China to Tibet, the Roof of the World

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Day 2: Arrive Beijing, China - Tour Begins

Join us on a tour of one of the world’s most fascinating countries: The People’s Republic of China. Your adventure begins in Beijing, the vibrant capital city.

Day 3: Beijing

LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. A sightseeing tour of Beijing begins with a visit to the expansive and historic Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. Continue to the Forbidden City, a vast network of palaces, including five halls, seventeen palaces and numerous other buildings. It was once reserved for China’s most powerful rulers and was the Chinese Imperial Palace during the mid-Ming and Qing dynasties. Your afternoon is at leisure before capping off the day with a Peking duck dinner, a specialty in this part of the country.

Day 4: Beijing - Chongqing - Board Ship

Fly to Chongqing, a scenic mountain city and your gateway to the Yangtze River. Visit the General Stillwell Museum, his headquarters during WWII, and where the Flying Tigers were born. Continue to Eling Park, built in 1909 with grand views of both the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. En route to the ship, stop at Painter's Village, established in 1950 to nurture artists. Later you will pre-board your ship for the morning departure of your three night downstream cruise along the longest river in China, the mighty Yangtze.

Day 5: Cruising - Chongqing - Fengdu

This morning your memorable Yangtze River journey begins. After lunch, arrive in the city of Fengdu. The city was depicted as the "City of Ghosts" in two ancient Chinese works - "Monkey King" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." The origin of the town's extraordinary reputation can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). Your visit to the city will include the temples and relocation village.

Day 6: Cruising - Badong - Xiling Gorge

Visit Badong and take a small junk boat to enjoy the marvelous spectacles of nature in Shennong Stream and Bamboo Gorge. Continue sailing into the western section of the Xiling Gorge, navigating through the Three Gorges Ship Lock.

Day 7: Cruising - Three Gorges Dam Project

When completed, the 25 billion dollar Three Gorges Dam will be the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. With an installed generating capacity of 18,200 mega watts, the dam will span more than 6,560 feet across and towers 607 feet above the world's third longest river. Your visit to this project will be memorable.

Day 8: Wuhan - Disembark Ship - Xian

Late morning you will disembark in Wuhan. After lunch, enjoy a visit to Huanghelou (Yellow Crane Tower), which has inspired poets and artists since the 3rd century. You will have leisure time to visit the tower and garden before boarding your flight to Xian.

Day 9: Xian

Begin the day with a visit to one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, the classical Wild Goose Pagoda. From here you will step into the courtyards of Xian's Islamic Mosque, which reflects the city's gateway to the Silk Road. This afternoon is reserved for exploring the fascinating excavation site of more than 8,000 unique terracotta warriors and horses that guard the tomb of China's first emperor. Next, view the IMAX presentation on the discovery of the site and learn more about this extraordinary process. Dinner this evening is an Imperial dumpling dinner with more than 20 courses of dumplings!

Day 10: Xian

You will travel to the countryside where you have the opportunity to visit a rural village. You will also visit the Dong Zhou Children’s Village which is supported by the Collette Foundation. This village helps children who are in difficult situations while their parents are in prison, giving the children the opportunity to live, study and grow up in a healthy environment. You will meet the locals and learn first hand how they live during a tour of the local school, a visit to a cow farm, and lunch at a farmer's family home. Your visit will give you insight into the day-to-day life of the local villagers in China's interior. This evening you may choose to purchase an optional dinner with entertainment at the Tang Dynasty show.

Day 11: Xian - Xining - Overnight Train

Begin today’s adventure with a flight to Xining, located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Visit the Ta'er Monastery, one of the six famous monasteries of the Gelugpa Sect (Yellow Hat Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism. Following dinner, transfer to the rail station for your overnight train journey to Lhasa, on the highest train in the world, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Day 12: On Board Train - Lhasa, Tibet

Enjoy your day aboard the "Sky Train", a true engineering wonder, as it journeys through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. You will view vistas with yaks grazing in emerald green fields against a stunning backdrop of snowcapped mountains and brilliant blue skies. Three locomotives are required to pull the train over the 16,600 foot Tangula Pass en route to Lhasa. The train is equipped with two oxygen sources in the cabins to help acclimate you to the altitude during your journey. Your estimated time of arrival is 10:30 PM, at which time you’ll transfer immediately to your hotel.

Day 13: Lhasa

A morning tour of the Jokhang Temple, built in 647 A. D. and the spiritual center of Tibet, showcases the holiest shrine for Tibetan pilgrims. Stroll through Barkhor Street where a myriad of shops and wayside peddlers intermingle with the devotees. This afternoon, visit with a local Tibetan family to gain insight into their simple way of life. Next, tour the Norbilinka Palace, known as the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. It was from this palace that the present Dalai Lama (XIV) escaped to India in 1959 ahead of the Chinese troops.

Day 14: Lhasa

The highlight of your Lhasa visit is the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Potala Palace, which was built in 640 A.D. during the reign of Songtan Gampo, and is considered the greatest monumental structure in Tibet. Destroyed in the 9th century, rebuilt in the 17th century, the palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India. It took 7,000 workers and 1,500 artisans and craftsmen more than 50 years to build the adjoining White & Red palaces. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely tour of the Tibetan Museum.

Day 15: Lhasa - Chengdu

A morning flight brings you to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province. After lunch, enjoy a stroll through a local market before arriving at your hotel for an evening of leisure.

Day 16: Chengdu

See China’s national treasure up close when you visit the Giant Panda Breeding Sanctuary where you will learn how these animals are being protected from extinction. The sanctuary is not a zoo but a simulated habitat, and your guided tour allows you the rare opportunity to see the Giant Panda in its natural environment.

Day 17: Chengdu - Beijing

A morning flight brings you back to Beijing. No visit to China would be complete without seeing the Great Wall. Your walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel at the Juyongguan section will be a tour highlight. Next, walk through the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and visit the burial site of one of China's past emperors.

Day 18: Beijing

Explore the world-famous Temple of Heaven, an ornate sanctuary where Chinese Emperors worshiped their gods. You will enjoy seeing the locals doing their morning exercises and perhaps try your skill at Tai Chi ball. Today’s highlight is an interactive Chinese cooking class at the Jinshong Cooking School. Visit a local market, learn about traditional ingredients and the art of Chinese cuisine as you create a Chinese specialty with a local chef. Next, it’s off to explore old Beijing during a rickshaw tour through the narrow streets and alleys, stopping for lunch with a local family. Afterwards, you will meet a kite master and learn the art of this favorite Chinese pastime. This evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.

Day 19: Beijing - Tour Ends

Your tour ends in Beijing but you will carry your memories of China with you as you make the journey home.