2-Day Shanghai Bullet Train Trip to Qufu and Mount Tai with Accommodation

See the highlights of Qufu and Tai'an on this 2 day private tour from Shanghai by bullet train. Stay overnight in Qufu, learn about the the history of the region and Confucius culture as you visit the World Cultural Heritage sites including Temple of Confucius, Confucius Family Mansion and Confucius Cemetery. At Mount Tai, take the panoramic cable car up to the Jade Emperor Peak, admire ancient monasteries as you travel to Jade Emperor Temple, Song Dynasty Bixia Temple and more. This private tour including English speaking tour guide, transportation fee, entrance fee, cable car round trip, local lunch, train tickets, one night accommodation in Qufu. You can choose to finish your tour in Tai'an, Qufu or back to Shanghai

Itinerary

Day 1: Shanghai - Qufu(L)

Stop At: Confucius Temple, Shendao Road, Qufu 273100 China
Your driver will transfer you from your hotel in Shanghai to the Train Station. Take the morning train to Tai'an(4 hours.)

Upon arrival, your local tour guide will hold your name sign waiting for you at the exit of the arrival hall.

Enjoy a lunch in the near by restaurant. Your first stop is the Temple of Confucius which was first built in 478BC to commemorate Confucius. The temple has been reconstructed over the centuries. In total, it has undergone 15 major renovations, 31 large repairs, and numerous small building measures. More than 300 buildings erected through the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple was built according to the specification for imperial palaces with yellow roof-tiles and red-painted walls, they are surrounded by dark-green pine trees to create a color contrast with complementary colors.

Stroll around the halls and courtyards with your tour guide, learn about the symbolic significance of the architecture,  admire the statue of Confucius, pay a visit to the stone tablets, steles and pavilions, discover Confucius' life experience, and many other historic and cultural items related to Confucius and Confucius culture.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kong Mansion, In the center of QuFu, Qufu 273100 China
Then, walk through the small market continue to explore the Kong Family Mansion.The descendants of Confucius live here and they were in charge of conducting elaborate religious ceremonies on occasions such as plantings, harvests, honoring the dead, and birthdays. The first mansion was built in 1038 and was originally connected directly to the temple. The family mansion was inhabited by descendants of Confucius until 1937.Today, the mansion comprises 152 buildings with 480 rooms. 
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Confucius' Parents' Cemetery, Fangshan Country, Qufu 273100 China
Your last stop is the Confucian Cemetery. Confucian Cemetery has served as the family graveyard of Confucius and his descendants for more than two thousand years. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved single-family cemetery in China. This final resting place of Confucius and his descendants is commonly known as the Forest of Confucius because of the large number of trees, over 20,000, planted with numerous tombstones, temples, pavilions and sculptures. There are about 3,600 tombstones dating from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties still standing in the cemetery.

After the tour finished, you will be transferred to your hotel in Qufu.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight accommodation at 4 Star hotel in Qufu

Day 2: Qufu- Tai'an-Shanghai(B. L)

Stop At: Taishan Geological Park, Within Taishan District, Taishan District, Tai'an 271002 China
Your tour guide and driver will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel and travel to Mount Tai directly(1.5 hours)

From Taishan Tourists Center, take the shuttle bus to halfway point on the mountain - Mid-Heaven Gate (Zhongtianmen) which takes about 30 minutes.

Then take the panoramic cable-car to the South Heaven Gate (Nantianmen), which brings you an amazing view of the nearby rolling peaks.

Accompanied by your tour guide, stroll around the Jade Emperor Peak. Admire the stone tablets and inscriptions in the area. Walk to Jade Emperor Temple, which was built in honor of the Jade Emperor of Taoism. Explore the Bixia Temple which was built at the year of 1008 during the Song Dynasty. It is the one of the masterpieces among Taoist buildings and represents the high constructing level of ancient Chinese architecture. Gain insight history of Taoism in China and its influence of Chinese culture. 

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Descending from the Jade Emperor Peak to the foot of the mountain.  Your tour guide will take you to Tai'an Railway Station for your bullet train ride back to Shanghai. You also can choose to finish your tour in Tai'an or Qufu when make booking.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.