China Discovery

Day 1 ARRIVE IN BEIJING

Upon arrival in Beijing; our tour guide will meet you at the customs exit of Beijing airport holding a welcome sign board with your name on it. The guide will assist your transfer to the hotel and help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own and can be used for relaxing or exploring the city.

	Lhasa Potala Palace

Day 2 BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

This morning you will leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see the Great Wall in Badaling where you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World. There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain,where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” passing between pairs of huge stone sculptures. Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.

Day 3 BEIJING / LHASA (AB, L, -)

Today you will fly to Lhasa, the capital city if Tibet. It has always been regarded as the City of Sunshine with more than 3000 hours of sunshine annually. This is a day of leisure in order to adapt yourself to the high elevation.

Day 4 LHASA (AB, L, D)

Today you will visit the vast and magnificent Potala Palace, the greatest monumental structure of Tibet and perched upon Marpo Ri Hill. Lunch at local restaurant, visit Jokhang Temple, the spirit centre of Tibet. Then visit Barkhor Street, the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the century old Lhasa. You will then visit a typical Tibetan family. Tonight while dining, you will be entertained with an unforgettable Tibetan dance and fashion show performed by a small group of Tibetan people. 

	Lhasa Jokhang Temple

Day 5 LHASA (AB, L, -)

Continuing your tour, you will visit Tsepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, both are great and big ones of the kind. After lunch at local restaurant visit the Norbulingka, which means Jeweled Garden, once served as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama at the beginning and now serves as the government office. Your destination today will be the Carpet factory where you will have a general idea of how the local specialty is made.

Day 6 LHASA / GYANTSE / SHIGATSE (AB, L, -)

Drive to Shigatse after breakfast (347km). Shigatse is the second largest city of Tibet. On the way visit Yamdrok Lake. It is one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet, the others being Namtso and Mampang Yumco. It is the largest inland lake at the northern foot of the Himalayas. This afternoon visit Palkhor Monastery with Kumbu Pagoda, the main attraction of Gyantse town. It has 9 stories, 108 doors and 77 rooms. Each room contains a different statue of Buddha and the wall frescoes telling the story about it.

Day 7 SHIGATSE / LHASA (AB, L, -)

Today's tour starts with a visit to Tashilumpo Monastery, one of the biggest monasteries in Tibet, and is the residence of Panchen Lama. Painted in red and white, the buildings in the monastery stand closely together in terraced rows, offering a grand and majestic view. Drive back to Lhasa along the Yaluzangbu River.

Day 8 LHASA / CHENGDU (AB, L, -)

Check out and head for the airport, take a morning flight to Chengdu. Upon your arrival in Chengdu, you will be met and drive to Dujiangyan, where you will visit the famous water conservation and irrigation system Dujiang Dam which was built more than 2000 years ago. 

	The Lama talk and laugh happily

Day 9 CHENGDU / WOLONG / CHENGDU (AB, L, SD)

This morning head for Wolong - the natural reserve for the giant pandas where you may have the opportunity to hug and take a photo of the lovely giant pandas. Later back to Chengdu. In the evening enjoy the authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Day 10 CHENGDU / SHANGHAI (AB, L, -)

Today you will visit the Temple of Marquis Wu which was originally built in the 6th century to memorialize the Prime Minister Zhu Geliang, a famous strategist during the Three Kingdom period. After lunch, you will take a flight to Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, you will be met and transfer to hotel.

Day 11 SHANGHAI (AB, L, SD)

Today you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which chronicles Shanghai's past, present and future. Later you will take a stroll through Yuyuan Garden, one of the best Suzhou-style gardens in southern China, and after get a taste of Shanghai's local life in the Yuyuan Market. In the afternoon you will you will walk down the Bund along the Huangpu River and visit Nanjing Road, and then get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the Jinmao Tower. In the evening enjoy a Traditional Dim-sum Banquet, and then witness an exciting Acrobatic Show.

Day 12 DEPART FROM SHANGHAI (AB)

Pack up your memories and depart for the airport to fly back home.

Itinerary: AB: American Breakfast   L: Lunch   D: Dinner   SD: Special Dinner