From Yangtze to Tibet

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17 Days Private Tour Shanghai – Yichang – Yangtze Cruise – Chongqing – Lhasa – Yamdrok – Gyantse – Shigatse – Lhasa – Tibet Train – Xian – Beijing

The 17-day China Tibet tour takes us first to the modern harbor city Shanghai in East China. The view of the impressive skyline of Shanghai at the Bund (Waitan) is unforgettable. Of course, we will visit the famous Yu Garden, one of the most beautiful examples of garden art in China.

Then take flight to Yichang, where the Deluxe Yangtze Cruiser starts. During the Yangtze cruiser upstream from Yichang to Chongqing we'll enjoy the unique and beautiful sights along Yangtze River, such as the massive Three Gorges Dam, Shennong Stream, splendid gorges, Baidi City of Yangtze, “Ghost City” and Shibaozai.

By air we reach the holy city Lhasa on the roof of the world. In Lhasa - the capital city of Tibet - you have two days for the attractions: Potala, Jokhang, Norblinka and Sera. And from Parla Lupu Monastery we'll enjoy the magnificent view of Potala Palace. We could circle around the Tibetan holiest Monastery Jokhang with pilgrims, who come from all over Tibet and the Tibetan cultural areas of Kham-Amdo of the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. Many pious Tibetans measure the way on the Barkhor market with their body length. On the scenic drive to Gyantse and Shigatse we will experience the magnificent scenery, pass by the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and cross over the passes Kamba La (4,794m) and Karo La (5,010m). Then visit the unique Kumbum Pagoda in Gyantse and Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
Let us enjoy majestic and varied scenery while traveling on the Tibet Railway from Lhasa to the ancient imperial city Xian. Here we expect a view of the world famous Terracotta Army and old city wall.
By modern high-speed train we drive north to Beijing, the political center of China. The highlights of Beijing - the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), the Forbidden City (Gugong), the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) and the Great Wall are in the program.

Highlights

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrival in Shanghai

Welcome to China

Today arrive in Shanghai, the economic metropolis and largest booming city of China. Pick up and transfer to hotel.

Overnight at 4*Greenland Jiulong Hotel

Shanghai

DAY
2

Air Shanghai – Yichang

Shanghai, world metropolis. Yu Garden (Yu Yuan), the Bund

From here you can explore the enchanting old city area. You dive into the world of the Far Eastern culture with all your senses: The distinctive flair of the old street with its tiny alleys, food stalls and small shops. Originally built in 1559, it served as the private garden of high-ranking official from that time. The word “Yu” contains a meaning of “safe and peaceful”. Afterwards, take a walk on the Bund (Waitan), the waterfront of Shanghai. The view of the skyline as well as the old gorgeous buildings in European style is impressive. In the afternoon transfer to airport to take flight (MU2676 1850/2115) to Yichang, the starting point of the upstream Yangtze Cruise. Transfer to pier and embark the cruise ship.

Overnight at 5*Yangtze Cruiser

Breakfast

Shanghai

DAY
3

Yangtze River Cruise

Visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project

From now on you will experience a unique voyage on China's longest river, Changjiang, better known in the west as Yangtsekiang. On this route, the landscape gallery of shores, gorges, mountain- and rock-formations are fascinating. After breakfast you will visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project. After 12 years of construction, the Three Gorges Dam (Sanxia Daba) was completed with a hydroelectric power plant, a ship lift and a lock system on May 20, 2006. With about 2335 m, the gigantic concrete dam extends between the two sides of a narrow valley at the end of the Xiling Gorge of the Yangtze River near Sandouping, a small town about 40 km upstream from Yichang in Hubei Province. China is pursuing ambitious goals: protecting the densely populated regions in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River from flooding, operating a hydropower plant with 32 large turbines, each of which has 700 MW of installed capacity and generates around 100 billion kWh of electricity, enabling the navigability of the Yangtze River to 660 km from Yichang to Chongqing for ships up to 10000 tons.

Overnight at 5*Yangtze Cruiser

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Taiji

DAY
4

Yangtze River Cruise

Boating on Shennong Stream, Wu Gorge, Qutang Gorge

At first, you get off at Wushan and continue your leisure tour - travel through Shennong Stream by a small boat, and enjoy the clear running water, distinctive rock formations and sometimes even monkeys and goats along its sides. It is a special approach to get close to these beautiful features of Shennong Stream. Shift to Wu Gorge that gains a high reputation because of its fascinating sights. Then the cruise will travel through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest but the most majestic and dangerous one of the three gorges of Yangtsekiang. Visit White Emperor City (option). At the dinner time, a great party is held by the captain to welcome everybody.

Overnight at 5*Yangtze Cruiser

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yangtze River Cruise

DAY
5

Yangtze River Cruise

Our next destination is Fengdu (option), the “Ghost City” of China, which is because of its big amounts of statues with the image from the hell – ghost and devils. According to the legend, here is the place to settle down souls. The next station is Shibao Village.

