Beijing-Xi’an-Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise-Llasa (Tibet)-Shanghai
Day 1. Arr.Beijing
Day 1 Arr.Beijing
Arriving at Beijing airport our China representative will be at the airport to welcome you
and transfer you to your hotel. Afternoon we will 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.
Day 2. Beijing
Today we will visit some of the contrasting sights of Beijing, our capital city. Our first
stop will be at Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Dominating the north
side of the square is the massive red Tiananmen 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 restaurant. (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. Dinner at local restaurant & Peking Opera. (B+L+D)
Day 4: Beijing-Xi’an
This morning we will take an internal flight to the ancient former capital city of Xian,
pick up & transfer to hotel. Today's tour includes the ancient Xian City Wall (14th century)
one of the most important city walls in China, the Great Mosque built in 742 during the Tang
Dynasty (618-907) whose traditional Chinese-style architecture makes this mosque quite distinct
from its Arabic counterparts, the Forest of Stone Steles Museum, which is housed
in the Temple of Confucius, has the largest collection of its kind in China with over 3,000
inscribed stones steles.
To celebrate your arrival in Xian you will enjoy a local speciality, the Dumpling Dinner,
a popular meal often taken to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (B+L+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
collection 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-Chengdu
Transfer to airport for your flight to Chengdu, pick up & drive to Wolong &
overnight at hotel in Wolong. (B+L+D)
Day 7: Chengdu
Today we visit Wolong Nature Reserve Panda Centre & then drive back to Chengdu
& overnight at hotel in Chengdu. (B+L)
Day 8: Chengdu - Chongqin - Cruise day 1.
This morning our city tour explores Chengdu. After lunch, transfer to airport
for flight to Chongqin. Arriving at Chingqin, we explore the ancient town.
Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant
then afterwards we will transfer tothe pier to join the cruise ship to start
our Yangtse cruise. (B+L+D)
Day 9: Cruise day 2: Fengdu and onward.
This morning we will make a stop for a visit to the Ghost City of Fengdu, famous
for its temple dedicated to the King of the Underworld,
an association dating back to the Han Dynasty. Fengdu is where the devil lives, according
to Chinese legend. They say that spirits go to heaven, and evil goes to Fengdu. The town is
overlooked by Ming Shan Hill, home of Tianzi, the King of the Dead.
The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, empty shops and banks.
(B+L+D)
Day 10: Cruise day 3: Lesser Three Gorges
Today will stop off for an excursion to the Lesser Three Gorges which are
the three separate valleys of the Daning River: Dragon Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge
and Emerald Gorge. These lie on the lower reaches of the Daning, which flows
into the Yangtze. The gorges are truly spectacular. Sheer cliffs soar up
towards the sky from the brown-green water. Mountain tops hover above the
ribbon of mist, disconnected from their roots. Its "subtle mountains,
clear waters, pretty rocks, dangerous rapids, sharp turns, fantastic caves,
and stalactites in various shapes" create the timeless beauty that you see
in Chinese landscape paintings. Monkeys, mandarin ducks and other water birds
can be seen loitering on big boulders in this area. In addition to the
wonderful natural scenery there are a number of historical places of interest
along the way, such as a suspended coffin, boat coffin, and remains of ancient
plank walkway. (B+L+D)
Day 11: Cruise day 4: Three Gorges Dam - Yichiang - Chengdu
Today we arrive at the Three Gorges Dam site and take a shore excursion to see this
marvel of engineering. It is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by
man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. The construction
of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the
whole construction will be competed in 2009. After lunch onboard we will arrive in Yichang at about 1330.
After disembarking the cruise, your guide will meet you and transfer you the airport
for your flight to Chengdu. On arrival at Chengdu, transfer to hotel.(B+L)
Day 12: Chengdu - Lhasa
After breakfast you drive to the airport for your morning flight to Lhasa
situated 3,650 metres above sea level. Upon arriving our Tibetian
representative will be at the airport to welcome you. On the way to hotel
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. After
check in hotel today tour includes 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. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant. (B+L+D)
Day 13: Lhasa
Today you will see some of the wonderful sights of Lhasa, commencing with
the magnificent Potala Palace, Tibet’s best-known landmark, & the Tibet Museum.
After lunch we visit 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 14: 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. This evening you will have a
traditional Tibetan Dinner with entertainment provided by a small group of
Tibetan dancers. (B+L+D)
Day 15: Lhasa-Shanghai
Transfer to airport for your flight to Shanghai via Chengdu. On arrival
in Shanghai, pick up & transfer to your hotel. (B)
Day 16: 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. (B+L+D)
Day 17: Shanghai
Free at leisure to explore Shanghai or shop, perhaps in the famous Nanjing Road.(B)
Day 18: Departure
Transfer to airport for your return flight or to your next destination.(B)
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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