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Classic China 2 (inc.Tibet)
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Please note that this
itinerary is our suggestion only- all our tours are custom
made to your requirements!
The route of the tour
Forbidden City
The Summer Palace, Beijing
The Great Wall
Terracotta Army at Xi'an
Potala Palace, Lhasa
Drepung Monastery, Lhasa
Shanghai Skyline
Your tour price includes:
International and internal flights
Hotel accommodation with meals as indicated in the programme.
Transfers, tours with English speaking guide.
All entrance fees and boat fees.
Service charges, rooms tax and handling fees.
Your tour price does not include:
Personal expenses and other services which are not mentioned
in the program.
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Beijing-Xi’an-Lhasa-Shanghai
Day 1. Arrive Beijing
Arriving at Beijing airport our China representative will be at the airport
to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Today tour begins with a visit
the favourite haunt of the Empress Dowager, the Summer Palace. Walking in
this veritable museum of classical Chinese garden architecture, where the
royal family could relax away from the formal ceremony of the court, is a
pleasant experience. There are a number of pavilions as well as the Long
Corridor, now a popular place for people to spend the day. (L)
Day 2. Beijing
Today we will visit some of the contrasting sights of Beijing,
our capital city. Our first stop will be at Tian’anmen Square,
the largest public square in the world. Dominating the north side
of the square is the massive red Tian’anmen Gate through which we
will pass into the fabled Forbidden City and another age,
where we will see the home of the members of the royal
family and their court during China’s Ming and Qing Dynasties.
After lunch we will visit the imposing Temple of Heaven where
the Emperor came each year to intercede with the Gods for a good
and plentiful harvest. To round off a memorable start to your tour,
we will enjoy a Beijing Duck Dinner at the famous, century-old
Quan Ju De restaurant followed by a fascinating performance of Peking Opera. (B+L+D)
Day 3. Beijing
Today we will visit the Great Wall where you will have the opportunity
to not only see one of the most impressive sections of the Great
Wall of China but also take a walk along it.
After lunch you will travel some 50 km northwest
of Beijing to the Sacred Way with its fabulous stone animals.
The way leads to the Ming Tombs in the shadow of Longevity Mountain.
A visit to the Underground Palace of Dingling will allow you to see
imperial coffins, burial artifacts and treasures.(B+L)
Day 4: Beijing-Xi’an
This morning free at leisure. We will take an afternoon flight to the ancient
former capital city of Xi’an, and visit the ancient Xi’an City Wall (14th century)
one of the most important city walls in China. Afterwards, we will transfer
to your hotel. To celebrate your arrival in Xi’an you will enjoy a local
speciality, the Dumpling Dinner, a popular meal often taken to celebrate
the Chinese Lunar New Year. (B+D)
Day 5: Xi’an
Following breakfast in the hotel, we will set out for another
highlight of your tour, the Terracotta Warriors Museum. The thousands
of life size soldiers and horses were created to guard the tomb of Qin
Shi Huangdi, the first Emperor to unite China under his firm rule. The
royal tomb itself has yet to be opened but the rank upon rank of
Warriors is a sight that is unrivalled anywhere in the world. After
lunch, we will visit the Provincial History Museum which has the richest
tcollection of artifacts in China. For the last visit of the afternoon
we will go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The square, seven-storey pagoda
was built in 652 AD and is a fine example of Tang Dynasty Buddhist
architecture. Tonight, dinner will be at the famous Tang Dynasty Palace for
the deluxe Tang Dynasty Dinner Show where fine food and
spectacular entertainment bring another outstanding day to a close. (B+L+D)
Day 6: Xi’an
To start your morning, you will have a unique chance to approach the
mysterious and ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan, a 300-year old traditional
Chinese martial arts, also known as shadow or Chinese Tai Chi Boxing.
