Day 1 Arrival at Beijing
On your arrival at Beijing Airport. Our guide will hold a sign with your name waiting for you at Exit. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Day 2 Beijing (B+L)
This morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel. You will visit the Tiananmen Square firstly. Tiananmen Square is the world's largest city center square and was the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. Then go through an underground tunnel to the imperial palace, also known as the "Forbidden City", which functioned as the house of emperors and their families, and also the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for up to 500 years.In the afternoon, move on to the Temple of Heaven, which covers an area of 273 hectares which is four times larger than the Forbidden City. It was used to hold a memorial ceremony for the God in Winter Solstice Festival and to pray for harvest in the first month of the lunar year by the emperors in Ming and Qing dynasties. It is China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven.
Day 3 Beijing (B+L)
After breakfast, start to drive to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huai Rou County on the north-east of Beijing. This section of the Great Wall is about 75 KM from the center of Beijing. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.In the afternoon, head back to Beijing city. Visit the Summer Palace, the Summer Palace is known as the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony, it has been included in World Heritage List in December 1998. It stated that the Summer Palace "a masterpiece of China landscape garden layout. Natural landscape of hills and open water is along with man-made features like pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to create a harmonious ensemble of remarkable aesthetic value.On the way back to your hotel. You will have a short visit to see the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube - the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games.
Day 4 Beijing to Xian (B+L+D)
After breakfast, you'll forget about the skyscrapers and construction cranes of modern Beijing as you venture into Beijing Old Hutong, where the atmosphere of Old Peking lives on for generations. You'll ride rickshaws down narrow lanes and alleyways, past vegetable markets, traditional medicine shops and tiny, wooden teahouses.After lunch, transfer to the Beijing West Railway Station for the 5.5 hours high speed train to Xian. On your arrival, our local guide will pick you up and transfer to the hotel.
Day 5 Xian (B+L)
After breakfast, pick up from the hotel. Then drive to visit famous and must-see spot, the Terra-Cotta Warriors, which is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
Back to Xian city, visit the Big Goose Pagoda. A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India.
Continue to visitt Xian Ancient City Wall, which is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world and the most complete ancient city wall in China. And today, the city wall is regarded as a landmark dividing the Xian city into the inner part and the outer part. You are free to take the bicycle around the city wall at your own expenses(optional)
Day 6 Xian to Lhasa (B)
After breakfast, pick up from the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Take fligh to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. On your arrival, transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. The rest day is free for you to get accustomed to the Tibetan climate and altitude.
Day 7 Lhasa (B+L)
Today you will visit the highlights of The Potala Palace, The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street.Potala Palace: This ancient architectural complex is considered a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa. The stone-and-wood-structured Potala Palace consists of the White Palace and Red Palace. The White Palace, comprising halls, temples and courtyards, serves as the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. The Red Palace includes various chambers for worshipping Buddha and chambers housing the eight stupa that contain the remains of fifth through thirteenth Dalai Lama. All the stupas are covered with gold foil. The most magnificent stupa belongs to the fifth Dalai Lama. It is 14.85 meters tall and inlaid with pearl and jade. The palace also collected a large number of sculptures, murals, scripture and other valuable cultural relics.Jokhang Temple is one of the spiritual center of Tibet,It lies at the center of the old Lhasa, Everyday pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple,Some of them even progress prostrate by body length to the threshold of the temple.The temple keeps many invaluable cultural relics. The most famous and valuable one is the Sakyamuni statue aged 12, which is devout Tibetans by thousands of pilgrims day and night. After then, stroll around the around the temple is the Barkhor Street, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet.Barkhor Street : The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled. Walking around the Jokhang Temple is said that it can bring prosperity and peace to one's whole life. The street is lined with huge numbers of shops selling various kinds of tourist stuff with Tibetan style - skybeads and much more.?
