Description
Tour Code: OCT-Cultural-08
Tour Type: Private Tour
Tour Highlights:
- It would be a life-time tour for the Buddhists to visit the four sacred mountains of Buddhism in China - Mount Emei, Mount Wutai, Mount Jiuhua, and Mount Putuo.
- The perfect combination of the religion, humanism and natural view.
- It is the private organization for the whole trip, which allows you the most comfortable experience from place to place.
- Professional and knowledgeable guide accompany you to visit in each mountain.
Best Travel Time: Suitable for whole year, best from March to November
Day 1 Arrival Chengdu
Transfer service to hotel
Meals: No meal
Accommodation: In Chengdu
Arriving in Chengdu, you will be greeted by the local guide at the airport or railway station. You take the private vehicle to the reserved hotel which is hand-picked by Topchinatravel. With the assistance of the guide, you will be free at leisure for the rest of the day after hotel check-in.
Tips for today:
1. Have a good rest at hotel to overcome the jet leg if Chengdu is the 1st city you arrive in China.
2. Change some money at the airport, hotel or a local bank with the assistance from your local guide or you can also withdraw CNY cash from ATM machine directly.
Day 2 Chengdu - Leshan - Mount Emei
Drive to Leshan, Leshan Giant Buddha, Drive to Emei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Emei area
In the morning after breakfast, have 1.5-hour driving to Mt. Leshan, where you will visit the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Just take a cruise (about 30 min) to have an overview of this mountain and the Leshan Giant Buddha. After that, continue to have a 1 hour driving to Mt. Emei. Then we will check in your hotel and enjoy your free time.
Details in the itinerary:
1. We arrange a cruise to see Leshan Giant Buddha. While you can also choose to climb Mt. Leshan (1- 2 hours hiking) which is not recommended from us because it is tired and could not get an overview of the Buddha.
2. Chengdu downtown - Mt. Leshan: 150 km, 1.5-hour driving
3. Mt. Leshan - Mt. Emei area: 41km, 1-hour driving
Day 3 Mount Emei - Chengdu
Mt. Emei, Drive to Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Chengdu
Today you will have sightseeing in Mt. Emei which is considered to be the ashram of Samantabhadra, one of the Four Bodhisattvas. You will visit Baoguo Temple which is the No.1 Buddhist temple among the countless temples in Mount Emei, and you will take a cable car up to the Golden Summit which is the highest point and holy place in Mount Emei. After some stroll on the mountain, get down the mountain then drive back to Chengdu (165 km). Have a rest in the hotel in Chengdu or feel free of the rest time.
You are recommended to have a night visit to Chunxi Raod and Jinli Old Street.
A suggested sightseeing route in Mt. Emei:
1. Entering - Baoguo Temple - 2 Hours Scenic Shuttle Bus to Leidongping - Walk a while to take the cable car - Go up to Golden Summit by cable car - Sightseeing at Golden Summit - Back to the entrance in the same way
2. Mt. Emei area - Chengdu downtown: 165km, 2-hour driving
Day 4 Chengdu - Taiyuan - Mount Wutai
Take a flight to Taiyuan, Drive to Mount Wutai, Free at leisure for the rest of the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Wutai area
Today, you will get up early for the morning flight to Taiyuan. Upon arrival, you will be picked up from Taiyuan airport and transfer to Mount Wutai for about 3-3.5 hours driving. Mt. Wutai is the holy Buddhism mountain for worshipping Wenshu Bodhisattva (Manjusri) and the No.1 sacred place of Buddhism in China. Check in the hotel and free at leisure for the rest of the time after a long journey. You are recommended to pay a visit to Taihuai County at night.
In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Summit Bodhisattva - the most spiritual temple, Xiantong Temple - the most prestigious temple and Shuxiang Temple - worship for wisdom.
Details in the itinerary:
1. Chengdu downtown - Chengdu airport: 14km, 30 minutes
2. Taiyuan airport - Mount Wutai: 240km, 3-3.5 hours driving
Day 5 Mount Wutai
Visit Temple Complex of Taihuai: Hall of Manjusri, Shuxiang Temple, Wuye Temple, Summit Bodhisattva Monastery, Luohou Temple, Xiangtong Temple, Tayuan Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Wutai area
Mount Wutai is the ashram of Manjushri, so the first thing we will do when we come to Mount Wutai is to visit the Hall of Manjusri, worshiping Manjushri. After that, we'll go to Wuye Temple, where the incense is most prosperous in Wutai Mountain. After that, follow the path all the way up the mountain, where the royal monastery Summit Bodhisattva awaits you.
On the mountain, you can see the famous landmark of Mount Wutai --- the Great White Pagoda, and a clear panoramic view of Taihuai Town. Slowly descending along the stairs, the towering trees, buildings with red walls and golden tiles, you will find this sacred place of Buddha is mysterous and attractive. After walking down the mountain, if you still have enough time, you can visit Luohou Temple, Xiantong Temple, and Tayuan Temple.
Day 6 Mount Wutai
Grand worship of Mount Wutai: Wanghai Peak, Guanyue Peak, Jinxiu Peak, Yedou Peak, Cuiyan Peak
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Wutai area
After breakfast, continue your second-day visit to Mount Wutai. You will take the Scenic Shuttle Bus to visit the five peaks - Wanghai Peak in the east (Wanghai Temple) where visitors standing on the top of the peak can appreciate the height of 2,795 meters, Guanyue Peak (Falei Temple) in the west, Jinxiu Peak (Puji Temple) in the south, Yedou Peak (Lingying Temple) in the north which is the highest point of Mount Wutai, as well being the highest in Northern China, at 3,058 meters, Cuiyan Peak (Yanjiao Temple) in the middle.
