Golden Triangle & Altiplano Tour

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing , Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Beijing), A Free CH cell phone package
Detailed Itinerary: Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis that successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.

Upon your arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred you to your Hotel. The guide will deliver your Free CH cell phone which includes free rental for the cell phone and SIM card， and at least 30 free minutes, delivery and collection in China. The guide will also give you tips on local restaurants that we recommend and shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or explore Beijing on your own.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Lizexiang Pearl Store
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Beijing Ba guo bu yi Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast visit Tian'anmen Square, the symbol of Beijing and one of highlights of any Beijing tour. A walk in the Square will help discover the many points of interest. There is much to see.



The Forbidden City is the destination for the afternoon. The Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed China for over 500 years for this the largest palace in the world. It is the "must see" in Beijing. The Treasure Houses hold all kinds of treasure owned by Qing dynasty royalty and give great insight into the daily life of the royal families.



Lunch is at Ba guo bu yi Restaurant. Next to the Beijing Youth Palace, it serves some of the heartiest and most authentic Sichuan fare in town with its traditional Chinese style decorations.



After lunch, we will visit the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony.

Stand on the starting point of the Mutianyu Great

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car), Temple of Heaven, Cloisonne Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: First visit Temple of Heaven. It is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. You can see thousand of local people doing morning exercises including Tai Chi, dancing and Shuttlecock kicking.



Lunch is at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant. It is near Great Wall of Mutianyu section. This garden style restaurant serves farmhouse dishes, specializing in rainbow trout, sturgeon and salmon. The fabulous taste will leave you with great memories.



After that we will visit the Great Wall - Mutianyu Section which is less crowed than other sections. It is surrounded by wonderful landscape and has a rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers and the cable car provides a safe comfortable assent and decent.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Summer Palace with boat Cruise and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Beijing Olympic Green, Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport Transfer (Xian)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Xibei Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: After have breakfast, we will make the short trip to Hutong area where a rickshaw awaits to ride through the narrow alleys and passages. A visit to a local family is included then a walk over the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) to hear the explanation about the different thresholds that mark the entry to the courtyard houses.



Lunch is at Xibei Restaurant, which brings Chinese North western cuisines to Beijing with cultures from Manchus, Mongolians, Chinese Muslims and Hans.



After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival in Xi’an, transfer to your hotel.

The No.1 Pit is the biggest pit of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Imperial Fine Arts center
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch)
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off to the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. The repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display.



Lunch is at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant nearby Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. It mainly specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine and obtains a nationwide reputation from customers.



In the afternoon, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xi'an.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Shaanxi History Museum, Forest of Stele Museum, Xian City Wall with Bicycle, Great Mosque
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Qianzhou Restaurant(Xiao Yanta Branch)
Detailed Itinerary: First we will go to the Ancient City Wall. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre, it is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China. We operate this with bicycle. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall.

And continue our tour to Forest of Stele Museum. It was originally built in Northern Song Dynasty (1090 A.D.) when a large Confucian collection of steles cut in A.D. 837 - the oldest existing texts of the Confucian classics - was moved to it for safekeeping.



Lunch is at Qianzhou Restaurant. It is well-known for its local flavors and ingredients originating from Qian County. The style, Qianzhou Four Treasures is considered to be famous nationally. The specialties are of ancient origin from the Tang Dynasty and leave customers with great culinary memories.



Spend the afternoon at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Lhasa, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport Transfer (Lhasa)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. After arriving in Lhasa, transfer to your hotel. Please have a rest after you arrived in hotel in order to get used to altitude stress.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Lhasa Kitchen
Detailed Itinerary: First, we will visit Potala Palace. It is 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.



After lunch, we will go to Jokhang Temple. It 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.



Lunch will at Lhasa Kitchen. It is near the Jokhang Temple. It is decorated by merging Tibetan style with Indian, Nepalese, Chinese and Italian architecture. It serves a variety of styles of food.



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

Magnificient palace of Norbulinka

Day 9

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Steak House Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: First visit Sera Monastery. It is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place.



And then continue our tour to Norbulingka. Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.



Lunch is at Steak House Restaurant. Steak House is near the Potala Palace and serves mainly Western and Tibetan cuisine. Surrounded by the alluring landscape, it is a great dining experience while traveling in Tibet.



Then drive to Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). The grand Shoton Festival is hold in the early part of August every year. That is the busiest day there with crowds of people. It is an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of this festival.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Shigatse
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Lhasa to Shigatse, Yomdrok Lake, The Palgor Chorten
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Local Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, transfer to Yomdrok Lake. It lies within the boundary of Nankartse County, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Lhokha Prefecture, surrounded by mountains. Yomdrok Lake is a Holy Lake which everybody is looking forward to.



Lunch is at a local restaurant.



After the lunch, visit the Palgor Chorten. It also named Palcho Monastery and it 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 270 kilometers (168 miles) south of Lhasa and 100 (62 miles) east of Shigatse at the foot of Dzong Hill.

The multicolour proof of Tashihunpo Monastery

Day 11

Place & Transport: Shigatse to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Tashilunpo Monastery, Our guide and driver will escort you from Shigatse to Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Local Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, drive to 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.



After lunch at a local restaurant, drive about three hours to Lhasa.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Shanghai , Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa), Airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, transfer to your hotel.

Yuyuan Garden

Day 13

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Yuyuan Garden, The Bund , The Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Jiangnan Silk Shop and Workshop
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Home's Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: In the morning, start our tour to The Shanghai World Financial Center. It is a super tall skyscraper. It is a mixed use skyscraper, which will consist of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the lower floors.



Then head to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which is much more interesting and impressive than its sounds. It tells the story of growth of the metropolis, explains her foundation, development and future in 1 to 2 hours.



Lunch is at Home's Restaurant, which is located near the Nanjing Road. It specializes in Shanghai cuisine using the best local ingredients. Smoked fish and red jujube with sticky rice are well known in Shanghai. The restaurant enjoys a great reputation with diners from many parts of China and abroad.



In the afternoon, take a relaxing walk to the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. You will pass the Yuyuan Market. It is also a shopper's paradise with many small shops, often housed in authentic historic structures and selling everything from furniture to porcelain.



After that, we will go directly to the Bund - the old colonial sector, which is home to a myriad of European-styled buildings that face the Huangpu River. It is a must-see when visiting Shanghai. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.

Day 14

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Transfer to the airport ready for your departure. We wish you have a pleasant journey home and thank you for using with China Highlights - Discovery your way.