Historical China with Tibet

In the morning, we will dive deep into China’s ancient capital city. First, you will be guided to visit the large Tiananmen Square. Many historical events of the country, such as the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China have been witnessed here. Walking through the square to the north end, you will come to the magnificent Forbidden City, the imperial palace of 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). The grand imperial architecture complex and precious cultural relics in the palace reflect its past prosperity. You will be led to focus on the ceremonial halls and magnificent courtyards along the central axis, some important palaces of queens and royal concubines, and the exquisite imperial garden in the vast UNESCO-listed wooden palace complex. We also include the ticket for Treasure Gallery, which houses a great number of imperial collections, and most are made of pearls, gold and silver. 

Enjoy your lunch and after that, you will be delighted to visit the Temple of Heaven. This was the place where emperors worshiped heaven and it has also been listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. As the most sacred place in ancient China, the Temple of Heaven was set in a park occupying an area of 270 hectares, about 4 times larger than that of the Forbidden City. Boasting the world’s largest existing site offering sacrifice to heaven, the exquisite layout of the building complex showcases the relationship between heaven and earth. Ancient Chinese people believe that heaven is round and earth is square, while the emperor is the son of heaven, who can pray for bumper harvests and good weather. Women were not allowed to take part in the sacrificial ceremony to heaven in ancient times. However, they also had their own sacrificial ceremonies, and the queen and concubines generally went to Beihai Park to worship the Silkworm God. After visiting this awe-inspiring sight, you will watch a lively Chinese Acrobatic Show at the Red Theatre.

This evening, we specially serve you with an a la carte welcome dinner, valued at CNY150 per person and included in tour price, at a famous and elegant restaurant. Just taste some authentic Chinese food, including the famous Peking Duck.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, A la carte welcome dinner with Peking Duck
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)

According to a famous Chinese saying, ‘He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man’, and today you will spend most of the time on the splendid Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most spectacular sections of China’s Great Wall. It is famous for magnificent views and well-preserved dense watch towers. We will arrange a round-trip cable car going up and down the wall so that you can have more time enjoying the amazing scenery. When walking on the wall, your physical fatigue will be washed away by the magnificence of the Great Wall stretching along the mountains. And you will then taste a glass of wine on the scenic Great Wall and enjoy a buffet lunch in a restaurant at the foot of the Wall.    

Afterward, we will get back to the city. En route, you will have a chance to take photos of the Olympic National Stadium (Bird's Nest). Thereafter, a classic Hutong tour is planned for you to experience the original old Beijing Culture, during which, a rickshaw ride will take you passing through the traditional alleys. It is also very interesting to visit a local family to know how they lead a life.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Buffet lunch
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong

After breakfast, you will set off to visit the Summer Palace, the largest existing royal garden in China. Constructed in the Qing Dynasty, it presents you both imperial halls and a picturesque garden with lakes, hills, stone bridges and a super long gallery stretching for 728 meters (2,388 ft.) long.

After lunch, your guide will transfer you to the railway station for the high-speed train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, the local guide will greet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel for a 2-night stay.

If Beijing is famous as China’s most important imperial capital, then Xi’an boasts as the Chinese civilization cradle in earlier times, which is home to 13 dynasties of ancient China and the birth place and resting place of China’s first feudal emperor, Qin Shi Huang. More than that, it used to be the eastern starting point of the Silk Road and had witnessed the glorious commercial prosperity in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an

Today's escorted tour begins with the eighth wonder of the World - the Terracotta Army, which was constructed in the 3rd century BC to guard over the soul of China’s first emperor. You will be astonished by the grand and lifelike underground terracotta warriors and each one has its own distinct facial expression and gesture. Seeing thousands of various ancient weapons, you will get an understanding of the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago. 

It’s time for you to have lunch now. Today’s lunch will be served at a good restaurant around the museum. Thereafter, take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army. And then make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan, which is an impressive and unique experience.

In the afternoon, proceed to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the city’s prominent landmark. Built in 652 to preserve Buddhist sutras brought by Xuanzang from India, the ancient brick pagoda has 7 floors now and is surrounded by a large square area for a leisurely stroll. Tonight, you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, accompanied by a delicious Dumpling Dinner.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dumpling dinner
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an

Today you will say goodbye to your Xi'an guide at the airport and take a morning flight to the capital city of the mysterious Tibet - Lhasa. Located in the middle of the Tibet Plateau, it is an ancient city having 1,300 years of history. With an altitude of 3,650 meters, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel, where you can have a good rest to acclimate yourself to the high altitude.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Tangka Hotel

Today you will be guided to explore two of the Three Great Monasteries of Lhasa and Lhasa’s Summer Palace. The first stop is the Drepung Monastery, the largest Buddhist temple in Lhasa and even in Tibet. Drepung Monastery literally means "Rice Heap Monastery", because its white buildings along the hillside were constructed in a layered manner, just looking like a white rice heap. Then we will head to the Norbulingka Park, which means "Treasure Park" in Tibetan, is the summer palace of Dalai Lama. It is the largest Tibetan garden with the most beautiful scenery and has been changed into a park later. It houses several palaces and chapels, surrounded by beautiful flowers and lush trees. Today’s last destination is Sera Monastery, also one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet. Here you may come across the monks' debates, the biggest draw of the temple, which generally happen in the late afternoons of week days. It mainly focuses on the discussion of Buddhist knowledge and monks will debate drastically with various gestures. The visual feast will definitely amaze you!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tangka Hotel

