Overview

China travel map - Wonderful China Journey

This tour will let travelers enjoy the marvelous cultural relics in Xi’an, then stun at the holy land Tibet for the unique Buddhism culture & fantastic natural scenery; head to the giant panda’s hometown Chengdu – for spicy Chuan food & fairyland Jiuzhaigou Valley, and end the trip in metropolises Shanghai. The other highlights including Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower, Small Wild Goose Pagoda,  Xian Museum, Ancient City Wall, Forest of Stele, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Stree, Norbulingka...

Duration: 17 days & 16 nights

Destinations: Xi'an - Lhasa - Shigatse - Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou - Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai

Starting Point: Xi'an

Ending Point: Shanghai

Customize Your Tour:
☑  Travel Dates  ☑ Your Interests  ☑ Your Travel Style

Day
Arrive in Xian, our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Transfer to visit Chinese Herbal Medicine Market to get the knowledge of Chinese medicine. Then proceed to famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world and is an enormous collection of vivid Chinese warriors made out of hardened clay. Later, drive back to Xian downtown and visit the Bell Tower. It originally built in Ming Dynasty and used to house the bells that were sounded every morning to announce the time to the ancient capital's inhabitants. 

Meal: B, L

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

A visit to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda which is a less visit spot but with its own unique designs; then to Xian Museum, as many as 130, 000 fine cultural relics are preserved here, most of which were unearthed in the ancient tombs from different dynasties before Tang Dynasty (618-907). Later, go to Gao's Courtyard House to watch Shadow Puppet Play. And meander through the old Muslim districts, tour the Grand Mosque of Chinese architectural style. 

Meal: B, L

Transfer to fly to Lhasa, the holy land of Tibet. Be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Free time for acclimatization.

Meal: B

After breakfast, go to the Potala Palace, a monumental building of Lhasa served as administrative center, seat of government, monastery, fortress and the home of all the Dalai Lamas from the Fifth to the Fourteenth in the past, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site of 1994. Then pay a visit to Jokhang Temple, the most sacred and important temple for most Tibetans with over 1300 years of history. Later, go to Barkhor Street, where is an area of narrow streets located around Jokhang Temple and the most popular devotional circumambulation for pilgrims and locals.

Meal: B, L

Potala Palace

After breakfast, go to Norbulingka Park, meaning "Treasure Park ", it was first constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served as the whole governmental administration. Then visit Sera Monastery, located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City, it is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Later, pay a visit to Tibet Museum, it presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas to a world audience in order to educate and inspire others in the value of this significant cultural heritage.

Meal: B, L

Drive to Shigatse, on the way to visit the Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet, it is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains with breath-taking views. Then proceed to see the Kumbum Stupa at Phalkhor Manstery, a unique monastery housing three schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Sakya, Gelugpa and Gedang. It also features a well-known "Kumbum Stupa", meaning a hundred thousand images. After arrival in Shigatse, check into the hotel.

Meal: B, L, D

Yamdrok Lake

Pay a visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery. Then drive back to Lhasa.Free time at the rest of the day.

Meal: B, L

Transfer to the airport and fly to Chengdu by morning flight. Drive to visit the 71-meter-high Leshan Stone-carved Buddha with a history of 1200 years. The Buddha is so big that its head is 14.7 meters long and 10 meters wide with total 1021 buns of hair on it, and his toenail can accommodate a seated person. Overnight in Chengdu. 

Meal: B, L, D

Leshan Stone-carved Buddha

After breakfast, pay a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Situated on the Axe Hill 10 kilometers north of Chengdu, 40 plus pandas as well as other endangered species like lesser pandas and black-necked crane currently reside at the base in quarters. Then go to the Jinsha Cultural Relics Museum-Large park complex covering 74 acres with big flat and spread-out modern-looking buildings that contains 3,000 years-old artifacts, which was claimed as the first important archaeological find in China at the beginning of 21 century. Later, wander around Jinli Old Street to have fun.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Jiuzhaigou by early morning flight. Visit the Huanglong Reserve. The reserve is studded with terraced, colored ponds (blue, yellow, white and green) and waterfalls. It wins its fame for its breathtaking beauty of lime formations, made up of 3400 multi-colored ponds, interlace along the valley. Besides, five waterfalls, four stalactite caves and three ancient temples, are all in the same valley, which looks like a dragon winding down from snowcapped peaks of Mt. Minshan. 

Meal: B, L, D

Huanglong Reserve

Transfer to have a full day visit at Jiuzhaigou Reserve. Deep in the heart of the 4500-meter-high, perpetually snow-clad Min Shan Range, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Reserve encloses one of the most spectacular landscapes. It was settled centuries ago by ethnic Tibetans, whose fenced villages gave Jiuzhaigou (nine stockades gully) its name. It can be considered a natural botanical and zoological garden, a home of densely growing conifers and broadleaf trees, and of rare and endangered animal species such as the giant panda, golden-haired monkey, and white-lip deer. Usually we can see the lakes swarm with fish and birds including waterfowl, kingfisher, shrikes, hoopoes and pheasants.

Meal: B, L

Transfer to fly to Shanghai by early morning flight. Be met at the airport, and take the famous Magnetic train(speed 460 kmph) to Long Yang station. Then transfer to hotel by private car and have a rest. 

Meal: B, L

In the morning, visit the People's Square and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall then onto the famous Shanghai Museum, one of the best in China. In the afternoon, visit Yu Garden, an exquisite small garden nestled in the old quarters of Shanghai, a private history tour of the Bund to see old & new Shanghai along Huangpu River. 

Meal: B, L, D

the Bund

Drive to Suzhou for a full day tour, which is famous for gardens, silk and pretty ladies in China. Our first stop will be the Garden of Net Master. Then visit No.1 Silk Factory and Museum, then proceed to Tongli to have a boat ride at the local canal and wander around ancient little town. Transfer back to Shanghai.

Meal: B, L

Free time for your own exploration. 

Meal: B

Transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination.

Meal: B

What's included

  • Guide

    Private tours escorted by an English-speaking guide.

  • Meals

    Meals specified in itinerary as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.

  • Transport

    Private transfers airport/hotel/airport.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodations with daily breakfast.

  • Other

    Domestic flights and trains listed.
    Admission fees.

  • Visa

    Visa arrangement. Please consult the local Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General first for the tourist visa.

  • Other

    Excess luggage charge(the luggage allowance at economy class is 20kg).
    Personal expense.
    Any meals not specified as "B, L or D".
    Gratuities to guides and drivers.

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