ETERNAL CHINA
Traditions, Martial Arts & Modernity
An unforgettable journey combining UNESCO World Heritage treasures, iconic Buddhist sanctuaries, and immersive experiences deeply rooted in China’s millennia-old traditions. From imperial capitals and sacred mountains to ancient cave temples and legendary monasteries, this itinerary invites travelers to explore the spiritual and cultural foundations of Chinese civilization. Encounters with living traditions, moments of contemplation, and authentic exchanges with local communities reveal a China that is timeless, profound, and deeply human.
Day 1 Beijing
Arrival in Beijing, welcome by your French-speaking guide, and transfer to the city. Visit the Summer Palace (UNESCO), the imperial summer retreat renowned for its vast landscaped park, elegant pavilions, and pagodas overlooking Kunming Lake.
Arrival in Beijing, welcome by your French-speaking guide, and transfer to the city. Visit the Summer Palace (UNESCO), the imperial summer retreat renowned for its vast landscaped park, elegant pavilions, and pagodas overlooking Kunming Lake.
Day 2 Beijing: The Great Wall
Excursion to the Great Wall (UNESCO) at the Juyongguan section, set in a dramatic mountain pass and away from the main crowds. This “Wall of Ten Thousand Li,” stretching nearly 8,000 km, was first built over 2,000 years ago during the Qin dynasty. Visit a cloisonné workshop, followed by a photo stop at the iconic Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium. Explore Panjiayuan Market, Beijing’s most famous flea and antiques market, often called the “ghost market.” Dinner featuring Peking roast duck, a highlight of local cuisine.
Excursion to the Great Wall (UNESCO) at the Juyongguan section, set in a dramatic mountain pass and away from the main crowds. This “Wall of Ten Thousand Li,” stretching nearly 8,000 km, was first built over 2,000 years ago during the Qin dynasty. Visit a cloisonné workshop, followed by a photo stop at the iconic Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium. Explore Panjiayuan Market, Beijing’s most famous flea and antiques market, often called the “ghost market.” Dinner featuring Peking roast duck, a highlight of local cuisine.
Day 3 Beijing → Xi’an
Walk across Tiananmen Square and visit the Forbidden City (UNESCO), the former imperial residence of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with its vast courtyards, red walls, golden roofs, and imperial gardens. Lunch with a local family for an authentic cultural exchange. Climb the Drum Tower for panoramic views of old Beijing. Visit the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where emperors once performed rituals to ensure abundant harvests. Transfer to the railway station and board the overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi’an.
Walk across Tiananmen Square and visit the Forbidden City (UNESCO), the former imperial residence of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with its vast courtyards, red walls, golden roofs, and imperial gardens. Lunch with a local family for an authentic cultural exchange. Climb the Drum Tower for panoramic views of old Beijing. Visit the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where emperors once performed rituals to ensure abundant harvests. Transfer to the railway station and board the overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi’an.
Day 4 Xi’an
Arrival in Xi’an and breakfast. Visit the Terracotta Army (UNESCO), guarding the mausoleum of China’s first emperor, with more than 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses. Discover the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and enjoy an introduction to Chinese calligraphy. Stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter. Visit a jade workshop. Dinner featuring Xi’an’s renowned dumpling banquet.
Arrival in Xi’an and breakfast. Visit the Terracotta Army (UNESCO), guarding the mausoleum of China’s first emperor, with more than 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses. Discover the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and enjoy an introduction to Chinese calligraphy. Stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter. Visit a jade workshop. Dinner featuring Xi’an’s renowned dumpling banquet.
Day 5 Xi’an → Luoyang → Shaolin
Transfer to the station and take the high-speed train to Luoyang, one of China’s most ancient capitals and known as the “City of Peonies.” Visit the Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO), an extraordinary complex of Buddhist cave sculptures carved between the 5th and 10th centuries, with more than 100,000 statues illustrating the evolution of Chinese Buddhist art. Visit the White Horse Temple, regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China. Continue by road to Shaolin, at the foot of Mount Songshan. Overnight nearby.
