Beijing to Wuhan through Xi'an, Luoyang and Shaolin — the civilisation spine
Ten days along China's historic meridian: the Forbidden City and Great Wall, the Terracotta Army and Xi'an's wall, Longmen's river Buddhas, kungfu at Shaolin and the Yellow Crane Tower over the Yangtze — every hop a 1–3-hour bullet-train ride.
Forbidden City's full axis, Jingshan panorama, hutong lunch, evening at the Temple of Heaven.
Badaling's battlements with cable assist, Ming Tombs' Sacred Way on return, Peking duck finale.
Morning bullet train; afternoon among the Terracotta Army pits, evening Muslim Quarter skewers.
Cycle the full wall circuit, the Forest of Steles, Wild Goose pagoda fountains and the Grand Tang night show.
Forty minutes east; Longmen's cliff Buddges by day, water-banquet dinner and Luoyi's lantern lanes by night.
Bus to Dengfeng for the kungfu show, training halls and the 250-pagoda forest; return to Luoyang.
Two and a half hours south; evening up the Yellow Crane Tower for the lit river bends.
Hubei Museum's chime recital, East Lake greenway cycling, Hubu Alley's snack maze and riverside crayfish.
Final hot-dry-noodle breakfast, fly from WUH.
Travel in China