Overnight at 5*Yangtze Cruiser

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yangtze River Cruise

DAY
6

Chongqing – Lhasa

Arrive in Chongqing, Fly to Lhasa

In the morning, we arrive in Chongqing Chao Tianmen Wharf, and meet local guide and driver, and then transfer to airport to take flight (CA4420 1345/1635) to Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet. Upon arrive in Lhasa, transfer to hotel.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Barkhor Street

DAY
7

Lhasa

Potala Palace – landmark of Lhasa, Jokhang and Barkhor Street

In the morning visit Potala. It was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later it was expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. Built in 647, the temple is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Potala Palace

DAY
8

Lhasa

Panoramic view over Potala, Norbulingka, Debate in Sera

In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. It is also one of the six master monasteries of the Gelugpa. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You have the opportunity to experience the famous monks' "Buddhism scriptures debates". Public religious debates are part of the education of monks.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Debate in Sera Monastery

DAY
9

Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse

Karo La Pass and Glacier, holy lake Yamdrok, Palkhor with Pagoda Kumbum

Drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4,441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On arriving, visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby. Both of the two monasteries were built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters and contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Afterwards drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.

356 km
6 hours 41 minutes
Overnight at 4*Mulunlazong Hotel

Breakfast

Palkhor Monastery

DAY
10

Shigatse – Lhasa

Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse, traditional manufacture for Tibetan incense

In the morning visit Tashilunpo Monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. In the afternoon drive back to Lhasa. On the way visit a traditional manufacture for Tibetan incense in small town Tunba by the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

273 km
4 hours 58 minutes
Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Tashilunpo Monastery

DAY
11

Train Lhasa - Xian

Train ride on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and through the human-less areas

In the morning transfer to the train station, train to Xian (Z166 1130/2034+2, soft sleeper, 4-bed compartment). Drive about 33 hours, from via Naqu, Golmud, Xining, Lanzhou to Xian. The special feature is the 1,956 km long railway line from Lhasa to Xinin that is considered the highest railway in the world. You can enjoy a grand, seemingly endless landscape gallery with snow-capped mountains, countless rivers and gorges, high mountain lakes and endless steppes along the way. Over and over, you will see flocks of yaks, sheep, horses and wild animals as well as birds. And with some luck, you will see the herds of Tibetan antelopes that live mainly in the steppes of the Qinghai-Tibet highlands at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 m.

Overnight on the train

Breakfast

Qinghai-Tibet Railway

DAY
12

On the train

Arrival in the historic imperial city Xian

In the evening arrive in Xian, the capital of province Shaanxi. Meet with local guide at the railway station and transfer to hotel.

Overnight at the 4*Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel

Breakfast

Old City Wall

DAY
13

Xian

The Eighth Wonder - Terracotta Army, Grand Wild-Goose Pagoda, the best-preserved Chinese city wall

Xian's main attraction is the famous Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China Qin Shihuang (reigned 221 - 210 BC) who managed to unit China for the first time. The guardians of his grave offer you one of the greatest insights into the world of ancient China. In the morning visit the Museum of Terracotta Warriors. An inside museum has been built over these pits, covering a floor space of 20,000 square meters and displaying 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors, 100 or so chariots, and 30,000 weapons-an assemblage famed as the Eighth World Wonder and a world cultural heritage site. Besides, visit Da Yan Ta (Big-Wild-Goose Pagoda) which was built by Emperor Li Zhi in 650 AD. Biking on the old city wall should not be missed. Built between 1374 and 1378, the city wall has a total length of 13.6 km and is the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defense system in China.

Overnight at the 4*Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel

Breakfast

Terracotta Army

DAY
14

High-speed train Xian - Beijing

High-speed train to capital Beijing. Temple of Heaven

After breakfast transfer to the railway station, take a high-speed train to Beijing (G26 0918/1350), the capital of China. Upon arrival in Beijing, drive to the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan). Built in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty and expanded in the Qing Dynasty at present covering an area of 273 hectares, the grand temple served as the sacrificial place for the emperors of the Ming and Qing to worship the heaven, presenting gratitude for the harvest of this year and praying for another good harvest next year. It is the largest and most important of all imperial temples in China.

Overnight at the 4*5L Hotel

Breakfast

Temple of Heaven

DAY
15

Beijing

Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, from Jingshan Park great view of the Forbidden City, Summer Palace

Stroll in the Tiananmen Square, the biggest one of its kind in the world, and the Forbidden City (Gu Gong), the emperor's palace that was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. The largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority that emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties, and exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. Then climb to the "coal hill" (Meishan) of Jingshan Park lined with pines and cypress, a beautiful park just opposite the north gate of the Imperial Palace, for a great view of the Forbidden City - a rectangular basic building with golden roofs in the center of Beijing. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan). Numerous unforgettable photo opportunities are waiting for you. In the summer it was too hot for the Chinese emperors, so beginning in 1153, they built a summer residence in northwest of Beijing. The Summer Palace is the most successful imperial garden, one of the highlights of Chinese landscape and horticultural art.

Overnight at the 4*5L Hotel

Breakfast

Forbidden City

DAY
16

Beijing

Hiking and sightseeing on the Great Wall at Mutianyu

In the morning go to the Great Wall at Mutianyu (about 70 km in northeast of Beijing). The local section of the Great Wall built in 1368 and restored in 1983, is particularly attractive with its numerous watchtowers along the picturesque ridge in green, gently undulating landscape. The Great Wall was built as a defensive line against attacks by warlike steppe people from the north, and was constantly expanded and strengthened, so the strategic passes with barracks, watchtowers and storage rooms were expanded to fortress. The Great Wall is one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see in the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. It gradually becomes the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Have a walking on the Great Wall about 2 to 3 hours. In the afternoon return to Beijing.

Overnight at the 4*5L Hotel

Breakfast

Greatwall

DAY
17

Flight Beijing - Home

Leave China for home

Transfer to airport, fly back home.

Breakfast

Forbidden City

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With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

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Hotel, program, itinerary, flight, train and Yangtze cruiser are subjected to change with prior notice.

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