China Overland Tour

Welcome to the magical city of Shanghai! When you first arrive in Shanghai, standing on the Bund you might think you're back to the 18th century in Europe. Yet going across the Huangpu River is like getting in a time machine and instantly traveling back to the 21st-century again. Shanghai has a fascinating sense of cultural shock indeed, and you will love it. Shanghai has a mild and humid climate with a short spring and autumn and long winter and summer. More than 81% of the annual rainfall is concentrated from April to October. If you come to Shanghai at this time, remember to bring an umbrella with you.

Our guide will be waiting to meet you at the airport arrival hall beforehand. Along the way, you can take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery or listen to your guide tell you some interesting stories about Shanghai. After arriving at the hotel, our guide will help you check in, and you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Shanghai, the charming metropolis of China, has become the economic, financial, trade, and shipping center of mainland China. Shanghai is not only home to traditional Chinese cultural landscapes, but also cloud-kissing skyscrapers.

Today we will first visit Yu Garden (Closed each Monday). The owner is Pan Yunduan, a native of Shanghai who was a minister of Sichuan in the Ming Dynasty. He paid for his father to build this garden and hoped his father could stay here in later life. He named the garden Yu Garden because Yu means delighting the elderly. It took 18 years from the beginning of construction to the completion of the Yu Garden. During the Opium War, the garden was damaged seriously. After the founding of New China, the gradual restoration of Yu Garden began. According to records, the Yu Garden was 46,667 square meters more than four hundred years ago, but now the restored Yu Garden is only half in size.

And then we will see the Shanghai Tower. It is the second tallest building in Asia, second only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Shanghai Tower has a total height of 632 meters (2,073 feet) and 121 floors. This striking building owns an express elevator and the highest observation deck on earth. The elevator rises at a speed of 18 meters per second and takes only 55 seconds to reach the observation deck on the 119th floor. Because of the fast take-off and landing speed, please pay attention to your ear pressure to avoid discomfort. Standing on the tallest observation deck in the world-“Top of Shanghai”, the “bottle opener” Shanghai World Financial Center, which usually takes a lot of effort to look up, can be easily looked down from here! And you could also see the whole of Shanghai from here.

Next, we will go to a landmark in Shanghai-Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is the most prosperous district in Shanghai, known as “the first commercial street in China”. Nanjing Road is 5.5 kilometers long, with commercial buildings on both sides of the road. There are countless shopping malls and small stores on Nanjing Road, where you can buy just about anything, whether world-renowned clothing or Chinese specialty accessories. Nanjing Road is not only a paradise for a shopper but also a paradise for a food lover. All the shopping centers here have various brands of fashionable restaurants, cafes, and snack stores. You can taste all kinds of Shanghai snacks here, such as sweet green rice dumplings and fresh meat mooncakes. The night scene of Nanjing Road is amazing. A street of neon lights is one of the major attractions in Shanghai. Many overseas tourists say that the lights here are much brighter than that of any downtown area in Tokyo, Hong Kong SAR, or Bangkok.

Then you will see the Bund which is a must-see in Shanghai. The Bund is located in the central area of Shanghai. On the west side of the Bund are 52 buildings of different styles, such as Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, mixed Chinese and Western, etc., known as the “World’s architectural exposition”. The buildings with different styles on the Bund are a symbol of Shanghai and a witness of history. Each building has its own story such as The Bund 2. It was once the Shanghai Club, an important social venue for British expatriates. This typical English classical building was built in a baroque style, with some interior decorations imitating the English palace. In 1971, the building was transformed into the Dongfeng Hotel. And the first KFC restaurant in Shanghai was opened here in 1989. The most distinctive feature of the building is an old triangular elevator. The elevator is nearly 100 years old. It is said that two movies, "Evening Liaison" and "2046", were filmed here. Bund 2 was closed in 1998, and 10 years later it became the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that we see today. If you would like to see the Bund 2 for yourself, our tour guide will be happy to show you around.

