10 Days Beijing Xian and Lhasa Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Welcome to Beijing - the starting point of your 10-day Beijing Xian Lhasa tour! Beijing is not only the capital of China, but a city where history and modernity, culture and nature blend perfectly. Upon arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your private driver and escorted to your downtown hotel for check-in.

   The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing. If you need any suggestions on your free time, we will be very happy to help you.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing Tour
   Explore Beijing's World Heritage Sites

   In the morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then, depart for Tiananmen Square, the heart and symbol of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. The spacious square has been used for many public celebrations, ceremonies, and demonstrations for over a hundred years.

   Then, take a short walk to the Imperial Palace. It is one of the world's largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structures, and is one of the world's top five palaces, along with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US, and the Kremlin in Russia. Formerly known as the Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace was built in 1406 A.D. It took 14 years to complete and was the royal palace for 24 emperors of China's Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour guide will lead you through the halls, houses and artifacts and learn the stories behind them.

   

   After lunch, spend your afternoon in Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, etc. In addition, you can take the option of a boat ride to enjoy the stunning Kunming Lake (optional).

   In the evening, if you are interested in Chinese Kungfu, you are recommended to pay extra to watch a wonderful Kungfu Show at the Red Theater. Your tour guide will arrange it for you.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Tour
   Hike the Most Beautiful Part of the Great Wall

   Today, you will be transferred to enjoy a Great Wall hiking tour on Mutianyu Section. Built in the early Ming Dynasty in 1368 and stretching for 5,400 meters, it is the most scenic part of the Chinese Great Wall. 90 percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So in each season, this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery.

   If pure hiking is too much for you, there are also options for cable car and toboggan to see the spectacular scenery from different angles (optional).

   

   After lunch, We drive to the Ming Tomb. On the way to the Ming Tomb, you will pass through the Sacred Way. The Ming Tomb is the place where 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) were buried. On the way back to the downtown center, we will visit the Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

   For dinner, you are suggested to sample Beijing Roast Duck, a famous palace dish, cooked with charcoal fire, crispy on the outside and tender inside. You will learn the proper way to eat it.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian Tour by High-speed Train
   Gain Insight into the Lives of Beijing's Locals

   The last scenic site of your China tour in Beijing will be the Temple of Heaven. Located in the southern part of Beijing, it served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. Then, explore the old Beijing by taking a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the Beijing hutongs. We will make a special arrangement - visiting a local family in the Siheyuan. You will gain an insight into traditional Beijing life and culture.

   

   After the visit, it's time to say goodbye to Beijing! Your driver will escort you to the train station for your high-speed train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, your private Xian driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate and then transfer you to the hotel in downtown area. In the evening, you can wander around the bustling streets and sample local snacks.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

5. Day 5: Xian Tour
   Experience Making a Mini Clay Warrior

   Your Xian tour of China will start with the Terracotta Army. After breakfast, we'll drive for 1 hour to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Lintong District, the burial pit of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, which took 38 years to complete. Known as "one of the great discoveries in the history of archaeology in the twentieth century", the Terracotta Army is dubbed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Here you will see more than a thousand clay soldiers, each with their own distinctive look and demeanor. Learn the stories behind them from your knowledgeable guide.

   After a Chinese-style lunch, we will take you to experience making a mini terracotta figure. It will be once-in-a-lifetime.

   

   In the afternoon, have a walk on Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square, a landmark building in Xian. Then, walk around 5 minutes to the famous Muslim Street, a paradise for food lovers. Here, you can find many kinds of delicious local snacks such as Biang Biang Noodle, Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger), and Yangrou Paomo (Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup). Later, visit the Great Mosque, a complex of ancient Chinese temple buildings with the perfect combination of Chinese classical architecture and Islamic architectural style. After all visits, your guide escort you back to your hotel.

   Last, go to visit the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, which is lit up at night. It is like a time travel when you stroll among the many Tang Dynasty style buildings.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

   

6. Day 6: Xian City Tour
   Take a Historical Exploration of Xi'an

   After breakfast, start your exploration to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside the Daci'en Temple. The pagoda, with 7 floors and a height of 64.517 meters, was built under the auspices of the monk Xuanzang, and later stored the scriptures and statues he brought back from India.

   Then, take a guided tour of Shaanxi History Museum. The museum houses over 380,000 cultural relics including simple stone tools used in prehistoric times, bronze ware from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, terracotta warriors from various dynasties, gold and silver utensils from the Han and Tang dynasties, and tomb murals from Tang Dynasty. It is an excellent place to learn about the history and culture of Shaanxi and ancient Chinese civilization.

   

   After that, you will be transferred to the Ancient City Wall, a military defensive system in old times. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved city walls in China. You can take a leisure walk or rent a bike (optional) on the top of the wall and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

7. Day 7: Xian to Lhasa Tour by Flight

   Enjoy a leisurely morning and then your private driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa.

   Welcome to Lhasa, Tibet! Aka the City of Light, Lhasa is the ultimate faith of pilgrims. Upon your arrival, a local driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your downtown hotel. Along the way you will enjoy the unique Tibetan architecture and beautiful Himalayan landscape. Check in and have the rest of the day free to acclimate to the high altitude.

   Tips:

   To reduce or avoid symptoms of altitude sickness, you are advised to avoid strenuous exercise on your first day in Lhasa. Do not take a shower to avoid catching a cold. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drink plenty of water and get enough rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

8. Day 8: Lhasa Highlights Tour
   Marvel at the Highest Palace in the World

   After breakfast, you will be guided to visit Potala Palace, a sacred place in the hearts of all pilgrims. The Potala Palace contains two parts, the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace, named after the white color of its outer walls, is where the lamas live and operate. The Red Palace is located at the top center of the Potala Palace and has a red exterior wall and consists of numerous pagodas and various Buddhist temples. You will enjoy many artifacts inside the palace, including statues, murals, Thangka paintings, gold and silverware, jade, enamel and other craft treasures.

   

   In the afternoon, your Lhasa tour continues to Jokhang Temple, with a history of more than 1,300 years. This spiritual center, located in the heart of Lhasa, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a blend of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese and Indian architectural styles. After that, stroll through the surrounding Barkhor Street, the busiest commercial street in Lhasa where you can purchase unique Tibetan souvenirs and experience vibrant local culture.

   Note:

   Taking photos is not allowed in the chapel of the monasteries.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

9. Day 9: Lhasa Tour
   Witness a Fascinating Debate between Monks

   After breakfast at your hotel, you will be guided to visit Norbulingka Park, a UNESCO-listed park established in the 18th century to serve as the summer palace for successive Dalai Lama. It is a combination of Tibetan and Han architectural styles, where you can see beautiful gardens, magnificent palaces, elegant pavilions, and vivid murals.

   

   Then drive to Drepung Monastery, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Founded in 1416, this sprawling monastery houses exquisite carvings, solemn statues of Buddha, and a large number of Thangka paintings, embroidery, murals and other valuable art treasures. It showcases Tibetan architectural brilliance and artistic splendor.

   Sera Monastery, the last stop on your Tibet tour, is known as the three major monasteries in Lhasa, together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery. Here you will witness one of the most famous sutra debates in Tibet. Sera Monastery is also home to many ancient murals and tens of thousands of Vajra statues, both locally made and a few brought from India.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

10. Day 10: Departure from Lhasa

    Today is the last day of your 10-day Beijing Xian and Lhasa tour. After breakfast in the morning, your driver will escort you to the airport according to your flight time! If you want to extend your Tibet trip to Namtso Lake (one of the "Three Holy Lakes" in Tibet) or Everest Base Camp, we are happy to serve you.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A