Overview
The Lijiang Chengdu Lhasa, Xian Beijing and Shanghai tour is also a remarkable journey through some of China’s most iconic destinations, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Spanning across various regions, this trip provides an immersive experience into the diverse landscapes and traditions that define China.
The adventure begins in Lijiang, a picturesque city nestled in the Yunnan Province. Here, visitors also greet people with charming cobblestone streets, ancient canals, and traditional Naxi architecture. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Town, where the rich heritage of the local ethnic minority groups is on display.
From Lijiang, the tour also moves to Chengdu, known for its famous giant pandas. Also Witness these lovable creatures in their natural habitat at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Indulge in Sichuan cuisine, famous for its spicy flavors, and experience the vibrant city life.
Next, the journey also takes you to Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Marvel at the awe-inspiring Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former residence of the Dalai Lamas. Visit sacred monasteries like Jokhang Temple and experience the spiritual ambiance of Barkhor Street.
Continuing on, Xian awaits with its ancient treasures. Stand in awe before the Terracotta Army, an army of life-sized statues guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Explore the vibrant Muslim Quarter, where delicious street food and bustling markets await.
Arriving in Beijing, the capital city, you’ll also captivate by its imperial grandeur. Walk along the iconic Great Wall of China, an engineering marvel. Discover the Forbidden City, an imperial palace complex brimming with history and architectural marvels. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Temple of Heaven and witness the harmony of ancient traditions and modernity.
Finally, the tour concludes in Shanghai, a bustling metropolis on the east coast. Stroll along the Bund, a waterfront promenade showcasing a blend of colonial-era architecture and modern skyscrapers. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Nanjing Road, a bustling shopping district. Don’t miss a visit to the tranquil Yu Garden and the serene water town of Zhujiajiao.
Conclusion and Summary of Lijiang Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing and Shanghai Tour
This Lijiang Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing and Shanghai tour also encapsulates the essence of China, offering an unforgettable adventure through its vibrant cities, ancient wonders, and captivating landscapes. From the peaceful streets of Lijiang to the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, this journey also promises to leave visitors with lasting memories of China’s rich history and cultural diversity.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lijiang and Visit Lijiang Ancient Town and Lion Hill
As you arrive in Lijiang, a historic city home to Naxi and other ethnic minority groups in northwest of Yunnan Province, our local guide will be expecting you at the airport. Later, the guide will escort you to your hotel.
In the afternoon, we will also visit one of the must-see attractions in Lijiang, namely Lijiang Ancient Town. The hot pedestrianized town features plenty of lovely little canals and bridges, traffic free streets and overhanging willow trees. Numerous small cafes and bars, and street artists, tasty local snacks, etc. can also be found. Afterwards, climbing to Wangu Tower of the Lion Hill where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the entire old town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain afar.
Stay overnight in Lijiang
charming and peaceful ancient town with vibrant willow and small canals Lion Hill
Day 2: Lijiang Tour: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Black Dragon Pool
In the morning, the tour will take you to climb Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the picturesque mountain overlooking the Lijiang. Get down jacket since the temperature can get pretty cold. You may choose to visit incredible Glacier Peak or enchanting yak meadows.
After that, we head to spectacular Black Dragon Pool, built in Qing Dynasty. The lovely park gives you a break from touristy ancient town. You can also stroll on the colorful cobbled path and enjoy the gorgeous Moon-Embracing Pavilion with crystal-clear lake below reflecting the enchanting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. We can also stop by Dongba Culture Museum inside the park
Stay overnight in Lijiang
Jade Dragon Snow MountainMoon-Embracing Pavilion
Day 3: Fly from Lijiang to Chengdu and Visit Wide and Narrow Alley
Take the morning flight from Lijiang to Chengdu. Upon your arrival in Chengdu, you will also be escorted to the hotels. In the afternoon, tourists will tour Wide and Narrow Alley in downtown Chengdu. The lively and vibrant alley showcases the old life style and houses of Chengdu. You can also enjoy the tea and tasty local snacks and buy interesting souvenirs as you tour this pedestrianized area.
Stay overnight in Chengdu
Wide and Narrow AlleyWide and Narrow Alley
Day 4: Chengdu Tour: Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, Jin Li Street and Wuhou Shrine
Chengdu is the major overland gateway to Tibet and home to giant pandas. In the morning, we will drive about half an hour to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you will catch pandas’ feeding time, they are at their most active, both Adults and Babies. There’s a wealth of information and a panda museum in this 230-hectare park 10 km (6 miles) north of Chengdu. It takes about 2.5 hours to visit this site.
In the afternoon, we will move back to downtown Chengdu to visit Jin Li Street, a vivid replica of the old commercial street of Qin, Han, and Three Kingdom dynasties. You can take a leisurely stroll along the street and buy some souvenirs. After that, we can tour the famous Wuhou Shrine, where tourists can learn more of the celebrated warriors of Three Kingdoms and many more Chinese poetry and calligraphy, etc. can also be seen.
Stay overnight in Chengdu
Closely see the cute giant pandas at Chengdu Panda Base.Jinli Street
Day 5: Board the Train to Lhasa and Enjoy the Train Ride
In the morning, you may do some shopping around the hotels. After lunch, we are about to head to Chengdu Railway Station and you will also spend the rest of the day on the train to Lhasa. It is quite a long journey of taking a train from Chengdu to Lhasa. It will take 43:07 hours, two days and two nights in the Train. On the first day you will also pass through two important provincial capital cities in northwest China, Lanzhou and Xining. Xining is also known as the beginning of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Travelling along the rail line, you could see the scenery of countryside and cities in northwest China.
