14 Days Group Tour Beijing-Xian-Lhasa-Yangtze Cruise-Shanghai

Welcome to majestic Beijing! To ensure your arrival is stress-free, your driver will meet you in the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it and then transfer you to the Sunworld Hotel or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel.

Hotel: Sunworld Hotel, Beijing or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel

 Breakfast & lunch

In the morning we meet in the hotel lobby and you have the opportunity to meet other travelers. We will go to the Tian’anmen Square, where the most important national ceremonies are held, surrounded by many historical buildings. From the square, you can walk to the Forbidden City. Inside this imperial palace, we will explore its fascinating halls, pavilions with golden roofs and high red walls. After we exit the Forbidden City, we will enter another attraction – Jingshan Park where we will see local Chinese residents taking exercise, singing or dancing, and we will climb the hill inside the park. When we reach the top of the hill, we will enjoy the bird view of the whole Forbidden City and Beijing central city, which is a highlight of today.
At noon, we will have lunch at a very nice restaurant where you can have menu-ordered delicious Chinese dishes.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors came to worship the heavens in hopes of good harvests.
In the evening you will be entertained by a wonderful Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater.

 Beijing GPS Audio Guide: Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City -Get to know how emperors lived their lives.

When you visit the Forbidden City, you will see many big water tanks. Guess what they are used for?

The big water tank in the Forbidden City

 Breakfast & lunch

Today we will hike on the Badaling Great Wall, the most highlighted
sight in Beijing.Please be prepared with your shoes since you will climb on the steps of the great wall. To reach the top of the great wall you can choose to hike on foot or take the cable car(optional with extra charge). You will never forget the view on the great wall, one of the seven wonders in the world.

At noon, we will have lunch in the nice restaurant of Jade Museum.
After lunch, we will visit the Sacred Road. Along the sacred road there are many stone statues of people and animals on both sides. These are the loyal guarders of the royal graveyard.
One the way back to the downtown Beijing, we will stop by the Olympic Stadiums, you can take photos of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Badaling Great Wall

Sacred Road

 Breakfast & lunch

In the morning we will visit the beautiful Summer Palace – the largest imperial garden in China. Walk along the elegant Promenade, see stone boat, visit Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. You will also enjoy the scenery on a boat. After Summer Palace, we will visit Panda House inside Beijing Zoo, where we will see lovely pandas. Then drive to hutong area, visit a local Beijing family and learn how to make a dumpling and cooking skills, you may try to make a dumpling by yourself and have dumplings as your lunch. After lunch we will enjoy a rickshaw Hutong tour where you will visit Shichahai, Yinding Bridge, Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street, etc. allowing you to experience the essence of Beijing and its old culture. If time permits, you can also visit Nanluoguxiang.

Finally transfer to Beijing airport for flight to Xian. Upon arrival at Xian, you will be transferred to the hotel.

Hotel: Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian

Summer Palace

Beijing Hutong

  lunch & dumpling dinner

In the morning, we will pick you up from the hotel, and we drive to Terra-cotta Warriors, which is the most important attraction in Xian. There are three excavated pits exhibiting amazing Qin dynasty warriors and horses figures.
At noon we will have lunch at a well-known restaurant.
After lunch, we will visit Xian Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional dumpling dinner and a splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.

Terra-cotta Warriors

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

 Western buffet breakfast

Take a morning flight to Lhasa. We will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free. After checking in, it is recommended that you have a good rest at the hotel to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level. Lunch and dinner are arranged by yourself.

Tips: For those who have never been to high altitudes, we suggest you have a complete physical examination beforehand to ensure you are in good health. To adapt to the high altitude, you should have a good rest at the hotel once you arrive, no running or intense activity, no smoking or alcohol. Please eat and drink in moderation. More vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs are better.

Hotel: Xinding Hotel

 Breakfast

After breakfast at your hotel, visit the Norbulinka Park. It is also known as the 'Summer Palace' in Lhasa because successive Dalai Lamas have handled political affairs and lived here during the summer months. Wandering inside the park, you will be amazed by the unique architectural style of the Tibetan palaces.

Next is the Sera Monastery. Not only can one see the unique Tibetan Buddhist buildings but also be impressed by the precious Buddhist statues, sutras and murals in the monastery. You will be dazzled by the colorful frescos painted in the halls. The Buddha statues, sacred vessels, thangkas, Buddhist sutra streamers and Sutra Pillars can be found everywhere. Then learn more about the local lifestyle by visiting a local family.

