Welcome to China! We land in Beijing, where our guide will meet us at the airport. Transfer to the hotel to rest after the flight and begin acclimating. Check-in available after 2:00 p.m.

We start our journey exploring the most iconic landmarks of the capital: the vast Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City, once the residence of China’s emperors. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll visit the UNESCO-listed Summer Palace. We close the day with a welcome dinner featuring Beijing-style roast duck.

Today we head to the Ming Tombs, the burial site of 13 emperors from the Ming dynasty. We’ll walk along the Sacred Way, lined with stone statues, before heading to a section of the Great Wall — a breathtaking experience for both its history and scenery. On the way back to Beijing, we’ll make a photo stop at the Olympic Village. Dinner at the hotel.

In the morning, we visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests. After lunch, we board a high-speed train to Xi’an. On arrival, our new guide will greet us and take us to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

We visit the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, one of the world’s greatest archaeological wonders. Next, we’ll see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an important spiritual symbol of the city. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling dinner and a music and dance show from the Tang Dynasty.

We’ll walk along Xi’an’s ancient city wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved in China. Then, we visit the Great Mosque and explore the lively Muslim Quarter, famous for its street food. In the afternoon, we take a train to Chengdu, with a picnic-style dinner onboard.

We start with the adorable giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base. Then we visit the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, a legendary poet of the Tang dynasty, and Wuhou Temple. We’ll stroll down Jinli Street, full of snacks and shops. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a Sichuan hotpot dinner with a traditional opera show featuring face-changing performances.

A full-day excursion to Leshan to see the largest stone Buddha in the world. We can admire it from a boat or climb up to its feet. Return to Chengdu in the afternoon to rest.

Transfer to the airport for our flight to Lhasa, Tibet’s spiritual capital. Upon arrival, our Tibetan guide will meet us and take us to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest and acclimate to the altitude.

We begin at the iconic Potala Palace, Tibet’s most famous landmark. Then we visit Jokhang Temple, the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism, and walk along Barkhor Street, a bustling pilgrimage route. Dinner features Tibetan cuisine with traditional singing and dancing.

Today we visit three treasures of Lhasa: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery (famous for its debating monks), and Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace and gardens. A day rich in spirituality, color, and serenity.

We fly from Lhasa to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our local guide will take us to the hotel to rest after the journey.

We visit the Jade Buddha Temple and the classical Yuyuan Garden. Then we stroll through Old Shanghai, head up to the Shanghai Tower observation deck, and walk along the Bund and Nanjing Road, the city’s shopping paradise.

We spend the day in Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with stone bridges and peaceful canals. It’s the perfect contrast to the buzz of the city, offering a slower pace and beautiful scenery.