In the morning, you will visit the world-famous Potala Palace. As the former winter palace of Dalai Lama, it was the governmental center of unity of politics and religions in Tibet. The White and Red Palaces built in the 7th century stand high at an altitude of 3,700 meters (12,139 ft.). It can be called a palace of art because it stores tremendous treasures and works of art. Visitors must follow the taboos of Tibetan Buddhism, no hats, no photos, and no overstaying inside the palace during your visit. The palaces house many valuable treasures like hundreds of murals, exquisite scrolls, carpets, and some jade, gold, and silver artifacts. When visiting the world’s highest palace, you will also have the chance to see the most gold in your lifetime, as tons of gold have been used to make various Buddhist statues and stupas. Besides that, tens of thousands of gems, agates, and pearls were also put to decorate the statues and sacred halls. In fact, most of the gold comes from the local devout Buddhist believers. Nearly all the Tibetan people are Buddhists and they always donate what they have to monasteries. At present, there are more than 3,000 Buddhist monasteries existing in the Tibetan region.

We will go on to visit the Jokhang Temple. Located in the old part of the city, it is a monastery with a history of 1,350 years. It is the most glorious existing building established in Tubo times and the oldest existing civil structure. What makes the temple the spiritual heart of the Tibet is the golden Buddha image, Jowo Sakyamuni, brought by then King Songtsen Gampo's Chinese wife, Princess Wencheng. After the temple visit, let’s wander along Barkhor Street outside the temple, now a gathering area of Tibetan religion, culture and local handicrafts. Here you will witness the original view of this city and its people, and discover a treasure trove of local handicrafts and souvenirs. Today's trip is completed with a visit to a Nunnery, where you can see the normal daily life of nuns living there.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tangka Hotel

Today, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport to catch a 5-hour flight to Shanghai, the most vibrant international metropolis in China. Upon your landing, your Shanghai guide and driver will pick you up and offer you a comfortable transfer to your hotel for check-in. For the rest of the day, take a good rest to recharge your energy. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: The Sunrise on the Bund

This morning, meet your guide and driver at your hotel lobby, and then set out to visit the Shanghai Museum, which is considered to hold half of China’s cultural relics. Feast your eyes on 150,000 ancient Chinese bronzes, sculptures, seals, jade articles, ceramics, and currencies. You won’t miss the Great Ke Bronze Tripod, which was cast by a nobleman named Ke over 3,000 years ago to pay tribute to his deceased grandfather. From the distorted beast face patterns decorated under its rim, the 290-character inscription inside its abdomen, and the three hoof-shaped feet, you can not only admire the superb bronze casting techniques at that time, but also gain an insight into the ancient systems of ritual and registration, land enfeoffment, and noble economy.

Next, let’s move to the Yu Garden, an elegant classic Chinese garden built more than 4 centuries ago. As you stroll, immerse yourself in a leisurely state where human and nature coexist in harmony, and appreciate various ornately carved beams, plaques, and painted pillars on pavilions, artificial hills, serpentine corridors, as well as ponds filled with koi fish. Out of the garden, ready to be awed by the dazzling array of exquisite handicrafts and local foods like steamed buns at its adjoining bustling Yuyuan Bazaar. 

After that, make our way to the Bund, known as the ‘Wall Street of the East’. Travelling along this 1.5-km-long (0.9-mile-long) waterfront, it seems as if you can feel the pulse of the blending of the East and the West, a centuries-old history and a modern future. There are 52 exotic historical buildings, featuring Gothic spires and Baroque reliefs, silently yet vividly telling you the golden age of old Shanghai. Across the surging Huangpu River, the skyline of Lujiazui, with skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower, interprets the rise of the city’s modernity to you. Following that, we’ll have you on a relaxing cruise tour on the Huangpu River. As an important carrier of urban tourism in Shanghai, as early as the end of the 19th century, steam-powered sightseeing boats appeared on the Huangpu River, used to receive foreign and domestic visitors to enjoy the scenery on both banks. Now, step onto the deck yourself, feeling the gentle breeze caressing your face, listening to the river water gently lapping the hull, and take in those iconic buildings from a different perspective.

At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. Don't want to miss the chance to admire the stunning night view here? Then you can also stay to have some fun yourself, and take a taxi back to your hotel later on your own.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: The Sunrise on the Bund

Today marks the end of your China group tour of Beijing, Xi’an, Lhasa, and Shanghai. After breakfast, pack your luggage, check out of the hotel, and then head on your own to the airport to catch your homebound flight. We wish you a smooth flight home!

► Transportation to the Airports for Your Reference:
To Shanghai Pudong International Airport:
The taxi ride takes about 1 hour and costs around CNY 200 (USD 30). If you expect a more economical option, take the subway Line 12 at the nearby Tilanqiao Station to Dalian Road Station, transfer to Line 4 to Century Avenue Station, and then transfer to Line 2 for 14 stops to Pudong Terminal 1/2 Station. The entire journey takes about 1.5 hours and the total cost is CNY 7 (USD 1).

To Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport:
A taxi takes about 40 minutes and costs around CNY 100 (USD 15). For the subway, just take Line 12 from the nearby International Passenger Transport Center Station for 5 stops to Shaanxi South Road, then transfer to Line 10 for 10 stops to Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station. It will take about 1 hour and cost you CNY 5 (80 US cents) to get there.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast