The Classic China, Tibet & Three Gorges Tour
This tour is ideal for the person who wants to see the main sites in China, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shanghai, Tibet and the Yangtze River. You can enjoy the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Potala Palace, the fantasy-shaped mountains of Guilin, the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple and ...
Read Full Description- Destination:
- Beijing, China; Chengdu, China; Chongqing, China; Lhasa, China; Shanghai, China; Wuhan, China; Xian, China
- Trip Length:
- 20 days
- Price Range:
- From $4000 to $5000 per person See what this includes and what this excludes
- Best Time to Go:
- Any time.
- Recommended for:
-
Infants (under 2)
Children (2 - 5)
Children (6 - 8)
Children (9 - 11)
Children (12 - 14)
Children (15 - 17)
Adults (18 - 20)
Adults (25 - 29)
Family Trip, Group Retreat, Trip Around the World
Detailed Trip Description
This tour is ideal for the person who wants to see the main sites in China, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shanghai, Tibet and the Yangtze River. You can enjoy the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Potala Palace, the fantasy-shaped mountains of Guilin, the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple and much, much more! This tour includes several fascinating events and sites that Westerners rarely see.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - On the Plane
Commercial Flight
You will leave the US for China. The adventure begins!
Day 2 - Beijing
Welcome to Beijing.
We will arrive in Beijing in the early evening and then transfer to the hotel.
Day 3 - Beijing
Sightseeing
We will take you to TianAnmen Square and then to the Forbidden City. In addition to seeing the buildings and grounds of the Emperor's palace, we will also take you to Emperor QingLong's private painting collection and the Emperor's clock collection (which Westerners rarely see). After lunch you will go to the Yong He Gong Lama Temple- This is one of the few Tibetan Buddhist sites in Beijing. It has some very interesting exhibits in the buildings as well as being a practicing Buddhist Temple. This might provide some interesting comparisons to the sights you will see in Tibet.
Day 4 - Beijing
Sightseeing
Today we will take you to the Ming Tombs, including both entering one of the tombs and walking the Sacred Way. After lunch we will go onto the incredible Great Wall of China (at Badaling). It is an incredible feeling to be standing on one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which is over 3,900 miles in length!
Hotel
We will then transfer you back to the hotel.
Day 5 - Xian
Sightseeing
You will experience the Temple of Heaven, which is the site where the Emperor would pray and commune with the gods. After lunch we will take you on a tour of a Hutong. This is the traditional housing in old Beijing that was generally four small houses surrounding a court area.
Commercial Flight
After the Hutong, you will go to the airport to fly to Xi'an.
Hotel
Your guide will transfer you to the hotel.
Day 6 - Xian
Sightseeing
The morning begins with a tour of the city, including the old city wall and the Wild Goose Pagoda, with its Drum Tower and Bell Tower. After lunch we will take you to the World-Class Shangxi Provincial Museum which chronologically features the dynasties of China in order through artifacts, brassware and other cultural displays.
Food and Dining
Dinner at Dim Sum Restaurant.
Day 7 - Chengdu
Museums
Today we will take you to what has been called the "8th Wonder of the World" the Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum.
Commercial Flight
We will then take you for the flight to Chengdu.
Food and Dining
Upon arriving in Chengdu we will take you to a wonderful Sichuan restaurant where you can enjoy the delicious Sichuan cuisine! Transfer back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
Day 8 - Lhasa
Commercial Flight
Early in the morning we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, Tibet.
Hotel
We will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel, with a bus tour of the area between the airport and the city. We will then check you into your hotel.
Day 9 - Lhasa
Sightseeing
Today we will take you to the Jokhang Temple, Bharkhuo Street and the Tibetan Quarter of the town.
Food and Dining
Dinner at the Crazy Yak Restaurant.
Day 10 - Lhasa
Sightseeing
We will visit the incredible Potala Palace in the morning. It was the government headquarters, the center of the religion and the residence of the Dali Lamas all in one. After lunch we will take you to the Sera Monastery and if we are fortunate, we can see the Monks "debate."
