from Shanghai Bund to Terra Cotta
Warriors to Potala Palace
12-day Beijing-Xi'an-Tibet-Shanghai
Impression Tour
Experience the best of
China, both old and new!
This tour can start from
Highlights:
• Visit the “rooftop of the world”, and
experience why Tibet has captured the hearts and minds of
explorers and adventurers for centuries
• Discover Shanghai, the largest city of China
• Tour the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, among other
sights, in Beijing, China’s cultural and political center
• See one of the world’s great wonders in the Terracotta
warriors, in Xi’an, China’s ancient capital
B=(Breakfast) L=(lunch) D=(dinner) DEPARTURE: Daily
Package Price
Price is based on the time of
travel and number of customers. Please inquire through the form
on the left side of the page, we'll quote the best price we can
get. As this tour package involves domestic transfers, the
package price will vary from time to time because of the
changing airfares and hotel rates. |
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TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour
code:
EXSHXATIBET |
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Day 1 Depart from your
home destination
You will leave from your local home airport and fly
to Beijing Capital Airport. |
Day 2 Arrive in Beijing
When you arrive at Beijing Capital Airport,
you will be met by one of our English-speaking
guides, and from there you will be driven to your
hotel, The Peninsula, which is located in Wangfujing,
Beijing’s premier shopping district in the heart of
the city, and is a short walk to the Forbidden City
and Tian’anmen Square. Once at the hotel you will
meet the fellow members of your tour group, and your
guide will brief you on your upcoming activities.
The rest of the night can be spent at your own
leisure.
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Day 3 Beijing (B, L, D)
Today will be an action-packed day of
touring! After breakfast in the hotel, we will head
to the imposing Tian’anmen Square. The largest
public square in the world, Tiananmen Square is seen
as China’s political center. Its grounds have seen
some turbulent moments, from the May 4th Movement of
1919 to the political turmoil of 1989. The south of
the square is marked by the Chairman Mao Memorial
Hall, while the center of the square is dominated by
the Monument to the People’s Heroes, an imposing
10-story granite obelisk. To the east is the
National Museum of China, and to the west is the
Great Hall of the People, home to China’s
legislative bodies. The north of the square is
dominated by the Gate of Heavenly Peace, known for
its iconic portrait of Mao Zedong, and is the
national emblem of China.
Then we will head to the National Center for the
Performing Arts, otherwise known as “the egg”. This
futuristic building is one of the symbols of modern
Beijing, and represents Beijing’s momentous future.
Then it is a short walk to perhaps the most splendid
sight in all of China, the Forbidden City. Built by
the third Ming emperor between 1406-1422, the
Forbidden City served as the official residence to
the Emperor of China until the last emperor, Puyi,
was forced to evacuate in 1924. The Forbidden City
is divided into two parts. The southern section, or
the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his
supreme power over the nation. The northern section,
or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal
family. Consisting of 980 buildings and with 8,707
bays of rooms, the Forbidden City is the best
example of classical Chinese architecture in the
world, and is a wonder to behold.
Then we will make the short drive to the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall. Although it has gotten a
face-lift, it avoids the army of tourists that
plague Badaling. Mutianyu offers some breathtaking
views of the valley and wall below, and if you look
to your right you’ll see a large sign engraved in
the side of the mountain encouraging you to “Cherish
Chairman Mao”. You can hike down to the parking lot
or take a toboggan (highly recommended, and lots of
fun!) down to meet our driver.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we will start the tour
right with a Peking Duck dinner, the signature dish
of Beijing. |
Day 4 Beijing-Xian (B, L, D)
After eating breakfast at the hotel, you
will be driven to the airport, where you will catch
your flight to Xi’an, China’s “Valley of the Kings”.
Upon arrival, you will be taken by your guide to
Xi’an’s signature attraction, and one of the world’s
greatest archaeological discoveries, the Terracotta
Warriors.
The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most
significant archeological excavations of the 20th
century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is
around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi
Huang's Mausoleum. It is a sight not to be missed by
any visitor to China. Upon ascending the throne at
the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the
first Emperor of all of China, had begun to work for
his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is
speculated that many buried treasures and
sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in
his after life. A group of peasants uncovered some
pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal
tomb in 1974. Life size terracotta figures of
warriors and horses arranged in battle formations
are the star features at the museum. They are
replicas of what the imperial guard should look like
in those days of pomp and vigor.
Dinner will be at a local dinner, where you will
have a chance to sample the local provincial
cuisine. Your hotel during your stay in Xi’an will
be at the Sofitel on Renmin Square, which is in the
heart of Xi’an, and next to the main city square. |
Day 5 Xi’an-Lhasa (B, L, D)
After breakfast in the hotel, you will be
able to take a leisurely stroll on the Xi’an city
wall. It's the most complete city wall that has
survived in China, as well being one of the largest
ancient military defensive systems in the world.
Since the ancient weapons did not have the power to
break through a wall and the only way for an enemy
to enter the city was by attacking the gate of the
city wall.
