19 days China tour

Travel Beijing + Lhasa + Gyangtse + Shigatse + Samye monastery + Chengdu + Yangtze cruise + Shanghai + Suzhou

to be private tour

Day01 Home to Beijing

Meals service: N/A
Accommodation: 4* Yuyang Hotel or Qianmen hotel

Arrive at Beijing, the exciting capital of the Oriental empire, guide will meet you and transfer you to the booked hotel.

Day02 Beijing sightseeing

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: 4* Yuyang Hotel or Qianmen hotel

Beginning you exploration of the ancient capital with the visit to Tian'anmen Square, then visit the imposing Forbidden City and the Summer palace.

Day03 Beijing sightseeing

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: 4* Yuyang Hotel or Qianmen hotel

Today we go and have a stroll on the top of the greatest man - work of the ancient - the Great Wall which winds its way 3000 miles towards the west, in the afternoon, you will visit Ding Ling - one of the 13 tombs of the passed Ming dynasty emperors.

Day04 Beijing to Lhasa by air

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: Kunlun Hotel or same level

Take the early flight to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet autonomous region, with an elevation of 3650m above sea level. In the afternoon, you are free.

Day05 Lhasa sightseeing

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: Kunlun Hotel or same level

Visit Potala palace which was built on the top of a hill in the 7th century for the first king of Bhon dynasty. In the afternoon, we go and visit the spiritual holy land for all Tibet Buddhism pilgrims - the Jhokang temple, and walk on the Parkhor street to have a touch of the local belief and life.

Day06 Lhasa sightseeing

Meals service: B/L      
Accommodation: Kunlun Hotel or same level

In the morning, driving to see the Tepung monastery which was built in 1416, now it is the biggest monastery in Tibet, once the 5th Dalai Lama built his political and religious power in it before the Potala was rebuilt for him. Every year, the grandest Shoton festival will have the first day here, which begins with the exposing of a giant silk - made Tangkha painting. In the afternoon, you visit the Sera monastery, and the Tibet Museum, it is worth a visit.

Day07 Lhasa to Gyangtse to Shigatse

Meals service: B/L      
Accommodation: 3* Shigatse Hotel

Driving past the Gangbala pass(4800m), view the Yangdrok lake, then down by the old road to Gyangtse, visit the Karuola glacier, the Perkhor monastery in Gyangtse town. Arrive at Shigatse in the late afternoon.

Day08 Shigatse to Tsetang

Meals service: B/L      
Accommodation: 3* Snow Pigeon Hotel

Visit Tashilunpo monastery, which is the biggest monastery in rear Tibet, and the permanent residence for Panchan Lhama. Inside are some stupas for the passed Panchan lhamas, and a 30 - metre high copper cast Future Buddha, see the local bazaar market;In the afternoon, drive 340 kilometers to Tsetang.

Day09 Tsetang sightseeing

Meals service: B/L      
Accommodation: 3* Snow Pigeon Hotel

In the morning, drive 100 kilometers to Samye village to visit Samye monastery; Samye monastery is thought to be built between 777 and 781 and is the symbol of Buddhism victory over Bon religeon (the local belief by people before mid 8th century); in the aftenoon, drive back to Tsetang city and go on to see Yongbulakang palace, the first palace to the first king in history of tibetans, built in 2nd centery B.C.

Day10 Tsetang to Gonggha airport, then fly to Chengdu

Meals service: B
Accommodation: Wenjun Mansion or same level

In the morning, you are free to walk around before the agreed departure time; on the way to airport, go to visit the famous Nyingmapa monastery - Mintorlin monastery; in history of Tibetan buddhism, only Nyingmapa order and Kardhangpa Order didn't invovle into locap politics. Take mid afternoon flight back to Chengdu, you will arrive at Chengdu around 1800PM. Guide will meet you at airport and transfer you to hotel. At night, if you like, you may go and see the wonderful Sichuan opera - highlights on Face changing, which is a masterpiece of the Sichuan opera, the actor will peel off his air thin mask just before your eyes, but you can not find the secrets of it. (self pay).

