Most Classic Exploration of Peculiar Internet Famous City’s Downtown & UNESCO Heritage Grottoes
If you are looking for a classic Chongqing discovery together with your Yangtze cruise fun or just want a brand-new 2-day-off from other destinations, take this one! You will enjoy one full day for an amazing admiration of the world-class outstanding Dazu Rock Carvings, which is awarded as one of the rare UNESCO World Heritage Site records and praised as the highest rock carving masterpiece worldly for its large-scaled high valued religious grottoes with fantastic carving skills, diverse interesting themes and well preserved historic treasures. Moreover, all must-sees of the extremely popular Internet Famous Chongqing City are covered in another full day, including the shutterbugs’ favorite observation deck at E’ling Park for a grand city panorama, fresh deep-in experiences of Chongqing’s quite special mountain terrain, local No.1 Ciqikou Ancient Town for a scaled-down version of old Chongqing, favored Three Gorges Museum to fully understand the link and change of Yangtze River, Three Gorges and Chongqing City, etc.
Highlights of this tour
Ni Hao! Welcome to Chongqing!
This morning, you will be met by your local guide and driver in your hotel in downtown or the arrival hall at the airport/railway station if you arrive in Chongqing by very early flight/train. Then, you will start your exploration of Chongqing, the “City of Mountains.”
Firstly, enjoy the historic visit to Ciqikou Old Town that is praised as the “epitome of Chongqing”. Take your leisure walk on the polished paved paths to admire its over 1,800-year-old historical culture dated from Song Dynasty, appreciate its well-kept tiled-roof folk dwellings of hundreds of years old, watch the well-inherited folk artistic skills, and imagine and once busy transshipping scene shown at the ancient port there. Then, be escorted to Three Gorges Museum at the city downtown. The vast collection of more than 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics will let you have an amazing understanding of the great Yangtze River and formation of the magnificent Three Gorges, and also tell you the gradual thriving of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago, to its war defense in 20s century, and developmental path to be one of the 4 prosperous municipalities in China. Stepping out from the museum, have a nice look at the People’s Assembly Hall that is popular with fancy classical exterior design and was listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.
After lunch, be transferred to take Chonqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Metro Station to Liziba Metro Station to look at the city’s prototype from a different angle. Then, get off to have the never-seen magic of the train going through a 11-storey block of flats, existing only in the fantastically structured Chongqing built against mountains.
After that, travel up to E’ling Park and embrace the impressive panorama of Chongqing City which has been highly praised as “Little Hong Kong” with its well-arranged row upon row of modern skyscrapers and two winding rivers surrounding. Then, go down to visit Hongya Cave, the must-see highlight to appreciate the layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses overlapped leaning the mountain up to 11 storeys, which looks quite glittery lit by the orange lights from nightfall. And continue to get up to the 11 level with vehicles and roads alongside to catch the sparkling nightscape of Jialing River and the nearby buildings with beautiful neon.
After the visiting, your guide and drive will send you back to your hotel. Have a great rest!
Good morning! After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and driver at your hotel and then escorted to visit Dazu Rock Carvings at the northwest suburb of Chongqing with about 2 hours’ riding.
Dazu Rock Carvings was first built from 650AD on the steep hillsides and has been listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site due to its large scales, delicate carvings, rich themes, complete preservation, and bright reflection of the social daily life as well as the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in China from 9th-13th centuries. Standing for the record level of rock carvings in that period in whole China, Dazu Rock Carving is listed as one of the “World Eight Great Stone Carvings”. During your side trip, make full exploration at the top 2 popular large clusters: Baodingshan Hill and Beishan Hill.
Baodingshan is reputed as an art palace full of worldly beauty. Built for 70 years during 1174AD-1252AD with nearly 10,000 Buddhist statues, temples, patterns, etc., it is the essence of the whole Dazu Rock Carvings, pushing the rock carving art of China to the highest level. On the 500-meter-long cliff face at its U-shaped gorge, more than 360 distinct statues and grottoes are engraved continuously without one repeating. Among all, the grottoes of the resplendent golden Thousand-hand Avalokitesvara, inspiring Wheel of Life, vivid statues of Three Saints of Huayan, etc. are the most famous with superb skills and artistic value. Moreover, the Holy Longevity Monastery from 1178AD well preserves its ancient temple cluster built against the quiet mountain with many believers worshipping. (Note: Scenic spot sightseeing vehicle needs extra 15 CNY/person)
Beishan is praised as the exhibition hall of stone carving art of Tang and Song dynasties with nearly 10,000 statues in 51 themes from late 9th century - middle 12th century. It is worldly known for the delicate carving, outstanding skills and exquisite charm, showing the developmental change of folk Buddhist belief and rock carving artistic styles in China during that time. Boasting the awesome 300 meters long and 7-10 meters high crescent-like cliff face with hundreds of Buddhist statues, buildings, patterns, etc. in its dense caves like honeycombs, Beishan makes every angle moving a different image. Particularly the No.245 grotto with diverse themed contents and logically allocated vivid musicians and dancers, airy pavilions and pagodas, various items, etc. forming the fantastic grotto ranking top among the same type. Besides, the No.136 grotto from 1142-1146AD with particularly exquisite and noble dressing is reputed as a pearl of China’s rock carving art.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to Chaotianmen Dock and help you board your Yangtze River cruise. If you have the schedule to leave Chongqing today, they will escort you to the airport/railway station for catching your flight/train to the next destination or home. Service Ends!
Note: For visitors planning to take the Yangtze River cruise after the 2 days Chongqing tour, it is highly suggested to enjoy dinner onshore first before boarding since there is nearly no food service on the embarkation night.
Chengdu is famous for Giant Pandas and its idyllic slow pace of daily living.
During this trip, your tour guide will company you to explore the top recommended attractions in Chengdu one by one to experience its authentic culture and history. First of all, take an exciting visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Then move to Renmin Park to enjoy a cup of traditional Chinese tea in the Renmin Park; Learn about Buddhism culture in Wenshu Temple; Experience traditional Chengdu life in Jinli Old Street...
The leisure Yangtze River Cruise, ideal way to explore both the nature and culture of China!
While taking a Yangtze River cruise, you will not only relax in various interesting onboard activities, such as Tai Chi class, dancing shows, parties, but also enjoy the stunning scenery along the mighty Yangtze River. The best highlights are the world-famous Three Gorges Dam and beautiful Three Gorges. At the same time, you will have a flexible choice between different ships of different standard and features, such as Victoria Cruise, New Century Cruise, etc. At China Discovery, we offer you all the best luxury yangtze cruise ships at the best price.
Downstream Cruise: Chongqing - Yichang (4 Days 3 Nights)
Upstream Cruise: Yichang - Chongqing (5 Days 4 Nights)
Xian, as the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties, is filled with amazing historic and cultural wonders.
With only 2 days, you can travel the best highlights of ancient capital Xian at an enjoyable pace. The Day 1 is a full day visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Local Snack Street - Muslim Quarter. In the Day 2, you have a half day for visiting to the symbol of Xian - Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and having an educational learning in Shanxi History Museum. The rest time is free for departure.
Guilin, the darling of tourists!
Guilin is famous for having the best landscape under Heaven which can be seen in three most popular places - Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng. Only 3 days are needed to get them all in a single trip. You will visit the essential sites in the city, enjoy a relaxing cruise along Li River, and have a pleasant time of countryside exploration in Yangshuo Town. Another highlight is the unique trip to Longji Terrace which is an ideal place for experiencing ethnic culture, hiking and photography.
Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang
Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang / Zhangjiajie
Chongqing
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