Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities: You will meet your local guide at airport and transfer to hotel. After check-in, you have free time to relax. Or take an optional excursion by rickshaw around Hutongs (narrow alleyways).

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: After breakfast visit the massive Tian'anmen Square, then see the Forbidden City with its elegant palaces, pavilions and landscaped gardens, once open only to nobility. Tour the 700-acre Summer Palace and view the scenery of its lake. Our local guide can help you plan your evening activities (optional). You can enjoy Kungfu or Peking Opera shows, or feast a roast duck dinner at famed Quanjude Restaurant, or enjoy nightlife at pubs and bars at Houhai or Gongti area.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities: Today, ride to the legendary Great Wall of China and stand on its famous ramparts. A local lunch is included, along with a visit to a jade or cloisonné enamel workshop. Then tour the Chang Tomb which was the first and largest of the Ming Tombs. Drop off at Beijing Olympic Green on the way to hotel. If time permits you can buy entrance tickets on-spot to go inside the stadiums of Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Board to Overnight Train (to Xi’an)

Activities: Free time in the morning and check-out before 12:00. In the afternoon tour the Temple of Heaven where the Oriental emperors worship the heaven. Then enjoy shopping at the famous Xiushui Market. After dinner board the train for Xi’an, with soft sleeper berth.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi’an

Activities: In early morning arrive at Xi’an, China’s legendary home of the Tang Dynasty from 618 to 907 A.D. After breakfast and check-in, tour Xian’s archaeological wonder: 8,000 life-sized Terracotta warriors buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, each soldier and horse molded in incredible detail. This afternoon, tour the majestic Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shannxi Historical Museum. Today’s tour includes visit to a souvenir shop or factory.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Overnight Train

Activities: Board train of hard or soft sleeping berth to Lhasa in the morning.

Destinations: Overnight Train to Lhasa

Activities: Scenery you will see today is memory of the life; you will find yaks on the Tibetan Plateau and sacred snow mountains alongside. At night arrive at Lhasa, the economic, spiritual and cultural center of Tibet. Transfer to your hotel.

Destinations: Lhasa

Activities: Today tour the 13-story Potala Palace, winter home of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. Later, visit 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple and explore the maze-like Barkhor Market in old Lhasa. Then visit a Tibetan souvenir shop. Accommodation at Lhasa Dhood Gu Hotel (or similar class)

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Lhasa

Activities: See Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace, and stroll through its parkland. This afternoon visit Sera Monastery, an active temple with monks in training. Accommodation at Lhasa Dhood Gu Hotel (or similar class)

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Lhasa to Gyantse

Activities: Transfer to Gyantse, on the way visit Yamdrok Lake, the Palgor Chorten (Palkhor Monastery). Accommodation at the Gyantse Hotel (or similar class)

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Gyantse to Shigatse

Activities: Transfer to Shigatse, upon arrival visit Tashilhunpo Monastery. Accommodation at the Shigatse Hotel (or similar class)

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Shigatse to Lhasa

Activities: Transfer back to Lhasa, free time for your rest or shopping. Accommodation at Lhasa Dhood Gu Hotel (or similar class)

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Lhasa to Shanghai

Activities: Free time and fly to Shanghai, China’s most modern metropolis.

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities: View the Jade Buddha Temple. Continue to Yuyuan Garden, a 16th century Ming period private garden/residence in the heart of Shanghai’s old Chinese quarter. Along is the local bazaar around City God Temple. Tour Old Shanghai and the riverfront Bund district lined with banks and customs houses. A visit to carpet or tea shop is included today. Tonight you can take an optional acrobatics show or enjoy night life at Xintiandi or Hengshan Road.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Depart from Shanghai

Activities: Free time and then airport transfer.