( Drying Buddha )

Day 1/Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Transfer to the hotel on arrival. (D)

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)

Day 3/Beijing
Today's highlight is the visit to the Great Wall, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a symbol of Chinese civilization. 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,D)

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. (B,L,D)

Day 5/Beijing-Xi'an
Take a morning flight to Xi'an. As regards the number of dynasties and span of time, Xi'an served as an ancient capital beyond compare. Climb the ancient City Wall, actually built on the fortifications of Tang Forbidden City, standing 12 meters high, 12-14 meters across the top, 15-18 meters thick at the bottom, 13.7 meter in length with a deep moat surrounding it. It is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Then, visit Forest of Steles Museum, with 900 years of history, it 3,000 pieces of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Enjoy a characteristic Dumpling Dinner in local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 6/Xi'an
After breakfast, visit Shannxi History Museum, the first huge state museum with modern facilities in China, and given the reputation of "bright pearl of ancient city, treasure house of China". Then, visit once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors and Horses, 2,200-year-old underground army of he first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. Stop to visit a mountain village on the back way. Then, pay a visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 A.D. in Tang Dynasty (618-907A.D.), it functioned to collect large volume of Buddhist scriptures that were taken from India by the eminent monk of Xuanzang. (B,L,D)

Day 7/Xi'an-Chengdu
Take a morning flight to Chengdu, the regional capital of Sichuan Province, is always praised as the Tian Fu Zhi Guo (Storehouse of the Heaven). It is the habitat of Giant Panda. Pay a visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a non-profit organization for the study and protection of the giant panda, situated on the Axe Hill 10km from the north suburb of Chengdu City. Then, pay a visit to Dufu Thatched Cottage. Dufu (712-770 A.D) was a famous Tang poet who lived in Chengdu for a brief period of time. The original residence of Dufu already disappeared, and this is the reconstruction of the Ming and Qing dynasties. (B-L-D)

Day 8/Chengdu-Leshan-Mt. Emei
Today's highlight is to visit Leshan Giant Buddha, said to be the biggest Buddha statue in the world. The Giant Buddha statue, carved on the mountain, stands 71 m high, with its back against Jiuding Mountain and facing the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. There are more than 90 stone carvings and Buddhist shrines on both sides of the Giant Buddha. Then, head for Mt. Emei, a lush and tall sacred mountain dotted with twenty active temples and monasteries linked by hundreds of thousands of stairs. (B-L-D)

Day 9/Mt. Emei-Chengdu
After breakfast, visit Baoguo Temple, built against the mountain terrain. Then, you will go to Golden Summit of Mt. Emei by cable car, sightseeing the Golden summit and enjoy the cloud sea. Its main peak, the Golden Summit, is 3099 meters (about 3389 yards) above the sea level, seemingly reaching the sky. Standing on the top of it, you can enjoy the snowy mountains in the west and the vast plain in the east. Then, drive back to Chengdu. (B-L-D)

Day10/Chengdu-Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa in the morning, rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world, not only limited accessibility for its remoteness and its high altitude at 3,650 meters, but also the mysterious Tibetan religion. In Tibetan, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. The guide will meet you at Konggar Airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1.5 hours' driving (100km). On arrival at the hotel, rest and acclimatize yourself to the local time and altitude. (B-D)

Day11/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,D)

Day12/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,D)

Day13/Lhasa-Tsedang
Drive to Tsedang, located by Yarlung Valley, it is the capital of Shannan Prefecture. Today's highlight is the visit of Yonbulakhang and Changzhu Temple. Yongbulakang is the earliest palace in Tibet, on the Zhaxiciri Mountain. The first impression of Yonbulakhang gave people is always very big built, precipitous and uncommon, because surrounded by the wilderness and field ridge. Changzhu Temple, located at the south bottom of Gongri Mountain, is famous for its "Pearl Tangka", on which paints the image of Kwan-yin Bodhisattva. Thangk is two meters long, 1.2 meters wide. Totally, cost 26 liang pearl, and it's also embedded with diamonds, coral and other precious jewelry. (B,L,D)

Day14/Tsedang-Gyantse-Shigatse
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 Palkor Monastery, the symbolic architecture of Gyantse. On one side of the Palkor Monasteery stands a white tower - Kumbum Stupa. It is said that there are altogether more than 100,000 Buddha statues engraved on the tower; hence the name "One Hundred-Thousand-Buddha Tower." Proceed to Shigatse, Miles away from Shigatse, you can already see the gold tops of Tashihunpo Monastery shinning under the sun. Check in hotel on arrival. (B,L,D)

Day15/Shigatse-Lhasa 
Shigatse, meaning "the fertile land", is the second largest city in Tibet. Pay a visit to Tashihunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama to perform their political and religious tasks. 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. (B,L,D)

Day16/Lhasa-Guilin
Fly to Guilin via Chengdu (No service for Chengdu transfer). Guilin is one of China's top attractive destinations. Transfer to the hotel on arrival. (B,D)

Day17/Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin
Today's highlight is the cruise down the Li River, stretching 83km waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo, which is the masterpiece of Li River, decorating with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, leisurely boats and lined bamboos. The cruise will give you a chance to savor the lovely view of the area's extraordinary limestone peaks. The cruise ends in Yangshuo. Visit local markets. Then, drive back to Guilin. (B-L-D)

Day18/Guilin-Hong Kong
Take sightseeing of the beautiful Fubo Hill, well known as the wonderland on wave with its exquisite peak rising high and its foot half in water and half on land. Then, visit Seven-Star Park which was named after the tale that the seven peaks of Mountain Qixing (Seven Star) were the seven stars in the north sky falling down to the earth. Hills, rivers, caves and stones are highlights of this park. Take an evening flight to Hong Kong, one of the most dynamic cities in the world. (B,L)

Day19/Hong Kong
You will take a half-day guided tour of the Hong Kong Island. Climb to the top of Victoria Peak for spectacular views of Kowloon, the harbor, and the South China Sea. Visit the tranquil fishing village of Aberdeen, where life style seems unchanged for centuries. Also tour the beautiful Repulse Bay with sandy beaches. (Tour price not include the Sampan at the Aberdeen and the Peak Tram to the Victoria Peak) The following time is free to explore the city. (B,L)

Day20/Depart from Hong Kong
Transfer to the airport and board on your homebound flight. TOUR ENDS! (B)