In the evening, we will go aboard a Huangpu River Night Cruise. The Huangpu River is Shanghai’s landmark river, dividing the city into Puxi District and Pudong District. Taking a river cruise along the Huangpu River, you’ll have a panoramic view of the Shanghai International Convention Center, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and other attractions along the river. The night view of the Huangpu River is breathtaking, with brilliant lights on both sides of the river.

The Bund

Yu Garden

This morning we will drive to the airport, and you will take the estimated flight MU6329 10:15/13:55 to Xining. For many travelers, Xining is used as a transportation hub to Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Lake, or along the Qinghai-Tibet route into Tibet. But there are still places in Xining that are worth your stop. In addition to the Kumbum Monastery, there are more attractive attractions worth exploring. Xining is not a big city, so it is easy to visit. After you arrive at Xining airport, the guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. You could enjoy the free afternoon.

Free Time Suggestion: If you want to know more about Xining, besides visiting the sights, tasting the local cuisine is also a good way. There is a lot of delicious food in Xining, such as cold rice noodles, Boiled Lamb, yogurt, yak bone soup, etc. If you want to taste different cuisines at once, the night market is a good choice. Located in the center of the city, Mojia Street is one of the oldest streets in Xining, with a history of 600 years. Mojia Street is a street steeped in history, but in the eyes of Xining people and tourists today, Mojia Street is a gathering place of classic Northwest cuisine. The most lively place on Mojia Street is the roasted lamb stall. The roasted lamb here is in Arabian style. It is said that the owner of the booth is an Arabian prince. After having too much meat, it is best to drink a cup of Qinghai traditional yogurt. The yogurt here is handmade, tastes very good, and helps digestion.

This morning we will first visit the Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Monastery). It is 30 kilometers southwest of Xining city, which takes about 40 minutes by car. Kumbum Monastery is not only a holy place of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism but also a repository of Buddhist culture and art. Kumbum Monastery is especially famous for the age-old “Kumbum Monastery Three Wonders” as an oriental artistic spectacle at home and abroad. The three wonders of Kumbum Monastery are Mural, Barbola, and Butter Sculpture. The murals are a wonder because of the bright colors and strong contrast. And the decoration is diverse and rich. Entering the Kumbum Monastery, the dazzlingly beautiful murals will catch your eyes. Barbola is the original Tibetan artwork of Kumbum Monastery. Various colors of cloth and satin silk will be cut into the desired shape, stuffed with wool or cotton, and other fillers to make it bulge. Then they are glued or embroidered onto some symmetrical cloth curtains. These curtains are joined together to form a scroll with a complete set of images. The Butter Sculptures are particularly praiseworthy. The sculptures are made of white butter and then mixed with various colors of pigments. The Butter Sculptures need to be stored at low temperatures, so they are usually placed in glass windows. The translucent butter sculptures have become the most precious wonder of Kumbum Monastery.

Then we will drive about 1.5 hours to visit Riyue Mountain. Riyue Mountain is located 83 kilometers southwest of Kumbum Monastery, with an elevation of 3,520 meters, which is the only place for visitors to enter the Tibetan Plateau, and is known as the “Gateway to the Grassland”. Riyue Mountain was the dividing line between Tubo Kingdom and mainland China in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, Princess Wencheng used to rest here on her way to marry Srongtsen Gampo. In addition to Sun Pavilion and Moon Pavilion on the top of the mountain, there is also a white jade statue of Princess Wencheng, a temple of Princess Wencheng, and a museum here. At the foot of the west side of the Riyue Mountain is the Daotang River. The river is 36 kilometers away from Riyue Mountain, which takes 40 minutes by car. It flows endlessly westward into the vast Qinghai Lake. Daotang means to flow backward. Because all the rivers flow eastward, but this river flows westward, which is why people call it the “Daotang River".