Transfer to the station and take the high-speed train to Luoyang, one of China’s most ancient capitals and known as the “City of Peonies.” Visit the Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO), an extraordinary complex of Buddhist cave sculptures carved between the 5th and 10th centuries, with more than 100,000 statues illustrating the evolution of Chinese Buddhist art. Visit the White Horse Temple, regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China. Continue by road to Shaolin, at the foot of Mount Songshan. Overnight nearby.
Day 6 A Day of Monastic Life at Shaolin Temple
A full day devoted to monastic traditions at Shaolin Temple, founded in the 5th century and legendary birthplace of Chinese kung fu as well as a major center of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Visit the temple complex and the Pagoda Forest, followed by a Shaolin kung fu performance by resident monks. Participate in a Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade) workshop with a Shaolin master—one of the oldest and most respected forms of Qi Gong, associated with traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and longevity. Meditation session within the monastery. Vegetarian lunch and dinner prepared according to monastic traditions. Overnight near Shaolin Temple.
A full day devoted to monastic traditions at Shaolin Temple, founded in the 5th century and legendary birthplace of Chinese kung fu as well as a major center of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Visit the temple complex and the Pagoda Forest, followed by a Shaolin kung fu performance by resident monks. Participate in a Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade) workshop with a Shaolin master—one of the oldest and most respected forms of Qi Gong, associated with traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and longevity. Meditation session within the monastery. Vegetarian lunch and dinner prepared according to monastic traditions. Overnight near Shaolin Temple.
Day 7 Shaolin → Zhengzhou → Suzhou
Transfer to Zhengzhou and board the high-speed train to Suzhou, the “Venice of China” and historic silk capital, renowned for its classical gardens (UNESCO). Visit the Master of the Nets Garden, one of the finest examples of classical Chinese garden design, featuring pavilions, zigzag bridges, bamboo groves, and lotus ponds. Visit a silk factory. Walk through Suzhou’s old town and along Pingjiang Road, a lively canal-side street.
Transfer to Zhengzhou and board the high-speed train to Suzhou, the “Venice of China” and historic silk capital, renowned for its classical gardens (UNESCO). Visit the Master of the Nets Garden, one of the finest examples of classical Chinese garden design, featuring pavilions, zigzag bridges, bamboo groves, and lotus ponds. Visit a silk factory. Walk through Suzhou’s old town and along Pingjiang Road, a lively canal-side street.
Day 8 Suzhou → Tongli → Shanghai
Drive to Tongli, a beautifully preserved canal town with stone-paved lanes and traditional whitewashed houses typical of the Jiangnan region. Visit the Tuisi Garden and enjoy a gondola-style boat ride along ancient canals. Continue to Shanghai. Walk along Nanjing Road, the city’s most vibrant shopping street, and along the Bund, lined with historic buildings from the concession era and offering stunning views of Pudong’s skyline.
Drive to Tongli, a beautifully preserved canal town with stone-paved lanes and traditional whitewashed houses typical of the Jiangnan region. Visit the Tuisi Garden and enjoy a gondola-style boat ride along ancient canals. Continue to Shanghai. Walk along Nanjing Road, the city’s most vibrant shopping street, and along the Bund, lined with historic buildings from the concession era and offering stunning views of Pudong’s skyline.
Day 9 Shanghai (Evening Departure)
Morning stroll in Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play games. Explore the leafy streets of the former French Concession, then wander through Xintiandi and Tianzifang, with their traditional lilong alleyways, boutiques, and cafés. Visit Shanghai’s old town. Lunch featuring Xiaolongbao, the city’s iconic soup dumplings. Explore the Shanghai Museum, home to an exceptional collection of ancient Chinese art. Free time before transfer to the airport for the overnight return flight.
Morning stroll in Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play games. Explore the leafy streets of the former French Concession, then wander through Xintiandi and Tianzifang, with their traditional lilong alleyways, boutiques, and cafés. Visit Shanghai’s old town. Lunch featuring Xiaolongbao, the city’s iconic soup dumplings. Explore the Shanghai Museum, home to an exceptional collection of ancient Chinese art. Free time before transfer to the airport for the overnight return flight.