11 Day China Group tour to Beijing-Xi'an-Lhasa-Shanghai

Meals: No Meals
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Beijing ★★★★
 

Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China, you will be met by our local driver at the airport with TCT signboard, and then transfer you to check in your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day for you to get over the jet lag.
 

Please note:
1. We generally arrange the airport pick up from Beijing Capital International Airport(PEK). If your flight arrive at Beijing Daxing International Airport(PKX), it will cause an transfer supplement: US$90 per 5-seat car per way.
2. Our airport transfer from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is generally arranged on sharing basis according to the arrival timing of each client's flight. If any tourists request a separate private transfer service from Beijing Capital International Airport, it will cause a transfer supplement: US$50 per 5-seat car per way.

Beijing City View

Meals: Hotel Breakfast, A la carte Chinese lunch
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Beijing ★★★★
 

TCT local guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at the appointed time. It will be an exciting day as we will explore the world well-known wonders today. The 1st stop is Temple of Heaven, the existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven and a place where the emperors prayed for a year of abundance. In the visit of Temple of Heaven, you will be astonished by the exquisite ancient Chinese architectures. Besides, you will see local seniors doing morning exercises in the square and full of vigor. You will have chance to watch Chinese Kongfu, Taichi, square dancing, playing cards, playing chess etc.

Then you will enjoy a Beijing Hutong tour by rickshaw with a local family visit, which will give you a deep impression of the local residents' live. Then we will have a stop at a Chinese courtyard and take a Chinese culture experience - Peking opera facial mask painting.

A la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant to have a taste of the authentic Chinese food at noon time and have a break at the restaurant.
 

Then continue this Beijing city treasure tour by a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city center square, the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. It is only a walking distance from Tian'anmen Square to Forbidden City, the world's existing largest and most complete ancient wooden structure buildings. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there. You will be stunned by the numerous old art treasures exhibited in halls. The memorable Beijing city tour for the 1st day ends by dropping off at your hotel lobby. 

Note:  At night, alively and dramatic Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater or the Acrobatic Show can be your optional night entertainment.  

Forbidden City

Meals: Hotel Breakfast, A la Carte Lunch
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Beijing ★★★★
 

It will be an exciting day today. In the early morning, guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby. Today we will visit the must-visit spot in Beijing--- Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the famous sections of China Great Wall. It takes about 2 hours driving from the downtown of Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. (***Round way cable car are included at Mutianyu Great Wall***)
 

A la carte lunch is arranged at a good restaurant at the foot of Mutianyu. Drive back to downtown of Beijing. When we reach Beijing, we will have a photo stop outside the Bird Nest and Water Cube, which were the famous sites constructed for 2008 Beijing Olympic. The tour finishes by dropping off at your hotel. If you would like to try local specialty tonight, you could ask for some suggestion about Peking Roast Duck Restaurant.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Meals: Hotel breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Xian ★★★★
 

In the morning, check out from hotel and start to visit the last spots in Beijing --- Summer Palace, the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. The Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake are regarded as the representative of Summer Palace. In the park, you could choose to take a boating trip on the lake, enjoying the beautiful royal garden view. Walk along the Long Corridor--- the longest corridor in the world, admiring the extremely rich and prestigious paintings on the beams of the corridor.

A la carte lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant on the way to Beijing West Railway Station to take high speed train (2nd class seat, duration: about 5-5.5 hours) from Beijing to Xi'an. TCT guide will wait at the exit of Xi'an train station with our signboard and transfer you to check in hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the time.
 

Beijing Hutong

Meals: Hotel breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Xian ★★★★
 

Today we will have a full day to explore this historical and cultural city in China. Pick up from hotel in the morning, and then have a visit to the landmark of Xi'an---Xian City Wall. You could choose to have a bicycle riding on the city wall (***Bicycle riding is optional and excluded from our price***). 
 

After that, we will drive to the highlights in Xi’an ---the Terracotta Warriors. On the way to Terracotta Warriors, we will have a stop at a cave dwelling pottery workshop, where you will have chance to learn how to make a miniature terracotta warrior and discover the unique ancient housing style in north China.  A la carte lunch is arranged at a local restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, we will have enough time to visit this world wonder --- Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation.
 

When you back to downtown, we will walk around Bell Tower Square and walk to the well-known Muslim Quarter, where you could  enjoy your shopping time  and challenge a variety of local snacks. The tour finishes by dropping-off at the hotel lobby.

