( Lhasa )

Day 1/Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Transfer to the hotel for rest. (No meal)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 2/Beijing
Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Tian'anmen was built in 1417 and served as the entrance gate to the Imperial Palace. Move on to visit the Imperial Palace, well-known as Forbidden City which is the large scale construction of the palace extended from 1406 to 1420. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 24 emperors lived and ruled China from here. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., which was originally the platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The buildings and parklands reflect an ancient Chinese thought of "the Heaven is round and the earth is square". Enjoy Peking Duck for Dinner. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 3/Beijing
Today's highlight is your visit to the Great Wall, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Visit Mutianyu Great Wall (excluded Cable Car) to avoid the crowds. Then, drive to visit the statue-lined Shenlu (Spirit Road) leading to the Ming Tombs, here you can see some marvelous stone sculptures. The Ming Tombs area is for 13 deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Visit the Changling Tomb which is the largest of the 13 as you can imagine it is quite impressive. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 4/Beijing
Visit the enchanting Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. As a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, it integrates the natural landscape of hills and open water with manmade features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole. In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the largest and most perfectly preserved Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple outside Tibet. It was built in 1649 as the residence of Prince Yong of Qing Dynasty, and was converted to a temple after he became Emperor moving to Forbidden City. Enjoy Peking Opera after dinner. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 5/Beijing-Lhasa
After a relaxed breakfast at hotel this morning, you will walk through some old "Hutongs", lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). Following time is at leisure. Transfer to Beijing West Railway Station and take train to Lhasa. (B,L)
Accommodation: on the train

Day 6/Tibet Train 
On the train. (no meal)
Accommodation: on the train

Day 7/Arrive in Lhasa
Arrive in Lhasa in evening, and Transfer to the hotel on arrival. Rest and acclimatize yourself to the local time and altitude. (No meal)
Accommodation: ***Gorka Hotel 

Day 8/Lhasa
The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark- Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image has already appeared on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. Some 2km to the east of the Potala is the most revered religious structure and the holiest temple in Tibet - Jokhang Temple. Bustling with worshippers and redolent with mystery, the Jokhang is an unrivalled experience. The quadrangle of streets surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkhor Market - Lhasa's most interesting pilgrimage circuit. This area of the Old Town is both the spiritual heart of Lhasa and the main commercial district for Tibetans. The rest of day is free. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Gorka Hotel

Day 9/Lhasa
Sightsee of the Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka in Lhasa. Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in Tibet, was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa under the patronage of a noble family and later enlarged by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Nowadays it stands as Tibet's most important and largest monastic university in Tibet. Norbulingka Park (Treasure Garden) was built in the 1740s during the reign of the seventh Dalai Lama. Later it was renovated and enlarged and became the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace. Sera Monastery is located a few miles to the north of Lhasa, is one of the three largest monasteries. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Gorka Hotel

Day10/Lhasa-Gyantse 
Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse, and pass by Yamdroktso Lake for sightseeing. Yamdroktso Lake is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet, and legend has it that if the lake ever disappears, it will mark the end of Tibet. In Gyantse, visit Kumbum Monastery which is also called "Ten Thousand of Buddha Stupa", and the Kumbum Stupa designed by architects from Nepal. Check in hotel. (B)
Accommodation: Gyantse Hotel (local best hotel)

Day11/Gyantse-Shigatse-Lhasa
Proceed to Shigatse and visit Tashihunpo Monastery, the new Palace of Panchen Lama. Tashihunpo's magnificent outside may make you gaps in admiration, its inside just offers you more religious tranquility and sincerity. Then, drive back to Lhasa. Miles away from Shigatse, you can already see the gold tops of Tashihunpo Monastery shinning under the sun. (B)
Accommodation: ***Gorka Hotel

Day12/Lhasa-Yambajing-Lhasa
Today's highlight is to appreciate the Northern Tibet pastoral land & hot spring area --- Yambajing. The "Yambajing" thermal spring, which is located 120 km in the north of Lhasa. (The hot spring fare is on the guests' side) On the way, you will be greeted with the spectacular scene of vast Northern Tibet Grassland. Drive back Lhasa for overnight. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Gorka Hotel

Day13/Lhasa-Zhongdian 
Taka a flight to Zhongdian, known as Shangri-La which was described as a heaven away from the turbulent mundane world in James Hilton's novel "The lost Horizon" in 1993. Shangri-La, a Tibetan word, means "land of sacredness and peace". Transfer to the hotel on arrival. (B)
Accommodation: Gyalthan Dzong Hotel

Day14/Zhongdian
After breakfast, pay a visit to Dukezong Ancient Twon. Dukezong means "City of White Stone" in Tibetan, engendered an epithet as "City of Moonlight". It is located at the center of Jiangtang Town which is the capital of the Diqing Prefecture and also the county seat of Shangri-La County. Then, visit Songzanlin Lamasery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Yunnan Province. The temple was made after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, hence it has another name "Second Potala Palace", a spiritual place that invites you to discover the mystery and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Proceed to visit Napahai Lake, the ideal habitation for black-necked cranes, and greeted with the beauty of grassland. (B,L)
Accommodation: Gyalthan Dzong Hotel

