Essential & Scenic Cities Tour

Important Information

Map of Essential & Scenic Cities TourDestination: BeijingXianLhasaShigatseZhongdian(Shangri-La)LijiangChengduShanghai

Duration: 17 days

Price: from $ 4256

Tour Operator: China Highlights

Feature: Have you heard Shangri-la? You will find out the answer from here, to see the southern part of China will mark this trip.

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Day By Day Itinerary

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Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Forbidden City, The Tian'anmen Square, Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- The Tian'anmen Square: The world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- Temple of Heaven: One of the most famous sites in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activity, particularly weekend mornings. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Mutianyu Cable Car(One way), Great Wall at Mutianyu
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Hepingmen

- Mutianyu Cable Car(One way): This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Great Wall at Mutianyu: This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Roasted Duck at Hepingmen: In the evening enjoy the Peking Roasted Duck which is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Hutong Tours in Rickshaw
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Hutong Tours in Rickshaw: A maze of historic alleyways and old single storey traditional courtyard houses, now fast disappearing. Dotted around the hutong are the Drum and Bell Towers, Tea House, and local people's houses. Your tour includes a visit with a local family.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, TangyueGong Imitating sings and dancing
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Forest of Stone Steles Museum: A fascinating collection of inscribed stone tablets (steles), from very ancient to quite modern (Han-Qing Dynasties, 206BC-1911). All kinds of calligraphies and scripts tell stories, poems, classics, reports from around the Empire. Other exhibits include early sculptures and objects from Imperial tombs. This was once a Confucian temple, and the architecture and grounds are well worth a visit on their own account.
- Terracotta Warriors: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.
- TangyueGong Imitating sings and dancing: It’s a must for each tourist to Xi’an to experience the local color and pageantry of Tang Dynasty Show in the evening. According to various historical records and ancient arts and relics discovered in Xian, the performance holds the mirror up to the music, dance and colorful costumes that are originated in the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago. Enjoy this stunning optical and acoustic feast and you will immerse in the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty.
Time: After 8:30pm

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Shaanxi Historical Museum, Great Mosque, Xian City Wall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Shaanxi Historical Museum: The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Great Mosque: In the heart of Xi'an's Muslim quarter, close to the city centre, this is one of the largest Islamic mosques in China. Remarkable for the combination of Chinese architecture with Islamic practice, the courtyards align from east to west facing Mecca. The pavilions, halls and gateways are wonderfully decorated, and this is an active place of worship for the Hui descendants of Silk Road traders and travellers.
- Xian City Wall: It is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defence systems in China.You also can bike along the city wall (the rental fee is included).

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Lhasa, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Lhasa), Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Barkhor Street: Watch the pilgrims, wearing local dress from many different parts of Tibet, as they circle clockwise around Jokhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate themselves near the front gate. Join the locals and visitors to shop for local goods at the colourful stalls, or relax in a coffee shop or tea house to enjoy the passing parade.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Potala Palace: Former winter home of the Dalai Lama, a vast, awe-inspiring maze of corridors and stairs leading through countless rooms of richly decorated statues, tombs, murals and antiques. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Note: you need to be fit for the long stairways.
- Jokhang Temple: Smaller and more manageable than the Potala, this 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. Many locals pray here regularly; the Temple is surrounded by Barkhor Street and thronged with pilgrims and visitors. Yak butter lamps burn in front of rich statuary that includes the Sakyamuni Buddha brought to Tibet by Princess Wen Cheng in the 7th Century.
- Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Shigatse
Today's Activities: Tashilunpo Monastery, Yomdrok Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Tashilunpo Monastery: Painted in red and white, the buildings in the kloster stand closely together in terraced rows, offering a grand and majestic view. Tashilunpo Kloster represents the Tibetan super architecture art in the Last Tibetan spirit. The Kloster attracts thousands of Buddhists and tourists from domestic and abroad to travel and worship every year.
- Yomdrok Lake: It lies within the boundary of Nankartse county, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Lhokha Prefecture, surrounded by mountains. Beautiful Holy lake which everybody is looking forward to.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Shigatse to Lhasa
Today's Activities: The Palgor Chorten
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Palgor Chorten : Pelkhor Choede (Kumbum), also named Palcho Monastery, is very different from other monasteries. Built as a Tibetan monastery, its structural style is very unique, reputed as the lord of Tibetan stupas. In addition, it is famous for the architecture, sculpture, and mural painting art. It lies about 230 kilometers (143 miles) south of Lhasa and 100 (62 miles) east of Shigatse at the foot of Dzong Hill.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Zhongdian(Shangri-La), Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Zhongdian(Shangri-La)), Lake Bita& Lake Shudu
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Lake Bita& Lake Shudu : Bita" means in Tibetan a place with a dense oak forest and "Bitahai" means a quiet lake. The Bitahai Lake is surrounded by mountains covered with ancient pines, oaks and rhododendrons, just like an emerald in the heart of the mountain. Shudu Lake is located in northeast of Shangri-la,it is one of the largest fresh water lakes on the Diqing plateau. The lake is surrounded by a forest of fir,spruce and silver birch, and is home to lots of wild animals such as bears,golden cats, deer and pheasants.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Zhongdian(Shangri-La) to Lijiang
Today's Activities: Lijiang Ancient City, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Lijiang Ancient City: It is situated in the middle area of the county, which is more than 2400 meters high above sea level. It enjoys beautiful scenes, an indeed famous city with long history and splendid culture, it is very rare in China that such well-preserved minority ancient city still exists.
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: As one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges, Tiger Leaping Gorges are located in Hutiaoxia Town, 105 kilometers away from Zhongdian/Shangri-La County. Spring is the best time to visit, as melting snow flowing down from mountains makes the river turbulence at its peak.

