China & Tibet 14 Days | 13 Nights

Day1 Arrive in Shanghai

Upon your arrival at the Pudong International Airport, you will collect your luggage and complete arrival formalities before exiting into the designated arrivals hall where you will be met by your English speaking guide holding a name-board. Receive a warm welcome and walk with your guide to the waiting vehicle for transportation by private car/van to your hotel.

On arrival at the hotel, your guide will get you checked-in and set up for the following days meeting time & place.The rest of the day is free at leisure.

 Accommodation:  Option1: Holiday Inn Vista Hotel or similar

            Option2: Sheraton Hongkou Hotel or similar

Day2 Shanghai(B/L)

Enjoy a full day tour of Shanghai. Visit the Shanghai Museum, a museum of ancient Chinese art located within People’s Square. The museum is first class with over 120,000 pieces from furniture to calligraphy, jade, coins, paintings and other numerous treasures. The quality and depth of the museum’s collection, its unique architecture, and the effectiveness of how it is all displayed make this one of the must-see museums in the country.

You’ll take in the key exhibits with your guide before heading out by car to the old city for a walk through the classical Chinese garden nearby. The Yuyuan Gardens were founded as the gardens of Ming Dynasty officials back in the 1500’s, and after being destroyed occasionally during warring periods, what stands now is a finely restored piece of Chinese history. Complete with pavilions, ponds, and impressive rockery, this is a pleasant place to walkabout, even considering the crowds that can be anticipated.

After your guide’s narrative of Shanghai’s recent history and European influence, you’ll walk along the Bund waterfront lining the Huangpu River with unimpeded views of the modern Pudong Skyline on one side and the contrast of Asia and Europe on the other. Once home to trading houses & financial institutions, the buildings along the Bund are of European style; furthering the rich character of China’s most cosmopolitan city.

Take some time to discover the Lujiazui financial district, an impressively modern collection of over 100 high-rise buildings located on the east side of the Huangpu River. Home to hundreds of financial institutions, banks, international companies, a central park area, and some eye-catching architecture, including the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, Lujiazui is a great place to acquaint yourself with the city’s modernity.

During your tour, you’ll stop at the hip and historic French Concession area that now sees itself as a popular shopping and dining spot. Take some time in the Xintiandi neighbourhood, located in the French Concession, in what is now part of the Luwan and Xuhui Districts. Among the shopping and other main features of the area are the mid-19^th century Shikumen, or Stone Gate, buildings flanking narrow alleys and streets. Also notable, the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in the area.

You’ll return to the hotel for the evening free at your leisure.

Day3 Shanghai&Zhujiajiao(B/L)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before meeting your guide in the lobby for your half-day tour to Zhujiajiao, a canal-town outside of Shanghai. The town is an interesting contrast to the modern wonders of Shanghai with its ancient buildings, stone bridges, and meandering river-ways. Take some time with your guide and at your leisure to wander about this colorful town before returning back to Shanghai for the afternoon at your leisure.

Day4 Shanghai-Chengdu

Meet at the hotel for transportation to the airport for your flight to Chengdu, in Sichuan Province.

On arrival in Chengdu, meet and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Later, take some time with your guide to explore Kuan Zhai Lane, or old Chengdu, where you can sip tea at local teahouses, taste authentic Sichuan snacks, explore well preserved buildings, as well as see some of Chengdu’s modernization with a combination of Chinese & western culture. During your tour, you will also visit the area around Jinli Street and Renmin Park.

Return to the hotel for the evening at your leisure.

 Accommodation: Option1: Dorsett Grand Hotel or similar

           Optiona2: Crowne Plaza City Center or similar

Day5 Chengdu(B/L/D)

After an early breakfast, depart somewhat early to the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for an up close & personal look at China’s native bear. Feeding time is typically around the 8 o`clock hour and visiting at this time makes for greater opportunities to see them at their most active and playful. Located a short drive from the city center, this is a great opportunity to see pandas outside of a zoo and learn a little more about the work and progress being made in the care of these endangered bears.

