Highlights

The price is based on 2 persons in a private tour for 4 Star Hotel

● Walk Along the magnificent man-made Great Wall. Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

● Experience the dazzling future of modern China in Shanghai.

● Go back 2,200 years and visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an.

● Explore Terracotta Warriors, which is one of the world's biggest archaeological discoveries.

● Walk around the intact city walls and fascinating Muslim Chinese district and ponder your trip at the Wild Goose pagodas.

● Yangtze River Cruise experience, enjoy the picturesque river view on the board and see the largest hydropower project in the world

● Atop the Medicine King Mountain and have a panoramic view of the spectacular Potala Palace

● Visit the first Monastery-Samye Temple and the first palace-Yongbulakang

● leave a wonderful memory at lake-Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet

ITINERARY Close All

Day 1Beijing Arrival

Nihao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. Be transferred to the hotel. Relax and get yourself prepared for Natural wonders and Culture Adventure in the coming days.


Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Beijing
Altitude: 43.5m

Day 2Mutianyu Great Wall Exploration

Spend a whole day to explore Beijing. As the most famous and popular site the Mutianyu Great Wall, we will start early at 7:00 to avoid tourist crowds. After 2hr's driving, you will take a cable car for the panorama of the Wall. It is a fantastic experience to walk on the well-maintained ancient wall. Lunch will be arranged in the courtyard at the foot of the Great Wall.

Drive back to the city and visit the Bird's Nest National Stadium and Water Cube Aquatic Centre en route.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Beijing
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 43.5m
  • Mutianyu-great-wall

  • Water-cube

Day 3Beijing City Tour

One more a day to explore culture and history in Beijing.

At the early morning, we will pay a visit Tianan Men Square for 30 minutes. Continue the 3hrs in-depth exploration of Forbidden City, where 24 Emperors lived from Ming to Qin Dynasty. Walking around the splendid palace complex might help to understand Chinese history and appreciate palace architecture art.

After Lunch in the local restaurant, make a way to Temple of Heaven,1-2hrs walking through the vast beautiful park to view the granary architecture with oval roof and layers of the Emperors praying for good harvest.

Our final stop is the Summer Palace, a imperial garden consisting of vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in China. You can take the boat cross the island and then walk over to the temple on the hill. The climb up the stairs might be bit tired but so worth to enjoy incredible view from the top. 

Tomorrow leave Beijing for Shanghai tour.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Beijing
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 43.5m
  • Forbidden-city

  • Tiananmen-square

Day 4Train to Shanghai, Enjoy a night view of Huangpu River

Morning train to Shanghai, the economic and trade center of China. Your local friendly guide will pick you up and check in your hotel. Afternoon, stroll around the top commercial district Nanjing Road. You might be interested in to local snacks around. At night, we will pay a visit to the Bund, a symbol of Shanghai and world known as the“gallery of international architecture”. Neon lights shine on the modern towers reflecting on the Huangpu River to produce gorgeous atmosphere.

Traffic: Car+Train
Hotel: Overnight in Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 4m
  • Nanjing-road

  • The-bund

Day 5Zhouzhuang Water Town

Today we will spend a whole day to explore the beautiful water town of Zhouzhuang, located in Kunshan, Jiangsu. Unlike magnificent watertown of Venice, Zhouzhuang is full of Chinese spirituality for its small bridges, running water winding through, and large courtyards built by thick green bricks and tiles of Ming-Qin Dynasty. Walking around Zhouzhuang, you will feel strong history and culture of south of the Yangtze River with thousand-year accumulations.   

Evening driving back to Shanghai for overnight stay.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 4m
  • Zhouzhuang

  • Zhouzhuang-water-town

Day 6Train to Yichang, board on the Yangtze Cruise

This morning, you will catch an express train from Shanghai to Yichang. We will meet you at the train station. After self-helped dinner, your driver will help you board on the Yangtze Cruise. You will have an exciting cruise overnight.

