China and Tibet Discovery - Wendy Wu Tours

Days 1-2 : UK - Beijing
Fly overnight to Beijing, China's capital city.

Day 3 : Beijing
Today you will stroll through the famous Tiananmen Square past Chairman Mao's Mausoleum to the treasure-filled Forbidden City. This is the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and houses over 8,000 rooms. Also visit the unique Temple of Heaven. Our evening meal includes the local delicacy, Peking Duck.

Day 4 : Beijing
Walk on the Great Wall to appreciate 2,000 years of historical significance and admire the panoramic views. The Great Wall is China's most iconic attraction, which stretches over 4,000 miles from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west. Also tour the exquisite Summer Palace and enjoy a fascinating Chinese Acrobatic show in the evening.

Day 5 : Beijing - Xian
Fly to Xian and visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum which is home to thousands of priceless relics. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Shui Jiao dumpling meal followed by a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

Day 6 : Xian
Visit one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century – the Terracotta Warriors. The figures were created over 2,000 years ago to accompany Emperor Qin Shihuang into the afterlife. We also walk along the Ancient City Wall and stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter to explore the Islamic food markets.

Day 7 : Xian - Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, the spiritual home of Tibet. The afternoon is at leisure to help acclimatise to the altitude.

Day 8 : Lhasa
Sightseeing today includes a stroll around the Barkhor circuit where traditional dress, market stalls selling religious trinkets and the sound of chanted prayers create the atmosphere of a medieval carnival. We also visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, which is the most sacred in Tibet and the Sera Monastery, which has about 600 monks in residence.

Day 9 : Lhasa
Explore the 'crown jewel' of Tibet – the Potala Palace. The palace is an architectural wonder that towers over the city with thousands of rooms filled with treasures such as intricate shrines and beautiful frescoes. We also visit Norbulingka; the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama, containing several palaces and chapels and a local Tibetan carpet factory. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner and dance performance in the evening.

Day 10 : Lhasa - Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province where we will take a tour of the city's highlights. Enjoy a delicious Sichuan meal in the evening.

Day 11 : Chengdu - Yangtze River Cruise
Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see these adorable animals being reared in wooded surroundings reminiscent of their natural habitat. Travel to Chongqing to board your Yangtze River cruise for the next three nights.

Days 12-13 : Yangtze River Cruise
Over the next two days, we will take a sidetrip to the striking Shennong Stream in a peapod boat or visit the Lesser Three Gorges. We also enjoy various shore excursions along the way.

Day 14 : Yichang - Shanghai
After visiting the site of the Three Gorges Dam you will disembark your cruise in Yichang. Fly to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the 'Paris of the East' where we will enjoy a dinner of traditional Shanghai cuisine.

Day 15 : Shanghai
Sightseeing today includes a stroll through the beautiful Yu Gardens and the Old Town as well as a visit to the Shanghai Museum, which houses over 120,000 pieces of bronze, coins, jade, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. We also walk along the famous Bund with its colonial architecture and explore the restored Xintiandi area with its unique 1920's style shikumen buildings. In the evening, enjoy a cruise on the panoramic Huangpu River, where the historic Bund and the futuristic Pudong come face-to-face.

Day 16 : Shanghai - UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same day or the following morning depending on flight schedules.