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. 2N at 4*Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel Day02 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. Day03 Train Beijing – Luoyang 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). Transfer to railway station and take night train to Luoyang (K269 2142/0651+1, soft sleeper, 4-bed-cabin). 1N in the train Day04 Luoyang BL Arrival in Luoyang in the morning. Transfer to hotel for a short rest and refreshment. Then drive to visit Shaolin Temple, which is famous for its Martial Arts (Kung Fu). The Shaolin Temple was built in honor of an Indian monk called Bodhidharma (known to the Chinese as Da Mo), founder of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism or more popularly known as Chinese Chan (or Zen) Buddhism. Afterwards drive to visit famous Longmen Grottoes, together with the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang (Gansu Province) and the Yungang Grottoes (Shanxi Province), are reputed as the three greatest stone sculpture treasure houses in China. 1N at 4*Peony Plaza Hotel Day05 Train Luoyang – Xi’an BL In the morning transfer to rail way station, train ride to Xi’an (soft seat), capital of province Shanxi. In the afternoon make a tour to the Grand Mosque in old city area. 2N at 4*New World Hotel Day06 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. Day07 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 Day08 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. Day09 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. Day10 Train Lhasa – Shanghai B In the morning transfer to railway station, train ride to Shanghai (soft sleeper, 4-bed-cabin). It is a whole 49hrs train ride from Lhasa to Shanghai. The train will be passing through Nagqu, Golmud, Xining, Lanzhou, Xian, Zhengzhou and Nanjing to Shanghai. A highlight of the ride, without doubt, is the leg from Lhasa to Xining, a journey of 1956 km on the highest rail of the world. It is a fascinating handscroll of natural beauty. The snow mountains, meadows, creeks and the immense grasslands are its components. Yak, sheep flock, horses and other wild lives of different species are active along side the railway. If lucky, you might have chance to see the most rare and protected animal of the plateau, the Tibetan Antelope or known as “chiru”, which are living on the snow land 3500 – 5000 m high. 2N in the train Day11 Train ride to Shanghai Day12 Arrive in Shanghai L In the morning arrive in Shanghai, China’s largest booming city. Transfer to hotel. In the afternoon 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. 1N at 4*Great Wall Holiday Inn Downtown Day13 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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