Yangtze meets Tibet

breakfast and dinner

Today you will take the high-speed train for 7.5 hrs to Yichang. Arriving on Yichang, your journey continues on waterways - your Yangtze cruise is pending!

breakfast and lunch and dinner

Over the next three days, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful views of impressive rock formations and landscapes on the cruise. You will firstly take a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site. Its vast ship locks are the wonder of engineering, you will learn more about the world's biggest hydroelectric project firsthand.

Back on the cruise, proceed to sail through Xiling Gorge where you can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the both sides.

Three Gorges Dam

breakfast and lunch and dinner

Sailing through the Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge, you can relax or immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery. Between them you will take a shore excursion to Shennong Stream, which has rushing waterfalls and an ancient plank path leading to suspended coffins in the cliff.

In the evening, the ship's crew will prepare performance for your entertainment.

Wu Gorges

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Enjoy a leisurely morning watching the scenery of riverbanks passing by. A series of leisure activities are waiting for you, including distinguishing fresh water pearl, lectures about traditional Chinese embroideries and appreciations of teapots and paintings.

In the afternoon, take a shore excursion to Shibaozhai, a magnificent twelve-story pavilion built along the cliff to the top, where you can see the spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Shibaozhai

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Once arrive in Chongqing, get off the ship. Then take the flight to the ancient capital, Xi'an.

breakfast and lunch

If you were in Xi'an and did not see the following attractions, you can not claim to have been here: the mausoleum of the first emperor of China - the Terracotta Army! You will be fascinated by the detailed work on the figures of the clay army. They were made by order of the first Emperor Qin and would guard him with their strong-willed features and robust armor in the afterlife.

The next stop of your journey is the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. This structure is located in the Temple of Great Kindness and Grace. Then pay a visit to the Great Mosque. It is the largest and best-preserved mosque in Xi'an. It fuses with Chinese and western architectural elements of the unique architectural style, now it is an important attraction when travel to Xi'an. It assumes the striking features of Chinese pavilions, with painted beams and engraved ridgepoles. You will be amazed at the typical Chinese style of this mosque. Afterwards, have a stroll in the lively old town of Xi'an to experience the local life.

Terracotta Warriors

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Today you fly to Nyingchi, which is also known as Linzhi, which stretches across the southern end of Tibet and covers snow-capped mountains reaching up to 7000 meters. Once there, you will visit the important Lamaling Monastery, which was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1930s and rebuilt several years later on the original destroyed site. You will be impressed by its quiet atmosphere and the lush green trees in the midst of a peacefully flowing stream.

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Take a trip today to an area in Tibet, Lulang, where can walk through the beautiful valley and its lush forest. You will also encounter the locals in Tibetan village and learn more about the residents' everyday lives. Before returning to Linzhi, you will drive to the large community of Bayi, which is an important wood and wool production site and home to some national minorities such as the Hui or Xibo.

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Before you get to Lhasa, the center of Tibetan Buddhism, make a detour to the sacred mountain lake Basum Tso, which is located at about 3,500 meters altitude. Surrounded by mountains covered with lush forests and mirrored in clear water, it boasts the gorgeous green color, makeing this sight particularly magical.

Basum Tso Lake

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There are several highlights on the program today. In the Morning, visit the Jokhang Temple - the spiritual center of Tibet which is visited by countless pilgrims. The mysterious facility will be you too impress.

Then take a stroll down Barkhor Street. It is the oldest and traditional street in Tibet. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. You can see old buildings that have been built to the regional architecture. Tibetan handicrafts are offered in the shops.

Later, visit the awe-inspiring Potala Palace. It perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city. The whole Palace is consist of Red and White Palace. The white Palace was for secular use and the Red Palace was for religious use. This traditional Tibetan architecture with 13 floors was used for the former residence of the Dalai Lama.

Potala Palace

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The first program of the day is the visit of the monastery of Sera, which belongs to the “Three Great Monasteries” of the Gelug Order. Today about 750 monks live and study here. When you arrive at the debating court at the right time, you will see groups of monks excitedly debating in a living atmosphere.

Then continue to Drepung Monastery-- was known for the high standards of its academic study, and was called the Nalanda of Tibet, a reference to the great Buddhist monastic university of India. And it used to be the former state monastery of Tibet, which served as the headquarters for the Dalai Lama before moving to the Potala Palace.

Last, visit Norbulingka - a traditional summer palace and residence starting from the 7th Dalai Lama. It is also the place they conduct their affairs and religious activities. The whole garden covers an area of 46 hectares, with more than 370 rooms of different sizes, known as “garden of the garden”, making it the largest, most scenic and most historic garden in Tibet.

Sere Monastery

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Today you will stop at the crystal clear Yamdrok Lake, which shimmers beautifully like turquoise. Look into the distance and you will marvel at the seven thousand meter high mountains that tower into the sky. On the way back to Lhasa, you’ll have a glimpse of the mighty Kharola Glacier. It is about 5,000-meter altitude and originates from one of Tibet’s four sacred mountains.

Yamdrok Lake

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Today you fly to the capital of China, Beijing. After arriving at the hotel, you have the rest of the day at leisure.

breakfast and lunch

The first highlight of the day is a visit to the Summer Palace, which is attractive not only for its traditional Chinese garden art, but also for its impressive marble boat on the idyllic Kunming Lake and the sight of the richly decorated walkway.

Then come to the landmark of China, the Great Wall. The Mutianyu section, formerly known as the Northern Defensive Wall, with numerous observation towers reminds of the Warring States Period. On the cable car you can enjoy the great landscape in all cosiness.

round trip cable car in Mutianyu Great Wall

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Today you will firstly visit Tian'anmen Square. Then go through the huge gate and visit the forbidden City. You will be impressed by the imposing building complexes. It witnesses the imperial life of Ming and Qing Dynasty.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven. Once upon a time, the ancient emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty prayed for high-yield crops here. You can see many Beijingers stroll or chat with acquaintances when you spend your free time.

Forbidden City

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Today you say goodbye to Beijing and fly back home.