Day01 Arrive in Beijing L In the morning arrive in Beijing, transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), which was 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. 3N at 4*Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel Day02 Beijing BL Stroll in the Tian An Men Square, which is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. Then go to visit Forbidden City (Gu Gong) the emperor's palace, which was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. Facing south and rising from a terrace, the largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties, and exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. In the afternoon we make an excursion to the Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan). Day03 Beijing BL In the morning go to the Great Wall at Mutianyu part. 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 was built as a defensive structure and gradually become the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Walking on the wall at Mutianyu. Late in the afternoon drive back Beijing. Day04 Air Beijing – Xi’an BL In the morning transfer to airport, fly to Xi’an, capital of province Shaanxi. In the afternoon make a tour to the Grand Mosque in old city area. 2N at 4*New World Hotel Day05 Xi’an BL 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 completed in 652. The Xian City Wall is the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defence system in China. Day06 Air Xi’an – Lhasa B In the morning transfer to airport, flight to Lhasa (3650m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water. 3N at 3*Thangka Hotel Day07 Lhasa BL In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later 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. The temple, built in 647, 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. Day08 Lhasa BL In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. 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. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Day09 Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse BL In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake of Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. Pass by the 5.010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.900 m). In the afternoon visit Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the15th 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 recorded14,000 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 contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. In the afternoon drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. 1N at 3*Manasarovar Hotel Day10 Shigatse – Lhasa BL 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. Today 600 monks live in the monastery. In the afternoon drive back to Lhasa. 1N at 3*Thangka Hotel Day11 Air Lhasa – Chengdu B After breakfast transfer to Gongga Airport, fly to Chengdu, capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit the Jinsha Site Museum. The Museum has intense exhibits to cultural and custom relic tracing back to over 2500 years ago. 1N at 4*Minshan Lhasa Hotel Day12 Air Chengdu – Guilin BL In the morning drive to Chengdu Giant Panda Base of Breeding and Research. Founder in 1985, today there are over 50 giant panda living here. Late in the afternoon transfer to airport, fly to Guilin. Transfer to hotel. 2N at 4*Universal Hotel Day13 Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin BL In the morning, go sailing on the Lijiang River to Yangshuo. You will enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields, farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank. The Lijiang River is crystal clear, and no matter how deep the water is, the riverbed, the pebbles, sand, and weeds can be seen. Disembark at the one-thousand-year-old town Yangshuo, go around the local market, then drive back to Guilin. Day14 Air Guilin – Shanghai BL In the morning climb the Yao Shan Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of Guilin City. Then visit the Reed Flute Cave (Lu Di Yan), a typical karst underground topography. After visit the Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbi Shan) by the Lijiang River transfer to airport and fly to Shanghai, China’s largest booming city. Transfer to hotel. 2N at 4*Great Wall Holiday Inn Downtown Day15 Shanghai BL In the morning visit Yu Yuan (Yu-Garden) and the old city area. Originally built in 1559, it served as the private garden of high-ranking official by then. The word “Yu” contains a meaning of “safe and peaceful”. Then visit Waitan (Bund). As one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai, the Bund site shows a portion of the historic center of the foreign presence in Shanghai and its transformation in recent times. In the afternoon free. Day16 Leave China for home B Check out hotel in the morning and transfer by transrapid to airport for homeward flight. End of the amazing tour to China.
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