After that, we need to drive 51 kilometers northwest to visit Qinghai Lake. The driving time is about 50 minutes. Qinghai Lake is in the Qinghai Lake Basin that is in the northwest of Qinghai Province. It is the largest inland lake and the largest saltwater lake in China. It is also one of the eight largest bird nature reserves in China and the seven largest wetlands in the world. Qinghai means “green sea” in Chinese words. There are many legends about Qinghai Lake, among which this story is the most interesting. It is said that the Dragon King in the sea had four sons. To let his sons learn the skills of governing the sea, he divided the sea into four parts for his four sons. The East Sea was assigned to his eldest son, the South Sea to the second son, and the North Sea to the third son. The Dragon King did not give the youngest son any part of the sea but said to him: “There is no sea to give you. If you are a brave man, go and make a sea yourself”. The youngest son searched everywhere to find a perfect place, but his efforts were to no avail. The Dragon King advised him to look farther, and finally, he found a vast piece of land in the northwest. He gathered the water from 108 rivers and made a West Sea. This West Sea is now Qinghai Lake. When you come to Qinghai Lake, you must experience a cycling tour around the lake. On the way, you will marvel at the fabulous beauty. The sky and the water are connected here, and on a clear day, it is as beautiful as heaven. We will spend the night near Qinghai Lake.

Riyue Mountain

Qinghai Lake

This morning we need to drive 287 kilometers to visit Chaka Salt Lake. Due to the long drive time, which may take 3.5 hours, we will get off the car for a break halfway. On the way, you may see the underground forest, Yardang Landform, mirage, and desert cyclone. The Chaka Salt Lake is one of the “Four Great Sceneries of Qinghai” along with Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Lake, and Mengda Tianchi, and is known as the Chinese version of “Mirror of the Sky” by travelers. Chaka Salt Lake was named one of the “55 Places You Must Visit in a Lifetime” by National Travel Geographic magazine. The most attractive part of Chaka Salt Lake is the mirror-like surface. You can walk barefoot on the surface of the lake and then photograph your reflection. If you are lucky enough, you can see the mirage that forms on these rivers during the day. If it rains for several days, the salt layer in the lake may be diluted and dissolved, and the mud underneath will be exposed. If you encounter such a situation, you can no longer walk on the surface of the lake.

After touring the Chaka Salt Lake, we will drive to Golmud. Golmud is 482 kilometers west of Chaka Salt Lake, which takes 5 hours by car. In the evening, we will arrive at Golmud, the second-largest city in Qinghai Province. It is also called a Gobi oasis. Golmud is on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has a highland mountain climate. The best time to visit Golmud is from June to September every year. The ultraviolet rays are very high in Golmud in summer, so sunscreen is necessary. There is a distinct temperature difference between morning and evening in Golmud, so you must pay attention to keep warm because it is slower to recover if you catch a cold on the plateau. Because of the dry climate in Golmud, we recommend taking more vitamins every day. The lamb in Golmud is very famous and tastes very tender. Highland barley wine and yogurt are also very authentic local drinks. You could have a try.

After arriving at the hotel, you can rest on your own or go to a nearby restaurant to taste the local specialties. If you need help, your guide will be happy to help you.