Traffic: Car+Cruise
Hotel: Overnight on the board
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 185m
  • Yangtze-river

  • Yangtze-river-cruise

Day 7Yangtze River Cruise

After breakfast you will take a coach to visit Three Gorge Dam Project. Three Gorges Dam Project is a water control project at the three gorges on Yangtze River. It is located in the middle section of Xiling Gorge (one of the three gorges on Yangtze River) near Sandouping Town inYichang City, Hubei Province. Being the world's largest hydropower project, Three Gorges Dam Project has created many "Firsts" such as the most efficient dam in flood control, the most difficult construction work and the largest migration project in the world.

Traffic: Cruise
Hotel: Overnight on the board
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 185m
  • Three-gorge-dam-project

  • Three-gorge-dam-project1

Day 8Yangtze River Cruise

Today sailing through Qutang Gorge, and Wu Gorge.

Qutang Gorge starts from Baidi city in the West and ends in Daxi town in the East with a a length of 8km. Although it is the shortest among the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, it is the most majestic, precipitous, and famous for historical sites, amount of cultural relics, ancient plank roads, and the pink wall with inscriptions on the south bank.

Continuously winding ahead to Wu Gorge, known as“Three Gorge Beauty”for jagged rocks, steep walls, temples and notable former residences all in one like a meandering gallery, full of art atmosphere and retro. 

Optional Activies:

Wushan small Three Gorges, which is the general name of Longmen gorge, Bawu gorge and DiCui gorge, with a total length of 60 km. 

Baidicheng, located in the east of Fengjie County and the west of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. The management committee is 10 kilometers away from the county seat. Yufu county was set up here in the Han Dynasty. It was the political, economic and cultural center and the distribution center of commercial materials at that time.

Traffic: Cruise
Hotel: Overnight on the board
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 185m
  • Small-three-gorge

  • Wushan-small-three-gorge

Day 9Yangtze River Cruise

Enjoy the magnificent views of various shapes of peaks,rolling rills and small towns along the river. 

Optional Activies:

Shibaozhai is a red,wooden tower with 12 floors,leaning against the cliff and facing the River, It is 56meters high,the splendid structure,whose design is exquisite,takes its tendency along the hills and looks like a fairyland.

Ghost City of Fengdu, Located on the Ming Mountain on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, Fengdu County is known to most Chinese as the 'Ghost City'. Having nearly two thousand years' history, the Ghost City combines the cultures of Confucianism,Taoism and Buddhism with the mystique of ghosts.

Traffic: Cruise
Hotel: Cruise
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 185m
  • Shibaozhai

  • Shibaozhai1

Day 10Disembark at Chongqing wharf, then train to Xi'an

Disembark at Chongqing wharf this morning, then set off to the train station with your local driver. The train ride from Chongqing to Xi'an will take about 5-6hrs. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to the hotel check in. Your wonderful holiday in Xi'an is coming.

Traffic: Car+Train
Hotel: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1329m

Day 11Terracotta Warriors and Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Tour starts at 08:00 and then drive 1 hour to discover the incredible Terracotta Warriors with history of 2300 since was built for Grand Emperor Qinshihuang. You will see how tough the soldiers of Qin Dynasty were and explore how the cavalry, chariots and infantry fought over other 6 kingdoms and united the China in one county.

After lunch in the local restaurant, head to ancient architecture and a holy place for Buddhists.- Big Goose Pagoda,The restored Buddha and building are beautiful with spectacular timber work and gilded features are recently built by donors, they make a fine job of explaining the role of Buddhism in China's history.

Afterwards, wandering through the tight and interesting Muslim Quarter Streets to experience the local lifestyle. Street vendors selling all sorts of goods from souvenirs, hand crafted products and local snacks. You need to bargain with the vendors if you are buying goods.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1329m
  • Big-wild-goose-pagoda

  • Terracotta-warriors

Day 12Xi'an City Tour

One more day to explore the history and culture in Xi'an.

First we pay a visit to Shaanxi History Museum, a treasure trove for anyone interested in the art facts of Chinese history. Exhibits numerous unearthed cultural artifacts and represents the imposing image of a 13-dynasties capital.