Day 13

Place & Transport: Lijiang to Chengdu, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lijiang), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Chengdu), The Large Cable Car on Jade Dragon Mountain (from Ganhaizi),
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Large Cable Car on Jade Dragon Mountain (from Ganhaizi): It's a snow capped mountain with an altitude of 5596 meters above sea level. The mountain has 13 peaks of which the highest is 18000 feet above sea level. Its high mountain and meadow views setting off the snow and rivers, construct amazing picture.
You could take the Large Cable Car on the top of Jade Dragon Mountain (from Ganhaizi) and enjoy yourself.
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Day 14

Place & Transport: Chengdu
Today's Activities: Panda Keeper--International Internship Program Plan
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Panda Keeper--International Internship Program Plan: Today's Panda keeper experience at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base will be a highlight of you trip. Some of your tasks may include feeding the pandas or helping the cool down with a cool bath. You probably won't escape the cleaning duties in the enclosure or collecting and weighing the panda poop.

Day 15

Place & Transport: Chengdu to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Chengdu), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Hotel to airport Transfer (Chengdu), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Chengdu), Wu Hou Temple, Jingli Street, The Bund, Nanjing Road
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Wu Hou Temple: The Marquis of Wu, Zhuge Liang (181-234) was the outstanding military strategist immortalised in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and in the saying wise as "the Marquis of Wu". Peaceful and attractive gardens surround several halls, including one dedicated to his memory and another to that of his emperor Liu Bei, some impressive statues, a small museum, a famous Tang Dynasty stele and the classic red wall leading to Liu Bei's tomb. A delightful complex.
- Jingli Street: Once the commercial heart of the old kingdoms this ancient street has been fully restored in traditional Sichuan style. Picturesque, bustling, and cheerful, you can sample local arts and craft, traditional Chinese goods, food and delicacies, and even a Starbucks, local style.
- The Bund: Once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, the embankment has taken on a new vitality; lovely old European-style buildings mix with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!
- Nanjing Road: One of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Giant shopping centres, specialist boutiques, international brands, local upmarket goods, it’s all here, it's all busy and at night it really glitters. A fascinating glimpse of modern, commercial China.

Day 16

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Market, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Jade Buddha Temple: An active Buddhist temple, and one of the richest in Shanghai. The main treasures are two statues of Buddha, carved from rare single blocks of white jade adorned with precious stones. The temple is a hive of activity with monks, worshippers and visitors, and photos of the Buddhas are forbidden.
- Yuyuan Market : Located at a very busy marketplace in a complex of traditional-style buildings, backing onto Yuyuan Gardens.You can find everything there from popular local snacks and food, crafts, antiques and souvenirs to Starbucks, tea-houses and some great restaurants. There is a small (reconstructed) Temple (Chenhuang: Temple of the City Gods) in there as well.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Standing by the Huangpu River with 468 meters high, Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the highest TV Tower in Asia .It is a new landmark of Shanghai in 21st century.(up to the last floor is not included)
- Yuyuan Garden: In the centre of Shanghai next to the Yuyuan Bazaar, this exquisite old 5-acre garden is famous for its design. The paths wander across bridges, past rockeries and miniature lakes, and through pretty halls and pavilions. The trees and shrubs are planted with an eye to providing charming views, and a sense of peace and harmony.

Day 17

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast

 

* Check out Price Inclusions and Exclusions Price Quotation

Tourist Class: ( 3-star 3 Star Hotels, Check hotel list )

1 person 2-5 person 6-9 persom Single room supplement
$6578 $4256 $3522 $666

 

Deluxe Class: ( 4-star 4 Star Hotels, Check hotel list )

1 person 2-5 person 6-9 persom Single room supplement
$7147 $4540 $3805 $950

 

Superior Class: ( 5-star 5 Star Hotels, Check hotel list )

1 person 2-5 person 6-9 persom Single room supplement
$8534 $5234 $4500 $1644

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