China Part 2 Silver Ring Tour: 4 Provinces – Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi (18 Days)

Guests will gather at the designated hotel in Beijing. Free Airport Pick Up: Available for flights arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) between 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM. Advance notice is required for pick-up arrangements.

Take the Grassland High-Speed Rail from Beijing to Hohhot in just 2 hours and 30 minutes, with panoramic views of the Inner Mongolian grasslands. On arrival, enjoy a Hohhot city tour including Dazhao Temple, Saishang Old Street and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Town.

Visit the Xiangshawan Desert, where you can hear the sands “sing”. Enjoy a camel ride, watch the sunrise over the desert, stargaze under the Milky Way and join a bonfire party.

Start with a desert sunrise at Xiangshawan and a walk among the dunes. Visit the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, the cenotaph of the great Mongol ruler. Continue to Ordos for a photo stop at a traditional Mongolian oboo (sacred stone cairn).

On the Ordos Grassland, enjoy horseback riding, a horse show and a traditional Mongolian wedding ceremony, then feast on the Mongolian version of the imperial banquet, the Zhama Mongolian banquet, with roast whole lamb. Lie back on the grassland to stargaze under the Milky Way, and end the night with a bonfire party.

Visit the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, nicknamed the “Eastern Pyramids,” one of China’s largest and best-preserved imperial mausoleum complexes, once the royal resting grounds of the powerful Western Xia Dynasty. Continue to Helan Mountain Rock Art, dubbed the “Stone Book of History,” where carvings spanning over 7,000 years are considered a prehistoric art gallery of global significance, with over 6,000 rock engravings.

Explore the Tengger Desert, China’s 4th largest desert, on a special off-road vehicle adventure. Visit Wulan Lake and other beautiful scenery. The desert has over 500 oases, 400+ lakes and 251 open-water lakes, with lush vegetation, wildlife and stunning landscapes.

Visit the 108 Pagodas, a rare and magnificent pagoda formation from the Western Xia Dynasty — a large-scale, Lama-style solid pagoda cluster not commonly found in the world. Continue to Qingtong Gorge, rich in cultural heritage and famed for its dramatic natural scenery. The gorge features a blend of majestic cliffs, steep ravines, and tranquil river landscapes, combining grandeur, mystery, and serenity.

Visit Wave Valley (Danxia Landform). This newly developed scenic area reveals a surreal red sandstone landscape sculpted by millions of years of wind and water. The flowing layers of rock resemble the wrinkles of time — an awe-inspiring natural wonder that feels like stepping into a fantasy world.

Visit the Ganquan Grand Canyon, whose flowing rock walls, carved by wind erosion over countless ages, look like ripples of time. Often called China’s Antelope Canyon, it is a superb spot for photography. Continue to Xi’an.

Xi’an city tour: the Ancient City Wall, Shuyuanmen Cultural Street, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. Then visit the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and its museum, known for its massive scale and recognised as one of the “Eight Wonders of the World”. In the evening, enjoy a Dumpling Banquet dinner, Xi’an’s signature dish of creatively shaped and flavoured dumplings.

Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum, then travel to Yunqiu Mountain in Shanxi.

Visit the Wan Nian Ice Cave (“Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Cave”) formed during the Quaternary Glacial Period approximately 3 million years ago. Ranked first among China’s nine ice caves, it features stunning frozen formations that last all year round.

Continue to Hukou Waterfall, the Yellow River’s Most Powerful Cascade, known as the largest yellow-colored waterfall in the world and the second largest waterfall in China. This majestic natural wonder combines the beauty of deep gorges, the Loess Plateau, and ancient villages, a breathtaking sight recognized globally.

Visit Guangsheng Temple, a historic Buddhist temple built during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. It is known for its Three Marvels: the Feihong Pagoda, Yuan Dynasty murals at the Water God Temple, and suspended sculptures, all considered rare national treasures.

Continue to the Wang Family Courtyard, a massive residential compound spanning over 250,000 square meters, built over 300 years. Often called “The Forbidden City of Shanxi”, it is one of the finest examples of Qing Dynasty folk architecture, even larger than the actual Forbidden City.

Visit Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved ancient city in China, with more than 300 historical sites and nearly 4,000 well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty residences. Continue to Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, a classic ancestral temple and garden complex blending southern Chinese garden elegance with the northern grandeur of towers and halls. It’s considered a masterpiece of historic architecture and landscape art.

Visit the Hanging Temple (photo stop from the exterior), perched mid-mountain on Mount Cuifeng and supported by 27 wooden beams. This 1,500-year-old temple integrates Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian traditions. A marvel of design that continues to awe visitors today. Continue to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, built in 1056 AD. It is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in the world and an architectural treasure of ancient Chinese engineering.

Visit the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s Three Great Buddhist Grottoes, featuring over 51,000 statues. A pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art, carved into cliffs and caves over 1,500 years ago.

Afterwards, take the High-Speed Rail from Datong to Beijing, a fast and comfortable journey of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Free Airport Dropoff:

Two scheduled transfers are available from the hotel lobby to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at: 7:00 AM and 10:30 AM