Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - Today, your tour guide will meet you in your Beijing hotel lobby at 8:00am. From there, you’ll head to Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, you can capture stunning photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square has been the site of numerous historical events and gatherings over the centuries. Today, it hosts grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign dignitaries. Visitors can also admire the towering Monument to People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Traditional structures like the Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate, and Qianmen Arrow Tower are also present.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Next, you’ll cross the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, the residence and administrative center for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911). The Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden complex in the world, served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is divided into the Inner Court and Outer Court by the Palace of Heavenly Purity, with the Outer Court used for state affairs and the Inner Court as the living quarters for the imperial family. The complex also functions as a vast museum, showcasing over a million national treasures.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon arriving at the scenic area’s parking lot, you’ll take an electric car to the entrance and then a chairlift up to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, ending with a toboggan ride down. Built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is renowned for its beauty. Your professional guide will share the history and significance of this famous section, answering any questions and providing exclusive stories.

Beijing - At the end of the day, you’ll be escorted back to your Beijing hotel.

Beijing. O/N Beijing.

Beijing - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to continue your Beijing tour.

Temple of Heaven - Your first stop is the Temple of Heaven, the largest group of royal ceremonial buildings in China. Historically, emperors held annual sacrificial ceremonies here to worship heaven and pray for good harvests. Today, it is a large park where you can see locals engaging in exercises and recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next, you’ll visit Beijing Hutong, where you’ll take a rickshaw ride through the old alleys and visit a Hutong family to experience traditional Beijing life. The area is filled with popular restaurants, cafes, and local food stores, making it a great place to have lunch and taste local cuisine. Your guide will offer suggestions. After lunch, you can stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After visiting the Hutong, you’ll be driven to the Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It features a blend of architectural styles from various ethnic groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan. Open to tourists since 1981, the temple attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims each year.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - A 30-minute drive will take you to the Summer Palace, known as the museum of ancient royal gardens. Your expert guide will show you around the garden, which mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor, stretching 728 meters (796.2 yards), is the longest corridor in Chinese gardens and links Longevity Hill with Kunming Lake. You can admire the exquisite murals and enjoy the melodious music while walking along the corridor.

Beijing - Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Beijing - Lhasa by flight. O/N Lhasa.

Beijing Capital International Airport - Today, there are no activities planned. You’ll take a flight to Lhasa, possibly CA3922 from 14:55-19:10, which takes around 4 hours.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport - Upon arrival in Lhasa, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Your guide will assist with check-in, and you can acclimate to the high altitude at the hotel.

Lhasa. O/N Lhasa.

Potala Palace - Your morning begins with a visit to the magnificent Potala Palace. Originally built in the 7th century as an imperial palace, it was reconstructed in the 17th century and has since been the political, religious, cultural, and economic center of Tibet. The 13-story building contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals, and artifacts, making it the largest treasure house in Tibet and a major attraction for travelers and pilgrims.

Jokhang Temple - After lunch, you’ll visit the Jokhang Temple, located in the city center. Built in the 7th century during the peak of the Tubo Kingdom, this temple is a unique blend of Tibetan, Han, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles. It is also a sacred Buddhist site, housing a rare life-size statue of Sakyamuni at age twelve.

Barkhor Street - Adjacent to the temple is Barkhor Street, bustling with pilgrims and street vendors selling traditional Tibetan items like prayer wheels and jewelry.

Lhasa - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Lhasa. O/N Lhasa.

Drepung Monastery (Zhebang Si) - After breakfast, you’ll visit the Drepung Monastery, located in the western suburbs of the city. It is one of the ‘Three Great Monasteries’ and the largest in Tibetan Buddhism. From a distance, the monastery resembles a heap of rice, with its white buildings layered upon each other.

Sera Monastery - In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Sera Monastery, the second-largest monastery in Tibet, renowned for the lively debates on Buddhist doctrines among the lamas.

Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden) - Next, you’ll visit the nearby Norbulingka Park, the most beautiful and largest man-made park in Tibet. Built over 200 years ago, it served as the Summer Palace for the region’s religious leaders.

Lhasa - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Lhasa - Xi’an by flight. O/N Xi’an.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport - Today, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Xi’an, possibly MU2334 from 12:25-15:20, which takes around 3 hours.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - Upon arrival in Xi’an, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Xi’an. O/N Xi’an.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you in your Xi’an hotel lobby at 9:00am. You’ll then transfer to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, which is an 80-minute drive (45km).

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will have reserved tickets for you in advance and will help you skip the line at the entrance. You’ll explore the museum, visiting the three excavated pits and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Despite being buried for over 2,200 years, the clay warriors and horses remain vivid and distinct. You’ll spend at least two and a half hours at this remarkable site.

Small Goose Pagoda - Next, you’ll transfer to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi’an city proper. This pagoda, along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is one of the two significant Buddhist sites from the Tang Dynasty, dating back 1,300 years. The two pagodas were symbols of Chang’an (Constant Peace) city, which was the name of Xi’an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang’an served as the capital for ten dynasties.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - After lunch, you’ll transfer to the city wall. You can walk or cycle around the wall, with bike rental fees paid locally if you choose to cycle. The ancient City Wall, which encircles the old city, is one of Xi’an’s most famous attractions. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls and one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Muslim Quarter - Your final stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the city’s most vibrant area. You can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to the hotel on your own. Your guide will provide directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the bazaar. The bazaar offers many boutique stores with fair prices and numerous excellent dining options for dinner.

Xi’an - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Xi’an. The tour ends.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you in your Xi’an hotel lobby at 8:30am. You’ll then transfer to Hanyangling, a 30-minute drive (15km).

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling) - The Hanyangling Mausoleum, built in 153 AD, is the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi. With your guide, you’ll have a close look at the thousand-year-old tombs through the glass floors and walls in the tomb pits. Additionally, the advanced Spectra Vision program will recreate the real life of the Western Han Dynasty from 2,000 years ago.

Shaanxi History Museum - After lunch, you’ll continue your Xi’an tour at the Shaanxi History Museum. The museum, a treasure house of Chinese civilization, showcases the unique historical and cultural heritage of Shaanxi. It houses around 370,000 antiquities, ranging from prehistoric relics to those from the 1840s, spanning over a million years. Your guide will provide detailed explanations.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Instead of entering the temple to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you’ll have a photo stop for half an hour. Based on suggestions from previous guests, this is enough time to see the pagoda and the statue of Monk Xuanzang at the south square outside the temple. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It was once the site where Xuanzang translated Buddhist sutras.

Today, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Area is a popular spot for both tourists and locals in Xi’an. It is a wonderful place to enjoy the charming night scenes and relax. The south square leads to the Great Tang All Day Mall, where you can appreciate unique Tang Dynasty-style sculptures and enjoy classical music performances. The north square features the largest musical fountain in Asia, which is free to view but follows a show schedule.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you to Xi’an airport, concluding the tour services.

• Private car and guide for personalized experience
• Included entrance tickets for hassle-free access
• Lunch provided to keep you energized
• Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
• Two economy-class flight tickets from Beijing to Xi’an

• The hotel and dinner