Fly to Xian (Sian), present capital of Shaanxi (Shenhsi) province, capital for a millenium, notably under Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD). The UN 4th Conference on Women (Beijing 1995) led to more attention to the presence in today's Xian and other provincial centers of informal labor markets where the practice of "the abducting and selling of women"-- sometimes in the very shadow of Xian's ancient wall -- has increased at alarming rates under the new socioeconomic conditions (NY Times 6 Sept 95).
Morning tour visits 3rd century BC Emperor Qin Shihuang's terracotta statue "army" discovered in 1974
(President and Mrs Reagan were permitted to descend right down into their midst during the official visit 10 years after this stunning archaeological discovery) plus Huaqing Hot Springs, Banpo Neolithic Village, Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Overnight train to Taiyuan.
Taiyuan is capital of Shanxi (Shanhsi) province and has a long, dramatic and much-fought-over history as well as considerable contemporary industrial importance. Sightseeing includes Jin Temple, Shuangta or Twin Pagoda Temple and Chongshan Temple, with an important collection of sutras; try to sample the local famous "tounao" or "eight treasure soup" a true "meal in itself."
Morning train leaves on its trip north from Taiyuan through Shanxi province for Datong, located in a dry, somewhat forbidding environment in northern Shanxi province south of the Great Wall near the Inner Mongolian border and 170 miles due west of Beijing; you arrive later in the afternoon after lunch on the train.
Visit Shanhua Monastery and Huayan Monastery (Lower and Upper), fascinating "trompe l'oeil" Nine Dragon Screen and make an excursion to the grand attraction: the famed Yungang Caves or Grottoes of giant sandstone carvings created in the latter 5th century during the enlightened cultural effluorescence under the Northern Wei; the colossal Buddhas and intricate carvings are outstanding examples of Buddhist grotto art transposed from its Indian/South Asian origins. Overnight train to Beijing.
First day: visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace if time permits to absorb imperial splendors and scenic wonders of central Beijing. Second day: full day excursion by motorcoach to Great Wall and Ming Tombs, topped off by an evening banquet devoted to Beijing's dignified answer to the worldwide invasion by Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food joints: a splendid banquet of classic, finger lickin good Beijing or Peking Duck, famous since the 15th century in the one and only true, traditional style consisting of a lengthy, involved and meticulous preparation and cooking of the noble bird which is then consumed as succulent, slivered morsels dipped in sweet bean sauce wrapped with sprigs of green onion in tasty, thin pancakes.
Morning flight returns you to Hong Kong.
To activate hyperlinks, please click on the texts or the graphics underlined in blue.
Webmaster@diatravel.com
Copyright 1996 DIA International Travel, Incorporated