Afterwards, head up to the Ancient City Wall, the most well-preserved city wall and the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. It is an amazing to wander along the city wall with the bird's-eye view of Xi'an. 

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1329m
  • Xi'an-ancient-city-wall

  • Shaanxi-historical-museum

Day 13Take an Overnight train from Xi'an to Lhasa

Say farewell to Xi'an, you will take an overnight train to the Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, it's famous as the sun city.   

Please note:

In August, the train tickets from Xi'an to Lhasa is very hard to buy. If there is no tickets, we will use the bullet train from Xi'an to Xining, then soft sleeper train from Xining to Lhasa.

Xi'an to Xining: D2701(08:00-12:12) or similar

Xining to Lhasa: Z6801(13:50-11:20) 

Traffic: Car+Train
Hotel: Overnight on the train
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1329m

Day 14Lhasa Arrival

You will arrive in Lhasa today. Our friendly guide and driver will meet you with a welcome board. Then you will set off to the local hotel with your private vehicle. The rest of the day is for you to lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.  

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3650m

Day 15Visit Potala Palace and the most sacred Jokhang Temple

Full day sightseeing in Lhasa. First visit the Tibetan architectural wonder of Potala Palace with 1300-year history, Potala Palace has collected and preserved very rich historical relics such as amount of murals, pagodas, statues, Thangka (scroll paintings), gold books, gold seals, etc. Former Dalai Lama's coffins are preserved in here too.

You will also stop at Norbulingka Park, the site of the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace. Next travel to visit the Jokhang Temple,which is known as the most sacred place in Tibet. Thousands of Pilgrims from all over Tibet come here to pay homage. 

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3650m
  • Jokhang Temple

  • Potala-palace

Day 16Lhasa Tibetan Monastery Exploration

Today is another day to explore Lhasa. The journey will begin with the Medicine King Mountain, where you can have a panoramic view of the Polata Palace. After 3hrs driving to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, located at the foot of Mount Gephel. It is the Tibetan Buddhism(Gelug) monastery and one of the “Great Three” monasteries in Tibet. You will have an opportunity learning some history and culture of Gelug as well as the magnificent view of a large number of white buildings like a heap of rice lying in the hillside.

Then head to another Gelug monastery-Sera Monastery. There you will successively visit The Great Assembly Hall, Je Dratsang and Me Dratsang in this building. The most interesting activities here is watching monks debating at courtyard by listening them argue some knowledge about Buddhism.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3650m
  • Drepung-monastery

  • Sera-monastery

Day 17Yamdrok Lake and Kunbum Pagoda, stay in Gyantse

Enjoy a scenic drive to one of Tibet's holy lake-Yamdrok Lake .It is ta sparking turquoise lake flanked by snow-capped peak. On the way you will see local nomad camps, herd of yak and sheep and beautiful mountains scenery before arriving at Gyantse. Enjoy one of the most magnificent buildings in Tibet-the Kunbum Pagoda, housing beautiful paintings ,ancient murals and Buddhist images by Nepalese craftsmen.

Traffic: Car(280kms/6hrs)
Hotel: Overnight in Gyantse
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 4341m
  • Kunbum-pagoda

  • Yamdrok-river

Day 18Travel to Shigatse, Visit the Xialu Monastery and Tashilunpo

Depart from the hotel and take about one hour driving to the next stop Shigatse. Visit the Xialu Monastery, an ancient Buddhist Temple in Tibet. In ancient times, it was also one of the top ten commercial cities in Tubo. After that, we will pay a visit to the Tashilunpo Monastery founded in 15th century by first Dalai Lama Gedun Dropa. There you can visit chapel Jampa, tomb stupas of fourth and tenth Panchen Lama and assemble halls etc. 