Day 8 Lhasa (B+L)
Today you will visit Norbulingka ,Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum, The Carpet Factory.Norbulingka Park: It is located in the western suburbs of Lhasa city. "Norbu" in Tibetan language means " treasure". "Lingka" means a park with beautiful trees and flowers. It once served as the summer palace for dalai lamas from 7th Dalai Lama who first built the palace. Then come out to visit the 14th Dalai Lama's palace through another gate. The 14th Dalai Lama went to India in 1959. People visit the rooms in the palace one by one. When he left Tibet in 1959, he was only 25 years old. From the picture hanging on the wall of the assembly room, he was once a handsome man.Sera Monastery: It is at the foot of Tatipu Hill, located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City.The pilgrimage in front of Jokhang Temple It is one of three famous monasteries in Lhasa along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. The Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism studies Buddhist doctrines using a step-by-step process. As a part of their study, lamas must participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of study. The debating traditions in the Sera Monastery are unique among the three famous monasteries in Lhasa. Debates are conducted by the lamas in the monastery every day beginning at 3.a.m. In a battle of words, they supplement their efforts by using a variety of gestures including clapping their hands, pushing their partners for an answer, or plucking their prayer beads to win the virtue of the Buddha. For a clear view of this unique event, an early arrival is recommended.Tibet Museum: It is located to the south-east of Norbulingka. It is a Tibetan structure museum. It has three exhibition floors. It has abundant historical relics and treasures including prehistoric culture, united culture, culture and art, customs. They offer the audio guide service. You can use the audio to get a better understanding of the some important history and relics. It is a must for those who is interested in Tibetan history.
Day 09 Lhasa - Chongqing (B)
take a flight to Chongqing. Our Chongqing guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to check in the 5-star President No. 8 cruise ship. The ship will set sail at 22:00 around, so you may take your time to rest early or search for your favorite food outside. Your guide will be glad to give advice.
Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise (B+L+D)
Today, you will get a chance to land at the Shibaozhai at 14:00 around. The onshore visit will enable you to witness the majestic and delicate wooden tower along with the giant rock. The unique tower, first built in Wanli reign of Ming Dynasty, is regarded as a fairy land in Yangtze River. Then we will return to the ship, and the rest time is left to you to appreciate the riverside scenery. In the evening, you will be invited to attend the Captain’s Welcome Party, and entertained by the wonderful performances.
Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise (B+L+D)
Today's cruise will sail to Qutang Gorge first, the narrowest gateway of Three Gorges, which features for its majestic charms. Then move forward to Wu Gorge, the neatest part of the whole passage, bewitching visitors with its elegance. You will be totally lost in the enchanting scenery, especially the Shennong Stream. Board a pea boat, drift down along the stream, and get yourself into a gallery of rolling hills along with crystal water. Then you will return to the ship and keep sailing to the western Xiling Gorge section, where you can capture the rosy sunset scene. The sip will stop at Sanduoping at night, and leave for the dam in the next morning.
Day 12 Yichang - Shanghai (B+L)
After the breakfast, you will debark at the well-known Three Gorges Dam. The majestic dam lies in the river like a giant rainbow, with valleys, islets and hills dotted around. You will be marveled at the great project. Then, pack your luggage on the ship and complete the check-out procedures. We will drive you to the Yichang airport for the scheduled flight to Shanghai, the final destination of your trip. You will be met by our guide in the airport, and you will check into the 4 stars Grand Mercure Shanghai Zhongya Hotel with the aid of our guide and driver.
Day 13 Shanghai (B+L)
Our first stop is the Shanghai Museum, which is truly a treasure house collecting numerous art works, especially noted for its bronze ware, sculptures, and calligraphy works and paintings. Afterwards, you will pay a visit to the typical of southern classic garden, Yuyuan. The garden itself and the collections inside attach great art value to the architecture and culture relic study. An a la carte fare well lunch (valued at CNY100.00 per person and included in our price) will be arranged in a local fancy restaurant. Head to the bund area, where you can appreciate the exotic architecture complex and sense the modernization of metropolis. Nanjing Road is the ideal pedestrian street for shopping, and after a short stay there, we will drop by the Tianzifang, an ancient cultural street. The street is developed from local residence area to a new art zone combing artistic centers, exotic restaurants and bars. Upon returning to the hotel our tour guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage.
Day 14 Departure from Shanghai (B)
Free at leisure until be transferred to the airport to see you off.
