Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing Arrival
You'll get picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel to settle in. Later in the evening, head over to Wangfujing Street where there's plenty of shops and restaurants to browse through. The energy there is pretty lively with lots of foot traffic and activity. Dinner is included before you return to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Wangfujing Street
- Explore Wangfujing Street
Landmarks Wangfujing Street 
- Day 2
Beijing
This is a full day covering Beijing's main sights. Start at the Forbidden City, the imperial palace where 24 emperors ruled over centuries. From there, go to Jingshan Park to get panoramic views looking back at the Forbidden City from above. Then head to Tiananmen Square. After grabbing lunch, you'll spend time at the Summer Palace walking through its gardens and around the lakes. Later, take a tricycle ride through the old Hutong neighborhoods to see how people live in traditional courtyard houses and check out local shops. You'll be back at the hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Forbidden City tour
- Jingshan Park visit
- Tiananmen Square visit
- Summer Palace visit
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit Siheyuan courtyard house
Optional Activities
- Confucius Temple visit (alternative if Forbidden City access unavailable)
- Lama Temple visit (alternative if Forbidden City access unavailable)
Landmarks Forbidden City Jingshan Park Coal Hill Tiananmen Square Great National Theater Summer Palace Hutong neighborhoods Confucius Temple Lama Temple 
- Day 3
Beijing to Shanghai
Travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall where you'll take a cable car up and then back down (cable car tickets are included). Spend your time walking along the wall and taking in the views. Return to Beijing for lunch, which features the famous Peking duck. After eating, head to the train station and board a high-speed train to Shanghai. The train ride takes several hours. Once you arrive in Shanghai, transfer to your hotel and check in for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch featuring the famous Peking duck)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Great Wall Mutianyu section cable car ride
- Great Wall exploration
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Mutianyu Section 
- Day 4
Shanghai
Start your Shanghai day in Pudong's financial district where tall skyscrapers like the Pearl Tower dominate the skyline. Take a scenic ferry across the Huangpu River to see both the modern and historic sides of the city. Walk through the Old City and visit the Yuyuan Garden, a preserved Ming Dynasty private garden with its own peaceful atmosphere. You'll also experience a traditional tea ceremony. After lunch, check out Xintiandi with its trendy boutiques and cafes, then wander through Tianzifang's maze-like alleys filled with craft shops and art galleries. Finish the evening walking along the Bund with its colonial-era architecture. There's an optional evening boat trip if you want to see Shanghai lit up at night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Pudong financial district visit
- Ferry ride across Shanghai River
- Old City exploration
- Yuyuan Garden visit
- Traditional tea ceremony demonstration
- Xintiandi neighborhood exploration
- Tianzifang alley and gallery exploration
- The Bund walk
Optional Activities
- Evening boat trip to see Shanghai at night
Landmarks Pudong Financial District Pearl Tower Huangpu River Old City Yuyuan Garden Xintiandi Tianzifang The Bund - Day 5
Shanghai to Luoyang
Head to the train station early for a 07:17 a.m. departure on a high-speed train. The five hour journey covers 1,000 km and takes you through countryside landscapes heading to Luoyang. After lunch, visit the Longmen Buddhist Caves, a massive complex that stretches over a kilometer along river cliffs and holds more than 100,000 Buddha statues and carvings carved into the rock. This is one of China's most significant archaeological sites. Take a scenic boat ride along the river. By evening, transfer to Luoyang where you can walk through the illuminated streets and experience the local atmosphere with traditional shops and activity.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Luoyang), Hotel (Ramada By Wyndham Downtown)
Included Activities
- Longmen Buddhist Caves visit
- Scenic boat ride along river
Landmarks Longmen Buddhist Caves 
- Day 6
Luoyang to Xian
Early in the morning, visit the White Horse Buddhist Monastery on the edge of Luoyang, which was a major center for Buddhist learning and study. Travel from there to Sanmenxia to see the Yellow River and check out the Baolun Temple with its prominent pagoda. Stop at the Guo Museum, known as one of China's best, where you can see ancient funeral carriages from the former State of Guo. You'll pass Mount Hua, one of China's most sacred mountains with dramatic peaks. After lunch, continue on and arrive in Xian by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- White Horse Buddhist Monastery visit
