Day 01 (Fri) US/BEIJING
Take an international flight from the US to Beijing, China. Meals and snacks will be served on the plane. Movies will also be available during the flight.

Day 02 (Sat) BEIJING
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our tour guide. The rest of the night will be free for your leisure.

Day 03 (Sun) BEIJING (AB, L, SD)
Today you will tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for good harvest. After lunch, you will tour the Hutong (Chinese alleyways) by riding aboard a pedicab through the narrow lanes of the old residential quarters. You will have the opportunity to take a glimpse of the local residents’ daily life. Attend a welcome Peking Duck Dinner Party in the evening.

Day 04(Mon) BEIJING/LHASA (AB, L, D)
Today you will fly to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It is often referred to as the “City of Sunshine” with more than 3000 hours of sunshine annually. The rest of the day will be free for your leisure and adapting yourself to the high elevation.

Day 05(Tues) LHASA (AB, L, D)
The tour today will cover the Potala Palace, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also visit Johkang Lamasery and stroll along the bustling Barkhor Street in Lhasa filled with various local handicrafts.

Day 06(Wed) LHASA (AB, L, D)
You will visit Norbulinka, the summer palace for Dalai Lama followed by the Tibet Museum. You may also call upon a Tibetan family to take a glimpse of the local residents’ daily life.

Day 07(Thurs) LHASA/CHENGDU/DUJIANGYAN (AB, L, D)
This morning you will depart Lhasa for Chengdu. Upon your arrival in Chengdu, you will be met and taken to Dujiangyan by bus, where you will visit a famous water conservation and irrigation system-Dujiang Dam which was built more than 2000 years ago. Overnight in Dujiangyan.

Day 08(Fri) DUJIANGYAN/WOLONG (AB, L, D)
This morning you will head for Wolong-the natural reserve for the giant pandas where you will spend most of the day enjoy watching the giant pandas in the natural habitat. You may also have the opportunity to hug and take photos with the lovely giant pandas. Stay overnight in Wolong.

Day 09(Sat) WOLONG/CHENGDU/LIJIANG (AB, L, D)
After breakfast, take a bus ride to Chengdu for a flight to Lijiang, seat of the minority Naxi people. The most fascinating attraction is the Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with earthen-walled houses, stone bridges and cobbled streets crisscrossed by rivulets and gushing canals. Tonight you will attend a concert of traditional Naxi music played by the local senior performers of more than 65 years old.

Day 10(Sun) LIJIANG (AB, L, D)
The highlights today will include the Yufeng Monastery, known for its 14th century religious frescoes and the ancient (over 500-year-old) “Riot of Camellias” tree. The tour will also take you to the Dongba Cultural Institute and the Black Dragon Pond Park.

Day 11(Mon) LIJIANG/KUNMING (AB, L, D)
Today you will take a flight to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, often referred to as the “city of eternal spring” due to its temperate climate. Kunming is especially well known for its numerous ethnic minority populations and stunning cultural diversity. Upon arrival in Kunming, you will take an excursion to the geological wonders of the Stone Forest – the woods-like karst formation of 270-million-year-old rocky gray outcroppings. You may also visit a Sani tribal village to experience the lifestyle and unique culture of this minority population. Enjoy an ethnic minorities singing and dancing show in the evening.

Day 12(Tues) KUNMING/SHANGHAI (AB, L, D)
This morning you will take a flight to Shanghai, China’s largest city (home to 16 million people), which is also China’s principal port on a deep estuary of the Yangtze River. Often regarded as “the Paris of the East,” Shanghai has retained the flavor of its past European influences. Upon your arrival in Shanghai, you will take an excursion to Zhujiajiao, a water village near Shanghai with a history of more than 1000 years. You will experience the serene country lifestyle of the local residents, and immerse yourself in the “old world” architecture and the local customs that have been well preserved.

Day 13(Wed) SHANGHAI (AB, L, SD)
Today’s excursion takes you to Yu Garden, the Bund, the bustling Nanjing Road, and the well-known Shanghai Museum of Art and History, which ranks among the great museums of the world. In the evening, attend a farewell dinner of Shanghai cuisine, followed by a cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy a fascinating night view of Shanghai.

Day 14(Thurs) SHANGHAI/US (AB)
After breakfast, take a departure transfer to the airport for your flight back home via Beijing.


AB: American Breakfast – L: Lunch – D: Dinner – SD: Specialty Dinner

 
 

Because of limited space on this tour, please reserve early!