Traffic: Car(90kms/1hr)
Hotel: Overnight in Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 4000m
  • Xialu-temple

  • Tashilunpo-monastery

Day 19Shigatse Sightseeing

Today you will start your journey at the Sakya Monastery, located at the foot of Benbo mountain in Sakya county. It is a monastery of Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism and the main monastery of Sakya sect. Then drive you to visit Natang Monastery, known as the "Library of Tibet." Natang temple has a history of more than 400 years, which plays a very important role in the development and inheritance of Tibetan printing culture. After the visiting, we will back to Shigatse for overnight stay.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 4000m
  • Natang-monastery

  • Sakya-monastery

Day 20Mingdruling Monastery, Tibetan incense making experience

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then we will drive all the way to Tsedang. On the way, you will have an opportunity to experience the Tibetan incense making in the local village. Then proceed the tour to the Mingdruling Monastery, It is one of the six monasteries of the Ningma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The statues painted on the walls of its main hall all have the characteristics of Ningma temple, which is the representative of Tibetan Tantric art.

Traffic: Car(350kms/7hrs)
Hotel: Overnight in Tsedang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3500m
  • Mingdruling-monastery

  • Tibetan-incense

Day 21Samye Temple, Yongbulakang and Traduk Monastery

Full day sightseeing in Tsedang. Sightseeing in the Samye Temple, the first Buddhist Temple in Tibet, The architecture in the temple is arranged according to the Buddhist cosmology. The central Buddha Hall has three styles of Tibetan, Han and Indian, so Sangye temple is also known as Sanyang temple. Next, we will travel to the first palace of Tibet -- Yongbulakang, During the period of Songzanganbu, the palace was changed into a temple. When Princess Wencheng first came to Tibet, she would live here with Songzanganbu every summer. In the fifth Dalai Lama's time, he built a four corner gold roof on the basis of the original Diaolou style building, and changed it into a yellow temple. Then continue the tour to Traduk monastery, one of the first Buddhist temples built in the Tubo Period. The main hall is 45 meters long from east to west and 29 meters wide from north to south. It has 64 pillars and three main Buddhist halls, similar to the form of Dazhao temple in Lhasa. There are 12 Buddhist halls in the Monastery.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Tsedang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3500m
  • Samye-temple

  • Yongbulakang

Day 22Tsedang to Gongga Airport Transfer

Today you will end your memorable holiday in China, we will arrange the airport transfer based on your flight schedule. Wish you have a pleasant journey home! 

Traffic: Car(100kms/2hrs)
Hotel: No Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3500m

INCLUDES

  • Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.

  • Shared accommodations in well located, tourist to superior class hotels include breakfast, service charge and government tax.

  • All entrance fees(shuttle bus) sightseeing; excursions and activities as per the itinerary

  • 2nd class express train listed in the itinerary: Beijing to Shanghai, Shanghai to Yichang, Chongqing to Xi'an, Soft sleeper train from Xi'an to Lhasa

  • Private friendly and professional English-Speaking guides (French, Italy, Russian, German can be arranged per your request)

  • Tibet Travel Permit 

  • Meals on the cruise from Day7 to Day9

  • Visa support letter for you to apply Chinese visa easily.

  • Travel and health insurance when travel with us.

  • A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling.

EXCLUDES

  • International and domestic flights not indicated.

  • Food, Lunch or dinner not specified

  • Guide Service on Day6 Yichang train transfer and Day10 Chongqing train transfer

  • Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

  • Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned

TRIP NOTES

  • We will upgrade trains to 1st class where available if book the tour 5 months in advance of departure.

  • There is no problem to travel Silk Road during Ramadan.

  • Complimentary 2 bottles of water each person on daily use.

Transportation

We will use business MPV to luxurious coaches and trains.

Accommodation

All the hotels we selected are 4-5star well-located in the city center with good and proper breakfast for our clients.

Guides

Our guides are very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful. And our group tours will be escorted from SRT.

Climate and Altitude

Generally speaking Mid March—End Oct are the best time to visit Silk Road. And we strongly suggest you come in May, June, October to avoid the heat and crowd. No need to worry about high altitude along the Silk Road. We will prepare Oxygen bags if the package includes Xiahe, Qinghai Lake and Taxkorgan County.

We offer beneficial Cancellation Policy to our customers.