Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: TBA- Beijing. Welcome to China! Upon arrival in Beijing, we will be taken to your hotel. As the capital of China, Beijing has a long history with an abundance of historical and cultural heritage - we cannot tear us away! Balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 2: Beijing. Today we will start the day with a trip to the largest public square in the world: Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen square is regarded as a symbol of China and capable of holding one million people. Then we'll head to the Forbidden City, which consists of more than 9,000 rooms and covers an area of 72 hectares. Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved Imperial Palace in the world. After lunch, we take a short drive to the Temple of Heaven, which was built specifically for worship of heaven and prayers for good harvests during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The entire complex is a treasure trove of ancient Chinese architectural designs and arts and was listed as UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage in 1998. Tonight, enjoy a Beijing Duck Dinner. Includes: (B, L, D)
Day 3: Beijing. Get up early in the morning and drive about one hour to Badaling Great Wall, China's most spectacular sight extending more than 3,700 miles across China and most often visited for China tour. It is one of the best preserved sections and the highest point of the Great Wall. For lunch we'll sample simple some delicious cuisine in a local restaurant. Then head to one of the Mind Tombs. Ming Tombs are the general names for the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), located 50 kilometers north from Beijing City. They were fully recognized by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in 2000. When the night falls, we will return to the hotel. Includes: (B, L)
Day 4: Beijing. We will start the day with a unique Hutong Trishaw tour in the morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane that is considered an informal symbol of the Beijing city. We can also visit local residents and taste some delicious local cuisine while taking the hutong tour. Our next stop is the Summer Palace, which was listed as UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage in 1998. With its elegant overall arrangement, magnificent buildings and attractive scenery, the Summer Palace is the most splendid imperial garden in China built in 1750. Includes: (B, L)
Day 5: Beijing - Lhasa. Today we will be transferred to the airport for our next destination-Lhasa, which is reputed as the "Roof of the World" and the "Third Pole of the Globe". Lhasa offers breathtaking monastery sights, Tibetan Buddhist Culture, colorful ethnic minority custom, which should not be missed! Acclimatize ourselves to the high altitude for the rest of the day. Includes: (B, L)
Day 6: Lhasa. Today we will start the day with a trip to the highlight of Lhasa - Potala Palace, the symbol of Tibet. Potala Palace functioned as the traditional seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Because of its spectacular buildings, unrivaled constructions, devotional atmosphere and outstanding artworks, Potala Palace have a strong appeal to tourists all over the world. For lunch we'll sample delicious cuisine in a local restaurant. Then we'll head to the Sera Monastery. As the last of the three principal Yellow Sect monasteries to be built in Lhasa, Sera Monastery is an important spiritual center for Buddhist monks. It has been listed as one of the national cultural relics since 1982. Then we pay a visit to Tibetan Family. For dinner time, we will be entertained with the marvelous Tibetan Dance and Song Show while we are enjoying the local specialty. Includes: (B, L, D)
Day 7: Lhasa. We'll start from the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism - Jokhang Temple. The temple is a combination of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques and thus completely different from others. Jokhang Temple houses many historical relics, including statues of King Songtsen Gompo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi (Nepalese). Then we will stroll along the Barkhor Street, built in the heart of Lhasa surrounding the Jokhang Temple. It is an essential pilgrim route for centuries on which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple. In addition, it is "must" for souvenir-hunting tourists. Shops and stalls are built all around the street.
After lunch, we will also pay a visit to Drepung Monastery, the largest and the most powerful of the three major Yellow Sect monasteries in Lhasa. It houses a great number of splendid murals, exquisite sculpture and other precious treasures. The evening is left for us to stroll amongst the shops and old houses of Lhasa. Includes: (B, L)
Day 8: Lhasa - Xian. Feel free at leisure until be met at the lobby of the hotel and transferred to the airport to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian in the afternoon, we will be greeted and warmly welcomed by our guide and drive to the downtown hotel. The rest of the day is on our own to explore the city. Includes: (B)
Day 9: Xian. Today we will visit what has been called the 8th Wonder of the World - Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed there. After lunch, we will visit the Bell Tower. Originally built in 1348, the Bell Tower in Xi'an is situated in the very heart of the city and is the most well-preserved and best-known one in China. We proceed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China and initially built in 589. Includes: (B, L)
Day 10: Xian - Guilin. After checking out at our hotel, our first stop in this pleasant city is Shaanxi Provincial Museum. Covering an area of over 70,000 square meters, the museum contains more than 370,000 relics including Bronze wares, Terra cotta figures, gold and silver wares and murals, 3 thousand years ago. Then we'll head to the Great Mosque. One of five Muslim sanctuaries in China, The Great Mosque in Xi'an is the only one open to visitors. In the late afternoon, drive to the airport to Guilin, which is famous for its breathtaking scenery, rivers and karst peaks covered in lush greenery. Upon arrival in Guilin, we are met at the airport by our guide, and driven to the hotel downtown. Includes: (B, L)