Day 11 - Lhasa
Sightseeing
Today we will drive out into the Tibetan countryside via the beginning of the Friendship Road, visit a Tibetan village, see the incredible vistas and have a picnic lunch at the Heavenly Lake.
Hotel
Then we will transfer you back to the hotel.
Day 12 - Chongqing
Commercial Flight
After a good breakfast you will transfer to the airport for a flight to Chongqing (via Chengdu).
River or Barge Cruise
After a brief city tour and dinner you will be transferred to the East King Cruise Ship (which along with its sister ship, the East Queen, is the finest cruise line on the Yangtze River). The ship leaves the harbor around 11:30pm.
Day 13-14 - At Sea
Yangtze River Cruise.
River or Barge Cruise
The Yangtze River Cruise continues (Three Gorges, Shendong stream, beautiful scenery).
Day 15 - Wuhan
Sightseeing
The cruise ship arrives at Yichang early in the morning. We will be greeted by our local guide and transferred to the Wuhan. Along the way we will stop at the ancient city wall of Jinshou and the provincial museum.
Hotel
Then we will take you to the hotel at Wuhan.
Day 16 - Shanghai
Commercial Flight
We will take you to the airport for a flight to Guilin.
Hotel
Your guide will pick you up at the Guilin airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Sightseeing
After you have settled in, we will take you on a brief city tour, including Fubo Hill and Elephant Hill park. Then you will go to the Reed Flute Caves.
Performing Arts
The Minorities Concerts- This is a delightful display of the costumes, dances, acrobatics and other entertainments from 21 Chinese minorities.
Day 17 - Shanghai
River or Barge Cruise
We will take you on the 3 hour Li Jiang River Cruise. This is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole world. The cruise ends at Yangzhou, which is a quaint village with a very nice street market.
Commercial Flight
After you have shopped there and walked along the quaint streets to your contentment, we will transfer you to the airport for a flight to Shanghai.
Hotel
Your local guide in Shanghai will take you to your hotel.
Day 18 - Shanghai
Sightseeing
We will start the day with a tour of the Bund and the TV Tower. After lunch, you will go to the wonderful Shanghai Art Museum which has many excellent exhibits, including ancient brass works, coins (including the knife-coins) and the Minority Costumes and Artifacts.
Day 19 - Shanghai
Sightseeing
You will visit the Jade Buddha Temple and the Jade Factory. Lunch will be at the Mongolian Barbeque. Afterwards we will take you to the private Lotus Shoe Museum. These 3-5 inch women's shoes display the incredible embroidery that was exhibited in these shoes.
Day 20 - Shanghai
The morning is free. After lunch we will take you to the airport for your return flight to the USA with a lifetime of wonderful memories.
Not the trip you were looking for?
Click here to find experts to book your trip (it's free!)
Submit Inquiry to Travel Specialist
Trips you may also be interested in
- Viking Cruise Line's Cultural Delights cruise/tour
- An amazing combination of land and river travel, highlighting cultural and historical sights along the way. We'll start in Shanghai and end in Beijing with a 10-night cruise on the Yangtze river in-between.
- Hong Kong, Beijing to Xian Tour
- Beijing is the capital of China. It is the center of politics, economic and culture in China. In China history, a lot of dynasties took here as the capital city. And about 24 crown nobles became the emperors in Beijing. Among them, the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty paid more ...
- The Magic of China
- Enjoy a thirteen day trip to China full of adventure, sightseeing, and excitement. You will have the opportunity to walk on the Great Wall, experience Guilin by boat, visit the Forbidden City, have a VIP experience at Hong Kong Disney, and more. This trip is a once in a lifetime ...
- Wonders of China and Yangtze Cruise
- An unforgettable nine days of culinary and cultural experiences centered around Yangtze River Cruise. Some highlights include visiting the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, the famed great Great Wall, the Summer Palace and Tian An Men Square in Beijing. You will also travel to Xi'an where you will have ...