Chaka Salt Lake

Chaka Salt Lake

We will drive about 8 hours today. In the morning, we will travel south along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (National Highway 109), passing through the cool and majestic Gobi Desert, the Kunlun Bridge (3,400m above sea level), the legendary Nachitai and Kunlun Spring (3,776m above sea level) and the roaring Kunlun Mountain Pass (4,767m above sea level). Kunlun Bridge flies across the narrow cliff, with a total length of only 4 meters. It used to be the most difficult, time-consuming, and important bridge on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. In the 2,000-kilometer Qinghai-Tibet Highway, only this bridge is still guarded, known as the military bridge. Nachitai is the only place where the Qinghai-Tibet road and railway pass through and is also the first resting point when you enter the Kunlun Mountains. In the town of Nachitai, there is an excellent natural mineral spring called Kunlun Spring or Budongquan. “Budongquan” means that the water never freezes, even in the coldest of winters. There is a story about the spring. Princess Wencheng had rested here on her way to Tubo. But people did not find any water nearby when they wanted to cook. So, everyone had to eat some dry pancakes and go to sleep. The next day people found a crystal spring gushing out next to the location where the statue of Sakyamuni was placed last night. People understood at once that it was Sakyamuni who had pressed the spring water out of the mountain. To express her respect to the Buddha, Princess Wencheng threw her string of pearls into the spring, making the spring water even sweeter. According to research, the water here contains a variety of trace elements and is beneficial to the stomach. The Kunlun Mountain Pass is the only way to get to Tibet from Qinghai and Gansu Provinces and is also a major pass on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. At 4,767 meters above sea level, the Kunlun Pass is the first hurdle to challenge altitude sickness for most travelers. On the slopes and in the valleys of the Kunlun Mountain Pass, you may see some rare wild plants such as Saxifraga Unguiculata. And on the south side of the Kunlun, there stands a monument for Mr. Djessan Suonandajie, a fine Tibetan who died protecting the wildlife of Hoh Xil.

Passing through the Kunlun Pass, we will enter the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. Known as the "third pole of the world", Hoh Xil has a harsh natural environment and climate that prevents humans from living and producing for a long time, thus preserving its pristine ecological environment and unique natural landscape. If you are lucky, you will see herds of Tibetan antelope, wild donkeys, wild horses, and other wild animals.

After the visit, we will pass through the vast and deep Wudaoliang county (5,200m above sea level), and the peaceful and tranquil Tuotuo River. With a total length of 6,387 kilometers, the Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world after the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. Initially, the Yangtze River was thought to have three sources, and the Tuotuo River was the western source of the Yangtze. However, in 1976, it was considered the main source of the Yangtze River after surveying. Tuotuo River is 4,533 meters above sea level, and the landscape nearby is magnificent. You will see majestic snow-capped mountains and endless meadows. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company built a viewing platform at the Tuotuohe Railway Station for travelers enjoying the spectacular view of the river.

On the way to Tibet from Qinghai-Tibet Highway, you will pass the stone monument of “Yangtze River Source”. There is also a bridge nearby. It is called “the first bridge of Yangtze River”. The current bridge is the fourth bridge, completed in 2004. The previous three bridges were a wooden bridge and two concrete bridges. Since this area is a highland permafrost area, the former two concrete bridges all broke down. The builders of the latest bridge solved the global technical problem of building bridges in the permafrost area. When we pass this bridge, you could take out your camera and enjoy taking some beautiful pictures.

After a full day of sightseeing, you could have a good rest at the hotel.

Kunlun Mountain Pass

Tuotuo River

Today we will drive for about 8 hours. On the way, we will first pass by the Yanshiping Town and then pass through the Tanggula Pass (5,300 meters above sea level).

Yanshiping Town is the first town along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway from Qinghai into Tibet. The altitude here is 4,721 meters, and the oxygen content here is only about 50% of the oxygen content of the mainland. The average annual temperature is -4 ℃ (24.8 ℉), and there are only two seasons here-winter and “almost winter”. “Yan” means wild goose. “Shiping” means a flat land. Legend has it that because of the harsh climate here, the wild geese were frozen into ice when they flew over here. They fell and made such a small piece of flat land. It is the origin of the town’s name. After years of development and construction, Yanshiping has developed into a town that embraces nature, humanity, sightseeing, and vacation.

The scenery in the area of the Tanggula Pass is the most beautiful part of the Qinghai-Tibet route. But the natural condition here is arduous. It is windy, and the weather is unpredictable. In the evening, we will reach Nagqu City, located in northern Tibet. You can have a good rest after arriving at the hotel. If you need to dine out, your guide will help you to recommend a good restaurant.

Yanshiping Town

Tanggula Pass

Today we will drive to Namtso Lake (4,718 meters above sea level). Namtso Lake is located 300 kilometers southwest of Nagqu and takes about 6 hours by car. It is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, also called the heavenly lake, spiritual lake, or God lake. Five islands stand in the lake. And Buddhists think that they are the embodiment of five Buddhas. Every year, many pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan travel thousands of miles to go on a lake pilgrimage here and to seek the baptism of soul. You could enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sacred lake. If you are energetic, you can trek along the lake.

Then we will visit the Yangbajing Geothermal Power Station located 200 kilometers south of Namtso Lake. We will drive for about 4 hours. Yangbajing Geothermal Power Station is the largest thermal power station in China. It has the largest number of world-famous geothermal hot springs. The water temperature is the highest among Chinese hot springs, as high as 93℃-172℃.  If you put an egg on the side of the hot spring, you will get a boiled egg in three to five minutes. The main reason to go to Yangbajing is not for sightseeing, but for experiencing the hot spring bath at a high altitude. Here you can experience the wonderful feeling of soaking in the hot springs and watching the snowy mountains.

In the evening, we will arrive at the “Sun City” Lhasa (3,650m above sea level). Then we will check into the hotel. After a short visit, you can go to the local restaurant for some special snacks or go to the bar to relax.

Namtso Lake

Yangbajing Geothermal Power Station

This morning we will first visit the Potala Palace. It is the symbol of Tibet and the entire Tibetan Plateau. The Potala Palace was built in the 7th century AD and has a history of 1,300 years. Srongtsen Gampo, to marry the Tang Dynasty’s Princess Wencheng, ordered the construction of the palace with a total of 1,000 rooms on the red mountain and named it Potala Palace. The main building has two parts, the Red Palace and the White Palace. The Red Palace is in the center, and is surrounded by the White Palace. The spiritual pagoda of the Dalai Lama and various Buddhist and scripture halls are in the Red Palace. The White Palace is the place where the Dalai Lama handles political affairs and lives. You will see many Buddha statues, murals, and other cultural relics in White Palace.

And then, you will visit the Jokhang Temple. It is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the city center of Lhasa, which holds the highest position in Tibetan Buddhism. As an extension of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple became a World Heritage Site in 2000. At first, there were only eight halls in the temple. But after repeated modifications and expansions in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the temple came to its present size.

After visiting the temple, you will walk along Barkhor Street that is in the center of Lhasa. It has a history of more than 1,300 years, and its main street is the most regular and main pilgrimage route for Tibetan Buddhists. Barkhor Street is the original Lhasa old town. The circumanbulation around the Jokhang Temple is pedestrian, and the road around Barkhor Street is the busiest in Lhasa. There are many Tibetan-style stores along Barkhor Street. You could buy a variety of Tibetan souvenirs and handicrafts, as well as some goods from India and Nepal. The most famous handicrafts in Lhasa are thangka, Tibetan knives, and Tibetan carpets. The thangka is beautiful. You can buy fine products in most thangka stores, but the price is high. Tibetan carpet is one of the three famous carpets in China, which can be placed in your living room. In Barkhor Street, it is not easy to buy pure handmade Tibetan knives. Most Tibetan knives sold here are machine-made. Generally, a Tibetan knife made by machines is about two or three hundred yuan, and a handmade knife is about three or four thousand yuan.

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

This morning we will discover two monasteries. You will first visit Drepung Monastery. This monastery has a very high status in the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The interior architecture of Drepung Monastery is both elegant and splendid. There are many beautiful treasures in the monastery, and you can also see monks debating Buddhist scriptures here. Drepung Monastery is majestic inside. One of the large sutra halls of the temple has 183 pillars, and any pillar carving is very exquisite. There are many statues of Buddha in the temple and a large number of beautiful thangkas, embroidery, murals, and other valuable art treasures. You can see them all.

