Arrival in Beijing
After arriving in Beijing, you will be met and transferred you to your Hotel. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis that successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics. The guide will give you tips on local restaurants that we recommend and shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or explore Beijing on your own.
Visit Beijing
After breakfast visit Tian'anmen Square, the symbol of Beijing and one of highlights of any Beijing tour. A walk in the Square will help discover the many points of interest. There is much to see. Then you will have a good look at The Forbidden City, which is the destination for the afternoon. The Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed China for over 500 years for this the largest palace in the world. It is the "must see" in Beijing. After lunch, you will visit the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony.
Visit Beijing
First you will visit Temple of Heaven. It is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. You can see thousand of local people doing morning exercises including Tai Chi, dancing and Shuttlecock kicking. After that you will visit the Great Wall - Mutianyu Section which is less crowed than other sections. It is surrounded by wonderful landscape and has a rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers and the cable car provides a safe comfortable assent and decent
Beijing-Xian
After breakfast, you will make the short trip to Hutong area where a rickshaw awaits to ride through the narrow alleys and passages. A visit to a local family is included then a walk over the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) to hear the explanation about the different thresholds that mark the entry to the courtyard houses. After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival in Xi’an, transfer to your hotel.
Visit Xian
After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off to the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. The repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. In the afternoon, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xi'an.
Visit Xian
First we will go to the Ancient City Wall. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre, it is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China. We operate this with bicycle. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall. 0And continue your tour to Forest of Stele Museum. It was originally built in Northern Song Dynasty (1090 A.D.) when a large Confucian collection of steles cut in A.D. 837 - the oldest existing texts of the Confucian classics - was moved to it for safekeeping. Spend the afternoon at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.
Xian-Lhasa
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. After arriving in Lhasa, transfer to your hotel. Please have a rest after you arrived in hotel in order to get used to altitude stress.
Visit Lhasa
First, we will visit Potala Palace. It is former winter home of the Dalai Lama, a vast, awe-inspiring maze of corridors and stairs leading through countless rooms of richly decorated statues, tombs, murals and antiques. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Note: you need to be fit for the long stairways. After lunch, we will go to Jokhang Temple. It smaller and more manageable than the Potala, this 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. Many locals pray here regularly; the Temple is surrounded by Barkhor Street and thronged with pilgrims and visitors. Then we will continue to Barkhor Street. Watch the pilgrims, wear local dress from many different parts of Tibet, as they circle clockwise around Jokhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate them near the front gate. Join the locals and visitors to shop for local goods at the colorful stalls, or relax in a coffee shop or tea house to enjoy the passing parade.
Visit Lhasa
First visit Sera Monastery. It is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place. And then continue our tour to Norbulingka. Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration. Then drive to Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). The grand Shoton Festival is hold in the early part of August every year. That is the busiest day there with crowds of people. It is an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of this festival.
Lhasa to Chongqing
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise
After breakfast, you will start your tour to Chongqing Zoo. It occupies an area of 45 hectares. There are 230 species with more than 4500 rare animals at the zoo including Golden hair monkeys and South China Tigers. In Panda Room, visitors can see the giant and lesser pandas and their offspring. In the mornings, many local people practice Tai chi at the zoo. Join them if you wish. Then continue to Ciqikou Old Town. This lively old area has been partly restored, and remains an authentic and busy community. The old wooden houses and narrow streets furthest from the river are mostly unimproved, closer to the river there are craft and souvenir shops, teahouses and music, and lots of local food and snacks. The locals certainly love their food – this is a good chance to try some. After lunch, visit Three Gorges Museum. The best exhibits are those on the history of the Yangtze and, of course, the Dam. It also houses some excellent stone and terracotta sculptures, art and interesting artifacts, items from the war years, and temporary exhibitions.
Yangtze Cruise
After breakfast, visit the Ghost City of Fengdu County on the moring. Fengdu is where the devil lives, according to Chinese legend. The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks. The only people here are those who make a living from visiting cruise boats. The Captain's Welcome Party will be held
Yangtze Cruise
Today you will take a small boat to Shennong Stream. Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. In the evening, various activities and performances are included on the cruise. Performances include costume shows, magic shows. Sichuan Opera and the Magical Mask Changing are sometimes included.
Yangtze-Yichang-Shanghai
Today first visit Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man. It has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities. When the cruise ends, you will be transferred to the airport and take a flight to Shanghai
Place & Transport: Shanghai
In the morning, start our tour to The Shanghai World Financial Center. It is a super tall skyscraper. It is a mixed use skyscraper, which will consist of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the lower floors. Then head to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which is much more interesting and impressive than its sounds. It tells the story of growth of the metropolis, explains her foundation, development and future in 1 to 2 hours. In the afternoon, take a relaxing walk to the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. You will pass the Yuyuan Market. It is also a shopper's paradise with many small shops, often housed in authentic historic structures and selling everything from furniture to porcelain. After that, we will go directly to the Bund - the old colonial sector, which is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. It is a must-see when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.
Departure from Shanghai
You wil be transferred to the airport ready for your departure.