Day15/Zhongdian-Lijiang
Drive to Lijiang, en route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, located on the upstream of the Yangtze River in Yunnan, and it is honored as the deepest and most marvelous gorges in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Jingsha River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters below. Proceed to Lijiang, an old city in beautiful surroundings in northwest Yunnan. Check in hotel upon arrival. (B,L)
Accommodation: ****Jade Dragon Hotel Lijiang

Day16/Lijiang
Take a cable car to visit Spruce Plateau, situated half way up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at an altitude of 3,100 meters. As its name implies, Spruce Plateau is a pasture surround by a forest of gigantic and straight spruces. Visit Yufeng Temple, located at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is one of Scarlet Sect lamaseries in Lijiang. Then, visit Black Dragon Pool, a wonderful place caters to the habitude of the Naxi who loves the nature very much. Walk around Lijiang Old Town, one of UNESCO's protected world Heritage Sites, and a well-preserved old city residing Naxi Nationality. With Sifang Street at the core, the entire city spreads out in all directions, and is crisscrossed by a labyrinth of flagged streets and alleyways. Enjoy Dongba Religion Dance in the evening. (B,L)

Day17/Lijiang-Dali
Drive to Dali and enjoy the scenery on the way. Dali is a historically and culturally famous city of China, which is renowned for her historical interests. Dali City stands against Cangshan Mountain in the west and adjoins Erhai Lake in the east, and is embraced by undulating hills around. Transfer directly to the hotel. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Landscape Hotel

Day18/Dali
In the morning, enjoy a cruise on Erhai Lake which means "sea shaped like an ear". Then, visit Xizhou Village & morning market. Xizhou Village locates 18 kilometers north of Dali, faces Erhai Lake on the east. It is not only a historically famous city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Ethnic Nationality. Enjoy Three Flavors of Tea Ceremony of Bai People. Proceed to visit Zhoucheng Village, as the largest natural village of Bai in Yunnan, it is famous its perfect preservation of Bai ethnic customs. It is the Hometown of pure and beautiful Tie-Dying. Then, pay a visit to Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Monastery, which are classic Buddhist pagodas of the Tang Dynasty and are regarded as the symbol of Dali. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Landscape Hotel

Day19/Dali-Kunming-Shilin (Stone Forest)
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, take a shuttle bus for normal Chinese people to Kunming (depart at about 14:30, taking 4.5 hours), known as "The City of Eternal Spring". Pick up from the shuttle bus station, and transfer to Shilin. (B)
Accommodation: **(*)Shilin Sanya Fengqing Yuan Hotel
Attention: Sometimes, the train of Dali-Kunming has no soft-sleeper on the train. The train situation is also very bad. Normally no foreign tourist take this train, we suggest you use the shuttle bus which departs from Dali on 8:30 and 14:30(exactly departure time please confirm it with the local guide.)The bus takes about 4.5 hours.

Day20/Stone Forest-Kunming-Shanghai
The whole day's sightseeing is to visit the Ancient Alu Caves and Stone Forest. The Ancient Alu Caves, a colossal underground karst cave groups, is known as "First Caves in Yunnan". A 3,000-metre-long travel route composed of three dry caves and a water cave. The Stone Forest is in Lunan Yi Nationality, which is about 120km from Kunming. This area offers visitors a unique landscape of stark limestone pillars twisted and sculpted by wind and water erosion some 270 million year ago. From a distance, these stone pillars look indeed like a dense forest, hence the name of Stone Forest. Then, drive back to Kunming and take an evening flight to Shanghai, known as "Pairs in the East". (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Pacific Luck Hotel Shanghai 

Day21/Shanghai
Enjoy 1 hour cruise on Huangpu River. On its western shore, the colonial landmarks of the Bund serve as a reminder of Shanghai's 19th-century struggle to reclaim a waterfront from the bogs of this river; on the eastern shore, the steel and glass skyscrapers of the Pudong New Area point to a burgeoning financial empire of the future. Then, climb up Jinmao Tower, the highest building in Shanghai with a height of 420 meters. The rest day is free for your exploration in Shanghai. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Pacific Luck Hotel Shanghai
Shanghai Destination Guide Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, was specially built fro Pan's parents as a place to enjoy themselves a tranquil and happy time in their old age. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters are unique characteristic. Located next to the Yu Garden and also known today as the Yuyuan Garden Market, Chenghuangmiao was built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. It filled with antique markets and specialty stores. Nanjing Road is a must-see metropolitan destination, China's No. 1 shopping street, Shanghai's past and present commercial centers.

Day22/Depart from Shanghai
Our guide leads the guests to the airport by Maglev (one-way, the luggage will be carried by the clients). TOUR ENDS! (B)

Hotels (or the same standard):
Beijing: *** Ping An Fu (Low Season, overnight in Dong Fang Hotel)
Tibet: *** Gorka Hotel (or Yak, Dungu, Kychu)
Gyantse: Gyantse Hotel (best one in Gyantse)
Zhongdian: Gyalthan Dzong
Lijiang: **** Jade Dragon Hotel
Dali: *** Landscape Hotel
Shilin: **(*) Sanya Fengqing Garden(Shilin Hotel is closed for renovation. This hotel is with the same standard as Shilin Hotel)
Shanghai: *** Pacific Luck Hotel