Day02 Air Shanghai – Chengdu B
In the morning visit of Yu Yuan (Yu-Garden) and the old city area. Originally built in 1559, it served as the private garden of high-ranking official by then. The word “Yu” contains a meaning of “safe and peaceful”. Then visit of Waitan (Bund). As one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai, the Bund site shows a portion of the historic center of the foreign presence in Shanghai and its transformation in recent times. In the afternoon transfer to airport, fly to Chengdu (CA4514 1700/2000), capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Wuhou

Day03 Chengdu – Leshan – Emei Shan B
In the morning leave for Leshan. On the way enjoy the beautiful countryside landscape of western Chengdu Plains during about two hours of driving on the expressway. Upon arrival in Leshan visit of the Grand Buddha in Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 years of construction and enjoys the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world (71-meter height). Carved on the cliff face, the sculpture is well designed with perfect balance and effective water drainage system. After the visit of Lingyun Temple and the Grand Buddha, boating on the Minjiang River to see the front site of the Grand Buddha and the "hidden sleeping Buddha". Afterwards head for Mt. Emei, the main ritual place of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa) and one of the four most celebrated Buddhist mountains in China. Visit of Baoguo Si at the foot of Mt. Emei, the biggest temple in Emei Shan. Overnight at 4*Emeishan Grand Hotel

Day04 Emei Shan – Chengdu B
Early in the morning take the sightseeing bus to Leidongping Bus Station along the 52-kilometer zigzag mountain road. Upon arrival, we take the cable car to the Golden Summit. With an altitude of 3099 meters, if the weather is fine, the view is amazing; the verdant forest waves surge along the mountain; Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River are like three pieces of silk; Mt. Daxue and Mt. Gongga seem to stretch to the horizon; the sun emerges with all shimmering rays through the surging clouds. If you are lucky enough, the Buddhist light is visible. After the visit of Huazang Si Temple and the golden statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa), we take the cable car and the sightseeing bus down to the foot of Mt. Emei Shan, drive back to Chengdu. Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Wuhou

Day05 Chengdu B
In the morning drive to Chengdu Giant Panda Base of Breeding and Research. Founded in 1985, today there are over 50 giant pandas living there. In the afternoon visit of Qingyang Gong. The Qingyang Temple is one of the most famous Daoist temples in China. The temple was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a period when Taoism was flourishing. Wandering through the temple, you will find many locals and visitors eating, drinking tea and playing Mahjong at the temple's teahouse. This is a traditional and extremely popular pastime for the people of Chengdu. Then we will a walk at the Broad and Narrow Lane (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi). It consist in 3 alleys: Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley. Experience the typical lifestyle of the old Chengdu. Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Wuhou

Day06 Air Chengdu – Lhasa B
In the morning transfer to the airport, fly (CA4401 0740/0950) to Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet. Arrival at Gongga Airport, transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visit of the beautiful Ani Sangkhung Nunnery. There are plants everywhere and it feels like you are in a garden in the middle of the city. In the nunnery there is a little shop where they print prayer books. If the nuns are working on it you are welcome inside to see how it is done. Overnight at 3*Shangbala Hotel

Day07 Lhasa B
In the morning, visit of the Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and used as the Dalai Lamas’ winter residence and as the religious and political center of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, the innumerable and magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures put altogether create a dense religious and artistic atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon, visit of Jokhang monastery iwc aquatimer automatic replica, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist believers, where thousands of pilgrims come to worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the oldest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big market selling local specialities. Overnight at 3*Shangbala Hotel

Day08 Lhasa B
In the morning visit of Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from there you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards, visit of the Tibet Museum, you’ll learn much about the Tibetan geography, nature and culture, etc. In the afternoon visit of Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild roses”. Today still 200 lamas live there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Overnight at 3*Shangbala Hotel
 
Day09 Train Lhasa – Xining B
In the morning transfer to the railway station, train ride to Xining (soft sleeper, 4-bed-cabin), the capital of province Qinghai. It is a whole 24hrs train ride from Lhasa to Xining. The train will be passing through Nagqu and Golmud to Xining. A highlight of the tour is the 1956 km train ride on the highest rail of the world from Lhasa to Xining. It is a fascinating journey: snowy mountains, meadows, creeks and the vast grasslands continuously unfolding before one's eyes. Yaks, flocks of sheep, horses and other wild animals of the Tibetan plateau are easily observable from the train. If you are lucky, you might even get a peek of the rarest and most protected species of the plateau, the Tibetan Antelope also known as “chiru”. These creatures only live between 3500 – 5000 meters of altitude. Overnight in the train

Day10 Air Xining – Beijing B
The city of Xining is mainly inhabited with Tibetans but also a home of Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities. Upon arrival in Xining transfer to a hotel for breakfast. Then drive to visit Dongguan Grand Mosque. Then transfer to the airport, fly to Beijing (MU2077 1445/1710). Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at 4*Red Wall Hotel

Day09 Beijing BL
In the morning, stroll about Tian An Men Square, which is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. Then go to visit the Forbidden City (Gu Gong) the emperor's palace, which was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. Facing south and rising from a terrace, the largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties, and exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. Then we will go to Jinshan Park to have an amazing panoramic view of the Forbidden City (Gu Gong). In the afternoon visit of the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), which was built in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty and expanded in the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays it covers an area of 273 hectares. The grand temple served as the sacrificial place for the emperors of the Ming and Qing to worship the heaven, presenting gratitude for the harvest of this year and praying for another good harvest next year. Overnight at 4*Red Wall Hotel

Day10 Beijing BL
In the morning go to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Great Wall is one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see from the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. It was built as a defensive structure and gradually become the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Take the cable car to the Great Wall and walking on the wall at Mutianyu (about 2 hours). Late in the afternoon drive back to Beijing. Overnight at 4*Red Wall Hotel

Day11 Leave China for home B
Check out the hotel in the morning and transfer to the airport for homeward flight.