Soul of China Tour and Tibet Train Exploration

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Map of Soul of China Tour and Tibet Train ExplorationDestination: BeijingXianXiningLhasaShigatseZhongdian(Shangri-La)LijiangChengduShanghai

Duration: 22 days

Price: from $ 4562

Tour Operator: China Highlights

Feature: This is the adventuresome tour to experience advance technology in the world, to explore the wonderland Shangri-la, remote civilization of Naxi culture.

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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: Terracotta Warriors, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, TangyueGong Imitating sings and dancing
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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.
- 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.
- 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, City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda
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.
- City Wall: The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defences still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre you can walk, rent a bike or take an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, with great views of the city on either side.
- 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.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Xining, Hainan Airlines HU7808 Dep 3:50PM - Arr 4:50PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xining), Great Mosque
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Xining to Overnight train, Train No. N917 Dep 8:28PM - Arr 9:50PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Xining), Qinghai Lake, Cruise on Qinghai Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Qinghai Lake: Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland salt water lake is at 3200 meters above sea level and is situated at the east of Qinghai province, around 2.30 hours drive from Xining. The ellipse-shaped lake looks like a huge poplar leaf sitting on the alpine prairie. Scenery in Qinghai lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn are the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake's scenery is most beautiful during these seasons.
- Cruise on Qinghai Lake:

Day 9

Place & Transport: Overnight train to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Train station to Hotel Transfer (Lhasa)

Day 10

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
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.
- 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 11

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, The Carpet Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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.
- Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.
- The Carpet Factory: The highland of Tibet is the actual home of the oriental carpets. By visiting Carpet Factory you will have a general idea how carpets are produced.

Day 12

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 13

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 14

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)), Old city area
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Old city area: The old city area combined the Tangba culture and Han culture.The picturesque sceneries show you the long history and far-reaching meaning of the old city. There are many wood building of ethnic characteristic, together with old streets paved by stones,forming a charming ancient city atmosphere.Those buildings are all of the combination of Zhang&Han architecture style.

Day 15

Place & Transport: Zhongdian(Shangri-La)
Today's Activities: Songzanlin Lamasery, Lake Bita& Lake Shudu
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Songzanlin Lamasery: The largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan Province. Occupying an area of 33.3 hectares, Songzanlin was built in the style of Potala Palace in Lhasa and represents the Tibetan culture, the statue of Buddhists and many precious cultural treasures will leave you with unforgettable memory .
- 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 16

Place & Transport: Zhongdian(Shangri-La) to Lijiang
Today's Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Overlook for The First Bend of the Yangtze, Lijiang Ancient City
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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.
- Overlook for The First Bend of the Yangtze: Surrounded by rivers and mountains and with an altitude of 1850 meters above sea level, the First Bay of the Yangtze has picturesque scenery. Besides, it is an important ferry that joints the inland and the old road for the trade of tea and horses in Tibet.
- 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.

Day 17

Place & Transport: Lijiang
Today's Activities: The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(Yak Meadow), The Mural in Baisha Village,
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(Yak Meadow): The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(Maoniuping):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.It is a large patch of pasture tucked away hidden amongst a virgin spruce forest on the eastern side of the Yulong Snow Mountain.
- The Mural in Baisha Village: Baisha village is about 16 kilometers north of Lijiang City. It is the important birthplace of "Tusi" (the Chinese word means chieftain of a clan) from Mu clan. Its characteristic artistic style and precious historic content of the mural deeply attracted visitors from home and abroad.
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Time: 08:00pm-09:30pm

Day 18

Place & Transport: Lijiang to Chengdu, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lijiang), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Chengdu), The Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, The Former Residence of Rock in Yuhu Village
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Black Dragon Pool: The park holds the Black Dragon Pool and got name because of it. The pool is listed in the Collections of Famous Pools of China because of its beauty.
- Dongba Museum: sanctuary of the culture of Naxi ancient culture,learn about the "Wood and stone Prints" of pictographic characters in Dongba Museum.
- The Former Residence of Rock in Yuhu Village: The Naxi ethnic group in southwest China's Yunnan Province has built a memorial hall in honor of Joseph F. Rock, an Austrian-American scholar who was one of the first westerners to spread the long-isolated Naxi culture worldwide.

Day 19

Place & Transport: Chengdu
Today's Activities: Wu Hou Temple, Jingli Street, Half Day Tour to Panda Breed Reserve
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.
--Half Day Tour to Panda Breed Reserve: Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which is situated on the Axe Hill 10 kilometers from the north suburb of Chengdu City. It covers an area of 600 acres. The environment here is exquisitely designed; the air is refreshing with the bamboo growing luxuriantly and flocks of wild birds flying around. There are two Personal interactions with the pandas. One is enjoying seeing Feeding at 9am or 2pm and another is taking photo with them by donating RMB300-500 for senior pandas or RMB50-100 for minor pandas. You will be highly appreciated if can do something for them. Be transferred back to your hotel after the tour.

Note: you may need to consult with your guide about the interaction programs before you visit the pandas, so that your guide can make a reservation.

Day 20

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

- 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 21

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

- 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.
- 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)

Day 22

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
$7266 $4562 $3712 $817

 

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

1 person 2-5 person 6-9 persom Single room supplement
$8091 $5041 $4146 $1186

 

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

1 person 2-5 person 6-9 persom Single room supplement
$9805 $5890 $5015 $2047

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