Note: You could ask your local guide for some information about evening entertainment or night show, such as Tang Dynasty Show.

Terracotta Warriors

Meals: Hotel Breakfast
Accommodation: Gang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel VIP Tower or similar ★★★★
 

In the early morning, our guide will pick you up from hotel and transfer you to airport to meet the morning flight to Lhasa, Tibet. The flight will arrive at Lhasa Airport at around noon time. Our local guide will meet you and show your way to the bus. You may need to wait for other tourists for a while before the driver transfer you to hotel.
 

Note: The free airport transfer from airport to hotel and fixed departure time:  9:30 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm
 

Good to know: For the first timer to Tibet, either by flight or train, a good rest is a must for quick acclimation to the high altitude in Lhasa. Never rush to tour the street or attractions on your own. Walk slower and do not exert yourself like running or jumping. If you have any discomfort, do tell it to your guide, and he will help you out.
 

Lhasa City View

Meals: Hotel Breakfast
Accommodation: Gang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel VIP Tower or similar★★★★
 

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and covers the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
 

In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Our clients in Lhasa

Meals: Hotel Breakfast
Accommodation: Gang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel VIP Tower or similar ★★★★
 

On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. It is an excellent idea to spend the day exploring the  Potala Palace , which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It's best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you may walk the pilgrimage route around the Potala Palace.
 

In the afternoon, you will head to the Jokhang Monastery, which is well known as the center of Tibetan Buddhism and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers, etc. Also, you can see many pilgrims praying in front of the temple and doing kora. After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you will stroll in the old alleys of Barkor Kora, where you can drink sweet tea, chat with locals and even bargain with the street vendors to understand the real-life in Lhasa.

Good to know: Taking photos is forbidden in the monastery. If you want to take photos of Tibetan pilgrims, a gentle ask for permission would be appreciated. Swimming and fishing are not allowed in holy lakes in Tibet; Do not talk about sensitive topics like politics; International tourists are not allowed to travel alone in Tibet according to the policy; Walk clockwise around Barkhor Street; Never venture into the unknown trails. If you are uncertain about something, it’s advisable to ask your guide before you do it at will.

Potala Palace

Meals: Hotel Breakfast
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Shanghai ★★★★
 

Your tour guide and driver will help to drop you at the Lhasa airport. Your Lhasa experience tour ends by group transferring to airport or railway station for departure. Then you will take a flight from Lhasa to Shanghai. It will takes about several hours on the flight. When you arrive at Shanghai airport, the local guide is waiting at the exit of airport by holding a TCT sign board.

Note: The free airport drop off time in Lhasa is as follows on the day the itinerary closes.  Pick up tourists at around 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm 

Shanghai City View

Meals: Hotel Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Accommodation: 4 Star /4+Star Hotel in Shanghai ★★★★
 

The last day but still an inspiring day to explore the city of Shanghai,the largest and most modern city in mainland China. We will start the tour by walking into Nong Tang, the alleys in Shikumen, where you could witness the locals' relaxing and plain life. You will also find the unique architectural feature of Shanghai.

Then continue the day trip to Yuyuan Garden which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then continue to explore the Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street) nearby.

After a la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant, we continue our trip to the foot of The Oriental Pearl TV Tower to visit Shanghai City History Museum(The Former Shanghai Wax Museum), where you will know more about the history and development of Shanghai. Then take the elevator up to the 2nd ball of the TV tower, from which you will have a bird-eye view of Shanghai. Go on driving through Lujiazui, the finance & trade zone in Pudong of Shanghai, where you will find many skyscrapers. We will have a view of the modern skyline of Shanghai.

Then back to the Bund, admire the illuminated buildings lining the Huangpu River. From the Bund, you could see the landmark of Shanghai--- The Oriental Pearl TV Tower as well as other high-rised buildings, just on the opposite of Huangpu River. 
 

The Bund

Meals: Breakfast
 

Your China Experience is over too soon as your transfer to the airport by our driver and board the homebound international flight, bidding a fond farewell to this ancient land.
 

Service Ends
 

Please note: We generally arrange the free hotel-airport transfer on sharing basis according to all the travelers' departure flights. If a separate private transfer is required, it will cause transfer supplement: US$75 per 5-seat car per way. Independent private transfer service will be required in advance.