Norbulinka

Sera Monastery

 Breakfast & lunch

Visit the Potala Palace, the highlight of our visit to Lhasa. With a history of 1,300 years, it is the most splendid building that combines the styles of Tibetan Buddhist temple and palace. The delicate cultural relics and beautiful murals in the palace will show you the glorious history and culture of Tibet. The over 59,800 square yards of colorful frescos in it are unique and wonderful.

After lunch, proceed to the Jokhang Temple and Gyangjian Tangka Art Store. Situated in the city center, the Jokhang Temple bears unparalleled status in the Tibetan Buddhism. The ancient temple, built in 647, is considered as a resourceful venue for visitors to learn about Buddhism. Continue to explore the surrounding of Barkhor Street, the symbol of the City. Paved by hand-polished stones, it is not a broad street but showing the original outlook of Lhasa. It could accommodate thousands of visitors daily. Be fascinated by the old ethnic houses and various souvenirs available on this street. A visit to the nearby Nunnery will give you an insight of the Buddhist nuns.

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

 Breakfast

Explore Tibet Museum this morning. It is the first modern museum in the city which boasts numerous rare collections that tell the history of Tibet, its culture and civilization. Gain a further understanding about the unique history, culture and arts of this special minority through the exquisite historical items and exhibits.
Then your guide will see you off at the airport for your flight to Chongqing.Again, we will greet you at the airport and transfer you to board the luxurious cruise ship. As the cruise ship departs at about 22:00, your relaxing Yangtze River cruise begins. Today's lunch and dinner are not included.

Note: The cruise itinerary is subject to change by the cruise company. The listed itinerary is only for reference.

Cruise: President No. 8 with balcony or other five-star cruise

Accommodation: On the cruise

 Breakfast,lunch,dinner

Early bird coffee and tea are available at 6:30. Have buffet breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30.

Then join the activities on the cruise or take an optional tour to Fengdu Ghost City .
Have buffet lunch at noon.

At 16:00, the ship will stop at Zhongxian Port. Shore excursion to Shibaozhai, which was built against Yuyin Mountain, during Wanli Period. The whole tower is 56 meters high with 12 floors.

There will be a Captain's Welcome Reception at 18:15 at Shangri-la Restaurant and an evening show at Oscar Performance Hall at 21:00.

Optional Activities: Fengdu Ghost City (CNY290 per person, 2.5 hours)

Accommodation: On the cruise

Shibaozhai

Fengdu Ghost City

 Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Early bird coffee and tea are available at 6:30. Have buffet breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30.
The ship will stop at White Emperor City at 7:00. Stay on board or take an optional tour to White Emperor City.
Then pass through Qutang Gorge at 10:45. The tour guide will explain the attraction on the deck of 6th floor.
At 12:30, the ship will pass through Wu Gorge. You could enjoy the scenery while having buffet lunch.

In the afternoon, take a boat to visit Shennong Stream. It is a stream of 60 km running through the gorges from the south to the north.
There will be a Captain's Farewell Banquet at 19:00. Settle the bills later.
Watch Crew cabaret at 21:00. At about 22:30, the ship will go through five-grade ship lock of the Three Gorges Dam. You will see the spectacular scenes on the deck of 6th floor and experience how a cruiser ship climb stairs.

Optional Activities: White Emperor City (CNY290 per person)

Three Gorges Dam

White Emperor City

 Breakfast

After an early breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam
, where the cruiser guide will show you around the site and explain how the dam works. Then you will return to ship and check-out the cruiser around 12:00 at noon. We will pick you up on board and transfer you to the Yichang airport for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival at Shanghai, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Bund Riverside Hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

Hotel: Bund Riverside Hotel

 Breakfast & Lunch

In the morning we visit Shanghai Museum treasured with ancient art works of China, including bronze ware, chinaware, paintings and calligraphy. Then we tour the Yuyuan Garden, a famous garden in the south China. The symbol of Yuyuan Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion.
At noon we have farewell lunch at a good restaurant with Shanghai cuisine.
Afternoon we visit Bund area, where you can see the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the river, this is a good place to take pictures of Shanghai. Then have a short cruise tour along the Huangpu River. After that we will walk to Nanjing Road if time permits and then visit an old streets in Shanghai. At last, we will go back to hotel, and our guide and driver will say goodbye to you.

The Bund,Shanghai

 Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, our package finished. You need find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Note that there are two airports in Shanghai: Pudong Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA). We suggest you reserve a taxi at the hotel to save waiting time. Also if you wish to stay on in China, please contact us for an extension tour.