Panoramic Impression of China

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No matter how late your international flight arrives in Beijing, your Beijing tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport. On the way to your hotel, he/she will give you a brief introduction about the tour to come.

Sleep tight for the first night in China.

Smart Tips:

• We do have some edge booking international flights, so please check with our travel advisors.

• Breakfast and lunch

Tian'anmen Square is an extensive open area in Beijing, adjacent to the Forbidden City. Inside the Forbidden City, you will visit the four cores: the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Royal Garden. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

The most interesting fact about the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling is that China's last emperor, Pu Yi, once lived in a courtyard house in a Hutong but not the majestic Forbidden City. Afterward, you will take a rickshaw Hutong ride and visit a local family.

Smart Tips:

• Today's tour ends up at the Hutong area near Houhai, where you can find a decent place to kick back and enjoy a brisk Beijing night.
• It takes some nerve to dance in public. But moves don't matter if you have the passion - at least, that's so for Chinese dance devotees. Go check out China's national hobby: Square dancing in Beijing!
• To eat like Chairman Mao, try out Mao's Family Restaurant, whose head chef used to be Mao's private cook.

• Breakfast and lunch

As your Beijing tour guide walks your way to the site, you can see many local folks take the holy site Temple of Heaven as an open-air playground for Taichi, Yangko, and sword dancing.

The next stop for today is the Great Wall at Mutianyu Section. A one-way cable car ride and a one-way slide-way are included in our trip. Later, stop by to see how the cloisonne ware is out at a cloisonne factory before heading back.

• Breakfast

Today, you will have a whole free day in Beijing before the train departs at 8:00 pm. Refer to our suggested activities as follows.

Smart Tips:

• Beijing Zoo is an all-time favorite for both kids and adults.
• The Drum Tower still keeps drumming every hour from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (except 12:30 pm), 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, etc. Aside from the drumming show, the tower offers a great view of how everything in Beijing is aligned with the Forbidden City.
• A boat trip on Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace is essential for a relaxing Chinese holiday. Or a less crowded choice, go to the Old Summer Palace near it.

• Breakfast and lunch

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning, your tour guide will take you to some simple breakfast and help you check-in. Later, you will visit the wonder of ancient China: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Have lunch in a Sichuan restaurant nearby before a walk at a handicraft center.

In the afternoon, you will go back to Xi'an downtown, waiting see the Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest military defense systems in China.

• Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and get a splendid view of the city.

After lunch, you will walk freely to the Muslim Quarter and visit the Great Mosque.

Smart Tips:

• For a night view of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you can get to Fountain Square. Ask your tour guide for more information.

• Breakfast

Have some free time in Xi'an before the flight to Lhasa, a mysterious land luring almost every traveler.

After arrival and check-in, you will have some free time in Lhasa.

Smart Tips:

• Foreign travelers are not allowed to travel without a guide in Lhasa, but getting around the neighborhood for just a couple of hours won't be a problem.
• Tianhai Night Market is a famous night market, located in Minzu Road of the western suburb of the city.
• The No.1 cafe recommended by TripAdvisor, Summit Cafe, allows some leisure time.

• Breakfast and lunch

Today, you will visit the highlights of Lhasa. Firstly, visit the famous Jokhang Temple. Have lunch in a Tibetan-style restaurant.

Afternoon, you will visit one of the most important monasteries in Lhasa: Sera Monastery. Later, your Lhasa tour guide will lead your way on a free stroll in Barkhor Street, where your Lhasa tour guide will take you to a Thangka workshop for an interesting observation of the artistic process.

Smart Tips:

• Tibetan carpets, Thangka(a painted or embroidered banner), Tibetan fresco paintings, butter sculptures, and other stuff can be found on Barkhor Street, which can be something nice to bring home.
• In your free time, delve into the backstreet of Linlang Road, where you can find Canggu Nunnery, where you can have a cup of sweet tea served by those friendly nuns. Find more info on our "Solo Adventure!" tag.

• Breakfast and lunch

Nobody can miss the impressive Potala Palace in their Tibet tours. Today, you will spend some time here. Have a steak at a Tibetan restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Drepung Monastery. This monastery used to be home for Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace. Later, you will have some quality time with a local Tibetan family.

• Breakfast and lunch

Today, a flight will take you to Chongqing.

Upon arrival, your Chongqing tour guide will take you to visit one of the locals' favorite parks: Goose Neck Park.

Take some photos of our cute friends: the giant pandas at Chongqing Zoo.

Chongqing's Ciqikou Old Town is also an interesting place to kill some time. After dinner on your own, your Chongqing tour guide will transfer you to the pier. Board on Yangtze River Cruise and enjoy your first night!

Smart Tips:

• Find something to eat at Hongya Cave, a place of international food and colorful nightlife.
• Chongqing and Chengdu share the same tea culture, you can find a local tea house in the main streets or back alleys of Chongqing. Ask your Chongqing tour guide for some insider tips.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking up to the wave sound of the Yangtze River, you will embrace the morning of nature. Today, you will take a short visit to Shibaozhai. Shibaozhai, literally meaning Stone Treasure Fortress, and its riverside location is what allows the historic hill site much of its beauty. The sheer vertical cliffs below it stand more than 56 meters tall, thus creating much curiosity over the centuries. The red pavilion found there was first built in 1750 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and has since been restored. Inside, visitors can see many interesting artifacts since each of the 12 floors is dedicated to a famous general from the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265), a local scholar, or a known Chinese poet.

Smart Tips:

• Fengdu Ghost City is not included in our itinerary, but it's available to book after you get on the cruise. The cost will be your own expense.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On your spectacular Yangtze River cruise today, the first gorge of the day will be Qutang Gorge, and then later pass through Wu Gorge. After lunch, you will have the chance to go on land to visit Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze River. It is a dramatic piece of natural beauty with water rushing past karst caves, vertical cliffs, numerous waterfalls, three-colored springs, an ancient plank path, and much more. As well, there is an option to visit the White Emperor City, also known as Baidi city (price not included).

The crew will later perform for your entertainment, and the vessel will sail through the 5-step ship locks, bringing you back to the Yangtze.

Smart Tips:

• White Emperor City is an option upon your request. Please inform the crew if you'd like to visit it. The cost will be on your own.

• Breakfast

Today, you will get to Yichang. Visit the imposing site of the Three Gorges Dam.

Later today, a domestic flight will take you to Shanghai. Check in upon arrival.

• Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast, you will walk on Shanghai's landmark, The Bund, and get on the top of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. An interesting museum of waxwork demonstrating Shanghai's history, the Shanghai History Museum located inside the tower, will be our next stop. Have lunch at a gracefully decorated restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Yuyuan Garden and the romantic Former French Concession. Later, visit an intriguing Shikumen area, where old buildings and narrow lanes keep the history and lifestyles alive.

• Breakfast and lunch

This morning, your Shanghai tour guide will escort you to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. Here, you will visit Tongtianhe (an ancient pharmacy), the historic Post Office, Yuanjin Temple, and Kezhi Garden. A boat trip along the river will be pleasant.

After lunch, you will be back in Shanghai. Have some free time exploring the city.

Smart Tips:

• If you happen to have a free afternoon on a Sunday, why not visit a church? Shanghai Community Church would be a nice place to go. More info is on our tag.
• Strolling around People Square, you can go shopping in the lining up malls or watch a movie, or just simply hang. For a sweet tooth, Hershey's Chocolate World shouldn't be missed out on.
• At night, you can watch the awesome night show of ERA Time Acrobatic Show, high on the list of Trip Advisor's recommendations. Your Shanghai tour guide will show you the direction or even buy a ticket for you.

• Breakfast

You will be transferred from your Shanghai hotel to the airport in time for your flight home. Thanks for taking this China tour with us. Hope to see you soon!