Iconic China: Beijing to Tibet

Trip Overview

Get up close to pandas at a breeding center in Chengdu.
Explore Lhasa’s palaces and temples, and make Tibetan dumplings with a local chef.
Take a tai chi lesson with a local expert at Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven.
Sail through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River on a three-night cruise.

Itinerary

Explore China like an insider on this 15-day adventure across its awe-inspiring interior. Go for a walk on the Great Wall, explore the bustling city of Beijing, and meet pandas at a breeding center in Sichuan. Glimpse daily life in Tibet and cruise the incredible Yangtze River on a riverboat. Cycle atop the city walls of Xi’an, and face its standing army of terracotta warriors before eating lunch with a local family. Venture into the heart of the country and find the pulse of China.

This trip is operated in collaboration with G Adventures.

Arrive at any time and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy a first taste of Chinese cuisine with a Peking Duck welcome dinner.

Meals Included:Dinner

Accommodations:Beijing King Talent Hotel (or similar)

Start the day early with a lesson in tai chi, led by a local expert at the historic Temple of Heaven. After, continue exploring the key sites of Beijing including the famed Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Beijing King Talent Hotel (or similar)

Take a walk along the 500-year-old Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Spend time exploring the towers, views, and the magnificent structure of this unique wonder. In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Arrive early into Xi'an where we take a leisurely bike ride along the ancient city walls. Then enjoy a visit to the historic Gao’s Grand Courtyard House and enjoy a performance of shadow puppetry. This evening, explore the vibrant Muslim Quarter and local markets then opt to try some of the best street food in China.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Visit the famed Terracotta Warriors — an archaeological wonder built over 2,000 years ago to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. After, visit a local village for lunch. End the day by sampling the local fare or exploring on your own.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch

Fly over the Himalayas to Tibet. Settle into our Lhasa hotel, our home for the next three nights, before setting out on an orientation walk with a local guide through Barkhor Square.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Gang Gyan Hotel (ZC) (or similar)

Enjoy a guided visit to the Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan Medicine Institute to learn more about Tibetan spirituality and culture. Also visit a tangka academy to observe this ancient and intricate art form, considered sacred to Buddhists. The works usually depict a deity, scene, or mandala and are tied directly into Buddhist teaching and meditation.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Gang Gyan Hotel (ZC) (or similar)

Visit the breathtaking Potala Palace and the historic Sera Monastery, one of the great Tibetan Universities famed for its open debates among monks on the Buddhist doctrines. Later take a cooking class with a local chef and make (and eat) Tibetan momo beef dumplings.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations:Gang Gyan Hotel (ZC) (or similar)

Fly down into the Sichuan Valley, leaving the arid Tibetan plateau behind. Arrive in Chengdu, and be prepared to try some of the spiciest food in all of China. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure and indulge in a traditional hot pot meal for dinner.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations:Golden Crape Myrtle Hotel (ZC) (or similar)

Visit the Panda Breeding Centre to learn about and observe these gentle animals. Later, catch a train to Chongqing and board a riverboat for the first night on the Yangtze.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Yangtze Riverboat - Victoria Jenna (or similar)

Cruise the Yangtze River with daily shore excursions that can include Fengdu, Shibaozhai, or Wanzhou; sailing through Qutang Gorge/Wu Gorge, Daning River Small Gorges, or Shennong Stream, and sailing through Three Gorges dam ship locks. Relax in comfortable cabins and enjoy onboard activities such as tai chi, tea tasting, and Chinese calligraphy classes.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Yangtze Riverboat - Victoria Jenna (or similar)

Cruise the Yangtze River with daily shore excursions that can include Fengdu, Shibaozhai, or Wanzhou; sailing through Qutang Gorge/Wu Gorge, Daning River Small Gorges, or Shennong Stream, and sailing through Three Gorges dam shiplocks. Relax in comfortable cabins and enjoy shipboard activities such as tai chi, tea tasting, and Chinese calligraphy classes.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Yangtze Riverboat - Victoria Jenna (or similar)

Enjoy a tour of Three Gorges Dam (dependent on river conditions) before flying to Shanghai.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Shanghai Baolong Hotel - Grand Mercure (or similar)

Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city on your own. Opt to visit Yuyuan Gardens, the Shanghai Museum, or catch the famed Shanghai acrobats in performance this evening.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Shanghai Baolong Hotel - Grand Mercure (or similar)

Depart at any time.

Meals Included:Breakfast