Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Australia - Beijing
Depart Australia to Beijing, upon arrival you will be met and being transferred to Days & Suites Hotel for three nights.
Day 2: Beijing
Start your tour at Tiananmen Square, the biggest public square in the world; explore the Forbidden City once the largest imperial palace; stroll around the Temple of Heaven, a unique & ancient building also named the Imperial Prayer Hall for Harvest; have fun at the Echo Wall; take photos of local people demonstrating Taiqi; enjoy a picture stop at Beijing Zoo to see the giant pandas. (B/L/D)
Day 3: Beijing
After a visit to Beijing 2008 Olympic Centre including the iconic Bird’s Nest and Water Cube,
it is time to realize your dream of climbing the Great Wall, one of the seven manmade wonders in the world; afternoon walk through the Sacred Way of Animals statues before exploring the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tomb; tonight taste a traditional Peking duck dinner. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Fly Beijing - Xining
Take morning flight to Xining – the capital city of Qinghai Province. Positioned at the edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau with an altitude of 2275 metres, it serves as a stopover for the trip to Tibet. After lunch, visit the Taer Monastery – one of the six great monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight at Qinghai Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Train Xining – Lhasa
In the morning, visit the Provincial Museum, the Residence of General Ma Bufang (a warlord in the
1940’s) and the Great Mosque, with over 600 years of history. In the evening, we will board the overnight exress train press train for Lhasa and start our adventure to the roof of the world. (B/L/D)
Day 6: Lhasa
The Tibet Railway runs 1,956 kilometres and it is the world's longest railroad built atop a plateau across the Tanggula Range at 5072 meters above sea level. You will enjoy the stunning view of the Kunlun Mountains, Couna Lake and Kekexili, a paradise for wild animals. Upon arrival at the impressive Tibetan style Lhasa Train Station, your local Tibetan guide will meet you and transfer you to Yaluzhangbu Hotel for three nights. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Lahaska
Today’s highlight is the magnificent Potala Palace, once the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama. Tonight enjoy dinner at the Crazy Yak Restaurant with a Tibetan cultural performance. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Lhasa
Explore the golden-roofed Jokhang Monastery - Tibet’s holiest shrine. It commemorates the marriage of Tang Princess Wencheng to King Songtsen Gampo 1,300 years ago and houses a pure gold statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the princess. Walk around the pilgrim circuit - Barkhor Street. In the afternoon we visit the Sera Monastery - one of the three largest monasteries. (B/L/D).
Day 9: Fly Lhasa - Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu, also named the Heavenly Kingdom; in the afternoon we explore this fascinating city. Stay at Tibet Hotel for two nights. (B/L/D).
Day 10: Chengdu
Today’s highlight is the visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Centre where you’ll see this lovely creature up close and learn about its habitat and evolution. Later we visit the mysterious Sanxingdui Museum – another UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B/L/D).
Day 11: Fly Chengdu - Shanghai
Transfer to the airport for flight to Shanghai; rest of the day will be free to explore at your own pace; stay at Galaxy Hotel for three nights. (B/-/-).
Day 12: Shanghai
Shanghai, originally a sleepy fishing town, now is China’s most amazing cosmopolitan & populous city. It is regarded as the citadel of China’s modern economy. Start your tour in the old Chinatown followed by Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with 30 pavilions linked by a maze of corridors and bridges over a pond; in the afternoon visit the Shanghai Museum & stroll on the People’s Square; tonight enjoy an astonishing Shanghai Acrobatic Show. (B/L/D)
Day 13: Shanghai
Full day to explore World Expo 10, which covers an area of 5.6 square kms with 27 master halls including the Australian Pavilion to showcase to the world the full potential of urban life in the 21st Century. Shanghai Expo officially starts from 1 May to 31 Oct 2010. (B/L/-)
Day 14: Shanghai - Australia
Transfer to the airport for flight home. (B)
Day 15: Arrive Australia
|
