Spectacular China: From Shanghai to Beijing

Itinerary

• Day 1: Shanghai, Arrival

  On your arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, your guide will greet you and take you to experience the maglev train, the world's fastest train running 430 km per hour. Only 8 minutes later, you will get to Longyang Road in the downtown where your driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

  • Shanghai

• Day 2: Shanghai, Yu Garden and Shanghai History Tour

  Today, you will first visit Shanghai Urban Exhibition Hall to witness how Shanghai becomes a cosmopolitan from a shabby fishing village. Continue your tour to the former French Concession to find out what Shanghai was like in the 1930s. Later, drop by a silk workshop to discover the mystery of silk making.

  In the afternoon, take a leisurely stroll in the beautiful Yu Garden and try some local snacks at the hustle Yuyuan Market.

  Optional: In the evening, it is recommended to enjoy a fabulous acrobatic show (at your own expense).

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  • Shanghai

• Day 3: Shanghai - Chengdu, the Bund & Nanjing Road

  In the morning, you will promenade along the Bund, an iconic waterfront along the Huangpu River, to see historic architectures built by foreign colonial powers in the 1900s. Later, be immersed in the city's modernity at Nanjing Road.

  After the tour, you will be escorted to the airport for the flight to Chengdu, home to the cute giant pandas.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 4: Chengdu, Giant Pandas & City Highlights

  On this day, you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for lovely pandas. Here you will see pandas' easy life, walking leisurely on meadows, eating bamboo, playing with their mates or sleeping soundly in a tree. After that, sip fragrant Chinese tea at a tea house and explore Jinli Old Street to absorb the city's special leisure atmosphere.

  Optional: The exotic Sichuan Opera is a nice choice for you in the evening.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 5: Chengdu - Lhasa

  You will be free to pursue your personal activities until being escorted to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, the capital of mysterious Tibet. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed and accompanied to your hotel by your local guide. For the remainder day, you're advised to relax at your hotel to adapt to the high altitude.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 6: Lhasa, Potala Palace & Jokhang Temple

  The overwhelming Potala Palace is your first stop. As the symbol of Tibet, the palace was built in 641 AD and was a winter palace of Dalai Lama who is Tibet's pope. Impressive Tibetan architecture, huge golden Buddha statues, lamas, and devoted pilgrims all make it a must-visit. Later, you will visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet, and walk the special circular pilgrim route as local followers always do at Barkhor Street.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 7: Lhasa, City Temple Tour

  After breakfast, you will tour the charming Norbulingka Park, which is known as the Summer Palace of Tibet, and then come to Drepung Monastery, an ancient temple that once housed 10,000 monks in its heyday. Your tour ends at Sera Monastery. Built in 1419, the monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet and is famous for its Buddhism scripture debates.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 8: Lhasa - Gyantse, Family Visit & Palcho Monastery

  You will be transferred from Lhasa to Gyantse (5.5 hours' drive). En route, you will stop to see Yamdrok Lake, one of the three most famous holy lakes in Tibet. The scenery of turquoise blue water in the lake with the reflection of surrounding snow-capped mountains is awesome. Another stop takes you to a Tibetan family where you can chat with common Tibetans and try some of their self-made food. After arrival in Gyantse, you will tour Palcho Monastery to admire fancy frescoes, statues, and sculptures.

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  • Gyantse

• Day 9: Gyantse - Shigatse, Tashilumpo Monastery

  After breakfast, you will be driven from Gyantse to Shigatse (1.5 hours). In Shigatse, you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery, the oldest and largest Gelugpa monastery in Tibet. Here you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth, decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers. After that, proceed to a free market to experience the stylish local life.

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  • Shigatse

• Day 10: Shigatse - Lhasa, Yaluzangbu River

  Today, you will travel back to Lhasa (6 hours' drive) along the legendary Yaluzangbu River, the mother river of Tibet. Along the journey, you will view the fantastic landscape of the valley and snow mountains, and get the special feeling of traveling in the outback far from modern civilization. After a rest in Lhasa, you will have a Tibetan-style farewell dinner in a typical restaurant, with Tibetan dances and songs.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 11: Lhasa - Xi'an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda

  Today, your local guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an, the capital of 12 dynasties in history. Upon your arrival, your local guide will meet you and guide you to your hotel.

  After a rest, you will head to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Regarded as the symbol of Xi'an, the pagoda houses columns of sutras brought back from Indian by the eminent monk Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 12: Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors & City Highlights Tour

  Today, you will inspect the incredible Terracotta Warriors. As one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century, the terra legions amaze every visitor with its 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers and horses and the exact exquisiteness of each statue.

  In the afternoon, you will take a walk along the Ancient City Wall, the largest city wall in the world, and if you prefer, enjoy a cycling tour on it. Continue to drop by a jade gallery.

  Optional: Tonight, you can choose the Tang Dynasty Show as the evening activity which is a fantastic dancing performance with Tang Dynasty background.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 13: Xi'an - Beijing, Olympic Sites Visit

  On this day, you will be free until being escorted to the airport for your flight to Beijing, the capital of China. Upon your arrival, your local guide will greet and take you to your hotel. After a short break, you will visit stunning Olympic venues including Bird's Nest and Water Cube and see the Olympic Village where the athletes accommodated during the 2008 Olympic Games.

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  • Beijing

• Day 14: Beijing, City Highlights Tour

  In the morning, you will visit the vast Tiananmen Square where you can see the China National Museum, Grand Hall of the People and other landmarks. Heading north and walking through Tiananmen Gate, you will enter Forbidden City, the grandest and best-kept integral palace complex in China.

  In the afternoon, you will marvel at the spectacular Temple of Heaven, a holy temple in which emperors worshiped Heaven for a good harvest, and then stop at a pearl store.

  Optional: A recommended show for tonight is Chinese Kung Fu Show which will let you know more about Chinese martial art.

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  • Beijing

• Day 15: Beijing, Great Wall Tour

  Today's sightseeing begins with the world-famous Great Wall (Mutianyu section). Reputed as the 8th Wonder of the World, the wall was first built over 2,000 years ago as a complicated defensive structure for ancient China. Winding some 4,000 miles through mountain ridges, grasslands, and deserts in northern China, the wall is considered as one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders.

  In the afternoon, you will walk along the Sacred Road, a tranquil royal path lined with vivid stone statues of divine beasts and officers.

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  • Beijing

• Day 16: Beijing, Departure

  How time flies. It's time to bid farewell to China.

  You will be free to relax in hotel packing luggage and sweet memories until being escorted to the airport for your flight back home.

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