China Mysterious Tibet 12-Day Private Tour

Destinations: Beijing Xian Lhasa Shanghai
Duration: 12 Days
Tour Type: Private Tour(Min 2 pax)

Itinerary Detail:

Day 01: Arrival in Beijing

Arrival in Beijing, met and transferred to your hotel in Beijing. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest. You are at your leisure to take a good rest or explore the city for the remainer of the day.

Day 02: Beijing

Starting the day with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the world largest square of this kind. You will be given the details of all the buildings in and around the square including Mao's mausaleum, the National Museum, the Parliament Building. Then go through an underground tunnel to the imperial palace, also known as the "Forbidden City", the complex of imperial palace, which was home to the Emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties for over 500 years.After lunch, continue to visit Summer Palace, the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden. It is regarded as a museum of gardens in China.

Day 03: Beijing

After breakfast, drive to the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. Mutainyu Great Wall is a massive military defense works which was left from the Ming dynasty. It is a green section of the great wall in Beijing with vegetation, green pines and cypresses covering 90 per cent of the section. It is a very spectacular view.After lunch, drive back to Beijing downtown and exterior visit the exterior of the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), iconic landmarks of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Take photos and learn about their architectural features.

Day 04:Beijing - Xian by Bullet train
After breakfast, take the morning bullet train for Xian. Met and transferred to your hotel in Xian . Then visit to the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a large modern museum of the national level where you will see the artifacts that have been collected in Shaanxi Province since the upper Cave Man 18,000 years ago. Then wander the Xian City Wall, a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian. The City Wall started to be built in 194 B.C. The wall is 25.7 KM in length and is 12-16 meters in the base. The wall encloses a city area of 36 square kilometers.

Day 05:Xian

After breakfast at hotel, your city tour begins with a visit to the Terra-cotta Army - a lifetime viewing of the extraordinary 2200-year-old terra-cotta Army of China's First Emperor-Qin Shihuang. The emperor Qin Shi Huang who was the first emperor to unite China in 221 BC started to build his own mausoleum 35 years before his death.  Only a small part of the Terracotta Army has been restored. The museum shows different stages in the slow restoration process.

After lunch, move on to Big Goose Pagoda ( Ascending the pagoda is optional). The Pagoda is over 1000 years old and has 6 levels. It was used to store and protect Buddhist writings in the past. Later visit the Great Mosque, the biggest and most preserved complete Chinese existent mosque. It was first built at the Tianbao first year (742 years) during Tang Dynasty. Transferred back to your hotel.

Day 06: Xian to Lhasa(by air)

Flight from Xian to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, or by air via Chengdu. Upon arrival, transferred to your Hotel in Lhasa. Rest of the day is free for you to get accustomed to the Tibetan climate and altitude.

Day 07:Lhasa

Today's sightseeing: The Potala Palace, The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

- The Potala Palace: It is perched on the 130m-high Marpo Ri ( Red Hill ) with 13 storeys and more than 1000roms in the middle of Beijing Road, the heart of Lhasa City. It was once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. The first recorded use of the site dates back to the 7th century AD when King Songtsen Gampo built a palace here. The present construction began during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama 1645. It takes at least 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels.

- The Jokhang Temple: The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is now the spiritual center of Tibet. From earliest dawn to last light, daily worshippers and once-in-a-lifetime pilgrims make the inner circumambulation (kora) of the Jokhang to earn religious merit. Some of them prostrate outside circuiting the temple. The Jokhang Temple is best visited in the early morning. It now houses the life-sized statue of the twelve year-old Sakyamuni brought by Songtsan Gampo's Chinese wife - Princess Wencheng.

- Barkhor Street : The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled. Walking around the Jokhang Temple is said that it can bring prosperity and peace to one's whole life. The street is lined with huge numbers of shops selling various kinds of tourist stuff with Tibetan style - skybeads and much more.

Day 08: Lhasa-Beijing(by air)

Today's Sightseeing: Norbulingka, Tibet Museum, The Carpet Factory, Sera Monastery.

- Norbulingka Park: It is located in the western suburbs of Lhasa city. "Norbu" in Tibetan language means " treasure". "Lingka" means a park with beautiful trees and flowers. It once served as the summer palace for dalai lamas from 7th Dalai Lama who first built the palace. Then come out to visit the 14th Dalai Lama's palace through another gate. The 14th Dalai Lama went to India in 1959. People visit the rooms in the palace one by one. When he left Tibet in 1959, he was only 25 years old. From the picture hanging on the wall of the assembly room, he was once a handsome man.

- Tibet Museum: It is located to the south-east of Norbulingka. It is a Tibetan structure museum. It has three exhibition floors. It has abundant historical relics and treasures including prehistoric culture, united culture, culture and art, customs. They offer the audio guide service. You can use the audio to get a better understanding of the some important history and relics. It is a must for those who is interested in Tibetan history.

- Sera Monastery: Located 5km north of Lhasa, this monastery was the first Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa and has remained the main seat of this major Buddhist order ever since. About 600 monks are now in residence here. Debating takes place from 3:30pm to 5pm in a garden next to the assembly hall in the center of the monastery. There is a fine kora path around the monastery.

Day 09: Lhasa Shanghai

You are free till transfer to the Lhasa airport for Shanghai. Met and transferred to your hotel in Shangha. Free for rest of the day.

Day 10: Shanghai

First visit Yu yuan Garden. Yuyuan is the famous gardens in Shanghai where you will see how a large beautiful garden was made by a rich rice merchant 400 years ago. Adjoining these gardens is an old shopping area with narrow streets and buildings that were of a typically old Chinese style. There are many small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.

Then go to the new development zone in Pudong - Lujiazui, which is teeming with the futuristic, avant-garde buildings - Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Building, Bank of China Tower. Taking the elevator to the 88-storey Observation Deck of Jinmao Tower where you will have a spectacular view of the whole city.

Day 11: Shanghai

First visit Shanghai Museum, the selection of over 112,000 Chinese cultural relics from the Old Stone Age to modern times. You will be amazed to see the pottery that is over 10,000 years old. You have to go quickly though all the 4 floors. Then proceed to visit the pedestrians only Nanjing Pedestrian Road, a walking bustling street that is always packed with people watching other people. Then move on to the Bund, one of the most noted waterfront and architectural symbols of Shanghai.

After lunch, take one hour cruising on Huang Pu River. You start with the Hangpu River Cruise that will take you along the skyscrapers on the new area known as Pudong. Then you ruise to the west side of the river that has many skyscrapers and the famous Bund that has a row of the early 20th century buildings near the river. Back to your hotel.

Day 12: Exit From Shanghai

Transfer to airport for departure or free on your own and end your pleasant China trip.

Price inclusion:

1.All transfers and city transportation for your own use
2.Entrance fees and lunches as mentioned
3.Private car or van with English speaking guide
4.Hotels of 4* with breakfast in each city.
5.Beijing-Xian train tickets(second-class seat),and Xi'an-Lhasa-Shanghai air-tickets (economic class)
6.The above private escorted tour is customized for you, your family or your friends exclusively. No other travelers will join in your group.

Price exclusion:

1.Tips to your tour guide
2.Travel insurance for your coverage of injury or accident

Important Notes :

1. Avoid strenuous exercise first 2-3 days to adapt to high altitude.

2. Respect local customs: don’t touch Buddha statues or take photos in temples without permission.

3. Bring sunscreen, hats and warm clothes for strong UV and big temperature differences.