to all the sites listed above
meals (L-Lunch) (D=Dinner)as mentioned=2 lunches
Unlimited mineral water
Accommondation for your driver and guide
If you choose to use the driver only, the price is for the driver and private car/van only,please pay your own entrance fee and food
Your accommondation
Gratuities to your tour guide and driver
Personal cost
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance