Driving Route: Beijing – Datong – Taiyuan – Pingyao – Hukou - Xi’an – Dengfeng – Qufu – Rizhao – Qingdao - Weihai (Rongcheng) – Yantai – Jixian - Beijing
Best Time to Visit: June to August
Day 1 Beijing
Day 2 Beijing
Day 3 Beijing - Beijing Campervan Camp
Day 4 Beijing Campervan Camp - Datong (340 kilometers, 5 hours on the expressway)
Day 5 Jinhuagong Mineral Museum - Hanging Temple (100 kilometers, 1.5 hours, 3/4 of the time on the expressway)
Day 6 Hanging Temple - Laiyuan (140 kilometers, 2 hours, on the expressway in mountains)
Day 7 Laiyuan
Day 8 Laiyuan - Taiyuan - Pingyao (450 kilometers, 6 hours on the expressway)
Head for the Ancient City of Pingyao in the morning.
The Ancient City of Pingyao (UNESCO), a well-preserved ancient Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, is a must-see attraction for you. You will admire the Ancient City Wall built with bricks and stones. Approach to Rishengchang Bank - the first bank of China, and get impressed by the Old Government Buildings. The courtyard houses, narrow streets, and small shops in the city provide a complete picture of China’s cultural and social lifestyle during that period of time.
En route, if you like, you may visit the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan. After arriving in Pingyao, you may wander around Pingyao city on your own.
Park at the parking lot of the Shangdong Eastern Gate.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 9 Pingyao (380 kilometers on the expressway)
Day 10 Pingyao - Hukou (330 kilometers on the expressway)
Day 11 Hukou - Xi’an (340 kilometers on the expressway)
After breakfast, visit the Hukou Waterfall on your own and then head for Xi’an. After arrival, take a bus to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Snack Street. For dinner, you will enjoy the world-known Jiaozi (Dumpling) Banquet.
Park at the parking lot of the Hancheng Lake Resort.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 12 Xi’an - Lintong (40 kilometers on the expressway)
Day 13 Lintong - Luoyang (350 kilometers on the expressway)
Visit the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses in the morning and then drive to Luoyang.
You will pass through the Sanmenxia City and if you like, you can visit the Sanmenxia Dam on the Yellow River, traditional cave houses, and the Guo State Museum.
Park at the Longmen Grottoes Auto Camp.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 14 Luoyang - Dengfeng (80 kilometers on the expressway)
In the day, you will visit the Longmen Grottoes and the Shaolin Temple.
The Longmen Grottoes is one of the Three Major Buddhist Grottoes in China. Carved 1500 years ago, the grottoes are the long-established art form which plays a significant role in the evolution of Buddism in Asian. It has over 100,000 Buddhist images and statues inside.
The Shaolin Temple (UNESCO) is world-famous for its connection with Chinese martial arts - Shaolin Kung Fu. China’s biggest pagoda forest also lies in Shaolin Temple, which is a concentration of more than 240 tomb pagodas for abbots and eminent monks of the temple.
At night, if you like, you will enjoy a show of martial arts by monks from the Shaolin Temple.
Park at the parking lot of the Chanwu Hotel in Dengfeng.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 15 Dengfeng - Qufu (460 kilometers on the expressway)
Day 16 Qufu
Today, you will visit the Temple of Confucian, the Kong Family’s Mansion, and the Cemetery of Confucius.
The Temple of Confucian is built on the site of Confucius' former residence, and recognized as the first Temple of Confucius in the history. It has a wide influence on the typical oriental architectures.
The Kong Family’s Mansion was used to be the residence of Confucius and his families. The Mansion boasts luxury furnishings, exquisite decorations, and precious cultural relics.
The Cemetery of Confucius is the largest family cemetery with the longest history in the world. There rested Confucius and his descendants.
Park at the Qufu Shimenshan Auto Camp.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 17 Qufu - Rizhao (290 kilometers on the expressway)
After breakfast, set off to Rizhao, a coastal city along the Yellow Sea and a major seaport in China. Rizhao, with its name meaning “sunshine”, was recognized by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world in 2009.
Park at the Sunshine Coastal Camp Park.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 18 Rizhao - Qingdao (140 kilometers on the expressway)
Have a rest in Rizhao in the morning and set off to Qingdao, a seaport city with a rich history, attractive coastal landscape, and European architecture. Qingdao hosted the Sailing Regattas of the 29th Olympic Games in 2008 and the International Horticultural Exposition in 2014. The city is also an annual host of the International Sailing Week, SINO CES, and the International Beer Festival. Popular attractions here include mystical Mount Lao, Tsingtao Brewery Museum, and Zhongshan Park.
There is a 26-kilometer sea-crossing bridge on the way to the camp.
Park at the Mount Lao Baique Shengtai Auto Camp.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 19 Qingdao
Visit Mount Lao in the morning and enjoy seafood at a local distinguished seafood restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to visit a local Christian cathedral, Catholic cathedral, and the Tsingtao Brewery Museum.
Park at the Mount Lao Baique Shengtai Auto Camp.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 20 Qingdao - Rongcheng (260 kilometers on the expressway)
In the morning, drive to Rongcheng, a city on the east end of China.
Rongcheng is actually one of the most affluent regions in Shandong. It started out as a fishing village on the east end of China. Blessed with coastal line cliffs, sea breeze and close proximity to Qingdao airport, Rongcheng has led Shangdong’s eco-tourism. The city’s fishing folklore exploration is second to none.
Today, you will visit the Dongchu Island Village built in the late Ming Dynasty(1573-1620). 650 seaweed houses here, time-honored and well-reserved, are second to none, including buildings at the Zukuri Folk Village, a World Heritage site in Japan.
After the visit to the village, visit a local marine farm.
Park at the parking lot of the Seaside Park.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 21 Rongcheng
Drive to an orchard to pick strawberries, grapes, figs, and other fruit and vegetables. Then head for the Naxianghai Beach. After arrival, the time is yours. You have a lot of fun activities to do either at the beach or in the sea. Enjoy the sunshine, seawater, and warm springs.
Park at the Naxianghai International Resort.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 22 Rongcheng - Weihai - Yangma Island (100 kilometers)
Drive to the two time-honored cities - Weihai and Yantai. Both are recognized by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world. In Weihai, you will visit the Liugong Island, the “birthplace of China’s first modern navy.” Pleasant weather and splendid landscape here make the island an ideal summer retreat.
After the visit, drive across a sea-crossing bridge to the Yangma Island in Yantai.
Park at the parking lot of the White Horse Square.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 23 Yantai
Day 24 Yantai - Dongying (350 kilometers on the expressway)
Day 25 Dongying - Beijing (430 kilometers on the expressway)
In the morning, drive to the Huangyaguan Great Wall. Huangyaguan Great Wall is considered to be a miniature of the Great Wall of China. In this section, you can find the stone base built in the Northern Qin Dynasty (550 - 557) and the brick battlements in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).
Park at a parking lot nearby the Great Wall.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 26 Ji’xian - Eastern Qing Tombs - Xinglong (150 kilometers, 2.5 hours on the expressway)
In the morning, walk along the Huangyaguan and Taipingzhai Great Wall to admire the amazing scenery. In the afternoon, visit the Eastern Qing Tombs, the largest, most complete, and best-preserved extant mausoleum complex in China.
Park at the Shanzhashu Zhi Lian Campervan Camp at Xinglong County.
Overnight in the campervan.
Day 27 Xinglong - Beijing (210 kilometers, 4 hours on the expressway and state roads.)
1) Documents and approval for self-driving in China
2) China temporary driving permit
3) Campervan usage (including compulsory traffic insurance, fixed third party liability insurance)
4) 01 English-speaking guide service and 01 maintenance worker service
5) Bus service for city tour and airport transfers in Beijing
6) Entry tickets of the following attractions (Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Huangyaguan Great Wall, Yungang Grottoes, Jinhuagong Mineral Museum, Hanging Temple, Baishishan National Geographical Park, Pingyao Ancient Town, Hukou Waterfall, Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall in Xi’an, Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses，Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple, Temple of Confucian, the Kong Family’s Mansion, the Cemetery of Confucius，Tsingtao Brewery Museum, marine farm, Penglai Pavilion, Mt Laoshan, Liugong Island,fruit picking in Rongcheng.)
7) Meals as listed in the schedule (excluding drinks, beverages)
8) 4 star hotel accommodations in Beijing (twin share basis, single room supplement will be additionally charged)
9) Night parking fee for campervans
10) Support vehicle
1) International flight/trains
2) Campervan fuel charges, road toll and parking fees along the route except at night
3) Meals that not listed
4) Entry tickets that not listed
5) Hotel accommodations that not listed
6) Travel insurance
7) Personal expense
8) Tips for tour guide and maintenance worker