Yowza! Yangtze & Tibetans

Arrival in Beijing Welcome to join in this 2 weeks China tour. Once you arrive at Beijing Airport, we will be waiting for you at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it. They will accompany you to the hotel and assist you in check-in process. For the rest of time, you can have a good rest in your room or manage your own activities. O/N hotel

Beijing This morning you will meet your fellow group members at the pre-tour introductory talk delivered in the hotel before beginning your following two weeks China tour itinerary. You will then go to Tian’anmen Square, a revered place for Chinese people where you will stay for 30 minutes. The next stop is the Forbidden City. As a world-renowned imperial palace complex, it boasts magnificent ancient palatial constructions and cultural heritage. At least 2 hours are needed to appreciate its grandness. Instead of having lunch at the cheap restaurants nearby, we will arrange an a la carte meal for you in a good quality restaurant. Afterwards, drive to the Temple of Heaven to see the site where Chinese emperors worshipped. In the evening, we will invite you to enjoy the Kung Fu Performance at the famous Red Theater. O/N Hotel

Beijing It is advisable to have a hearty breakfast at the hotel as you will climb the Great Wall this morning. En route a jade factory is scheduled. We do not arrange lunch at the wall as the service of the restaurants near the site does not match to our standards. We suggest you have some fast food for lunch. To celebrate and commemorate the moment of climbing to the top of Badaling Great Wall, we provide red wine for a group toast. After that, our guide will escort you to visit the Sacred Way, which show how the feudal emperors wished to continue their authority and supremacy in the ‘afterworld’. You will drive pass the Bird’s Nest stadium, where the 2008 Olympic Games were held, on returning to the hotel. O/N Hotel

Beijing – Xian After breakfast, our escorted tour will take you to the Summer Palace, a summer resort for the royal families, and then a pearl store. Next stop is the original Hutong alleys to experience the changing times of old Beijing by rickshaw. We will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fine restaurant with delicious food. Please take time to enjoy it. We will see you off on an afternoon flight to Xian, where our local driver is ready to receive you at the airport and transfer you to check in at the hotel for a two-night stay. O/N Hotel

Xian This morning you will have the chance to appreciate the amazing wonder – Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum and then go to a pottery-making factory. In the museum, you can appreciate the pottery generals, soldiers with saddled horses and kneeling archers forming an impenetrable fortress to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Then an ordinary Chinese home and a genuine home-cooked a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be prepared for you by the host. We feel sure that you will be deeply impressed by this. If you are interested in Chinese cooking, you may watch how your hosts prepare the food for you. Your guide will translate for you if you have any questions. The afternoon is devoted to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum. Then our guide will escort you to the hotel for refreshment. You may wish to dress up for the wonderful Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Performance where you will also experience a famous Dumpling Dinner. O/N Hotel note: Since the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will be closed in Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec, we do not calculate the price of the show and dumpling dinner for tours starting during this period. If that is the case dinner will be free on own

Xian – Lhasa Today we will drive you to the airport where you will board the morning flight to Lhasa. We will wait for you at the airport and transfer you to a good hotel for a three-night stay. After checking in, it is recommended that you have a good rest at the hotel to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level. Lunch and dinner are arranged by yourself. Tips: For those who have never been to high altitudes, we suggest you have a complete physical examination beforehand to ensure you are in good health. To adapt to the high altitude, you should have a good rest at the hotel once you arrive, no running or intense activity, no smoking or alcohol. Please eat and drink in moderation. More vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs are better. O/N Hotel

Lhasa A morning visit takes you to the Norbulinka Park, which is the largest man-made garden with the most beautiful scenery and historical relics in Tibet. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Sera Monastery. It is rich in precious cultural relics and art works. A reservation has been made at a highly recommended restaurant for lunch. The last stop today is a typical Tibetan family visit. The host will entertain you with their unique salted butter tea, which is an indispensable drink for local people. It can help you overcome high altitude sickness and also protect your lips from cracking due to the dry weather. When you are a guest in a family visit, please do not drink the tea at one big gulp, just sip it and leave some in the cup when you finish. This is Tibetan courtesy. O/N hotel

Lhasa Another joyful day starts with a visit to the magnificent Potala Palace, which always impresses visitors with its majestic white walls and red palace. There are some cultural observations that you should be aware of when you visit. You should avoid stepping on the doorsill when entering. Taking photos is prohibited and it is not acceptable that women wear hats in the palace. After lunch, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, Gyangjian Tangka Art Store, a Nunnery and Barkhor Street, where you will see many pilgrims in procession prostrating themselves along the street. You will also find many stores and shops lined along both sides of the street selling Tibetan handicrafts, clothes, ornaments, rugs, incense and many others. It is the best place to buy unique exotic souvenirs for your friends and families. We would like to remind you if you purchase Tibetan knives that it cannot be taken as hand luggage on flights. O/N hotel

Lhasa – Chongqing The last destination in Lhasa is Tibet Museum, which offers visitors an opportunity to learn much about the region. A vast amount of cultural heritage is on display. The calligraphies and paintings vividly tell of the friendship between the Han and Tibetan People. After that you will take a flight to Chongqing. Again, we will greet you at the airport and transfer you to board the luxurious cruise ship. As the cruise ship departs at about , start your relaxing trip on the Yangtze River cruise begins. note: overnight boat cruise : President No. 8 with balcony or other 5-star cruise

Yichang – Shanghai After breakfast, you will go ashore for the whole morning to visit the Three Gorges Dam. The existence of this site makes the city a capital of hydroelectricity in the world. After that, you will go back to the ship to check out and meet us on board. After lunch, you will leave for Shanghai by air. On arrival in Shanghai, we will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. O/N Hotel (suggested Bund Riverside Hotel)

Shanghai Today’s first destination is Shanghai Museum, which has a stellar international reputation for its various antiques. The next destination is the noted Yuyuan Garden, a classical garden with strong architecture flavor of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Followed is a silk shop. An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be served to you at a good quality restaurant which boasts the best Shanghai dishes. Afterwards, you will visit the Bund, where you will take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. Then enjoy some free time on the Bund. Finally our guide and driver will transfer you to the hotel and say goodbye to you at the lobby to conclude the day. O/N hotel

Departure from Shanghai Breakfast at the hotel has been reserved for you this morning. At leisure transfer to the airport Transfer to airport. VIEW MORE CHINA TOURS