15 Days Beijing Xi’an Lhasa Yangtze River Cruise Shanghai Tour

Welcome to Beijing! Your guide will greet you at Beijing Airport holding your name sign. Transfer to your hotel in downtown Beijing. Enjoy yourself in the rest of the day to recover from your longtime international flight or explore the city on your own.

Stay overnight in Beijing

In the morning, we will set out to see the mysterious Forbidden City which is the world's largest imperial palace complex. Since it was built in Ming Dynasty, The Forbidden City was home for 24 emperors (from 1420 to 1911 AD). It's said to have 9,999½ forbidden imperial chambers. After that, you are moving to Tian'anmen Square with a great cultural significance which has been the site of several key events in Chinese history. Later, you can take a rickshaw going through a maze of Hutongs to explore old Beijing neighborhoods, discover the courtyard house of traditional Chinese characters.

Stay overnight in Beijing

You will have many interesting things to do today. In the morning, you are suggested to do Morning Exercises at the Temple of Heaven, which was founded in the early 15th century. Known as the Imperial Sacrificial Altar, Temple of Heaven always attracts numerous tourists. To avoid crowds and enjoy local people's morning exercises, we are going to this place in the morning. After visiting Temple of Heaven, we'll drive 2.5 hours to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, where you can go through the watchtowers and enjoy breathtaking views as it snakes across the hills and mountains.

Stay overnight in Beijing

Today you are going to visit the Summer Palace - a vast imperial garden known for its stunning lakes, pavilions, and ornate architecture. Once a royal retreat, it features landmarks like Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, offering breathtaking views and a glimpse into China's rich history. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Then you will move to Beijing Olympic Stadium to see the famous Olympic site of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games - the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. After visiting the Summer Palace and Olympic Stadiums, you will take a flight from Beijing to the ancient city Xi'an in the late afternoon or at night.

Stay overnight in Xi'an

In the morning, we will drive to the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses which is considered as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Here you can see the life-sized warrior figures and horses with distinct facial expressions and positions. You may be surprised by the various kinds of ancient weapons that reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago. It is a great chance for you to experience the profound and amazing history of the Qin Dynasty, the first United Dynasty in ancient China. It may give you an impressive image of the Period of the Warring States in ancient China.

After that, we are going to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty, the most prosperous dynasty in ancient China. The Buddhist scriptures and figurines of the Buddha brought by Xuanzang from ancient India are well preserved in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Stay overnight in Xi'an

In the morning, you will visit the Xi'an Museum. It has a large collection of precious historical relics, showcasing the long history and splendid culture of Xi'an and the whole Shaanxi region.

In the afternoon you can cycle on the top of Ancient City Wall. The wall is about 14 kilometers at the perimeter, with 98 defensive ramparts, four main gates, and a moat around it. The city wall is a wonderful example of an ancient defensive building. You can walk or cycle on the wall to get some good views of the city.

Later, we are going to the Muslim Quarter, the most famous gourmet street and largest Muslim business street in Xi’an where you can chat with street vendors of Muslims and buy some exquisite handicrafts and enjoy delicious local snacks.

Stay overnight in Xi’an

We will pick you up from your hotel in Xi’an and then take you to the airport. Today you will catch the flight to Lhasa, at an altitude of 3,650 m (12,000 ft). You may feel a few symptoms of altitude sickness, like headache, inability to exercise, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc., a few hours after you arrive in Lhasa. Take it easy. It’s normal as you suddenly get to a high-altitude place from a plain. Most travelers will recover in 2 days.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it is a museum and world heritage site. 

In the afternoon, you will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the old Lhasa city. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today’s first attraction is Drepung Monastery. Drepung means "piles of rice" in Tibetan, which symbolizes prosperity. It's the world's largest monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Also, It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. After lunch, you will continue to visit Sera Monastery, the most beautiful Tibetan monastery in Lhasa. The Buddhist scripture debating is the highlight of Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, you will fly from Lhasa to Chongqing.

After lunch, you will head to Ciqikou Old Town (Porcelain Village) built in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It's a famous historical and cultural street in Chongqing. In this ancient town, despite the modern influence, you will find that local people are living their own traditional ways of life.

In the evening, you will board the ship and start your tours of Yangtze River Cruise. Yangtze River, also known as Changjiang River, is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. Along the downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang, you will get a view of the steep natural scenery of three gorges.

Stay overnight on the ship

Wake up in the morning and enjoy the sunshine on the tranquil Yangtze River. You can start your day with a tai chi on the balcony of your room, or enjoy a cup of coffee to stretch your mood. Whether you are onboard or ashore, you will enjoy a variety of cultural activities and entertainment, such as attending the Yangtze River history and culture lectures to understand the Three Gorges in depth.

In addition, you will also follow the local English tour guide to Fengdu Jade Emperor for shore excursions. You will admire the great statue of the Jade Emperor. In the evening, a Captain's Welcome Reception will be held for all the passengers. You can enjoy your buffet dinner in the cool breeze of the Yangtze River.

Stay overnight on the ship

Today, you will sail through the spectacular Three Gorges. Along with its cross-straits are the fancy vertical cliffs lining the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge from west to east. Since it was formed due to the continuous rise of the earth’s crust that caused the water of the Yangtze River to flow downward dramatically, it is an abundant water resource. Three Gorges is one of the Top 10 scenic spots and historic sites in China, and also among the first batch of national scenic spots in China.

When you reach Wushan County, you will take a boat ride to Goddess Stream through a narrow canyon where you can admire the scenic landscape of steep cliffs. In the evening, Captain's Farewell Banquet will be held for you. After dinner, you can enjoy Minorities and Crew cabaret.

Stay overnight on ship

After breakfast, you will join the shore tour of the world-famous project - the Three Gorges Dam. The dam is the largest hydropower station in the world, with an annual generating capacity of 84.7 billion kWh.

After your visit to the dam, return to your ship and continue your cruise to Yichang. Your ship will arrive at Yichang Port. You may take a high-speed train to Shanghai this afternoon. After you arrive in Shanghai, your tour guide and driver will greet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel.

Stay overnight in Shanghai

Today begins with Shanghai Tower, the tallest landmark in Shanghai. Take the world's fastest elevator, overlooking the city of Shanghai. Then explore the ancient part of Shanghai Yuyuan Garden. This is the representative of the old city of Shanghai.

The last spot of the day will be at the Bund. Walk slowly and observe the sharp contrast between old and new buildings on both sides.

Stay overnight in Shanghai

It’s time to say goodbye, your tour guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your next destination according to your flight schedule.