China Between Myth and Modernity

breakfast and lunch

Today, we'll pay a visit for Tiananmen Square, which is the largest public square in the world. While strolling in Tian'anmen Square, looking up at the magnificent layout, the majestic momentum, the vast and deep landscape, you will feel China's rapid development.

Today's highlight is next - the Forbidden City. It is the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. In its 500 years of history, there were 24 emperors living here. Experiencing several times renovation and expansion during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is still remaining its original layout.

Then visit the Temple of Heaven, which was used to pray for harvest by the emperors. It's China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven. This Chinese monument is built entirely in wood, without using a single nail, which has become the symbol of Beijing.

Temple of Heaven

breakfast and lunch

Continue your journey today with a high-speed train to Xi'an.

Xi'an - ancient capital of China with a 2000-year history and the largest city in northwest China. It is a great place to explore.

You will be impressed by this close-up experience! The ancient City Wall - one of the most famous attractions in Xi'an. Today, this wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Xian City Wall

breakfast and lunch

Today you'll journey out in to the countryside surrounding Xi'an and visit what is undoubtedly one of the man-made wonders of the world – the Terracotta Warriors. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots – each individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expressions – stand in battle formation.

After lunch, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda - a landmark building of Xi'an. It is a well-preserved holy place for Buddhist with a history of over 1300 years.

The next stop of your journey is the Great Mosque. It is the largest and best-preserved mosque in Xi'an. It assumes the striking features of Chinese pavilions, with painted beams and engraved ridgepoles. You will be amazed by the not so typical construction of this mosque.

Terracotta Warriors

breakfast and lunch

Today you'll fly to Dunhuang - another city for starting point of the Chinese Silk Road.

You will visit the Crescent Spring, which is located at the northern foot of the Mingsha Hill. The crescent-like lake is surrounded by the sand but never buried by it. The lake is very clear all year around. Enjoy this sight of the magnificent oasis with its characteristic pagoda surrounded by barren sand dunes.
 
Then, you will walk up to 300-meter-high sand dunes, which carry the sonorous name "Mountain of the Singing Sand". The dune is with an elegant shape. When people slide down along the slopes, a sound will be heard, hence the name.

Crescent Spring and Singing Sand Dune

breakfast and lunch

After breakfast, start to explore Dunhuang at the famous Mogao Grottoes. It is one of three noted grottoes in China for its fabulous frescos and statues. There are five grottoes with a wooden structure. The Mogao Grottoes is the largest, oldest and the best-preserved Buddhist grottoes with the richest contents in the world today.

Then take a night train to the only city in China that has the Yellow River flowing through it - Lanzhou.

Mogao Grottoes

breakfast and lunch

Arrive in Lanzhou in the morning. After a short break in hotel, our sightseeing starts from the Gansu Provincial Museum, which has a rich collection of various kinds of colored pottery and grottoes art treasures of the neolithic age, showing the development system of colored pottery that lasted for more than 7,000 to 3,000 years in China.

Then drive to White Pagoda Mountain which is famous for its White Pagoda Temple. A number of ancient architectures are also available in the White Pagoda Park, including an archway, the Arhat Hall, Sangon Hall and the Three-Star Hall. The Yellow River Rare Stone Hall and the Reception Tent of the Yugu ethnic group are also worthy of your visit.

Gansu Provincial Museum

White Pagoda Mountain

breakfast and lunch

Your guide will take you to the airport and transfer to Lhasa. Welcome to the roof of the world - Lhasa! You will be picked up by local tour guide at Lhasa airport, and then be escorted to check in your hotel in Lhasa city (3,650 m) in a private vehicle.

The Potala Palace, which dominates the cityscape of Lhasa, is on your program today. Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa.  Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.

On the way to the Jokhang Monastery, move on the 800m long Prayer Path, the Barkhor Street, its a circular street at the center of Lhasa, is the oldest street in a very traditional city of Tibet. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. Barkhor is the road that pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries.

Arrived at the Jokhang Monastery, the central sanctuary of the Tibetans, you will be overwhelmed by its splendor. Visitors will be treated to the sight of various exotic and sacred sculptures. Jokhang Temple also houses many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here. Jokhang Temple has remained a key center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries.

Potala Palace

breakfast and lunch

The first program of the day is the visit of Sera Monastery. The highlight of visiting Sera Monastery will be watching monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. The spectacle is just so fun-filled and high energy.

Then move on to Drepung Monastery, the former Tibetan state monastery, which served as the headquarters for the Dalai Lama before moving to the Potala Palace. Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries, and indeed at its peak was the largest monastery of any religion in the world.

At the end of the day, visit Norbulingka, who served as a summer residence for the Dalai Lama, and now it is the largest garden in Tibet. As you walk through the park, the rooms, and the meditation chamber, you will get an insight into what the daily life of a Dalai Lama might have looked like.

