10D Shanxi + Inner Mongolia Grassland Tour

DAY 01: SINGAPORE/BEIJING (MOB?)
Assemble at Changi International Airport for flight to the capital city of China-Beijing. 

DAY 02: BEIJING/DATONG (MOB/L/D)                            
Reach Beijing in the early morning. Upon arrival, visit the largest public square in the world – Tiananmen Square, which covers a total area of 400, 000 square meters, surrounding the square is a strange mishmash of monuments past and present: Tiananmen Gate, Chinese Revolution History Museum, the Great Hall of People, the Mao Mausoleum and the Monument to the People’s Heroes. Continue to Wangfujing Walking Street and Dongfang (Oriental) Square for shopping. Taste different delicacies at Donghua Men night market. Take a night train to Datong at Shanxi province.

DAY 03: DATONG/WUTAI SHAN (B/L/D)                                 
Reach Datong in the morning. Upon arrival, visit Yungang Shiku (Cloud Ridge Caves), it’s the main reason most people make it to Datong, It contain over 50,000 statues and stretch for about 1km east to west. Continue to Jiulong Bi (Nine Dragon Screen)—tiled walls depicting fire-breathing dragons. The screen was originally part of the palace of Ming Dynasty emperor 13^th son, and is 8m high, over 45m long and 2m thick. Next, proceed to Wutai Shan.

DAY 04: WUTAI SHAN (B/L/D)  
Wutai Shan (Five-terrace Mountain), centered on the beautiful monastic village of Taihuai, is one of China’s sacred Buddhist mountain areas. It lies deep in an alpine valley enclosed by the five peaks, the highest of which is the 3058m northern peaks, Yedou Peak, known as the roof of northern China. It has 15 or so old temples and monasteries, and some 20 others dot the surrounding mountainsides. Visit Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple and Wanfo Pagoda. Also, tour to Dailuo Peak.

DAY 05: WUTAI SHAN/DATONG/HOHHOT (B/L/D)                                         
After breakfast, visit Xuankong Si (Hanging Monastery), built precariously on sheer cliffs above Jinlong Canyon, the monastery dates back more than 1400 years. Its halls and pavilions were built along the contours of the cliff face using the natural hollows and outcrops. The buildings are connected by corridors, bridges and boardwalks and contain bronze, iron and stone statues of gods and buddhas. Next, proceed to Hohhot by train.                                                                                       

DAY 06: HOHHOT/GRASSLANDS (B/L/D)  
After breakfast, coach to the Grasslands. The Grasslands is what most travelers come to see in Inner Mongolia. Along the way, appreciate beautiful scenery of Mt. Yinshan and culture of Mongolian. Enjoy roasted lamb at lunch. Watch traditional Mongolian sports such as competition archery, wrestling, horse racing and camel racing. Try horse riding on own experience, visit local herdsmen, climb Aobao hill (small stone hill). After dinner, enjoy music and dance performance. Tonight stay at deluxe Mongolian tent—Menggu Bao. 

DAY 07: GRASSLANDS/BAOTOU (B/L/D)         
Enjoy grand grassland sunrise in the early morning. After Mongolian-style breakfast, coach to Baotou. Along the way, visit the ruin of Great wall of Zhao Dynasty. Upon arrive at Baotou, visit the Wudang Zhao. This large monastery is the main tourist attraction near baotou. This monastery of the Gelukpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism was built around 1749 in typical Tibetan flat-roofed style.

DAY 08: BAOTOU/ERDUOSI (B/L/D)    
After breakfast, visit the Resonant Sand Gorge. It is located at the Gobi Desert. The name Xiang Sha comes from the swooshing sound made by loose sand when you step on it. The highest dunes are about 90m high. Appreciate local wedding performance at lunch. After lunch, visit Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum. What are said to be the ashes of the Khan were brought back from Qinghai in 1954, and a large Mongolian-style mausoleum was built. Nowadays, holy pilgrimages to the mausoleum have become the sacred duty of both Inner and Outer Mongolians and this is a place to meet some true Mongolians.

DAY 09: ERDUOSI/HOHHOT (B/L/D)
After breakfast, coach back to Hohhot. Visit Zhaojun Tomb. It is the tomb of Wang Zhaojun—one of the four beauties in ancient China. Continue to Wuta (Five Pagodas) Temple, it is Indian-style temple. Next, proceed to Inner Mongolia Museum, the collections includes a large mammoth skeleton dug out of a coal mine, dinosaur exhibits, etc.

DAY 10: HOHHOT/BEIJING/SINGAPORE (B)
After breakfast, take a domestic flight to Beijing for flight back to Singapore.