18 Days China Highlight and Tibet Train Tour

Day 01 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport outside the luggage claim area with your name displayed and then transferred to the four-star Holiday Inn Downtown Hotel or similar.

Day 02 Beijing (B, L)

Morning program takes you to Tian'an Men Square and the Forbidden City, the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. Afternoon sightseeing features the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests. If time permits, you will pay a short visit to the Olympic Stamdium.

Day 03 Beijing (B, L)

The highlight today is to conquer the Badaling Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization and to the Dingling, one of the Ming Tombs, the burial grounds for the 13 Ming Dynasty emperors. Drive back to city and go for some shopping at the famous Silk Markets.

Day 04 Beijing (B, L)

Today you will have a chance to experience the real life of local Beijing residents on a tour to the Hutongs by rickshaw. Beijing Hutongs are regarded as the last embodiment of old Beijing's spirit. Walking along the back street of Hutongs and meeting people there will leave you a different understanding of China. Following is a visit to the Summer Palace, a summer resort for Empress Dowager Ci Xi.

Day 05 Beijing / Xian (B)

Free day at your own arrangement. You may spend the day shopping or just walking around to get a better understanding of Beijing and its people. Or you can take some suggested activities from our ready-made option menu to enrich your stay in Beijing. In the late afternoon, take a flight to the ancient city of Xian. Meet your guide and check into the four-star Aurum International Hotel or similar.

Day 06 Xian (B, L)

Today you will take a city tour to the majestic Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shaanxi Provincial Historic Museum. After lunch proceed to the very heart of the city and visit the Bell Tower and Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarters. The remainder of the day is free at your own pace, or you can choose some suggested programs from our ready-made option menu to make your Xian tour more memorable.

Day 7 Xian (B, L)

Today’s highlight is a visit to the burial site of an incredible army of 8000 lifelike Terra-cotta soldiers, where you will have a face-to-face visit to those historic heroes. Return to the city and proceed to enjoy a leisure stroll on the top of the Ancient City Wall, the best preserved in the world, followed by a wander on the famous Shuyuanmen Culture Street to appreciate the delicate traditional art crafts.

Day 8 Xian / Xining (B, L)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Xining. On the way, you will pay a short visit to the Han Yangling Museum and see the excavation procession just under your foot. Upon arrival in Xining, meet your guide and check into the four-star Qinghai Hotel or similar.

Day 9 Xining/Lhasa (train) (B, L)

Today we have a full day tour to Qinghai Lake and the Qinghai Provincial Historical Museum. In the evening you board the overnight soft-sleeper train for your journey to Lhasa. The Cabins are pressurized and double glazed for the comfort of the passengers as it ascends into the high altitude of Tibet.

Kind note: You'd better prepare some take-away food for the overnight ride train, because meals sold on the train in China are not good enough for travelers.

Day 10 Lhasa arrival

Today you traverse the highest train pass in the world at over 5000m. Enjoy the scenery of jagged mountain peaks caped in ice and the permanently frozen Tibetan Plateau. Arriving late in Lhasa you are transported to the four-star or similar. Tibetan Hotel

Day 11 Lhasa (B)

Free day in the holy city of Lhasa situated 3700m above sea level. Today is a chance to acclimatize to the high altitude in preparation for your sightseeing. Explore the streets and markets and get a feel for the unique Tibetan culture at your own pace.

Day 12 Lhasa (B, L)

After breakfast you take a guided tour to the immense Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery (the spiritual heart of the city), the Ramoche Monastery and Barkhor street to mingle in the crowds and enjoy the market activity.

Day 13 Lhasa (B, L)

Today you tour to the Norbulingka Monastery (the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama) and Drepung Monastery - considered one of the three 'Pillars of The Tibetan State'. …

Note: If the above sites in Lhasa are closed due to the government policy or uncontrollable circumstances, you will be arranged to visit other available sites in Lhasa.

Day 14 Lhasa / Chengdu (B)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Chengdu -- Home of the Giant Panda. Meet and check into the four-star Jinyu Sunshine Hotel or similar. The rest of the day is yours to relax after your Tibetan experience.

Day 15 Chengdu / Shanghai (B, L)

This morning you visit the Giant Panda Breeding Base and the Jinsha Museum. After lunch fly to Shanghai - China's city for the future. Meet and transfer to the four-star Shanghai Hotel or similar.

Day 16 Shanghai (B, L)

Take a city tour to visit the city's major attractions and get a general understanding of this city. First you will visit the Shanghai Museum, one of the best in China, to learn the history of this city, then to see its modern development plan at the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum. After lunch proceed to visit the Yu Garden at the Old Quarter, the famous waterfront Bund and Nanjing Road at the shopping center.

Day 17 Shanghai (B)

Free day at your own arrangement. You may spend the day shopping or just walking around to get a better understanding of Shanghai. Or you can take some suggested activities from our ready-made option menu to enrich your stay in Shanghai.

Day 18 Shanghai (B)

After breakfast in the hotel drive to the Maglev train station and transfer to the Pudong International Airport for your departure flight. Service completes.