Later, visit Wenshu Temple, a Tang Dynasty era Buddhist monastery, the best preserved in Chengdu. Take a guided stroll around the temple grounds punctuated with an air filled with incense and the warm Buddhist chants emanating from inside the temple.Afterwards, visit the grounds around the thatched cottage of the legendary Tang Dynasty poet, Du Fu.

This evening, enjoy a Sichuan cultural show and a traditional hot pot dinner.

Day6 Chengdu-Lhasa(B)

Meet at the hotel and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, Tibet.

On arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure to rest up and acclimatize to the high altitude.

Accommodation: Option1: Tangka  Hotel or similar

           Option2: Four Points  By Sheraton Hotel or similar

Day7 Lhasa(B/L)

Enjoy a full day tour of Lhasa visiting the Drepung Monastery, the Sera Monastery, founded in 1419, and Norbu Lingka, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day8 Lhasa(B/L/D)

Today, visit the iconic Potala Palace, built in 637AD, and the 7^th century Jokhang Monastery. Take a tour of the Tibet Museum, and enjoy some leisure time wandering around bustling Barkhor Street. This evening, enjoy dinner at Tibetan Family

Day9 Lhasa-Xian

After breakfast at the hotel you will be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian.

On arrival in Xian, meet and transfer to the hotel for check-in and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.

This evening, step back in time for a Tang Dynasty inspired dinner & show. An excellent music & dance performance of what was the most prosperous dynasty with traditional dance and skillful instrumentation showing you an impressive view of ancient China’s arts, traditions, and customs. A delectable multi-course dinner is included.

 Accommodation: Option1: Titan Times Hotel or similar

                               Option2: Grand  Nobel Hotel or similar

Day10 Xian(B/L/D)

This morning, head to the extraordinary site of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Not discovered until 1974 by local farmers, the Warriors are among the most fascinating discoveries of modern day. A discovery that started with a simple unearthed piece of a terracotta artifact led to what is an ongoing archaeological venture. China’s first Emperor, Ying Zheng, prepared for the afterlife with what remains the largest tomb complex in China as he surrounded himself with over 7,000 life-size terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots all displayed in military formation. Now a museum, this sprawling tomb is one of China’s most impressive sites, located just outside of the city of Xian. Tour the site with insightful commentary and time to wander about at your leisure.

Afterwards, take a stroll through the lively streets of the old quarter nearby the Bell & Drum Towers. As the starting point of the Silk Road the city attracted traders from the West as far back as the 1^st century, and in the 8^th century was considered to be the largest city in the world. You will take a guided walk to see where ancestors of early inhabitants live and work and to wander amongst food stalls and interesting storefronts in this bustling quarter of the city.

Later, head to one of Xian’s landmarks, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, for a walk and discovery of the energetic square nearby. The Pagoda is one of Xian’s icons and is arguably the best example of a Tang Dynasty-style pagoda. Towering over the square in front, you’ll take some time to wander about and take in the daily life of the locals enjoying some leisure time with friends and family.

Enjoy a dumpling dinner featuring dumplings of all shapes & sizes this night Alternative dinner venues are available if dumplings do not interest you.

Day11 Xian-Beijing(B)

This morning, stop at the City Wall, originally built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, and one of the few of China’s old city walls still standing. Now, much of the wall has been restored and rebuilt keeping this as one of the key pieces of Xian’s history for visitors and locals to experience. The wall at one time covered a much larger area, but what you see now has a perimeter of 14km, with 12 meter high walls that are 12-14 meters wide at the top, where you can walk and marvel at the hum of activity playing out below.

Afterwards, transfer to the train station for your high-speed train journey to Beijing.

On arrival in Beijing, meet at the train station for transportation to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Accommodation: Option1: Penta Hotel or similar

           Option2: New Otanic Chang Fu Gong  Hotel or similar

Day14 Beijing-Departure

Afterwards, return to the hotel for check-in, and then transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Checkout at 12 noon.