Day 1 USA - Beijing

Board an international flight bound for China. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxury hotel for rest and relaxation.

Day 3 Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, it served as the capital for 5 dynasties over a period of 800 years with each emperor identified as a dragon sent from heaven. Tour Tiananmen Square (the Gate of Heavenly Peace) , the largest square in the world, and also known as a witness for many historical and contemporary events. Visit the Palace Museum, more commonly known as the Forbidden City, until recently opened only to the emperor's family. This complex, the largest imperial palace ever built in the world, features more than 800 buildings with over 9,000 rooms, resplendent golden- glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars and vermilion walls. See the high-walled "Inner City" with its government buildings. After lunch, we tour the Summer Palace, built in classical Chinese style in 1750 as a royal recreational resort. Among its famous features are the 700-meter-long corridor with its wonderful Painted Gallery, the Marble Barge, and several magnificently painted pavilions and pagodas. On our way back to the city, we’ll make a photo stop at the National Grand Theatre- “Dome” and Qianmen Street. Enjoy roast Beijing duck in dinner. After dinner, you will enjoy an acrobatics performance.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Beijing

Have an excursion to the Great Wall. This wonder of the world was built 2600 years ago. Built to protect its people from northern marauders, the Great Wall snakes its way thousands of miles across Northern China and is one of the few objects on the earth visible from the space. This morning we spend time walking atop this man-made wonder of the world and appreciate its imposing wonder. After that, our next destination is the Temple of Heaven where the Ming and Qing emperors prayed to heaven for a good harvest. At last, we go to Olympic Park, we will make a stop at the new landmarks of Beijing - the Olympics sites including "Bird's Nest"-National Stadium and the amazing "Water Cube"-Olympic Swimming Pool.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Beijing - Xian

Fly to Xian, the cradle of Chinese civilization, was the state capital of 73 emperors spanning 11 dynasties during 1100 years dating from 4,000 B.C. In the afternoon we will enjoy a tour of the Bell Tower, the ancient City Wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Xian

Visit another wonder of the ancient world the Terra-Cotta Warriors, concealed under earth, those thousands of life-sized clay warriors, horses and chariots, as one part of the tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang, were accidentally discovered by a farmer while he was digging out a well. You would also see some archaeologists still working on site to uncover the rest part of the vast tomb complex of Emperor Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, and also the initiator of the Great Wall. After viewing the fine troops, we head to the nearby Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang. This evening after an Imperial Dumpling Banquet Dinner, you will see a wonderful stage opera show of the Tang Dynasty, the one as being a “must see” in Xian.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Xian - Lhasa

After breakfast, we fly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. It is located on a plateau at an elevation of 12,000 feet. Take a rest after arriving in Lhasa acclimate yourself to the high altitude. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Lhasa

After breakfast, you will tour Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbu Lingka. Potala Palace was built at the time of Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century. In the 17th century the 5th Dalai Lama rebuilt it and extended it to its present size. Its 13-story main building is 117 meters high and is composed of the Red and White Palaces, with the red one in the middle. The main building consists of the Hall of stupas of Dalai Lamas from various historical stages and halls of Buddha. The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lamas and place for handling political affairs. Sera Monastery is one of the three great monasteries in Lhasa. It was built by one of the disciples of Zonggaba in 1419. On the 27th of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, it holds the great Sera Bungchen Festival, which attracts flocks of Buddhists and others. Norbu Lingka means a lovely garden in Tibetan. Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, it has been a place for the Dalai Lamas to stay to escape the summer heat.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Lhasa

Today you will tour Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkor Street. Drepung Monastery was built in 1416 and is the largest of the Monasteries of the Gelug Sect. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 Monks. It has trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Monastery is located in the center of the old city of Lhasa and was built in the 7th century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Dynasty Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. After touring Barkor Street you will know something about the local life. In the evening you are entertained by Tibetan Music and Dance Show after a local Tibetan Cuisine dinner. You may try a cup of jam butter tea, the local favorite.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Lhasa - Chengdu

After breakfast, we fly to Chengdu. Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. Upon arrival, we tour the Panda Preserve Base. For dinner, we enjoy a famous hot pot cuisine, followed by the entertainment of Sichuan Opera. Sichuan opera is one of the principal genres of regional drama in China, it is particularly famous for its unique skills in changing countenance.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  

Day 11 Chengdu - Leshan - Mt. Emei

After breakfast, we proceed by bus to Leshan, the tour of Leshan includes a cruise on Min River, and a view of Leshan Grand Buddha, the largest stone-carved Buddha in the whole world, described as "A mountain emerges as a Buddha, and a Buddha- a mountain". Finish sightseeing at Leshan, before we drive to Mt. Emei, enjoy the local cuisine lunch - Tofu Banquet. A cable car ride takes us up to the Golden Summit. Sightseeing of Golden Summit at Mt. Emei. The Golden Summit rises over 3000 meters above sea level. There one may find an advantage point to appreciate sunrise, to view the sea of clouds, the Buddhist lamps and particularly the Buddhist glory which is most wonderful and captivating. Return to Chengdu.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Chengdu - Beijing - USA

After breakfast, you are transferred to airport for your return flight back to your home. You will be in the United States the same day. End of tour.

• Includes Breakfast