Now it is a popular exercise for Chinese to keep health. Gain the real
experience of playing Tai Chi with local Chinese before your exploration
of some of the sights. Freshly stimulated in body and mind, drive 70
miles west of Xi’an and you will then visit Qianling, the joint mausoleum
of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule China in her
own right and Qianling Museum. While the main tomb has never been excavated,
the tomb of Princess Yongtai, granddaughter of Empress Wu, has been opened
and is of great interest. As a contrast you visit the farmers’ caves before
you move on to Xianyang Terracotta Museum. Situated on the site of the
capital of the Qin Dynasty that unified China in 221 BC, the exhibits
include a model of the first emperor’s palace as well as other artefacts
from the site.(B+L)
Day 7: Xi'an-Lhasa
After breakfast you drive to the airport for your morning flight to Lhasa
via Chengdu, situated 3,650 metres above sea level. You have lunch on the
plane and upon landing you will visit the Nietang Buddha prior to being
invited into the home of a typical Tibetan family. Unique local Tibetan
tea will be offered. Transfer to your hotel. We arrange the dinner in your
hotel to ensure you have better appetite to acclimate the high altitude condition
in that region. (B)
Day 8: Lhasa
Today you will see some of the wonderful sights of Lhasa, commencing with
the magnificent Potala Palace, Tibet’s best-known landmark. Your second
stop will be the Tibet Museum and the third stop will be at the Jokhang
Temple, home of the most precious of the Buddha images in the region. Brought
from Chang’an (what is now Xi’an ) by the Tang Princess Wen Cheng when she
married Tibetan King Songsten Gampo, the Sakyamuni Buddha is truly magnificent.
Then walk through the colourful bazaar on Barkhor Street known as the Pilgrims’Way
prior to visiting a carpet factory where you can marvel at the skill of
the carpet weavers and admire the Buddhist designs. Finally, before
returning to the hotel you will pay a visit to the Tibetan Traditional
Medicine Hospital (Mentsikhang) where herbal remedies abound and are
considered highly beneficial. (B+L)
Day 9: Lhasa
Lhasa is famous for its monasteries and this morning you will visit both the
Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. Drepung was once the largest and
wealthiest and a Yellow Hat monastery where the Dalai Lamas were trained.
Sera was a strong rival for importance and had three Tantric Colleges,
famous for their Bon tradition of teaching. Your tour will then take you
to Norbulingka Park ( Jewel Park ). This is the old summer palace of the
Dalai Lamas and has fine palaces, pavilions, gardens and ponds. (B+L)
Day 10: Lhasa-Shanghai
Transfer to airport for your flight to Shanghai via Chengdu. On arrival
in Shanghai, pick up & transfer to your hotel. (B)
Day 11: Shanghai
Shanghai is a city that must be seen to be appreciated. You will see
something of its history at the Shanghai Museum on People’s Square
with its fine collection of cultural relics. Then we will visit the Yuyuan
Garden. Laid out in the 16th century by a Ming official, this small (2 hectares)
garden is a delight of pools, pavilions and rock gardens.Strolling
through the bazaar surrounding the garden, you will find lines of
stores that sell traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Next comes The Bund,
one of the most famous thoroughfares in China and here you will see a
collection of buildings dating from the 1930’s displaying their western
influence and fulfilling the role of the commercial heart of Shanghai.
Leaving the ancient for the modern you visit the TV Tower of the Oriental
Pearl situated in the thriving Pudong area of the city dominated by the
88-storey Jin Mao building. This evening you will mark the end of your
tour with a Farewell Dinner at the famous Seagull Palace, which allows
you to enjoy gourmet food while appreciating the fascinating view of
both the old Bund and the new Shanghai. Upon returning to the Hotel our
tour guide will see you in the lobby to say a last goodbye. (B+L+D)
Day 12: Departure
Transfer to airport for your return flight or to your next destination.
Please note that, whilst every effort will
be made to carry out the programme shown above, small changes may sometimes be necessary.
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