20 Days Classic China Tours with Tibet and Yunnan Impression

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Beijing
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals:

Upon your arrival at the Beijing airport, your local tour guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your reserved hotel in Beijing. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Beijing

Day 2 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:Great Wall at Badaling, Changling
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will visit the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section) and the Chang Tomb of Ming Tombs. You will be taken on a group tour to the Great Wall, the most famous symbol of China and one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders. This section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). Then you will visit to the Ming Tomb the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620.
Overnight in Beijing

Day 3 Beijing – Xian

Sightseeing and Activities:Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven & take
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will first have a stroll on the historic Tiananmen Square which is the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, and then the magnificent Forbidden City which used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years. In afternoon, you will marvel at the incredible Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Summer Palace was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. The Temple of Heaven is a royal sacred site where prayers for good harvests, prosperity and harmonious life are offered. In the evening, you will be transferred to the Beijing West train station for the overnight train to Xian.

Day 4 Xian

Sightseeing and Activities:Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Accommodation: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Upon your arrival in Xian, you tour guide will meet you at train station and escort you to your hotel. Then you will visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will not only be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures and horses, each of which has distinct facial expressions and positions, but also be astonished by various kinds of ancient weapons which reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago. And visit the BanPo Museum, Underground Palace also.
Overnight in Xian

Day 5 Xian – Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Fly to Lhasa, Acclimate the high elevation of Lhasa
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take a flight to Lhasa. Upon your arrival, your local tour guide will pick you up at the airport and escort you to your hotel in Lhasa. The rest of the day is for you to take a good rest so as to adapt yourself to the high altitude of Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa

Day 6 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa sightseeing – Potala Palace/Tibet Museum/Jokhang Temple/Barkhor Street
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In morning, go to visit the famous Potala palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, you will experience its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc. Tibet Museum is an important window to introduce the glorious culture of Tibet, as a free Museum in Lhasa, you should not miss it. In afternoon, pay a visit to the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during Songtsen Gonpo’s reign by princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkor Kora.

Day 7 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Drepung Monastery/Sera Monastery
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once home of 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous for it was the government centre during the fifth dalai lama and later moved to the famous potala palace during the fifth dalai lama. After having lunch, continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is its Buddhist Scriptures debating held in the courtyard mostly around 6:00 – 7:30 in afternoon.
Overnight in Lhasa

Day 8 Lhasa – Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Tour to holy Lake Namtso in Summer/Yamdro-tso Lake in Winter
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Summer program: In Summer (May to August), drive about 4 hours (220km) from Lhasa to Namtso Lake which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. Camp by the lake and back to Lhasa on the next day. Winter Program: Drive from Lhasa to Gyangtse and Shigatse. On the way you can visit another holy lake Yamdro-tso Lake, have a far view of Karo-la Glacier, drop a visit to Kubum monastery in Gyangtse. Overnight in Shigatse. The next morning, pay a visit to Tashilunpo monastery in Shigatse before driving back to Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa

Day 9 Lhasa – Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shangri-la, the legendary lost paradise, a place with stunning scenery, the azure sky and the hospitality of unsophisticated people. 

Day 10 Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery and Napahai Lake
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycle to visit Songzanlin Monastery in the morning and cycle around Napahai Lake in the afternoon. Napahai Lake (Napa Hai) is 3270 meters (10,728 ft) above sea level and covers 660 square kilometers (254 square miles). Approximately 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-La, the lake fills up a valley surrounded on three sides by mountains. You can have a picnic by the Lake.
Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 11 Shangrila -Tiger leaping Gorge – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Shangrila, Shigu Town, Tiger leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We will drive to Lijiang today, visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town and Tiger Leaping Gorge. From Shangri-La, we’ll drive about 100KM to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. After lunch continue the driving 50KM more to visit the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. Then drive 60KM more to Lijiang to explore the Old Town at night. Overnight in Lijiang.

Day 12 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We’ll visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui River; visit the Yak Meadow(3700M) in the Yulong Snow Mountain by chairlift. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 5596 meters high, is a holy mountain or Naxi ethnic people. Access to the Yak Meadow by a chairlift, walk about 500 meters to the Lamaist Monastery, and walk around the meadow to see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. In the afternoon, we’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, then head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture. Overnight in Lijiang.

Day 13 Lijiang – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, Old Dali Town, Bai market
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive south on the old road for 4hrs (200 km) to the ancient city of Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China. In Dali, we will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. At last, we will walk around the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. If this day happens to fall on a Monday we can drop a visit to the colorful Bai market. Overnight in Dali

Day 14 Dali – Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Erhai Lake, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng village
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. After landing, head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture. At last,you will visit Zhoucheng Village, and Bai people’s Tie-Dyed Cloth Work Shop. Then we will take the high-speed train to Kunming. 

Day 15 Kunming – Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest, Golden Temple
Accommodation: in the train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: ‘It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming’. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.

After lunch drive back to Kunming and visit the Golden Temple. And then, take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. After, visit the Flower and Bird Market in the downtown. In evening, get to the train station to take an overnight train to Guilin. Overnight in the train.

Day 16 Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Guilin in the afternoon
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Upon arrival in Guilin, your local guide will meet you at the railway station and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Guilin.

Day 17 Guilin – Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Li River Cruise , Yangshuo
Accommodation: Yangsuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to Zhujiang Pier to start your cruise down the Li River until you reach the relaxing Yangshuo. You will cruise through the stunning limestone karst scenery that has made this part of China so famous. Lunch will be served onboard with decent Guilin local delicacies. Early afternoon, disembark in Yangshuo and check into your hotel. Then you will take a bike tour along the serene paths to explore this wonderfully laid back countryside in the region. Overnight in Yangshuo

Day 18 Guilin – Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities:Guilin City Tour and fly to Shanghai
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you will be driven back to Guilin to have a city highlights tour. First, come to the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill, a symbol of Guilin, and visit the legendary Fubo Hill that overlooks the charming Li River. Then stop in a Pearl Museum and explore the Reed Flute Cave, a fairyland full of fancy stalactite formations and remarkable illuminations. At night, transfer to the airport and fly to Shanghai. Upon arriving in Shanghai, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. Overnight in Shanghai

Day 19 Shanghai Day Tour

Sightseeing and Activities:Shanghai Day Tour
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have a visit to famous tourist sites in Shanghai today including, Yu Garden, The Bund, Xintiandi-former French Concession, Pearl City, Lunch, Jade Buddha Temple, People’s Square, Shanghai Museum. Overnight in Shanghai

Day 20 Depart Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities:Depart Shanghai
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Get to the airport in Shanghai and fly to your next destination.