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The Red Flag Canal, built during the Cultural Revolutionary, is little-known in Linzhou, central China’s Henan Province. Due to the water shortage, the local people diverted a river, and made it serve their needs by digging countless canals over the area. The total canals went though more than 1,500 km. The trunk canal was built on the cliff of Taihang Mountain and could see three provinces, namely Henan, Shanxi and Hebei provinces. The walking on the canal will reward you sensational scenery and unforgettable experience. Also we will visit the historical Beijing, Xi’an and Luoyang, where we see the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the awesome Terra-cotta Warriors and Buddhist Longmen Grottoes. The monks in Shaolin Temple can show the powerful Chinese martial arts. We will finish our trip in Shanghai, a booming metropolis with changing skyline every day, where East met West since 19 century.

Days 1-4 Beijing
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Beijing. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. A visit to China is not complete without walking along the Great Wall. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience.

There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations. Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu Show (optional). In the morning of Day 4 we leave Beijing for Anyang. Upon arrival, we take the local bus to Qingniandong (Youth Tunnel), where we stay three nights. Please prepare the snacks in Beijing for the next two days walking, since this is a remote area and no snacks or supermarket is available.

Day 5-6 Red Flag Canal
We will walk 4-5 hours each day. The Red Flag Canal was built during the Cultural Revolutionary from 1961 to 1969. The canal was established on the cliff of Taihang Mountain. We will walk from the very beginning of the canal, or the water resource of the canal from Zhang River. You will find the Zhang River becomes lower and lower, while the canal goes to the cliff of the mountain. When we finishing the walking the next day, you will find you are walking on the canal with 200 metres higher than the Zhang River. Most interesting, in two days you come to three provinces of China, namely Shanxi, Hebei and Henan provinces.

Day 7-9 Shaolin
We will take bus to Anyang, and then catch the train to Zhengzhou. Upon arrival we take the bus to Shaolin Temple, home to the famous Kungfu schools and ancient Buddhist temple with very powerful monks. We will stay at the guesthouse of the Kongfu school nearby, and have the opportunity to watch the practice of the Kongfu students. At night we can take a leisurely walk in the surrounding mountains with a local guide to tell us about the area.

We will take the bus to Luoyang in the morning of Day 8. We will go to visit Longmen Grottoes in the afternoon. Longmen Grottoes is one of the top three Buddhist grottoes in China with more than 2,300 caves and 100,000 statues. Originally it was carved during the Norther Wei Dynasty, and it came to its climax during the Tang Dynasty when Queen Wuzetian believed in Buddhism and promoted Buddhism in the country. Day 9 in the morning we take the train heading to Xi’an.

Days 10-11 Xi'an
Xian topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974.

A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes. For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization. Other places you may visit include Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist temple. In the evening of day 11 we board an overnight train for Shanghai (approximately 16 hours). You can buy some food prior to boarding. We stay in six-berth air-conditioned cabins that have an open and relaxed feel about them. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. The trip is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese-language skills.

Days 12-13 Shanghai
Shanghai is a vibrant, fast-moving city with a fantastic variety of markets and restaurants for eating out. The shopping area on Nanjing Road is situated nearby. We will enjoy free time in Shanghai, and your tour leader can show you how to find the way to the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a representative of private garden in south China and highlight of the city. We might have opportunities to try some wonderful food stalls as well. Acrobat here is recommended for your entertainment at night.

There is a full free day for further exploration of Shanghai. Keen photographers are rewarded by an early start to the day, as scores of locals practise Taichi along the waterfront at dawn. The old French Quarter is also a great place to wander around, and the Jade Buddha Temple and the impressive Shanghai Museum are both well worth a visit. The gleaming towers on the Pudong side reflect China’s march towards modernisation and the rapid rate of changes that are taking place. We have a final night's dinner in one of the great restaurants.

Our trip ends in Beijing on Day 13. Checkout time is usually around 12 Noon; however you are free to leave at any time in the morning. Additional accommodation can be arranged on request.