3-Day Mongol Empire Capital of Xanadu Tour from Beijing

Day 01 Beijing - Taibus Banner - Zhenglan Banner (L, D)

 

Early morning pick up from your hotel in Beijing and head to Taibus Banner, which is 330 kilometers northwest of Beijing. Taibus Banner has a picturesque tourism zone known as "Taipusi Qi Yumayuan" which is well known for its memerizing Baolage Grassland.

 

Arriving at Baolage Grassland, you will receive a welcoming ceremony. They will present each of you a silver cup of wine and Hada (white or blue silk scarves which are tokens of greetings in Inner Mongolia).

 

After lunch, you will watch the wrestling and horse racing performances. Then you will continue to drive to Zhenglan Qi, a historical city in Inner Mongolia. Stay overnight in Zhenglan Qi (Plain Blue Banner).

 

Day 02 Zhenglanqi to Xanadu (20km) to Duolun(30km) (B, L, D)

 

After breakfast, visit Shangdu (Xanadu) Museum 5 km south of the site of Xanadu. The museum is focused on the Yuan Dynasty culture, Shangdu (Xanadu) as well as Zhenglan Qi as the main body. The museum has a rich collection of valuable antiques in Yuan Dynasty in addition to the collections from local government and the Inner Mongolia Association of antiques and artifacts.

 

Then move on to the Site of the Yuan Dynasty Upper Capital (Shangdu or Xanadu). Today, only ruins remain, surrounded by a grassy mound that was once the city walls.The layout of the capital is roughly square shaped with sides of about 2,200 m; it consists of an "outer city", and an "inner city" in the southeast of the capital which has also roughly a square layout with sides about 1,400 m, and the palace, where Kublai Khan stayed in summer. The palace has sides of roughly 550 m, covering an area of around 40% the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing. 

 

Free time in Jinlianchuan Prairie. It is the most beautiful grassland in Inner Mongolia. Drive to Duolun County, 30km southeast of Xanadu. Duolun County is an ancient county under the administration of Xilin Gol League. It administrates 2 townships, 3 villages with a popuation of 300, 000 people with ethnic groups composed of Han Chinese, Hui, Uygur, Tibetan etc.

 

Stay overnight at Duolun County (30km southeast of Xanadu)

 

Day 03 Duolun to Taipusi Qi (150km) to Beijing (330km) (B, L)

 

After breakfast, you will visit Huizong Temple. Huizong Temple was originally built in Duolun by the Kangxi emperor in 1711, and it was staffed by monks from the 120 banners of Mongolia. In the past Duolun (Dolonnor) was also nicknamed "Lama miao", or "Lama temple," named after the many temples located there. One of the two famous temples is Huizong Temple (Koke Monastery).

 

Then move on to Shanxi Guild Hall. After lunch, drive back to Beijing and end your pleasant trip to Xanadu.