8-Day Beijing and Shangdong Student Tour

Shandong - "Home of Confucius"
One of the birthplaces of the Chinese civilization, Shandong located on China’s northeastern coast, is full of legends. On a trip to this captivating land, you’ll expect to experience some of the best the Middle Kingdom has to offer. Explore Family Kong’s Mansion and Temple of Confucius in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher; climb Mount Tai, the most sacred mountain where China’s first emperor announced a unified empire two thousand years ago.

Highlights:

* Climb the Great Wall and experience the history of ancient China
* Explore the Forbidden City and the true royal experience
* Play Taichi at Temple of Heaven
* Experience the village life and try to make dumpling with the host in Tai’an
* Get a deep understanding of the life of Confucius
* Cultural experiences in Qufu

Itinerary

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Day 1: Beijing / Arrival

Transfer via: Flight, economy class, arranged on your own

Upon your arrival at the Beijing airport, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover from jetlag.
Day 2: Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Hutongs
On this day you will first visit Jingshan Park where is the best place to view the whole complex of Forbidden City and old quarters of Beijing on the top of the hill. After it, visit Tiananmen Square followed by the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will have a leisure walking tour in the Hutongs (0.5-1h) and enjoying painting facial make-up of Peking Opera on a paper mask and watching the Crickets and Grasshoppers in the Hutongs. In the evening, enjoy the magnificent Kungfu show at Red Theater.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Forbidden City

Hutong
Day 3: Beijing, Jinshanling Great Wall
You will be escorted to the magnificent Great Wall (Jinshanling Section) to hiking for 2-4 hours. The Jinshanling Great Wall is 700 meters above the sea level. You can see Beijing from the highest place on the Jinshanling Great Wall. After the tour, you will be transferred back to Beijing.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall
Day 4: Beijing, Temple of Heaven, Summer palace
Get up early and play Taichi at Temple of Heaven. After it, have a visit to the Temple of Heaven. After lunch, go to the Summer Palace, with its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Temple of Heaven

Summer Palace
Day 5: Beijing / Tai An
Transfer via: High-speed G train, first-class seat, on TDT arrangement (G111, 08:35 - 10:35)

After breakfast, be transferred to the railway station for the high-speed train to Tai'an City. Upon arrival, be met and escorted to the holly Mount Tai, a mountain of great historical and cultural significance. From the top, you will marvel at a great panoramic view of this area (cable car is available).

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Mount Tai

Mount Tai
Day 6: Tai An / Qufu

Transfer via: Private vehicle, on TDT arrangement

The best place to get a feel for local life in Tai’an is a local family. Today you will pay a visit to one villager home to experience the village life and try to make dumpling with the host. After enjoying lunch including your works, your guide will transfer you to Qufu City (about 1.5 hours’ drive).

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 7: Qufu
Qufu is a city known as the birthplace of Confucius, a philosopher whose philosophy greatly affected people around the world and still linger in today’s society. Today, you will get a deep understanding of the life of Confucius as well as the ceremony of Confucian culture through the Family Kong's Mansion, the Temple of Confucius, and the Cemetery of Confucius.

After it, enjoy a ride by carriage around Qufu old town (about 15-20 minutes).

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Temple of Confucius

Family Kong's Mansion
Day 8: Qufu / Beijing

Transfer via: High-speed G train, first-class seat, on TDT arrangement (G162, 14:24 - 16:43)

You could choose different experiences with a local teacher, such as Calligraphy class, traditional Chinese painting, tea ceremony, paper cutting (2 options, 1-2 hours)

After it, transfer to the station for your train back to Beijing.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch