Flight to Hohhot, upon arrival, our tour guide will wait for you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Hohhot.
Tel: +86 (0)10 8519 8999 Fax: +86 (0)10 6517 1033 Email: private-tours@tui.cn Hotline: 400 650 8855
A city with a rich cultural background, Hohhot is known for its historical sites and temples. It is also the perfect gateway to the wondrous world of Inner Mongolia, where you will enjoy the lush landscapes of the celebrated Mongolian grassland and have the opportunity to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Mongolian people. The trip also includes a visit to the fascinating city of Datong, home of the legendary Buddhist statues at Yungang Grottoes, the Nine Dragon Screen and Huayan Monastery the largest wooden shrine hall in China.
Flight to Hohhot, upon arrival, our tour guide will wait for you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Hohhot.
Drive to Gegentala Grassland in the morning, a scenic hotspot to the north of Hohhot. In Mongolian, ‘Gegentala’ means 'a place for spending summer'. Enjoy the cool weather and natural scenery of the grassland and experience traditional Mongolian food and activities. Visit a herdsmen's tent and enjoy the traditional song and dance of the Mongolian people.
Overnight stay in traditional Mongolian yurt.
Drive back to Hohhot in the morning and visit the Zhaojun Tomb which was built to commemorate Wang Zhaojun, a Han princess who married a Mongolian King. It covers an area of 1.4 hectares and stands 33 meters high. It is believed that Wang Zhaojun's tomb is a monument to national unity.
Next you will visit the distinctive Five Pagoda Temple featuring 1563 images of Buddha carved into its walls, each differing slightly to the other. Inside is a rare Mongolian cosmological map carved into a large stone which illustrates the zodiac and positions of numerous stars.
Also on your schedule is a visit to Dazhao Temple,a shrine built in the late 17th century that was dedicated to the renowned Qing emperor Kangxi. An astounding 10ft silver Sakyamuni Buddha statue is among the temple's many treasures. The temple also exhibits an impressive collection of musical instruments and dragon sculptures relating to Mongol legend.
Overnight in Hohhot.
Take a morning soft seat train to Datong. Our tour guide will wait for you at the train station. You will then visit the famous Huayan Monastery that consists of two separate sections, the upper section referred to as the Grand Hall housing five large Ming Dynasty Buddhas, and the lower section referred to as the Sutra Temple containing a library of some 18,000 volumes of Buddhist writings.
You will also visit the impressive Nine-Dragon Screen which was built in the early Ming Dynasty in front of the residence of Zhu Guidai, the 13th son of the first Ming Dynasty emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. The screen was constructed of glazed tiles and still remains intact today. It is three times larger than the dragon screen in Beihai Park, Beijing.
Also visit the Shanhua Monastery located in central Datong within the old city walls. It was first constructed during the Tang dynasty though most of the present wooden building dates back to the 12th century. The temple houses some intricately carved Jin dynasty statues and has a screen wall decorated with dragons.
Overnight in Datong.
Breakfast at the hotel
Before returning to Beijing / Shanghai, visit the enchanting Yungang Grottoes consisting of 53 grottoes with about 51,000 statues, a treasure trove of cave art that combines traditional Chinese art forms with foreign influence. Sculptures here are noted for their meticulous detail and rich variety that range from the smallest, only 2 centimeters high, to the largest, a 17-meter high giant Buddha.
Transfer to Taiyuan airport and fly back to Beijing / Shanghai.
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