Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Day 01Entry Beijing

Our guide will greet you at Beijing Capital Airport according to your international (internal) flight schedule. Once you claim your baggage(s), you will easily find him/her holding a welcome sign on which writes your name. Transfer you to the 4-star Holiday Inn Central Plaza (Address: No. 1 Caiyuanjie, Xuanwu District, Beijing, 100053) for 3 nights stay and please relax on your own for the rest of the day.

Meals: We do not arrange any meals for you today because of the different arrival flights.

Day 02Beijing

Stroll along the famous Tiananmen Square - the largest square in the world, and reach the Forbidden City. This afternoon, transfer to visit the Temple of Heaven.
 
Specials: Peking Roast Duck Banquet & Peking Opera Performance
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descriptions:
Tiananmen Square - Walking to the west of the Tiananmen Square and passing by the Great Hall of the People, travelers will find a huge egg which is the newly built National Center of the Performing Arts. This center about 118,900 square meters could hold over five thousand people. 
 
Forbidden City - The Five Element Theory is used in the construction of the Forbidden City. According to this theory, the color of yellow stands for country. So, the roofs of most buildings are yellow colored. Red represents the meaning of prosperity. Therefore, the pillars of the palaces are all red.
 
Temple of Heaven - As one of the must supporting buildings, the Hall of Abstinence of the Temple of Heaven is where the emperor resided to observe abstinence before worship. This building is facing to the east with green roof that the design is different from those ones in Forbidden City.

Day 03Beijing

Morning excursion transfers you to climb the China Great Wall - Badaling section. A spicy Sichuan cuisine lunch is served at a notable restaurant to recruit your physical energy. This afternoon, stroll across the Sacred Path and reach the Ming Tomb, which is factually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is world famous because thirteen emperors were buried there. Each tomb is similar in formation but different in size and complexity of the structure. On the way back to downtown, drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium). You will see its appearance at a distance. 
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Descriptions:
Great Wall - There are many legends about the Great Wall. “Meng Jiangnu cried down the Great Wall” is the most famous legend about the Great Wall. This story tells of the hard labor of Chinese ancient people, and reveals the merciless political system of during the rule of Emperor Qin Shihuang.

Figure of the terracotta warrior, Xian

Day 04Beijing - Xian

Bid farewell to the city after having a stay at the Summer Palace and seeing lovely Pandas in Beijing Zoo. Fly to Xian to appreciate China's long history. TCG guide will wait for you at Xian airport ahead of the flight schedule and transfer you to the 4-star Grand New World Hotel (Address: No. 172 Lianhu Rd., Xian, 710002) for 3 nights stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Descriptions:
Summer Palace - For visitors traveling in the Summer Palace, one of the stunning landscapes is the Seventeen-Arch Bridge (Shiqikong Qiao). Built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it connects the eastern shore of the Kunming Lake in the east and the Nanhu Island in the west.

Day 05Xian

Highlight morning excursion transfers you to visit the amazing Terracotta Soldiers Museum. This afternoon, visit the landmark of this city - Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a Buddhist pagoda used to store the sutras and figurines of the Buddhas that were brought from India by Xuanzang. Relax for the rest of the day.

Specials: A la carte lunch, Dumpling Banquet and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Performance (Address: No. 165, Wenyi Road, Xian, 710054)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descriptions:
Terracotta Soldiers Museum - The Terracotta Soldiers and Horses are a miniature of the Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of a united China. It ended the situation of the long-term fragmentation of the country, which accorded with the wishes of people in that period.

Day 06Xian

Have a whole morning tour to witness historical collections displayed in the Shaanxi History Museum. Then in the afternoon have a bird's view of this city on the City Wall, which is one of the most complete and largest ancient military systems of defense in the world, it now stands 12 meters (40 feet) tall, 12-14 meters (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 meters (50-60 feet) thick at the bottom. Have a tour around the best-preserved Islamic Great Mosque as the end of the day. 

Specials: A la carte lunch 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Descriptions:
Shaanxi History Museum - Two of the most significant dynasties, Qin and Tang, left their shadows deep in Shaanxi. The design of the Shaanxi History Museum emphasizes on the Tang architectural style, reflecting once a brilliant and majestic era ever shining in Chinese history.

