This 2 days Datong tour from Beijing by high speed train is a perfect Beijing side trip for those who have some more time in Beijing. The Beijing Datong tour of 2 days brings an amazing excursion to the splendid Yungang Grottoes, Shanhua Temple, The Nine-Dragon Wall, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, introduces you the hidden history and culture of Northern China!
In the morning, the Beijing local driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel and drive around 1 hour to Beijing West Train Station for your high-speed train to Datong. The train rides around 2.5 hours, you can have a nap on the train.
When you arrive at Datong South Train Station, there will be the local English speaking tour guide and driver waiting for you at the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name.
Firstly, drive westwards to Yungang Grottoes. As the first batch of key cultural relics under state protection, also on the world heritage list, Yuagang Grottoes has a highly cultural and artistic meaning. It not only shows the traditional Chinese artistic style, but also incorporates the art characteristics of ancient India, the western regions and the Central Plain. Yungang Grottoes is the beginning of the "sinicization" of Chinese grotto art which mainly stores 45 grottoes and 51,000 stone statues.
Later, continue your visit to Shanhua Temple which is a Buddhist temple with great fusion Han culture in Song Dynasty and ancient northern ethnic culture of Jin and Liao Dynasties. Although it’s lesser visited compared with other Datong attractions, the artistic level of relics there including sculptures, wall paintings and ancient architectures show a pretty high level.
Last, pay a visit to The Nine-Dragon Wall, built in late Ming Dynasty, is composed of colored glaze. Nine dragons are different in shape and form, each of which is connected by water grass, white clouds and rocks. It presents the superb sculpture skills of ancient China.
Accommodation: Overnight in Datong
Today the first site will be Hanging Temple. Located between the cliffs of Mt. Hengshan, it is the only unique temple in China that integrates Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The whole monastery is built in wooden framework structure. Though not very big, it astonishes people by the building design that relies on a mortise joint and embeds into the cliff without falling down. Owning a history over 1,500 years, Hanging Temple have earned compliment from many notable literati and poets in their works.
Later, come to “China’s First Wooden Pagoda”, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda which shares the same fame of “Three Marvelous Towers in the World” with Leaning Tower of Pisa and Eiffel Tower. Built in 1056 of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty, it is a well-deserved miracle in the architectural history, just imagine: a complete wooden-structured tower of 65.84 meters (like a 20-floor modern building) without a single iron nail survived in 40 earthquakes, 200 shooting and bombarding as well as countless thunder and lightning…amazing, right? Maybe the precious relics of Sakyamuni’s 2 teeth stored here echoed the Pogoda’s tough personality and bless it with immeasurable Buddhist power.
After the visit, you will head to train station to catch the 2.5-hour high-speed train to Beijing. When you arrive at Beijing, there will be the local driver picking you up and transfer back to your hotel.
Accommodation: N/A
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The core of our service is excellent travel guides. Over 20 years, we have built up a considerable professional guide team that is knowledgeable, attentive and flexible. The most experienced and reliable guides will be arranged for your unique China tour. Our passionate guide team is full of contagious enthusiasm and keen interest to share culture and history in a pleasant manner. We are always glad at your service to lead you to explore a real China and experience authentic local life in China.
The first mission of our service is to ensure you feel safe and comfortable during your travel. The vehicles we use are air-conditioned, clean and well-maintained. Our drivers are all licensed drivers with many years of driving experience. Moreover, we offer free baby seats for families with little kids.
Food is a very important part of Chinese culture. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste the real local Chinese food!
Buffet breakfast will be included in the hotel if you would like accommodation to be arranged by us. Having lunch at local restaurants close and convenient to the attractions you will visit, you would enjoy the local dishes in each city. Chinese style, Vegetarian or Muslim meals are all available. If you have any other diet requirements or allergies, please feel free to let us know, we will try our best to organize it.
For daily dinner, you are suggested to have it on your own when you are exploring each city in your own time, this way would be more flexible for you to choose food as per your interest and preference.