We will then drive to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a
pagoda surrounded by a still functioning Buddhist
temple (named Da Ci’en Temple). Originally built in
652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang
Dynasty (618-907), it functioned to collect Buddhist
materials that were taken from India by the hierarch
Xuanzang.
You will then be taken to the airport where you will
take an early afternoon flight to Gonggar Airport at
Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous
Region. Your local Tibetan guide (he/she can speak
English), will take you to your hotel, the Four
Points by Sheraton where you will have a chance to
adjust to the altitude change. You are now on the
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Lhasa’s elevation is 3,650
meters (about 12,000 feet) above sea level. It takes
some time for most people to adjust to the thin and
dry air, so be sure to slow down, drink plenty of
water, and avoid exertion. |
Day 6 Lhasa (B, L, D)
We will begin our tour of the Rooftop of
the World at the Jokhang Temple. Located in the
center of old Lhasa city, Jokhang Monastery is the
prime seat of the Gelugpa (Yellow) Branch of Tibetan
Buddhism. It was originally built in 647 AD. It is
said the site was chosen personally by the wife of
King Songtsan Gampo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng.
The princess perceived Wutang, a lake in Lhasa, to
be a “devil’s heart”, a source of evil, and had it
filled in and the temple built on the site to
counteract evil forces. It was built by craftsmen
from Tibet, China and Nepal and thus features
different architectural styles. Jokhang means "House
of Buddha".
Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet and
the holiest destination for all Tibetan Buddhist
pilgrims.
A short walk from the Jokhang Temple is Barkhor
Street. The Barkhor (pilgrims’ circuit) is found in
the heart of Lhasa encircling the Jokhang Temple. It
is the earliest remaining street in Lhasa. It
bustles with activity and is always jam-packed with
traders and hawkers. It is a "must" for
souvenir-hunting tourists. Many people call the
Barkhor "the window of Tibet" as it exhibits a
typical Tibetan life. The old circumambulation
circuit is always crowded with pilgrims from
everywhere. Some are monks, and some are businessmen
from Kham, a region encompassing East Tibet and part
of Sichuan Province. Here you will find people from
all over Tibet. You can experience different styles
of dress and languages. Even the similar-looking
clothes of the monks vary depending on the different
branches of Buddhism they practice.
Then we will tour the Sera Monastery, Sera was the
last of the three principal Gelupka, or Yellow Hat,
Buddhist monasteries to be built in Lhasa. Sera has
been listed as one of the China's National Cultural
Relics since 1982. Sera comprises a great sutra
chanting hall, a college and 32 sections. It once
housed nearly 10,000 monks, and is proud of its
glorious history during the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644). Sera means hailstone in Tibetan, and
legend tells that it hailed during the foundation of
this famous monastery.
After dinner, you will be able to enjoy an authentic
Tibetan song and dance performance. The rest of your
night can be spent at your leisure. |
Day 7 Lhasa (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will visit the most
famed landmark of Lhasa, the Potala Palace. The
world famous Potala Palace is located on Moburi
(Red) Mountain, to the west of old Lhasa. It is a
huge treasure house of materials and articles from
Tibetan history, religion, culture and art. The
palace is widely known for the precious sculptures,
murals, scriptures, Buddha statues, murals,
antiques, and religious jewelry housed within. They
are of great cultural and artistic value. In 1994,
the Potala Palace was declared a UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage Site. It was originally built in
the 640s, during the reign of King Songtsan Gampo of
Tibet. The Potala has been a sacred place for
hundreds of years. Thousands of pilgrims from Tibet,
other parts of China and abroad come every year to
pay homage. Their devotion is shown by the difficult
journeys they have to make to reach “the City of the
Gods".
In the afternoon, we will make an exciting outing to
the Drepung Monastery. Built in 1416, Drepung
Monastery is the first of the three principle
monasteries of the Gelugpa School of Buddhism.
Gelugpa, or Yellow Hat, Buddhism is the branch
followed by most Tibetans, and the most influential
figure in this faith is the Dalai Lama. Drepung
Monastery used to be the living quarters of Dalai
Lamas before the reconstruction of the Potala Palace
by the Fifth Dalai Lama between 1645 and 1694.
Drepung was listed as a national cultural relic in
1982.
We will then return to the hotel for dinner, and you
are free to explore the city and this winding streets
and markets for the night. The most famous night
market in Lhasa, is Tianhai Night Market on the west
suburb of city. The market features many stalls of
snacks, fruits, and handicrafts lining the street.
Each night, the street is crowded and illuminated.
Tianhai Night Market is known for its great variety
of goods and for being cheaper than the market on
the Barkhor Street. |
Day 8 Lhasa-Shigatse (B, L, D)
After breakfast in the morning we will
travel by vehicle to Shigatse. The journey to
Shigatse enters through high mountain passes and
along the beautiful shorelines of Yamdrok Tso Lake.
Along the way, we will visit some traditional
Tibetan villages.