Unique architecture of the Potala Palace, Lhasa

Day 07Xian - Lhasa

Proceed to the next stop after touring in the Hanyangling Museum near the Xianyang international airport if flight schedule allows. Fly to Lhasa, a Buddha holy land, to be exposed in the clear azure sky and collect your lifelong unforgettable memories. TCG guide will wait for you at the airport ahead of the flight schedule and transfer you to the 3-star ShangBaLa Hotel  (Address: No. 1 Danjielin Road, Lhasa, Tibet, 850001) for 3 nights stay. Adapt yourselves to the high altitude for the rest of the day. Enjoy your dinner at the hotel.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Descriptions:
Tibet - Tibet is the main part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which enjoys the fame of the "roof of the world”. The landform in the area is varied and complex. It can be generally divided into the Zangbei (northern Tibet) Plateau in the north, which covers two thirds of the whole Tibet; The Zangnan (southern Tibet) Valley, located between the Gangdise and the Himalayas; mountains and valleys in the eastern Tibet, an important section of Hengduan Mountains.

Day 08Lhasa

Have a morning excursion to Lhasa's main iconic imagery, Potola Palace, which consists of the white Palace and the Red Palace, the former including halls, temples and courtyards is the living space of Dalai Lama, the later is used to worship Buddha and keep stupa containing the remains of the Dalai Lama. Have a tour to the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park this afternoon. 
  
Specials: Western-style lunch, A la carte dinner 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descriptions:
Sera Monastery - Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in Lhasa City, the Sera Monastery is one of the three big monasteries in the city (the other two being the Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery). It was built by Jamchen Chojey, one of the followers of Tsong Khapa who founded the Gelugpa Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.
 
Norbulingka Park - Wandering inside the Norbulingka Park, you will be amazed at the unique architectural style of the Tibetan palaces. Most of the palaces were built under the reign of the Seventh Dalai Lama. Later the Eighth Dalai Lama extended the complexes and built some lakes, pavilions and bridges.

Our clients in Tibet Photo by our client Mr. Max Garrick

Day 09Lhasa

Drive east towards to visit the Jokhang Temple and reach the bustling Barkhor street at the end of the road. A leisure afternoon is scheduled to visit the Tibet Museum, Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital and the Carpet Factory. Dinner is arranged at the hotel and rest for the left day.
 
Specials: Western-style lunch 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descriptions:
Jokhang Temple - The Jokhang Temple is actually the center around which the city of Lhasa is developed. It has 4 storey with the roofs covered with gilded bronze tiles. The Nepal and Indian style of architecture was blended into the traditional architecture of Tang Dynasty. The graceful sculptures of human beings, animals, birds were carved on the beams. The old town area is the most prosperous district for Tibetans.
 
Tibet Museum - The museum shows to visitors the long history and glorious culture of Tibetan People from many points of view. The cultural heritages in it reflect the folk customs in Tibet and the close relationship between Tibetan and Han People.

Day 10Lhasa - Shanghai

Proceed to the next stop after having a Tibetan family visit. Fly to the prosperous Shanghai to feel the fashionable atmosphere. TCG guide will wait for you at the airport ahead of the flight schedule and transfer you to the 4-star Days Hotel Shanghai (Address: No 1558 Zhongxing Road, Shanghai 200070) for 2 nights stay. Relax for the rest of the day.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Descriptions:
Shanghai - Being a vigorous city, Shanghai enjoys unprecedented rising international prestige and influence. It is a preferred venue for holding various events. International sporting events like F1 Chinese Grand Prix and Tennis Masters Cup have been held here. The World Expo in 2010 will be held in Shanghai, which will be an excellent chance to showcase the achievement of the city to the world.

pilgrim Tibetans, Tibet

Day 11Shanghai

A whole day excursion covers the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden, the famous Bund area along the Huangpu River and a local family visit.  
 
Specials: Portman Acrobatic Show and a la carte farewell dinner at Wangbaohe restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descriptions:
Shanghai Museum - It is one of the largest museums in China built in 1952, which is especially famous for the collection of bronze vessels in Shang and Zhou dynasties, ceramic objects of different historical periods and ancient paintings and calligraphy. Some rarities command the attention of the world.
 
Yuyuan Garden - Yuyuan Garden is a classical and elegant garden in Shanghai. Once you enter the garden, a beautiful scene delights you wherever you go; you feel that all beautiful scenes are grouped together by nature. Its lotus ponds mirror the halls, pavilions, towers, corridors and trees on the edge, offering tourists wonderful views.

Day 12Shanghai Exit

Private transfer takes you to the airport and your pleasant China tour ends here. 

Meals: Breakfast

Tips: Your guide will make an appointment with you in advance for the see-off service. Please be sure that you need to check out of the hotel before 12:00 at noon. If your flight is late in the afternoon, you can leave your luggage at the reception of your hotel, which is free of charge. You can take the rest time to explore the city or find a café to enjoy yourself. May you have a nice trip.