16 Days Beijing Xian Lhasa Chengdu Yangtze and Shanghai Tour

Hello, welcome to Beijing, China! The capital city Beijing is an international and modern city, while at the same time boasting numerous ancient sites. After transferring to your hotel, you may explore Beijing a bit yourself.

• Hotels: Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, Beijing Aman Summer Palace, Beijing Fairmont Hotel

Tian'anmen Square

Travel back in time to visit the Old Beijing. Cross the Tiananmen Square to the see the portrait of Chairman Mao and then walk intothe Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, converted from the perfectly-preserved Ming and Qing Imperial Palace. Get to know its history and admire the beautiful architecture and cultural treasures. Your guide will also lead you to climbJingshan Hillfor a full view of Forbidden City.

In the afternoon, take a rickshaw ride through the crisscross hutong. The winding, narrow lanes are lined with traditional courtyards, where you can see the friendly locals are playing chess, selling traditional snacks, and the dogs and cats enjoying quiet and sweet time.

SavorBeijing Roast Duckfor dinner(optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Forbidden City

The altars for rulers of Ming and Qing Dynasty to pray for a prosperous year, Temple of Heaven is the most spectacular religious building in China and the finest example of Ming Architecture.

One of the most remarkable ancient man-made projects on earth, the Great Wall like a giant flying dragon traversing the mountains of north China. Ascend Mutianyu Great Wall (cable way included) and imagine how ancient people fought and survived during wars with this barrier.

See a Kung Fu evening Show to experience Shaolin martial arts (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Great Wall

The riverside Summer Palace was a royal garden and a summer resort for the emperors of Qing Dynasty. Appreciate its imposing architectures and beautiful landscapes when walking around, and take a boat at Kunming Lake for relaxation.

Enjoy a high speed train journey to Xian, one of the four great ancient capitals of China and ever witnessed the historical prosperity of Silk Road.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

Summer Palace with Dragon Boat Cruise

Visit the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which is actually an ancient tomb to house the big “army” of Emperor Qinshihuang. The life-sized terracotta figures were perfectly carved and the replacement of human sacrifices in the feudal society.

Tour the Old City Wall of Xian, or known as the Ming Dynasty City Wall dating to 600 years ago. Ascend the Wall hung with red lanterns through one of its 18 gates, and see the watching towers, and other historical buildings.

Explore the bustling Muslim Quarter, a famous food street with a dazzling array of local snacks to taste, and lined with both Muslim and traditional Chinese buildings.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Terracotta Warriors Museum

Admire Big Wild Goose Pagoda inside Ci'en Temple - used to be the most famous and grandest temple in ancient Xian and built to keep the Buddhist classics brought back from India by Xuanzang. Thereafter, learn to make and cook dumpling at a local family. Dumpling is the most popular traditional Chinese food, easy to make, and tastes delicious.

Fly to Lhasa, the highest land in the world. Acclimate the new climate, relax, and listen to your guide’s advice on how to prevent altitude sickness.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa, The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise

Dumpling Making Experience

Visit Norbulingka, the Summer Palace in Lhasa for Dalai Lama to cool off in summer. Apart from its beautiful architecture, this Tibetan style garden boasts over 100 species of plants, with some that are transplanted from the Himalaya.

Then admire Sera Monastery, which is one of the six great monasteries of the gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. There are numerous Tibetan Buddhism relics including thousands of Buddha sculptures. Also visit Drepung Monastery, the biggest temple in Tibet and one of the most beautiful examples of Tibetan Buddhist architecture.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Norbulingka

Go on a pilgrimage to Potala Palace, the signature highlight of a Tibet tour. It is the largest ancient castle complex in Tibet that incorporates palaces and temples, and has the highest elevation (at 3700m). Walk between its red and white places to appreciate its art and culture valuables.

Then visit Jokhang Temple. Built 1300 years ago during the Tubo Period, it is the extant earliest civil structure construction, and also blends the architecture style of ancient China, Nepal and India. It is because of Jokhang Temple that Lhasa is honored as the holy city.

