11-Day Private China Tour: Beijing, Lhasa, Xi'an and Shanghai

Day 1: Beijing Airport Pick-up

1. Beijing
   1h
   Once you arrive at Beijing Airport, your professional guide will be waiting for you at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it. The driver will take you to the hotel and assist you in the check-in process. For the rest of the time, you can have a good rest in your room or manage your own activities.

Day 2: Beijing

1. Tiananmen Square
   30m
   This morning, your tour guide will pick up you at the hotel and take you to visit Tiananmen Square. You will see what the biggest urban city square in the world looks like.
2. The Palace Museum
   3h · Admission ticket included
   From Tiananmen Square, you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives, but appreciate numerous ancient art treasures.
   
   At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food.
3. Summer Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Then transfer you to visit the Summer Palace, a fantastic resort for visitors to admire the peaceful landscape and magnificent architecture of the royal garden.

Day 3: China Great Wall Tour

1. Mutianyu Great Wall
   3h · Admission ticket included
   This morning you will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you a life-long memory.
2. Bird's Nest National Stadium
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   On returning to the downtown, stop over at the Bird's Nest so that you can take some pictures outside.
3. Hutong Tour
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Afterwards, you will take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys and have a chance to visit a local family.

Day 4: Beijing - Lhasa

1. Temple of Heaven
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, you will see the Temple of Heaven, with its unique architecture, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests.
2. Lhasa
   5h
   Afterwards, take a flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the local guide at the airport on time. In addition to a brief introduction of the city, the guide will also give you some useful tips on obviating high altitude reaction when the car is driving to the downtown area. Later what you need to do is have a good rest in your hotel to adapt yourself to the environment.

Day 5: Lhasa

1. Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden)
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the Norbulingka Park, the once summer house for generations of living Buddha and the nowadays local largest created garden.
2. Tibet Museum
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Then, move on to Tibet Museum, which well interprets the peculiar Tibetan culture and history via plenty of collections, including various artifacts, Buddha figures, handwritten ancient books, artistic Thangka paintings, and ethnic handicrafts.
3. Sera Monastery
   3h · Admission ticket included
   After having lunch at a fancy local restaurant, you will get to the Sera Monastery, one of the greatest monasteries for Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The biggest draw of this monastery is monks debating over Buddhist doctrines, which is going on from 15:00-17:00 every day except Sundays. They, either standing or sitting on the ground, clap theirs hands to urge the other side to answer the question as soon as possible, or turn the Buddha beads to get the power from the Buddha to defeat the opponent. The debating is fierce, helping monks learn more about Buddhism.

Day 6: Lhasa

1. Potala Palace
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Today's first stop is Potala Palace, which was built 1,300 years ago. You will wonder at the splendor of its beautiful architecture that combines the styles of Tibetan temple and palace.
2. Jokhang Temple
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Then you will proceed to the 1370-year-old Jokhang Temple, the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. You will get close to Tibetan Buddhism here and learn about the loyal believers.
3. Barkhor Street
   2h
   Next, you will continue to the iconic Barkhor Street, where you will find the original look of Lhasa. Strolling on the stone road, you will enjoy the quaint ancient buildings and the delicate handicrafts.
   
   Finally, you will head to a Nunnery to get close to the lifestyle of Buddhist nuns.

Day 7: Lhasa - Xi'an

1. Xi'an
   4h
   Toay you will take a flight to Xian, where your local guide is waiting for you at the airport and will transfer you the downtown hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

Day 8: Xi'an

1. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
   3h · Admission ticket included
   It will be a breathtaking trip today because you will see the grand Terracotta Warriors and Horses at close quarters. The lifelike soldiers and horses were orderly arranged in battle formations with distinct expressions on each face. Besides, the delicate Bronze Chariots and Horses and weapons are very impressive. Your guide will leave you enough time to enjoy the various kinds of lively terracotta warriors and horses created 2,200 years ago. Afterwards, take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army. And then make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan.
2. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Drive you back downtown and visit the well-known Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to collect the valuable Buddhist sutras taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang.
3. Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City
   40m
   Next, have some free time at the nearby Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City, a cult pedestrian street for locals and tourists alike to encounter cultural phenomena, like the spectacle of passers-by dressed in traditional Chinese clothes.

Day 9: Xi'an

1. Xi'an City Wall
   2h · Admission ticket included
   This morning, you will go to visit the City Wall Park, where local people do various kinds of morning exercises. Then ascend the City Wall, which was constructed 600 years ago and is the best-preserved existing city wall in China. You could walk on the wall and explore the city's history from every of its bricks and titles.
2. 1h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, there is a visit to the Great Mosque, one of the largest and oldest Islamic mosques in our country.
3. Muslim Quarter
   1h
   After visiting the Mosque, you will also have some time to explore the local snacks at the nearby Muslim Bazaar.
4. Shanghai
   2h
   Afterwards, take a flight to Shanghai and then your local guide will expect you at the airport and escort you to check in the hotel.

Day 10: Shanghai

1. Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, you will go to see plenty of rare historical collections displayed in Shanghai Museum firstly.
2. Yu Garden
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The next stop is to the famous and elegant Yuyuan Garden.
   
   At noon, you will enjoy a farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant, where you will taste authentic Shanghai cuisine.
3. Huangpu River
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After lunch, you will take a short cruise on Huangpu River to view this city from different angles. The cruise will pass by the city's landmark - the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
4. The Bund (Wai Tan)
   1h
   You will debark on the Bund, where you will walk around to appreciate the various European buildings on the west side of Huangpu River and the modern skyscrapers on the opposite Pudong side.
5. Tianzifang
   40m
   Finally your guide will take you to an old street, where you may find fun and relaxation.

Day 11: Departure from Shanghai

1. Shanghai
   1h
   Your guide will transfer you to the airport to take your international flight back home.
   
   If you want to tailor-made the tour itinerary, please contact your travel consultant.

Pickup details

Your guide will pick up you at the Beijing airport.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
• A current valid tourist visa and passport copies are required upon confirmation
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required