14 days, 12 nights tour to Beijing, Lhasa, Xian and Shanghai

Tour Highlights:
Beijing: Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven, Olympic Stadium, Beijing Duck
Beijing - Tibet train: 45 hours journey across the "Roof of the World"
Lhasa: Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor, Norbulingkha
Xian: City Wall, Terracotta Warrior and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum
Shanghai: Yu Garden, The Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, Acrobatic Show

Day 01 US/China
Board your flight to China today.

Day 02 /Beijing
You will be greeted at Beijing airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 03 Beijing (B/L)
A morning tour of Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, then into the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City.  The complex of imperial palaces was home to the emperor for over 500 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties.  Some of the grand halls have been turned into museums to hold the fine collections of priceless treasures.  After lunch you will be driven to visit the Summer Palace, the former summer resort fo the royal family, where you will take a boat ride on beautiful Lake Kunming.

Day 04 Beijing (B/L)
A full day excursion to the Great Wall the most well-known landmark in all of China.  It is truly an amazing feat of human labor.  After lunch, a drive to the Ming Tombs along the Sacred Way with giant marble figures and animals guarding the tomb area for the deceased emperors of Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD).

Day 05 Beijing (B/L/SD)
Your sightseeing this morning begins with the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvest for the people.  It is the largest temple complex remaining in China today.  After lunch, you will visit the National Stadium and National Aquatics Centre.  The National Stadium is where the 2008 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies were held.  This evening you will be treated to a delicious Beijing roasted duck dinner before you are transferred to the railway station where you'll board your Beijing - Tibet Train.  This unique, 45-hour journey will carry you across the "roof of the world."  Due to the high elevations (portions of your ride include travel at attitudes hovering around 16,000 feet) your railcar's air is enriched with additional oxygen - a unique amenity of this fascinating rail journey.  Though cabin availabilities may vary, sleeping accommodations aboard the train generally include semi-private, quad-occupany cabins.  Restroom facilities are provided within each car.

Day 06 Beijing - Tibet Train
From the windows of your train you'll see the majestic, snow-capped peaks of hte Kunlun Mountains.  Outside those windows lies some of the world's harshest environments high, arid, salty plateaus with sparse vegetation, but the views are spectacular.  You'll travel across many miles of Northern Tibet Grass, through the Kekexili Nature Preserve - home to 16 mammal and 30 bird species.  All are acclimated to the dry, cold, high-altitude climate.  Here roam snow leopards, yaks.  Tibet antelope, and wild donkeys while the goden eagles soar above.  Today's journey carries you over the Tanggula Pass - traveling along the world's highest passenger railway tracks (elevation - 16,649ft or 5072m).  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available for purchase aboard your train as you travel southwest to Lhasa.

Day 07          Lhasa
Following your evening arrival at the Lhasa Railway Station, your guide will pick you up & transfer to your hotel directly. In the evening, you may be at leisure for acclimatization and to visit the local bazaar.

Day 08            Lhasa           (B/L)
After After breakfast, a guided sightseeing tour to Lhasa’s cultural landmark, the Potala Palace. This massive 13-soreyed building used to be the highest building prior to the early period of last century and it used to be the former winter abode for the Dalai Lama. As the nation’s supreme relic, the palace dates back to 7th century A.D. In the afternoon, you will visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. The “Buddhism Scriptures Debating” in Sera is very famous indeed.

Day 09            Lhasa           (B/L)
Today you will visit the most revered religious structure in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple. Jokhang, the most sacred temple in Tibet, translates loosely as “Buddha’s House” in Tibetan language because the main statue enshrined is said to be made by Buddha Sakyamuni himself during his lifetime. Jokhang Temple is the convergence of Tibet’s Spiritual and secular life, like Mecca for the Muslims, here you can meet all the tribes from Tibetan plateau. The surrounding market is called Barkhor, one of the most important religious paths, which is also an assembly place for shopping. In the afternoon, a visit to the Norbulingkha, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day 10              Lhasa / Xian            (B)
Free at your leisure in the morning and lunch on your own in the hotel. In the afternoon, you will board your flight to Xian, the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road. An evening city tour of the ancient city wall, one of the most well-preserved ancient structures in all of China.

Day 11               Xian               (B/L)
This exciting day of sightseeing will include the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses at the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin Emperor, and the Bronze Chariots. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in 652 AD. It contains a large volume of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang,. Remainder of day is at your own leisure.

Day 12               Xian / Shanghai        (B/L)
This morning you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum where you will discover how Xian became the capital and cradle of Chinese culture. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, a cosmopolitan, bustling city on China’s east coast. You are free for the remainder of the day to explore incredible Shanghai.

Day 13               Shanghai                   (B/L.D)
Your sightseeing this morning features a tour of the Yuyuan Garden, the oldest area of the city and a stroll along the lively waterfront, known as the "Bund".  After lunch, a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple.  An acrobatic show will entertain all you after dinner.

Day 14                Shanghai / US         (B)
At your leisure in the morning, then your transfer tot he airport for departure.

Departure Dates: Every Monday (arrival Beijing date)

Tour Code: CD-TA-CITS

Price: $2390 per person based on twin share
Single Supplement: $550 per person (for hotel only)

Package includes:

• 4 star hotel accommodation based on twin share (except in Tibet, 3 star)
• Train ride from Beijing to Lhasa, soft berth
• Lhasa to Xian; Xian to Shanghai airfare
• Daily meals as specified in the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner, SD- Special Dinner)
• All sightseeing and entrance fees
• English speaking guides
• Round trip airport/hotel or train station/hotel transfers as specified in the itinerary

Package does NOT include:

• International air ticket
• Fuel surcharges & taxes
• Visa application fees and travel insurance
• Tips and personal expenses

*** To get the travel permits to Tibet
All Americans can get Tibet permit through CIAC Travel except diplomats, journalists, and senior government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.  To get the Tibet travel permit you need hold a valid passport with valid Chinese visa and should submit the following information at least 20 days prior to arrival in Tibet.
Full name, Sex, Date of Birth, Passport number, Nationality, Occupation.