Day 11: Guilin - Yangshuo. Get up early in the morning and drive about 40 minutes to Zhujiang pier to take the Li River cruise, which is considered as one of China's top tourist destinations. Along the river, we will enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields, crystal-clear water, lush bamboos and villages with water buffaloes. Lunch will be served on board. After nearly 4.5 hours Li River Cruise, the beautiful and quaint ancient town with one thousand years old – Yangshuo will greet your eyes. Take a short walk along the famous foreigner street - Western Street after checking in. Includes: (B, L)
Day 12: Yangshuo - Guilin. The morning is left free for us to explore the county before driving back to the downtown city. After checking in the hotel and having lunch, we will experience the "Art Palace of the Nature" - Reed Flute Cave. This splendid karst cave with a myriad of stalactites and stalagmites formulates various bizarre scenes including "Primitive Forest", "Crystal Palace", and "Flower and Fruit Mountain". We will also pay a visit to Wave-subduing Hill (Fubo Hill). The Pearl-Returning Cave, the Thousand-Buddha Cave, the Sword-Testing Rock, the Wave Listening Pavilion, all of which have a strong appeal to the tourists. Includes: (B, L)
Day 13: Guilin - Chongqing. We will leave Guilin to make our way to Chongqing in the morning. Chongqing is the largest and most populous of the Chinese four provincial-level municipalities with a history extends back at least 3,000 years. Upon arrival in Chongqing, we will be met at the airport and then stroll along the Ciqikou Ancient Town, one of the key historic districts under conservation in the urban area of Chongqing. Walking along the town, tourists will fascinated by various spectacular temples, elegant courtyards of great antiquity and teahouses full of ancient customs.
We will also pay a visit to Eling Park. It is an ideal place to enjoy views of the Yangtze River and Jialing Rivers and the night views of Chongqing. For dinner we'll sample famous food in a local restaurant. Then we will be transferred to the ship for our pre-boarding tonight.
Day 14: Yangtze cruises. Depart Chongqing at around 9 am, and then have shore excursion of Fengdu or Shibaizhai. Known as the "Ghost City", Fengdu is a very popular shore excursion site for tourists on the Yangtze River. Now with fantastic temples of underworld demons and gods, it shows the Chinese ghost culture and is a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good. Shibaozhai, represents one of the gems of Chinese architecture, located in Zhong County, along the bank of the Yangtze River. It was built against a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs on the river bank with a height of 56 meters, on the top of which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the rapid currents and the countryside. Includes: (B, L, D)
Day 15: Yangtze cruises. Boat excursion to Shennong Stream or shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges. Shennong Stream is a small tributary of Yangtze River with 60 kilometers long and popular with its special virtues of serenity, uniqueness, primitiveness and wilderness. When you take a smaller wooden boat called "pea-pod boats" drifting along Shennong Stream, you will be fascinated by the beautiful scenery along the River. The Lesser Three Gorges is one of the exciting and spectacular stops along Yangtze River. Here sheer cliffs and steep mountains rise on both sides of the gorges, just like one of natural arts gallery emerging before your eyes. Apart from the natural scenery, there are quite a lot historical places of interest along the river, including suspending coffin, boat coffin and remains of ancient plank walkway.
Day 16: Yichang - Shanghai. Visit the site of Three Gorges Dam Project. Three Gorges Dam costs 70 billion US dollars and for the purpose of flood control, electricity, navigation, and irrigation, is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. The Three Gorges Dam will raise the river to a level of 175 meters above sea level, creating a 600 kilometers long reservoir with storage capacity of 39.9 billion cubic meters.
Then we will disembark the cruise ship. We will make a beeline for the airport to Shanghai, the largest and most prosperous metropolis in China and known as the "Paris of the East". Upon arrival, we are greeted and warmly welcomed by our guide and transferred to the hotel.
Note: Above itinerary of Yangtze cruise is subject to change because of the ship company reason, navigation channel, weather condition, government policy etc. Includes: (B, L, D)
Day 17: Shanghai. Today we will start the day with a trip to the elegant classic Chinese garden: Yu Garden. Yu Yuan Garden has quite a few scenic courtyards dotted with baroque rockery, pools and flora, all connected by corridors and passageways and cultural relics. We then proceed to Oriental Pearl TV Tower. With an astonishing height of 468 meters, it ranks as the world's third tallest TV tower, after the 553-meter CN Tower in Toronto and the 535-meter Moscow TV Tower.
After lunch, we will take a walking tour of the Old French Concession, the area of Shanghai once occupied by French in the mid-19th century. It offers unparalleled examples of old lane houses, apartments, garden houses and villas which remain untouched in mid-19th and early 20th century European styles. Includes: (B, L)
Day 18: Shanghai - TBA. The morning is at our leisure before we board our flight back home. Our services end at the airport. Includes: (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Hotel Accommodation on twin Sharing Basis. (Standard hotels with private bathroom). 3 Twin room in your case
- All Meals
- English speaking guide
- All land Transportation
- Entrance Fees where applicable
- Airfares (all domestic airfares, international airfares are not included)
- Train Fares
Price Excludes:
- All sort of personal expenses
- Tips
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Tibet
China
Boating and Sailing
Cultural Journey
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