Sere Monastery

Norbulingka

breakfast and lunch

Today your journey continues to the crystal clear Yamdrok Lake, which shimmers beautifully turquoise. Yamdrok lake, which means “jasper lake” in Tibetan, is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. Take a look into the distance and marvel at the seven thousand mountains that tower all around into the sky.

Before you drive back to Lhasa, make a stopover, from where you have a good view of the breathtaking splendor of the Kharola glacier.

Yamdrok Lake

breakfast and lunch

Today, you will fly to the mystical city - Shangri-La. Meet your private guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Then you stroll through the old town of Shangri-La. The wooden houses with roofs made of wooden shingles and scattered paintings on the walls, give this part of the city its very special charm.

Shangri-la Overview

breakfast and lunch

Visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Yunnan Province - Songzanlin Lamasery. You'll be embraced by the holy atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism as you enter the hall with huge Buddhas and colorful murals. Feel the piety of Tibetan people who are praying and listen to the chants of the lamas.

In the afternoon, you will take a tour to Napa Lake. It means 'the lake besides forest'. Three sides of the lake by mountains and one side connected with Zhongdian basin.

Napahai Natural Reserve

Songzanlin Monastery

breakfast and lunch

In this morning, we will visit the Pudacuo National Park which retains a well-preserved ecosystem in its virgin forests. Pudacuo National Park is a stunning display of nature, with lakes, forests, meadows, streams, brooks, and rare plants and animals.

You will drive from Shangri-La to Lijiang. On the way, you will make a stop at magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge. Listen to the roar of the Jinsha River (upper Yangtze).  It is not only one of the longest gorge with a depth of around 3900 m, but also the deepest one in the world.

Arrive in Lijiang in the afternoon. Lijiang old town has a history about 800 years and is also the only town that takes the Naxi culture as main part. You will notice in the streets that customs and costumes of the Naxi minority determine the cityscape. We can be sure that you can spend a leisure time by losing yourself in this charming city.

Pudacuo National Park

Lijiang

breakfast and lunch

Explore to holy Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the morning. It is over 5000 meters height and has snow all year round on the peaks. As the sacred mountain of the Naxi people, Jade Dragon snow mountain is called 'olu' in Naxi language, which means 'sky mountain'. Its 13 snowy peaks are continuous, like a 'dragon' soaring and flying. That's why it is called 'jade dragon'.

Then visit the Black Dragon Pool. It is the most important source of running water in Lijiang with a perfect combination of beautiful natural scenery and unique human landscape.

Jade Dragon Snowmountain

breakfast

Today you will fly further south to Guilin, which is known for its unique karst cone mountain landscape. Your tour guide will meet you in Guilin airport and drive to the picturesque city of Yangshuo. Enjoy a relaxing night in Yangshuo West Steet.

Yangshuo

breakfast and lunch

Today you go on a discovery tour, both on land and on water. Before the sun gets too high for a cool ride, explore the countryside by bike. Narrow single-lane trails lead you to secluded villages and boundless fields, and you will pass by locals waving hello to you.

After lunch, get on a traditional bamboo raft with a private punter to sail along the Yulong River. It is known as little Li River, you sail on a bamboo raft through the idyllic mountain landscape of Yangshuo. Sitting on the reclining chair on the raft you can enjoy a tranquil moment while the reflections of the mountains and bamboo groves pass by.

At last, we will drive to visti the Silver Cave, which is the one of the most awe-inspiring creations of nature. The beautiful stalactites, the tall stalagmites and the meandering underground river stand testimony not only to the elemental forces that are constantly in work but also to the aesthetics that appeal straight to the heart.

Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River

Silver Cave

breakfast and lunch

Today, it is time to say goodbye to nature and to immerse yourself in the vibrant city of Shanghai.

After a 2-hour flight and a short refreshment in the hotel, you will find yourself on the famous waterfront - the Bund. The Bund is located along the Huangpu River which is located in the Huangpu District, the center of Shanghai. It is the scenery line of Shanghai.

The Bund

breakfast and lunch

Explore the Old City of Shanghai, where you can get an idea of what the city looked like hundreds of years ago. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the old town, there is the oasis of peace, the Yu Garden. As a paragon of the south Chinese landscaping style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is a MUST-SEE for all visitors to Shanghai.

Then visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center to learn more about the history of Shanghai. A look at the miniature model of the city is especially recommended. It is regarded as the 'Window of the City' where people can know about Shanghai.

Then drive to Shanghai Tower, which is located at the heart of the Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone. With a total height of 632 meters, the building offers a stunning view of the vibrant city in front of you.

Yu Garden

Shanghai Tower

breakfast

Say goodbye to China and transfer to airport. Connect with your departure flight home.