Day11 Chengdu to Leshan Big Buddha to Chengdu

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: Wenjun Mansion or same level
In the morning, take car to Leshan for visiting Leshan Big Buddha (160KM, around 2.5 hours drive). First, we visit it by boat. On the river, you can have a view for the buddha's Panoramic. Then go to the mountain, visit temples and the big buddha. In the afternoon, drive back to Chengdu, visit Taoist temple - Qingyang Palace.

During your stay in Chengdu, we will arange you to taste as many local Sichuan foods as your time allows.

Day12 Chengdu sightseeing

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: Wenjun Mansion or same level

In the morning, take car to Mt. Qingchengshan (65KM, around 1.5 hours drive). Mt. Qingcheng (or Mt. Qingchengshan) is one of the most attractive mountains close to Chengdu city, and is thought to be the holy mountain to Taoists pilgrims; in history of China, Qingchengshan is the origin of the birth of Taoism; in afternoon, go to Dujiangyan for visit to Er-wang Miao temple and the famous Dujiangyan Water Project, which has been over 2250 years and still been in functioning to irrigate thounsands of  hecters of farmlands; it is because of this water project that makes Chengdu Plain to be one of the most fertile farming areas in China.

Day13 Chengdu to Chongqing by train

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: 4* cruiser ship

Today, have the exciting tour to see the world treasure animal - Panda bears in Chengdu Panda Feeding & Research Center in the morning.

After lunch, take train to Chongqing (around 4 hours) to board the cruise ship for the down - stream voyage on Yangtse river. On the ship, you will enjoy the beauty of three gorges.

Day14 On the Yangtse river

Meals service: B/L/D
Accommodation: 4* cruiser ship

Enjoy the marvelous beauty of the three gorges and visit the scenic spots along the river.

Day15 On the Yangtse river

Meals service: B/L/D
Accommodation: 4* cruiser ship

Enjoy the marvelous beauty of the three gorges and visit the scenic spots along the river.

Day16 Yichang to Shanghai by air

Meals service: B/L      
Accommodation: 4* Xinyuan hotel

Today arrive at Yichang in the noon, guide meet you at the dock, after lunch, send you to airport to take the flight to Shanghai. In the late afternoon, arriving at Shanghai airport, the Shanghai local guide will meet and transfer you to hotel.

Day17 Shanghai sightseeing

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: 4* Xinyuan hotel

While in Shanghai, you have chance to see and touch the Oriental Paris, you will visit the Yu yuan garden, the hermitage of old tradition, and see the Jade Buddha temple, and Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Stroll on the riverbank of the Huangpu river, by it are a lot of Europe and America - style buildings of the 19th century.

Day18 Shanghai to Suzhou to Shanghai

Meals service: B/L
Accommodation: 4* Xinyuan hotel

Take a full day tour to Suzhou visiting Tiger Hill, the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Embroidery Institute and the canals.

Day19 Shanghai to Home

Meals service: B
Accommodation: N/A

Take the flight back to your home.

End of the tour

Price includes:
1. 3* hotel/ 4* hotel accommodation services as listed in the itinerary.
2. 4* cruiser ship: Chongqing to Yichang
3. Meals service stated in the tour. (All breakfast will be served in hotel; all lunches are to be served outside hotel in tourist restaurants; while on yangtse River, breakfst, lunch and dinner will be served on ship)
4. Traffic service specified in the tour
5. English speaking guide service in the tour
6. Scenic visit charges listed in the itinerary
7. Land surface insurance
8. All air tickets and air taxes (3 Flights) Beijing to Lhasa, Lhasa to Chengdu, Yichang to Shanghai
9. Train tickets: Chengdu to Chongqing
10. Travel permit to Tibet

Price excludes:
1. Air travel insurance
2. All personal expenses beyond the tour
3. Expenses and charges caused by natural reasons and elements beyond the control of us (such as flight delay, flight cancellation, street protesting, war, mudslides, low water level affecting ship access, porter service charge if there is, hotel charges beyond the tour above, lose because of air delay or air cancellation…)
4. Tips to your guide and driver through the tour
5. Exra RMB20.00 per person in Potala palace