The worship to the five peaks is called Dachaotai which means Grand Worship. The Buddhist take it as a holy way to show their sincerity and bring their respect to the Buddha.
After the visit, you will take the shuttle bus down to the hill and back to your hotel for rest.
Note: As it will takes a full day to travel among 5 peaks of Mount Wutai, it is an exausting day. If your physical condition is not suitable for the grand worship of Mount Wutai, please adivse us in advance to adjust the itinerary for you.
Day 7 Mount Wutai - Taiyuan - Hefei - Mount Jiuhua
Drive to Taiyuan, Take hi-speed rail to Hefei, Drive to Mount Jiuhua
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Jiuhua area
Say goodbye to Mount Wutai and continue your trip to the next holy mountain. You will be transferred to Taiyuan, where you will take high speed train to Hefei. Your driver will meet you at Hefei High Speed Train Station and help you transfer to the Mount Jiuhua area, including hotel check-in. Have a good rest for the following trip.
Details in the itinerary:
1. Mount Wutai - Taiyuan High Speed Train Station: 200km, 2.5 hours driving
2. Hefei High Speed Train Staion - Mount Jiuhua: 230km, 3 hours driving
Day 8 Mount Jiuhua
Jiuhua Street Scenic Area, Huacheng Temple, Diyuan Temple, Five Hundred Arhats Hall, Incarnation Hall, Longevity Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Jiuhua area
After breakfast, you will take the shuttle bus up to Jiuhua Street Scenic Area where is the gathering place of historic figures and cultural heritage. You would find the most important temples here, such as Huacheng Temple, Diyuan Temple and Five Hundred Arhats Hall. In addition to temples, there are schools, hotels, shops, farmhouses, visitors can stay here and make it a starting point to explore the mountain attractions
After lunch, you will play an easy walk along the stone plank up to Incarnation Hall which is a Buddhist shrine for worshipping the Bodhisattva Dizang (Ksitigarbha). Then, you will take the cable car up to Longevity Palace. You will be surprised by the unique combination of rock and construction, architecture and mountains. After the tour, take the cable car down to the hill and back to your hotel for rest.
Day 9 Mount Jiuhua
Minyuan Scenic Area, Tiantai Temple, Dayuan Culture Theme Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Jiuhua area
Today, you will have an exploration of the Minyuan Scenic Area and take the cable car up to Tiantai Peak where you will visit the Tiantai Temple where is the most essential place in Mount Jiuhua. You will not only experience the strong atmosphere of Buddhism but would be astonished by the magnificent natural view. Take cable car down at noon.
After lunch, you will continue the visit to Dayuan Culture Theme Park where you will acquaint the most comprehensive culture of Ksitigarbha, and you will also see its symbolic spot - the 99 meters bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Back to your hotel after the trip.
Day 10 Mount Jiuhua - Hangzhou - Mount Putuo
Take the hi-speed rail to Hangzhou, Private transfer to Zhujiajian Pier, Take ferry boat to Putuoshan Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Putuo area
After breakfast, please check out and you will be transferred to the Chizhou railway station for the hi-speed rail to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, your driver will pick you up from the station and drive to Zhujiajian Pier for the ferry boat to Mount Putuoshan which is regarded to be the ashram of Avalokite?vara, one of the four bodhisattvas.
Your local guide will meet you at the pier when you arrive and help you check in the hotel. Enjoy your free leisure time to explore the small island.
The lunch would be served at a local restaurant en route.
Details in the itinerary:
1. Chizhou - Hangzhou by the hi-speed rail: 2 hours and 40 minutes journey
2. Hangzhou - Zhujiajian Pier by the private transfer: 240km, 3.5 hours
Day 11 Mount Putuo
Huiji Temple, Fayu Temple, Puji Temple, Purple Bamboo Forest, Giant Avalokitesvara Buddha Statue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mount Putuo area
Today, you will have a full day to visit Mount Putuo. Here, you can see a few temples, nunneries as well as monasteries. The beautiful landscapes along with the charm concerned with Buddhism make Putuo a sacred mountain.
In the morning, you will first visit Huiji Temple - the third largest temple. Then, pay an easy walk down the steps along Xiangyun Road to Fayu Temple which is the second largest temple in Putuo Mountain. And you could appreciate the finest Buddhist hall in the country - Jade Buddhist Hall.
After lunch, you will continue the afternoon visit to Puji Temple which is one of the most popular temples with the most burning incense on Putuo Mountain, as well as the largest and oldest temple. Continue the visit to Purple Bamboo Forest - the residence place of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) & Giant Avalokitesvara Buddha Statue - a 33 meters golden statue standing.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel and have a free evening on your own arrangement.
Day 12 Mount Putuo - Shanghai, Departure
Transfer to Shanghai for departure
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, please check out and you will be transferred to the pier for the ferry boat to Zhujiajian Pier. Your driver will pick you up from the pier and then drive to Shanghai Pudong airport directly for your flight home.
Details in the itinerary:
Zhujiajian Pier - Shanghai Pudong International Airport: 320km, 4 hours
Service ends