Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
Your flight brings you into Beijing where your private guide meets you right at arrival. They'll handle the transfer to your hotel and walk you through check-in, so you can settle in without any hassle.
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast, you'll start exploring Beijing's major sites with your guide. Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City are first on the list, then you head up to Jingshan Park for those wide views across the city. Once you grab lunch, you'll take a rickshaw through the historic Hutongs to get a real sense of how locals live.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tian'anmen Square
- Guided tour of Forbidden City
- Visit to Jingshan Park with panoramic views
- Rickshaw tour through historic Hutongs
Landmarks Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park - Day 3
Beijing
The drive to Mutianyu Great Wall takes about 1.5 hours from Beijing. You'll take either a cable car or ski lift up to the wall, then spend roughly 1.5 hours hiking around and checking out the watch towers and beacon towers. After lunch, you'll head to Temple of Heaven park to walk through the buildings and watch locals doing Tai Chi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car or ski lift
- Hiking at Mutianyu Great Wall exploring watch and beacon towers
- Guided tour of Temple of Heaven park
- Visit to Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
- Visit to Hall of Imperial Zenith
- Visit to Echo Wall
- Visit to Nine Dragon Cypress
- Visit to Circular Mount Altar
- Observation of locals practicing Tai Chi
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Temple of Heaven - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Start the morning at Summer Palace, walking through its halls, corridors, and the marble boat. Then you'll visit Yonghe Temple, which blends Tibetan and Han architecture in a really interesting way. You'll have some free time after that before heading to the airport for your flight to Xi'an and checking into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Summer Palace including Hall of Benevolence and Longevity
- Visit to Long corridor
- Visit to marble boat at Summer Palace
- Guided tour of Yonghe Temple
- Visit to Hall of Dispelling Clouds
- Visit to Tower of Buddhist Incense
Landmarks Summer Palace Yonghe Temple 
- Day 5
Xi'an
You'll see the Terracotta Army, a UNESCO site with 7,000 life-sized figures guarding Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. The museum exhibitions give you more historical context about what you're looking at. Later, you'll check out Bell and Drum Tower Square, wander the Muslim Quarter for food and souvenirs, and finish at the Great Mosque with its unique Chinese garden-style design.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Terracotta Army
- Museum exhibitions at Terracotta Army site
- Walk on Bell & Drum Tower Square with outer visit of towers
- Visit to Muslim Quarter
- Visit to Great Mosque
Landmarks Terracotta Army Bell Tower Drum Tower Great Mosque - Day 6
Xi'an to Lhasa
Start at Shaanxi History Museum where you'll see extensive collections of ancient art, sculptures, and historical pieces. From there, you'll go to Big Wild Goose Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty and climb it for views out over Xi'an. You'll have free time before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Shaanxi History Museum
- Visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Ascent of Big Wild Goose Pagoda with views of Xi'an
Landmarks Shaanxi History Museum Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Day 7
Lhasa
You'll explore Drepung Monastery, which used to be Tibet's largest and most influential monastery. Walking through the corridors, you'll see intricate murals, visit the sacred assembly halls, and watch daily prayer rituals. Later at Sera Monastery, you'll experience the monks engaging in the Sera Debate, their spirited philosophical discussions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Drepung Monastery
- Exploration of corridors and murals at Drepung Monastery
- Visit to sacred assembly halls at Drepung Monastery
- Observation of daily prayer rituals at Drepung Monastery
- Guided tour of Sera Monastery
- Experience of Sera Debate with monks
- Observation of monastery architecture and prayer flags
Landmarks Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery 
- Day 8
Lhasa
The Potala Palace is a UNESCO site and the highest ancient palace in the world, so you'll spend time there looking at the intricate artwork and sacred relics while learning about Tibetan Buddhism. Then you'll visit Jokhang Temple, the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism, with its ornate architecture and vibrant murals. After that, you'll explore Barkhor Street, a bustling pilgrimage circuit and marketplace for local culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Potala Palace
- Visit to artwork and sacred relics at Potala Palace
- Panoramic views from Potala Palace
- Guided tour of Jokhang Temple
- Observation of pilgrims and devotional atmosphere at Jokhang Temple
- Exploration of Barkhor Street marketplace and pilgrimage circuit
Landmarks Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street - Day 9
Lhasa to Chengdu
You'll have free time until your guide picks you up and takes you to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. Upon landing, your private guide meets you and handles your transfer to the hotel with check-in assistance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Chengdu
The day starts at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you'll watch the pandas eat and play in their habitat. Then you'll head to Wenshu Temple, a Buddhist site with carved halls, courtyards, and gardens. After that, you'll walk Jinli Old Street with its traditional architecture and local food, then stroll through Kuanzhai Alley to experience Qing Dynasty charm mixed with modern shops and cafes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Observation of giant pandas in natural habitat
- Guided tour of Wenshu Temple
- Exploration of Jinli Old Street with traditional Sichuanese architecture
- Sampling of authentic local snacks at Jinli Old Street
- Observation of folk art and cultural performances at Jinli Old Street
- Stroll through Kuanzhai Alley
Landmarks Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Wenshu Temple Jinli Old Street Kuanzhai Alley - Day 11
Chengdu to Shanghai
You'll have free time to use as you like until your guide picks you up for the airport and your flight to Shanghai. Your private guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to the hotel with check-in help.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 12
Shanghai
You'll explore different parts of Shanghai starting with the French Concession, a former French colonial area that's now a major residential and retail district. See Yuyuan Garden with its classical landscape design and the Chenghuangmiao temple next to it. Check out the old streets and Nongtang lane houses to experience how local Shanghainese live traditionally. You'll wrap up at Xintiandi shopping center and the Bund, where 1920s architecture shows Shanghai's past golden age.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to French Concession
- Guided tour of Yuyuan Garden
- Visit to Chenghuangmiao (Old City God Temple)
- Exploration of Shanghai old street
- Exploration of Nongtang (traditional lane houses)
- Visit to Xintiandi Style Shopping Center
- Visit to the Bund
Landmarks French Concession Yuyuan Garden Chenghuangmiao Bund - Day 13
Departure
You'll have your final free time in Shanghai before your guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight.
