15 Days Tibet Festival Tour

Day 01 Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai, the financial and commercial center of China. You will be met by your guide and transferred to the first-class Shanghai Lantian Hotel.

Day 02 Shanghai (B, L)

After breakfast, you will begin to visit the major attractions of the city, including the Yu Garden at the Old Quarter, the Shanghai Museum, the famous waterfront Bund and the Nanjing Road at the shopping center. Enjoy the a la carte lunch at a local famous restaurant.

Day 03 Shanghai (B, L)

The whole day tour will bring you to visit the beautiful water town, Zhujiajiao village. Today you will enjoy the typical local food for lunch. Return back to Shanghai in the late afternoon.

Day 04 Shanghai / Xian (B, L)

Fly to Xian in the morning. Check into the first-class Days Hotel & Suites Xinxing Xian. After enjoy a local flavor at popular restaurant for lunch, you will visit the majestic Wild Goose Pagoda and the Ancient City Wall. Then visit the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, a massive modern museum up to the national standard, which is located in the south outskirt of Xian city.

Day 05 Xian (B, L)

A full day tour recalls the glories of ancient Xian as you visit the burial site of an incredible army of 8000 lifelike Terra-cotta soldiers and the ancient Banpo Village. Lunch is served in the local popular restaurant.

Day 06 Xian / Lhasa (B, L)

Fly to the holy city of Lhasa, capital of the mystical Buddhist Kingdom of Tibet. Locked away in its mountain fortress of the Himalayas, Tibet has had a unique hold on the imagination of the West. You are greeted by tour guide at the airport and transferred to your first-class Tibet Hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure for you to relax and get preparation for attending Shoton festival. (You can book other Chinese Festivals)

Day 07 Lhasa (B, L)

Tour starts from the religious Potala Palace built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen Gampo. The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It became known as the "Winter Palace" by the 1750, when the 7th Dalai Lama built the Norbulingka Park as his summer residence. After having a western-style lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple, situated in the old section of Lhasa. King Songtzen Gampo built this temple in the mid-7th century A.D. Now it is the most sacred place in Tibet. Pilgrims come here to pay homage from all over Tibet.

Day 08 Lhasa (B, L)

Today you will get up so early for sightseeing to the Drepung Monastery. "Drepung", in Tibetan means "the hill of rice', because this white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice. This monastery occupies an area of 150,000 square meters with 7700 lamas and becomes the largest monastery in Asia. During the Shoton festival, giant Thangkas of the Buddha is unveiled in Drepung Monastery. After enjoying a local Tibet-style lunch, you will visit Norbulingka Park. Since 7th century, opera performances and Tibet Drama were held for days in Norbulingka. Presently, opera contests and the distribution of prizes last for seven days.

Day 09 Lhasa (B, L)

In Tibetan language, Shoton (Xuedun in pinyin) means 'yoghurt banquet'. So as the name suggests, the Shoton Festival is the festival for savoring various yoghurts. Normally Tibetan people also stage activities to celebrate festival. After breakfast, you will begin to visit Sera Monastery firstly. Sera means 'Hailstone' in Tibetan, and legend tells that it hailed during the foundation of this famous monastery.

Day 10 Lhasa (B, L)

Following breakfast is a visit to Tibet Museum where you can appreciate the unique Tibetan culture and arts. Then you will be accompanied by local tour guide to visit a Tibetan family and share yoghurts in their home. In the afternoon, take the stroll at Barkhor Street or do some shopping.

Day 11 Lhasa / Beijing (B, L)

In the morning, you will fly to Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport and transferred to the first-class Mercure Wanshang Beijing Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing features the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests.

Day 12 Beijing (B, L)

The highlight today is a visit to the Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization. Continue to Summer Palace, a summer resort for Empress Dowager Ci Xi. On the way back to the downtown Beijing, you have chance to take an exterior visit to the "Bird's Nest" and the "Water Cube"---the main Olympic Stadium built for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Day 13 Beijing (B, L)

Morning program takes you to Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City, the residence of emperors for more than 500 years. After that, you will explore the Hutong (residential area) in a rickshaw and have a glimpse of traditional Beijing life. Today you will have the chance to enjoy the lunch at local family in Hutong.

Day 14 Beijing (B, L)

Free time on your own.

Day 15 Beijing departure (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Service concludes.