Afterwards, roam around the Barkhor Street, known as the “sacred way” among Tibetans, where the traditional dwellings are well kept and the peaceful traditional lifestyle can be experienced.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Potala Palace

Free at leisure in Lhasa. You may explore the city yourself and bask under a truly blue sky. Transfer to the airport and fly to Chengdu – an energetic modern city but full of cultural relics. Moreover, it is the native place of giant pandas.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Buddha Zen Hotel Chengdu, Fairmont Chengdu, Grand Hyatt Chengdu

Sumtsaling Monastery

Enjoy a happy morning with the adorable giant pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center. Get to know the knowledge of giant panda and see them having breakfast and playing on the grassland.

Then visit a Three Kingdom Period (220-280) historical site. The Wuhou Ancestral Hall, a temple to memorize Emperor Liubei and the legendary “Zhuge Liang”, is the only one in China that a monarch and his minster are worshiped at the same temple.

Later have a brisk stroll through Jinli Old Street featuring cobbled alleys, ancient architectures, quaint tea houses and traditional handicrafts shops.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center

Experience Chengdu’s laidback atmosphere and glimpse local lifestyle at Chengdu People’s Park. The scenic park is very popular among locals who drink tea and enjoy playing chess, playing mahjong or other activities. Savor a cup of tea at a quaint, elegant teahouse and have chance to see the unique Sichuan tea ceremony.

Visit Du Fu Cottage, a shrine for scholars in history, as it is the former resident of Du Fu, one of ancient China’s greatest poets.

Take bullet train to Chongqing, pick up and transfer to the Chaotianmen Pier. Go on aboard Yangtze cruise ship. You can choose a standard five star ship or the best ship name Yangzi Explorer.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

A tea house in Chengdu

Enjoy a refreshing morning with tea or coffee, and clean air. Participate in the onboard leisure or cultural activities, such as Tai Chi practice (taught by a master) and attending the lecture of Yangtze River history. In the afternoon go ashore to visit Shibaozhai Pagoda, a spectacular wooden architecture wonder beside Yangtze River, with a history of about 400 years.

Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Party with great foods and drinks, and entertaining performances.

Optional shore excursion today: Fengdu Ghost City, the “home of the dead” for over 2000 years.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Relax at the spacious sun deck and take in the beautiful “Three Gorge” landscape when sailing through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. And take small boats to slide into Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream) with primitive and serene natural scenery, and encounter local ethnic minority tribes.

Free at leisure and enjoy a delightful evening with Captain’s Farewell Party.

Optional shore excursion to White Emperor City is recommended to Chinese culture enthusiasts. It is known as a city of poem and boasts a wealth of Ming and Qing dynasties architectures.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Yangtze River Cruise

After breakfast on board, check out and disembark. Before your Yangtze cruise finally ends, transfer toThree Gorge Dam, a highlight of the cruise voyage, to wonder at the largest hydropower project in the world.

Meet your local guide of Yichang and transfer to Sanyou Cave Cliff. Three famous poets traveled and wrote poems on the cliff in this karst cave in Tang Dynasty, hence the name. Outside the cave, there are also other cultural relics.

Fly to Shanghai and melt into its enticing night view.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Grand Central Hotel Shanghai

Yangtze River

Visit Shanghai Museum, collecting ancient Chinese culture and art treasures. Ancient bronze ceramics and works of calligraphy and painting are the highlights of the museum.

Then experience traditional Chinese horticulture at the Ming Dynasty Yu Garden, where the ancient structures with carved eaves, windows and gates are well preserved. Shanghai’s old streets, known as the Town God Temple area, embrace Yu Garden with beautiful Qing Dynasty buildings, food stalls and souvenir shops.

Thereafter, see “the Universal Expo of architectures” on the Bund – the 52 colonial architectures of different styles have become a symbol of Shanghai. Ascend Shanghai World Financial Center to overlook the Huangpu River and Shanghai’s skyline.

Enjoy the wonderful Shanghai acrobaticsshow at night (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Shanghai World Financial Center

It is the end of your China discovery holiday. Meet your private guide and driver at hotel for a transfer to the airport. Fly back home safely.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Pudong area