Stay overnight in the train
Day 6: Enjoy beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and arrive in Lhasa
Today, you will also enjoy the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, spectacular land of snows, boundless desert, vast grassland, and grand snow-capped mountains, beautiful lakes that will continually appear and strongly attract your heart. You will also arrive in Lhasa at about 09:55. Your tour guide will hold a welcome sign with your name on it to greet you at the exit of the train station and escort you from the train station to your reserved hotel in Lhasa. The rest of the day is for you to get acclimatized to the altitude of Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Qinghai-Tibet RailwayQinghai-Tibet Railway
Day 7: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, and Barkor Street
Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the only most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism. Around the temple is Barkhor street where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, in the meantime you can buy souvenirs.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Amazing Potala Palace at twilight Holy Jokhang Temple
Day 8: Lhasa Tour – Drepung and Sera Monastery
In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace used to be Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before he moved to the Potala palace.
In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Monks chat happily before the assembly hall of Drepung monastery.Dramatic monk debate in Sera Monastery
Day 9: Fly from Lhasa to Xi’an
The guide will also transfer you to the airport and help you board the plane bound for Xi’an. After around 3 hours’ flight, you will land in Xi’an. The local guide will also escort you to your hotels. And the rest of the day is for you to have a rest.
Stay overnight in Xi’an
Day 10: Xi’an Tour: The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda
In the morning, we are about to visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will not only be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures and horses, each of which has distinct facial expressions and positions, but also be astonished by various kinds of ancient weapons which reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago.
Afterwards, we will head to tour another must-see attraction in Xi’an Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Originally built in 652 during the Tang dynasty, the Pagoda is known for keeping the Buddhist scriptures and figurines of the Buddha brought by Xuanzang, one of the most renowned Chinese monks. The whole place is one of the most visited destinations by international tourists in Xi’an.
Stay overnight in Xi’an
Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses were modeled on Qin Shihuang’s soldiers and real horses.Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of you must-see attractions in Xi’an
Day 11: Fly from Xi’an to Beijing and visit Tiananmen Square
Take the morning flight (around 2 hours) from Xi’an to Beijing first. Later the guide will get you transferred to hotels. In the afternoon, we will visit the Tiananmen Square. The tremendous and impressive square is also skirted by Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, Great Hall of the People and National Museum of China.
Tourists are having great fun,imitating the way in which Chinese soliders march in front of Tiananmen Square.Lovely setting, interesting history, great atmosphere, peaceful after bustle of Beijing.
Day 12: Beijing Tour: Great Wall at Badaling and Forbidden City
In the morning, tourists are also supposed to visit the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section). You will be taken on a group tour to the Great Wall, the most famous symbol of China and one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders. This section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).
After lunch, we will tour magnificent Forbidden City. It is the most complete imperial palace in China and used to serve as home of emperors of different dynasties. It’s a live encyclopedia of Chinese history, art, architecture, culture, etc.
Stay overnight in Beijing
great wallForbidden City
Day 13: Beijing Tour: Ming Tombs, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven
In the morning, tourists will visit Ming Tombs, the burial site of the emperor Wangli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620.
While in the afternoon, you will marvel at the incredible Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Summer Palace was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. The Temple of Heaven is a royal sacred site, where prayer for good harvests, prosperity and harmonious life are offered.
Stay overnight in Beijing
Like all things Imperial, the tombs of the Ming Emperors are vast, each built as the individual young emperors grew old and in a style suitable to venerate them as deities. Temple of Heaven
Day 14: Fly from Beijing to Shanghai and Visit Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and the Bund
Take the morning flight from Beijing to Shanghai. Upon your arrival in Shanghai, you will also be escorted to the hotels.
In the evening, we will visit the most iconic building of Shanghai, i.e. Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You can enjoy the amazing panorama of the skyline of Shanghai at night. And as you stroll along the Bund, you will also get amazed at the spectacular Huangpu River and dazzling light from buildings of Pudong.
Stay overnight in Shanghai
Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the most iconic architecture of Shanghai.Roaming over The Bund at night is definitely an amazing experience in Shanghai.
Day 15: Shanghai Tour: Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden
Today we are about to visit some of the highlights of highlights of Shanghai Tour. Starting with fascinating Shanghai Museum, the magnificent 4-story building houses an incredible collection of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, coins, paintings, calligraphy, costumes and other exhibits in different dynasties. It’s the perfect place for fans of Chinese history and art.
In the afternoon, we are about to visit Yu Garden. Built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, the Yu Garden used to be the private residence of a senior Government administrator in the Ming Dynasty. For passionate photographer, never miss the chance to photograph Old Street of Yu Garden.
Stay overnight in Shanghai
Shanghai MuseumYu Garden
Day 16: Departure from Shanghai
The guide will also transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board. The tour ends.
Service Included for Lijiang Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing and Shanghai Tour:
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
- Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
- Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
- Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
- All meals listed in the above itinerary;
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
- First aid kit;
Service Excluded for Lijiang Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing and Shanghai Tour:
- Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
- Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
- Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it also costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
- Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.
- International flight to and out of China;