We will stop at Gyangze to visit the Gyangze Dzong,
a fortress where 300 Tibetan put up a fight against
invading British-Indian troops in 1904. If we have
enough time, we will also visit the Gyangze Kumbum
for its stunning architecture and murals from the
15th century. We will then resume our journey to
Shigatse, and we should arrive by early evening.
We will stay at the Shigatse Hotel, having dinner
there, and you are free to spend the night at your
own leisure. |
Day 9 Shigatse (B, L, D)
Being the second largest city in Tibet,
Shigatse is a must-see for both tourists and
pilgrims. After breakfast we will go to the west of
town to see the Tashilunpo Monastery. ashilunpo
Monastery is located on the southern slope of the
Nyima Mountain to the west of the Shigatse city. It
represents the Tibetan super architecture art in the
Last Tibetan spirit. The monastery attracts
thousands of Buddhists and tourists from domestic
and abroad to travel and worship every year. Driving
on the road far away from Shigatse, from the west
city you can see the gold roof of Tashilunpo
Monastery shinning under the sunshine. Experiencing
five centuries, it still maintains the magnificent
vigor. Tashilhunpo Monastery (meaning auspicious) is
one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow
Hat Sect) in China and the biggest Tibetan Gelugpa
Buddhism monastery in back Tibet area. Also called
the Heap of Glory, the monastery is located at the
foot of Drolmari (Tara's Mountain), Shigatse.
In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to a local
carpet market, where remarkable Tibetan carpets are
crafted by hand. Then we will tour the Samdrubse
Dzong, an ancient fortress that was destroyed during
the Cultural Revolution, but that has now been
restored thanks to private donations. We will cap
off the day with a walk through the twon’s markets,
bazaars, and narrow alleys before having a dinner of
the local cuisine. |
Day 10 Shigatse-Lhasa-Shanghai
(B, L)
After breakfast in the hotel, we will
travel back to Lhasa via the national highway,
traveling through winding peaks and the valleys of
the Yaluzangbu River. On the way we will stop at a
local village and its temples. We will arrive in the
afternoon at the Gongbar Airport in Lhasa and you
will fly to Shanghai, with your connecting flight in
Chengdu.
Shanghai, China's biggest and most prosperous city,
oozes an atmosphere of vitality, and a dynamic which
can rival New York in the United States and Paris of
France in terms of modernity. Shanghai is the second
largest 'city proper’ in the world after Mumbai.
Upon arrival at the airport in Shanghai, you will be
met by your English-speaking guide, who will take
you to your hotel in downtown Shanghai. Dinner and the rest of
the evening is up to you. |
Day 11 Shanghai (B, L,
D)
After breakfast, we will start our Shanghai
sightseeing at the Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a
famed classical garden. The garden may be small, but
it contains pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and
cloisters, and all have unique characteristics.
There are six main scenic areas in the garden:
Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing
Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area
features several scenic spots within its borders.
Then it is off to Shanghai Old Street. Shanghai Old
Street is an ideal place to discover what Shanghai
was like in the old days. Fangbin Road, aka.
"Shanghai Old Street" is adjacent to Yuyuan Garden.
It runs in an east-west direction from Zhonghua Road
to Henan South Road, with both ends marked by
decorated archways. On the street you will find
hundred-year-old stores: Tonghanchun, Laotongsheng,
Wuliangcai, Wanyouquan, Qiu Tianbao, Old Shanghai
Tea House, Deshun Western Food Restaurant, Chunfeng
Deyi Restaurant, Xishi Soya Beancurd Store,
Dingniangzi Cloth Store, Rongshun Restaurant and
Baoyintang. There is also a newly opened Danfeng Tea
House, a Clinic of renowned traditional Chinese
medical doctors and other new shops with traditional
characteristics.
Then we will walk along the Bund, which is
Shanghai’s most famed site. The Bund is a famous
waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai
for hundreds of years. It affords marvelous views
across the river of the Pudong district and its
numerous towers. The most famous and attractive
sight which is at the west side of the Bund are the
52 various buildings of different architectural
styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque,
Classicism and the Renaissance.
After lunch we’ll go to the Shanghai Museum. The
Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese
art. The museum style and presentation surround
visitors with artifacts demonstrating ancient wisdom
and philosophy. The exterior design of the round
dome and the square base symbolizes the ancient idea
of a round heaven and a square land. The museum is
divided into eleven galleries and three exhibition
halls. The eleven Galleries cover most of the major
categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient
Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture,
Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals,
and Minority Nationalities. The museum is a
wonderful primer on ancient Chinese culture, and is
a must-see when coming to Shanghai.
For the night, you are free to explore this bustling
metropolis on your own, and we will also have a
special dinner of shanghai cuisine. |
Day 12 depart Shanghai
(B)
After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport,
and you will go on to your next destination, ending
your tour with us. |
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Tour Inclusions：
1. Hotels with daily western
breakfasts;
2. Meals in accordance with
that listed on the itinerary.
3. professional local guide
& driver;
4. Private air-conditioned
car or van for transportation;
5. Admission of the first
gate.
6.Two bottles of mineral
water per day.
Tour exclusions：
1. Tip of the guide
2. Personal costs |