After lunch, we will visit the Sera Monastery. The Sera Monastery is a grand monastery built on a hillside with a river flowing in front of it. In the northeast of Sera Monastery, there is a platform for Buddha painting unfolding ceremony. You can have a bird’s-eye view of the whole monastery here. There is a famous event in the monastery called Buddhist scriptures debating. It is a discussion of Buddhist knowledge and a way for the lamas to learn. Though it is not unique to Sera Monastery, the debating here is relatively large and well known.

Next, we will visit Norbulingka located about 3 km southeast of the Potala Palace. Known as the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, it is the summer residence of Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, and its status in Lhasa is equivalent to that of the “Summer Palace” in Beijing. Norbulingka has a unique architectural style and long history. It is one of the most glorious palaces in Tibet and has distinctive features from the Potala Palace.

Drepung Monastery

Norbulingka 

Today we will drive to Gyangtse. We will stop on the way, and you could enjoy the grand view of Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok Lake is 110 kilometers southwest of Lhasa, and it will take us 2 hours to drive there. Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, and Manasarovar Lake are called Three Sacred Lakes in Tibet. Yamdrok is the largest inland lake of the northern foothills of the Himalayas. There are three major snow peaks as the Noijin Kangsang peak at the western part of the lake. This peak is 7,206 meters high. It is not only the most important sacred mountain in this region but also one of the four traditional divine mountains in Tibet.

On the way, you will see Karola Glacier. It is the closest glacier to the road in the whole of Tibet, with only three hundred meters distance from the road. It is easily accessible, has magnificent scenery, and is a national AAA tourist attraction. Due to years of traffic dust from the road, the Karola Glacier has a black and white layered pattern. However, the upper part of the glacier, illuminated by the sun, looks like a giant glittering thangka hanging on the mountain wall.

After 5-hour driving, we will arrive in Gyangtse. You will first visit Pelkor Monastery. The building is grand and majestic. As an architectural model of the history of Tibetan architecture, the Kumbum Stupa of Pelkor Monastery represents the highest level of pagoda-monastery architecture in Tibet.

Yamdrok Lake

Pelkor Monastery

This morning we will visit Gyangtse Ancient Street that has a history of more than 600 years. And then we will drive toward northwest to Shigatse. It takes around 2 hours (94 kilometers). After arriving at Shigatse, we will visit Tashilunpo Monastery. It is the place where the successive Panchen Lamas stayed for a long time. The most magnificent building is the Maitreya Buddha Hall and the spiritual pagoda. Maitreya Buddha Hall is on the west side of the monastery. The hall is 30 meters high and is used to enshrine the seated statue of Maitreya Buddha, which was cast in 1914 by the 9th Panchen Lama. This statue is 26.2 meters high, using a total of 231,400 pounds of brass and 6700 taels of gold. And more than 1,400 diamonds and pearls are inlaid on two eyebrows of the Buddha. It is the largest seated bronze Buddha statue in the world.

After that, we will visit the Summer Palace of Panchen Lamas. In 1954, the 10th Panchen demanded the construction of the palace. Located south of Tashilunpo Monastery, the new palace building is magnificent and elegant and has many historical relics and fine arts from Tibet. Panchen once touched the top of the head of the faithful to give blessings here. Touching the top is a religious ceremony held by eminent Tibetan Buddhist monks and living Buddhas to bless and eliminate disasters for the Buddhists.

Gyangtse Ancient Street

Tashilunpo Monastery

This morning we will drive back to Lhasa. It takes around 5 hours (275 kilometers). It will be a long drive from Shigatse to Lhasa, but hopefully, the views will lessen your fatigue! On the way, you will visit a local Tibetan family. It is a good chance for you to experience Tibetan life. After arriving in Lhasa, you will check in at the hotel and have a rest.

Tibetan Family

Tibetan Family

Today you will take the estimated flight CA4402 10:55/12:50 to Chengdu. Your tour guide will welcome you at the arrival hall with your nameplate. After arriving at the hotel, the tour guide will help you to check in. You can enjoy the free afternoon.

After breakfast, we will drive south about 2 hours (150 kilometers) to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. The Leshan Giant Buddha is a very distinctive statue carved out of the entire mountain rock. With a height of 71 meters, the Buddha is the largest seated Buddha in the world. It is so huge that even its fingernails are higher than an adult’s height. Sandwiched between two rocks, the Buddha calmly gazes down at the river and the majestic Mount Emei. This statue of the Buddha seemed like a miracle that appeared in a dream. If you want to explore more about the Buddha, you can walk across the boardwalk next to the statue and feel the history with reverence. You can also take a boat ride to experience the majesty of the Buddha from a distance.  

In the afternoon, we will transfer back to Chengdu downtown, and you will visit People’s Park. The park was built in 1911, and it is the oldest park in Chengdu with more than 100 years of history. There is a famous tea house in the park called Heming Tea House. Established in 1923, Heming Teahouse is a two-story Chinese classical building. It is the first of six teahouses in Shaocheng Park during the Republican period and the well-known and most influential teahouse among all the teahouses in the downtown of Chengdu. Sitting in the teahouse, guests can read a book, take a nap, or play mahjong. In such an environment, you can deeply feel the closeness of social groups and the visible local characteristics of the Chengdu teahouse.

Leshan Giant Buddha

Heming Tea House

In the morning, we will first visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It is northeast 10 kilometers away from the city center and takes about 40 minutes. The panda base is called “the natural paradise for pandas”. People often say that if you have not come to see the giant pandas, you have come to China in vain, which shows the popularity of the giant pandas in the hearts of the people at home and abroad. Here you can watch dozens of pandas playing in their daily lives.

After the pleasant visit, you will take the estimated flight CZ9527 14:30/17:25 to Beijing. Your tour guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and then take you to your hotel directly. You could enjoy your free time after check-in.

Giant Panda

Beijing

We will visit Tian’anmen Square in the morning. It is located in the center of Beijing and is an important historical attraction. The most significant event that ever took place here was the Founding Ceremony. Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China here on October 1, 1949. Today, thousands of tourists come here every year to pay homage to Chairman Mao at Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. After passing through the Tiananmen Gate Tower and the Meridian Gate (Wu Men), you will enter the Forbidden City (Closed each Monday). The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing and is also known as the “Palace Museum”. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and was once residence to 24 emperors. In China’s feudal society, the emperor was called the “true dragon” and “son of heaven” and was regarded as the master of the earth. You will see various dragon figures and patterns in the Forbidden City, it is a world of dragons.

After lunch, we will visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty, located in the western suburbs of Beijing. It is a large landscape garden that draws on the design techniques from South China. It is also the best-preserved imperial palace and is known as the “Royal Garden Museum”.

Forbidden City

Summer Palace

This morning you will visit the Temple of Heaven that was originally built in 1420. It is the place for the Ming and Qing emperors to worship Emperor God. The Temple of Heaven is a unique architectural masterpiece for its excellent architecture, mechanics, and aesthetics. And the former royal altar is now a distinctive tourist park in downtown Beijing. In addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Temple of Heaven, you can also learn Tai Chi from the locals.

After that, we will visit Old Beijing Hutong by rickshaw. Hutongs are not only the veins of the city but also the places where old Beijingers live. There are thousands of hutongs in Beijing, each with a story of its own. In addition to experiencing the hutong culture by rickshaw, you can also visit the families in Hutong and learn more about their stories.

After that, we will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall that is the essence of the Great Wall and one of the New Sixteen Views of Beijing. You can walk up the Great Wall or take a cable car. Taking a chairlift up and the toboggan down is also a unique experience.

Temple of Heaven

Old Beijing Hutong

Today is the last day of our 19-day trip to China. We cherish the days we have spent with you and hope your trip to China has been perfect. We hope you will have the opportunity to come back to China again and see more of China with us. Your tour guide will take you to the airport according to your flight time and help you to check in. We wish you a safe trip home.

Editor: Carrie

Proofreader: Liz