8 Days Beijing and Lhasa Tour by Overnight Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Welcome to the capital of China - Beijing to join an amazing 8-day Beijing and Lhasa tour. Upon your arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, your exclusive driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the Arrival Hall with a welcome sign. You will then be escorted to your pre-booked hotel.

   The rest of the day is left for you to explore this city on your own. Feel free to ask your knowledgeable guide for practical advice and recommendations, who can provide insights into dining options, local attractions, and cultural experiences.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing Highlights Tour
   Explore the Historic Landmarks and Enjoy a Great Wall Hike

   After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up for a visit to Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing. The square covers an area of 440,000 square meters and can accommodate 1 million people for a grand gathering at the same time. You will see the National Flag Pole, the Monument to the People's Heroes, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall and the Zhengyangmen Gate along the central axis from north to south.

   After that, continue walking a short distance north to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the symbol and icon of ancient China. Today you will have a guided tour to admire the large-scale precious architecture and millions of valuable artifacts.

   

   In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Mutianyu Great Wall. Connected to Juyongguan Great Wall in the west and Gubeikou in the east, it has been a military stronghold guarding Beijing since ancient times. With its dense enemy towers and charming scenery, it is the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. We will arrange for you to go up by cable car and then take a hike to enjoy the natural scenery.

   After descending from the Great Wall, drive back to Beijing, stopping to view the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube from the outside. They are the famous buildings from the 2008 Olympic Games.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing to Lhasa Tour by Overnight Train
   Experience a Rickshaw Ride through the Traditional Hutongs

   Your China tour of Beijing starts with visiting the Temple of Heaven. Located in the southern part of Beijing, this magnificent royal structure served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.

   Next, you will experience a rickshaw ride through the traditional hutongs. Go to visit a local family and learn about their daily life and even experience cultural activities such as learning calligraphy and weaving Chinese knots (extra charge).

   

   In the afternoon, move on to 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 Kunming Lake (optional, if the weather permits).

   After the tour, your guide will transfer you to the train station for an overnight journey to Lhasa, which is approximately 39.5 hours. You are advised to pack some snacks as the meals provided on the train are very basic. Additionally, be sure to bring a power bank to keep your devices charged during the journey.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: on the Train

4. Day 4: Train Journey to Lhasa
   Enjoy an Enchanting Train Journey through Qinghai Tibet Plateau

   Wake up in the morning and continue your train journey. The train will take you from eastern China to western Tibet. Along the way, you will see beautiful towns, vast plains, winding rivers, peaceful lakes and other plateau landscapes.

   

   The Xining-Lhasa Railway Section is specifically designed for high-altitude travel. You will gradually adapt to the plateau terrain. This train trip is not only a means of transportation, but also an important part of your Tibet tour.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: on the Train

5. Day 5: Arrival in Lhasa

   Your train will pull into Lhasa Train Station around noon. Our local driver and guide will be there to warmly welcome you and transfer you to your downtown hotel. Lhasa, Tibet is the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism. Also known as the City of Light, it is a gathering place for devotees. The rest of the day is free for you to acclimate to the high altitude and feel free to explore the surroundings of your hotel at your own pace.

   Warm Tips:

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

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

6. Day 6: Lhasa City Tour
   Discover the Spiritual Essence of the Rood of the World

   After breakfast, your guided Lhasa tour starts officially! Your tour guide leads you to discover the rich cultural heritage of Lhasa. We will first visit the Potala Palace, which is a sacred place in the hearts of all pilgrims! Here, you can not only admire many historical relics such as pagodas, sculptures, murals, Thangka paintings, jade, porcelain, enamel, and admire the wonderful architectural art of the Tibetan ethnic group, but also undergo a spiritual baptism in that sacred atmosphere. The Potala Palace is one of the top ten earthen buildings in the world, consisting of the White and the Red Palaces.

   

   After lunch, we will visit the Jokhang Temple, a blend of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese and Indian architectural styles. With a history of more than 1,300 years, the Monastery is the most splendid existing building in Tibet from the Tubo period (633-842) and the earliest adobe structure in Tibet. The 12-year-old statue of Sakyamuni enshrined in the temple is the treasure, which is one of the must-see attractions for tourists and pilgrims. Last, take a leisurely stroll through Barkhor Street. Barkhor Street is the famous pilgrim route and the busiest commercial street in Lhasa, which preserves the traditional appearance and living style of the ancient city more completely.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

7. Day 7: Lhasa Tour
   Witness the Amazing Debates at Sera Monastery

   In the morning, you will be taken to visit the tranquil Norbulingka Park, a typical Tibetan-style garden established in the 18th century as the summer palace for successive Dalai Lama. After more than 200 years of expansion, the whole garden covers an area of 360,000 square meters. There are more than 100 species of plants in the garden, not only common flowers in Lhasa, but also exotic plants from the northern and southern foothills of the Himalayas, as well as rare flowers introduced from abroad. It can be called the Plateau Botanical Garden.

   

   Next you are transferred to Drepung Monastery. The monastery complex is magnificent, with white houses and red halls lining the mountainside. Entering the interior of the temple you will appreciate the exquisite carvings, solemn statues of Buddha, and a large number of Thangka paintings, embroidery, murals and other valuable art treasures. Sera Monastery is the last stop where you will witness the monks debating. The temple houses tens of thousands of Vajra Buddha statues, mostly made locally in Tibet, and bronze statues brought from India. In addition, you will enjoy a large number of colorful murals.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

8. Day 8: Departure from Lhasa

   Enjoy your final moments in Lhasa with a leisurely morning at your hotel. Then your driver will  escort you to the airport for your onward journey. Your 8-day Beijing and Lhasa tour ends here.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A