China Culture Highlights and Cosmopolitan Shanghai in 15 Days

Our English-speaking guide will greet you at airport/train station according to your landing time. Look for a sign of your name out of the luggage claim area (if not specific). Transfer to hotel and check in.

After breakfast, depart to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city square. We will have a brief stop here and photograph some national iconic structures surrounding the square.

To the north of the square is the South Gate of the Forbidden City, the former palace for over 42 emperors. It has the largest and best-preserved collections of ancient architectures with more than 900 rooms in the palace.

Out of the Forbidden City from its north gate, we continue a short visit Jingshan Park right on the other side of the road. Located on the axis of the inner city, the park offers good panoramic view of Forbidden City and other historic sites like the Bell and Drum Tower, Beihai park, etc.

We have a long walk this morning. Refresh ourselves and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we will wander through the Hutongs, a type of traditional neighborhood, to touch the real life of common people. For the interests of kids, we will learn a traditional art – Chinese Yoyo.

Before heading to the Great Wall, pay a short visit of World Heritage Park- Temple of Heaven which was built for worship and pray for harvest. Architectures in the park are outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese art.

Then drive northeast to Mutianyu Great Wall. This section of the wall ranks number one among all sections on TripAdvisor list with beautiful-restored architectures but less tourists. Round trip cable car is included to save energy and enjoy a fun walk on the top.

We start our city trip from Summer Palace, which is the best-preserved imperial garden in the world and the largest of its kind in existence of China. The garden is like an art gallery with over 3000 man-made pavilions, palaces, temples, bridges and corridors. It is too much to see in the two hours. Then transfer to catch up the train in the afternoon.

Visit the most important sights in Xian today. The Terracotta Warrior Museum is a large underground military museum 2km in front of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Tomb. Opened to the public in 1979, it exhibits 1,868 unearthed terracotta warriors and chariots that have been restored to their former glory as well as a digging site where the craftsman restoring the broken pieces.

Have lunch at local farmer’s house. Then back to the city for a visit of Xian City Wall. The 13.7 kilometers City Wall once was the fortification encircles the old Xian City. When ascending to the top, you can have great view of the old inner city and the modern outer city by walking, biking or taking eco-car.

To make most of the day, we continue a walk to the Muslim Street, a very popular foody street in Xian with all type of Hui-Style snacks. We deliver you all back to hotel from 6pm or you can stay there and discover the city more on your own.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, our Tibet guide will welcome you at the airport/train station, then head to the hotel. Leisure for the rest of the day and acclimatize the high altitude in the hotel.

Today’s tour starts from the World Heritage site - Potala Palace, the former winter palace of Dalai Lama. This 13-story high building contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts. The complex symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and plays the central role of traditional administration of Tibet.

Then continue to Jokhang Temple, a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.

In the morning, we visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace was used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

Afternoon, Sera Monastery, another important Gelug monastery of Tibet founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we depart Lhasa and drive towards Everest Mountain via Gyangtse and Shigatse, two most-visited cities out of Lhasa. Heading southwest from Lhasa, this 270km very scenic highway passes the Yamdroktso, one of the three holy lakes; grassland with snow-capped mountains in the distance. We also drop visit of Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum in Gyantse city, then continue one and half hour drive to arrive Shigatse. 

Wake up at the 2nd largest city in Tibet and enjoy a breakfast with local flavor. Then spend some time at Tashilunpo, monastery of Gelug Sect. It was the seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa.

Depart Lhasa today and journey to Chengdu, home to Giant Pandas. Arrive in Chengdu two hours later. Meet Chengdu guide and onward to your hotel for rest.  

We first drive almost two hours south to Leshan Giant Buddha. It is the largest stone Buddha in the world carved out of a cliff at the confluences of the three big rivers near Leshan. The statue is 71 meters tall, sitting with hands resting on his knees. We will either walk down from the head or take a boat to appreciate it from river.

Back to the city after lunch. Spend leisure afternoon like locals, we take a walk to the People’s Park which is a very typical and important entertainment park located in the west of Chengdu. The next stop is Jinli Street, a charming area restored from an old street with full of souvenir shops, wine bars, teahouses and snack stalls. Transfer back to hotel when tour ends.

Meet the cute creature at Panda Breeding and Research Center which is a semi-jungle conservation in the suburb of Chengdu. It focuses on increasing the population of giant pandas and eventually release some of the them back into the wild. Besides, the base is also home to many other endangered animals.

Take afternoon flight to Shanghai. Enjoy a guided transfer to hotel.

A day dedicated to the city’s essential sites. Yuyuan Garden is a classical garden in the heart of Shanghai city. The garden houses many items with unique characteristics. Pavilions, Ponds, trees, doorways, and rockeries are exquisitely placed, making changing views when you make every step forward. Outside of the garden is a market full of souvenirs and eateries.

Shanghai World Financial Center, a 492-meter high building facilitating an amazingly glass on the 100th floor. Many people come for a challenge and a panoramic view of Shanghai.

The Bund, a landmark of Shanghai, is renowned as “museum of buildings” for the aged European style architectures lined along the Bank. The view over the river is also stunning with many skyscrapers in good shape.

To discover Shanghai’s history, local life and development, we would always recommend a stop at Xintiandi, a former Shikumen Alley. The whole street retains the characteristics of Shikumen houses - the antique walls and tiles. While inside the houses are international galleries, fashionable bars and cafes, boutiques and restaurants.

Transfer back to your hotel when tour end or you can stay at Xintiandi if the active nightlife is the right thing for you. Then manage your own way back to hotel with taxi.

Transfer to the airport/train station for your transport home.