15-Day Splendor Tour Of China

Tour Overview
This is a well-designed tour packed with fun and delights. We will ejoy the beautiful landscape, have fun in the Kung Fu school, and explore the highlights of Chinese culture, religions, architecture, art and history...

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing (no meal)

Meet your guide at the airport and then transfer to your hotel by private vehicle. Balance of the day at leisure for you to take a rest to recover from jetlag or walk around the hotel to get a glance of the city. 

Day 2 Beijing City Sightseeing by Public Transport (B, L)

Hightlights today： Tiananmen Square，the Forbidden City，Hutong

Breakast in hotel and then you will meet your guide at the lobby, who will guide you a city tour by public transportation. You will walk to the Metro terninal nearby and take metro to Tiananmen Square. Take a walk at the largest city square where the Monument to the People's Heroes stands in the center and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao at the north.Walk through Tianan Gate, you will enter the Forbidden City Museum,the imperial palace for Ming and Qing Dynasty.You will take a deep exploration of the palace, as the museum has opened many restricted areas like Qianlong Garden, the City Wall and Cining Palace Complaex (the residential area of the Empress Dowager).You will have a very unique lunch experience at one of the Ice Houses of the Emperor, which used to be the Ice storage warehouse of the royal family. After the visit, take a short bike ride in the Hutong area to learn local people's life style.Take metro or taxi back to hotel.

Day 3 Beijing (B, L)

Hightlights today： Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Sacred Road

Private escorted tour to the Great Wall at Mutianyu section, the greatest of the eight ancient architectural wonders in the history of human civilization. Then go to Ming Tomb, about 50 kilometers from the northwest of Beijing, is the best preserved Chinese imperial tombs and have been nominated by UNESCO as world cultural heritage. Connected with the tombs, Sacred Road used to be regarded as "the way leading to Heaven", the highlights are the 12 pairs of animal stone sculptures.

Day 4 Beijing → Luoyang by Train (B, L)

Hightlights today： the Summer Palace

Summer Palace is the first visit today. This world-wide known palace is located northwest of Beijing and said to be the best preserved imperial garden in the world, and the largest of its kind still in existence in China. It is only a short drive (15 km) from central Beijing but seems like another world. In it, boating on the Kunming Lake will let you take a vivid glimpse of the whole palace with breeze blowing. After a short rest, transfer to the historical and cultural Luoyang by high-speed train. Be met and transfered to your hotel. 

Day 5 Luoyang (B, L)

Hightlights today： the Shaolin Temple, Pagoda Forest, Kung Fu performances

After breakfast, drive to Dengfeng to see the Shaolin Temple. It is known in and outside of China for Shaolin martial arts. The temple was built in 495, the 19th year of the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. About 300 meters west of the Shaolin Temple is the Pagoba Forest, the pagodas here were built there to keep the remains of the deceased abbots and other eminent monks. After that, visit a local martial art school and watch a Chinese Kung Fu performances.

Day 6 Luoyang → Xian by Train (B, L)

Hightlights today： the Longmen Grottoes

In the morning, drive to visit the Longmen Grottoes , a world heritage site named in 2000, the sculptures there are an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity that carved in late North Wei and Tang Dynasty (316-907). The Longmen Grottoes illustrate the perfection of a long-established art form, which was to play a highly significant role in the cultural evolution of this region of Asia. After lunch, take bullet train to Xian, be met and transfered to your hotel. 

Day 7 Xian (B, L)

Hightlights today： the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower, Wlid Goose Pagoda

In the morning, transfer to visit the famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is one of the highlight attractions in China. It is significant because the hundreds of detailed life-size models. In the afternoon, visit the Bell Tower, which locates in the central downtown and was built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty with a height of 36 meters and covers an area of 1,377 square meters. Later, pay a visit to Wild Goose Pagoda, first built in Tang Dynasty, which is for the storage of Buddhist scriptures taken from India by Monk Xuanzang. Tonight, enjoy the  Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show - A wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance.

Day 8 Xian → Lhasa by flight (B)

Hightlights today： Lhasa arrival

Take a morning flight to Lhasa - the holy city of Tibet and a mysterious but spiritual heart of all Tibetan people. Upon your arrival, you will be warmly welcome by our local guide, and will be transferred to reserved hotel in downtown. Have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude in the afternoon.

Day 9 Lhasa (B, L)

Hightlights today： Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barhor Street.

After breakfast, we will set out for today’s exciting tour. The tour will start from the splendid Potala Palace, which is the first must-visit attraction for every visitor to Lhasa. Standing in the center of Lhasa, Potala Palace is not only an iconic landmark of the city, but also a symbol of the snowy Tibetan Plateau and a museum of Tibetan culture.