- Baolun Temple visit
- Guo Museum visit
Landmarks White Horse Buddhist Monastery Yellow River Baolun Temple Guo Museum Mount Hua 
- Day 7
Xian
Spend your day in Xian exploring the city where the Silk Road originated. In the morning, see the Terracotta Army, an archaeological site with thousands of life-sized clay soldiers protecting the tomb of China's first emperor. Return to Xian and visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist structure that has stood for over a thousand years. Wander through the historic walled center and the Muslim Quarter, where you can walk into the Great Mosque that reflects China's cultural and religious heritage. Catch a short performance of traditional Chinese music on ancient instruments at the Drum Tower. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Terracotta Army Museum visit
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda visit
- Historic walled center exploration
- Muslim Quarter exploration
- Great Mosque visit
- Drum Tower entrance and traditional music performance
Landmarks Terracotta Army Small Wild Goose Pagoda Great Mosque Drum Tower 
- Day 8
Xian to Chengdu
Board a modern high-speed train and travel 700 km to Chengdu in just over three hours. When you arrive, go to the Panda Bear research center, home to 120 giant pandas and 76 red pandas. This is the place to get up close with these animals. After lunch, stroll through People's Park where there's a small lake, locals doing Taichi, and traditional tea houses to relax in.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- Panda Bear research and breeding centre visit
- People's Park stroll
Landmarks Panda Bear Research and Breeding Centre People's Park 
- Day 9
Chengdu to Sichuan Province
Explore the landscapes and traditional villages of Sichuan Province. Visit Dujiangyan to see an irrigation system that's been working for over 2,000 years, recognized as a world heritage site. Head to Qingcheng Shan, known as the mountain of the green city and a Taoist holy mountain, where forest trails lead to caves, pavilions, and old wooden temples. After lunch, visit the ancient city of Jiezi with its alleys that go back over a thousand years. Later, head back to Chengdu.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- Dujiangyan traditional irrigation system visit
- Qingcheng Shan mountain exploration
- Ancient city of Jiezi visit
Landmarks Dujiangyan Irrigation System Qingcheng Shan Jiezi Ancient City - Day 10
Chengdu to Lhasa
Get to the airport and board your included flight to Lhasa. When you land at Gonggar Airport, your guide meets you and you'll take a bus ride to Lhasa, which sits at 3,700m elevation. The drive takes about an hour and a half. Check into your hotel and take the evening free to adjust to the altitude. There's time to wander through the local bazaars if you feel up to it.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Local bazaar stroll
Landmarks Gonggar Airport 
- Day 11
Lhasa
After breakfast, take a guided tour of Lhasa's Potala Palace, a 13-story structure that was once the tallest building of its time and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. The architecture dates back to the 7th century. You can see it from various spots around the city. Have lunch, then visit Sera Monastery, founded in 1419, where you can watch the famous Debate on Buddhist Scriptures, a tradition unique to this monastery. Return to your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Potala Palace guided tour
- Sera Monastery visit
- Debate on Buddhist Scriptures viewing
Landmarks Potala Palace Sera Monastery 
- Day 12
Lhasa
Take a guided tour of Jokhang Temple, Tibet's most sacred religious site and known as the 'House of Buddha' in Tibetan. The temple holds a statue said to be personally made by Buddha Sakyamuni and attracts people from all Tibetan groups. Explore the Barkhor Market surrounding it, an important religious circuit and active gathering spot. After lunch, visit Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's summer residence. Return to your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Jokhang Temple guided tour
- Barkhor Market exploration
- Norbulingka visit
Landmarks Jokhang Temple Barkhor Market Norbulingka - Day 13
Lhasa Departure
After breakfast, your tour ends here. You'll leave with memories of your time traveling through China and Tibet, having seen everything from Beijing's imperial sites to the Tibetan Plateau's spiritual centers.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