In the afternoon, we come to Jokhang Temple, which is 1300 years old and one of Tibet’s holiest shrines. It is Jokhang Temple that makes Lhasa the holy city. Outside Jokhang Temple is the famous bazaar of Barkhor Street. With a history of more than 1,300 years, the Barkhor is essentially a pilgrim circuit, which is followed clockwise round the periphery of the Jokhang.

Day 10 Lhasa (B, L)

Hightlights today： Drepund Monastery, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka

This morning, you are going to visit the Drepung Monastery which is located in the west suburb of the city. Drepung Monastery is the largest one of all Tibetan Monastery. All the halls are magnificent. There are 183 pillars in the main assembly hall and the carvings on the pillars are so exquisite.

In the afternoon, visit the Sera Monastery, around 4 kilometers north of Lhasa. It is famous for the excellent Buddhist debating among lamas. The debating takes place from 3:00 pm everyday in a garden next to the central assembly in the center of the monastery. It would be a great fun to see lamas debating. After that, we will move on to visit the nearby Norbulingka. It used to be the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama. Encompassing 360,000 square meters, the pleasant park consists of small palaces, chapels and a zoo.

Day 11 Lhasa → Gyantse → Shigatze by private vehicle (B, L, D)

Hightlights today： Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, Karo-la Glacier, Palkhor Monastery

This morning, you will be transferred to see the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. Although it will takes 2hrs driving from Lhasa, it is definitely worth the time as the scenery en route is really charming.Yamdrok Lake is one of the “Three Holiest Lakes”, also known as one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. Looking from distance, you will see yaks and sheep grazing on the grassland. Later, we will go ahead to Gyantse, en rout enjoy the view of the Karo-la Glacier (5560 meters above the sea level).

Arrive at Gyantse, take a visit to the Palkhor Monastery. It was first built in 1427 and the project lasted for 10 years to complete. The uniqueness is that the monastery houses 3 different sects of Tibetan Buddhism: Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelugpa under same roof. Afterwards, driver to Shigatse and stay overnight there.

Day 12 Shigatze → Lhasa by private vehicle (B, L)

Hightlights today: Tashihumpo Monastery

After breakfast, transfer to visit the famous Tashihunpo Monastery located at the west part of Shigatse city. It is the largest one of Gelupa sect in Rear Tibet and one of the six largest Gelugpa monasteries in China. It is said that the monastery was home to over 4000 monks during its heyday, now there are still 600 monks. The Maitreya Temple is the tallest building in the west of the Monastery. The Maitreya Buddha statue in the hall was cast out of 3350-kg gold and over 115,000-kg copper. It is the largest sitting Buddha in the world. After visiting Tashihunpo Monastery, drive back to Lhasa. 

Day 13 Lhasa → Chengdu by flight (B)

Hightlights today: Chengdu arrival

Take a morning flight to Chengdu,  the famous hometown of giant pandas. Meet your tour guide and driver, and then transfer to your hotel.  For the rest of the day, you can explore the city on your own pace.

Chengdu is a cultural modern city, still keeping numerous historical relics and sites, as well as interesting traditions. The people are friendly and the foods are well-known all over China. You can walk around the city by yourself.

Day 14 Chengdu (B, L)

Hightlights today: Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Mt. Qingcheng

Firstly, visit Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, which is home to nearly 50 pandas. Morning hours will be perfect time to see the pandas. They are enjoying bamboos breakfast and having fun together at the outdoor grassy land. Learn more about pandas, their evolutionary process & life habit, by visiting the panda delivery room.

After lunch in a local restaurant, drive for 1.5 hours to Mt. Qingcheng, one of the famous Taoist Holy Mountains in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Take a cable car up and down Mt. Qingcheng. The mountain has been known as "the most tranquil place under heaven" and features many Taoist temples and historical sites connected by winding paths and shrouded in mist. Immerse yourself in this hauntingly beautiful, serene world.

Drive back to your hotel in Chengdu city.

Day 15 Chengdu Departure (B, L)

Hightlights today: Renmin Park, Wet Market

visit the Renmin Park (People’s Park) in the morning, you will see local people enjoy their life by drinking tea, playing mahjong, dancing, singing in the sqare. If you are interested, our guide will tell you some basic rule of Mahjong.  And then go to a Wet Market to see what and how local people buy their daily foods. That’s the real life of local Chengdu people. You will have chance to learn Spring-roll or Wonton making.

In the end, our guide and driver will escort you to airport at the appointed time. Fly home and your splender tour end.

Services End