| Day 1: Australia / Chengdu | |
| Depart from Australia to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, also considered the cultural hub of Southwest China. Upon arrival you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. |
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| Day 2: Chengdu | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning you visit the Panda Breeding Centre and get up close and personal with the cuddly creatures. This afternoon you can experience the relaxing life by visiting a local teahouse. You might see people chatting, playing cards and Mahjong. This evening you can enjoy the Changing Mask show. |
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| Day 3: Chengdu / Lhasa | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning you board your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival in Gongar Airport, the highest airport in the world, you are met and driven 100KM to the city of Lhasa, capital of Tibet. The rest of the day is at leisure and get ready to explore the roof of the world. |
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| Day 4: Lhasa | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you visit Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. It symbolises Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration in Tibet. Next is a visit to the Jokhang Temple, which is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. It is the spiritual centre of Tibet. The temple is a combination of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then onto Barkhor Street, which is an old and traditional shopping street in the centre of Lhasa. It is also a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. |
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| Day 5: Lhasa | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you visit Sera Monastery, one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet, enshrined in the monastery are over 10,000 golden copper Buddhist statues, the holy prayer scripture written in cinnabar, and other treasures. Then onto the Tibet Museum, the largest cultural facility in this ethnic autonomous region with a huge collection of art treasures. Later this afternoon, you visit Norbu Lingka, the summer palace for the Dalai Lama. |
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| Day 6: Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyangtse | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you drive 360km from Lhasa via the beautiful turquoise Yamdrok Lake to Shigatse, Here you can view some of the beautiful scenery along the way. You stay overnight in Gyangtse. |
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| Day 7: Gyangtse / Shigatse | Meal: B/L/D |
| You visit Kunbum Stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery. Drive 90 kM to Shigatse. This afternoon you take a tour to The Tashilunpo Monastery, residence of Panchan Lamas. |
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| Day 8: Shigatse / Lhasa | Meal: B/L/D |
| While driving back to Lhasa along the Bramaputra River, you visit a Tibetan family on the way. |
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| Day 9: Lhasa / Xining (24 hours) | Meal: B |
| This morning you board the train for your departure and overnight on the train in a four sharing compartment (soft sleeper). You can buy your meals in the dinning car. |
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| Day10: Xining | Meal: L/D |
| Arrive in Xining this morning, the capital city of Qinhai province. You are met and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, you drive 50kM to the "Tu" minority Nationality Village. Dinner is served at your hotel. |
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| Day11: Xining / Shanghai | Meal: B |
| Take flight to Shanghai. Your tour guide will meet you the airport and try the Shanghai Maglev the fastest train in the world, then transfer you to the hotel. |
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| Day 12: Shanghai | Meal: B/L/D |
| After breakfast, the day begins with a grand city tour of Shanghai – the classical Ming Dynasty Yu Yuan Gardens with pavilions, towers and terraces. Then onto Pudong, the new economic district across from the Bund. The tour continues after a Dim Sum lunch at the famous Lupolang Restaurant, and then followed by a stroll along the spacious promenade of the Bund and bustling Nanjing Road. After dinner you will enjoy the amazing Shanghai Acrobatics Show. |
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| Day 13: Shanghai / Suzhou | Meal: B/L/D |
| After breakfast, you drive to Suzhou, referred to as the “Venice of the East” because it was built around a network of canals and bridges, which fan out from the Grand Canal. Firstly a visit to Tiger Hill and the remarkable leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda built in A.D. 961 and still leaning; next a visit to the picturesque Humble Administrator’s Garden, the most famous garden in Suzhou. Afterwards, you head to the Number One Silk Factory to witness the production of the finest silk in China. Dinner is served at your hotel. |
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| Day 14: Suzhou / Hangzhou | Meal: B/L/BD |
| This morning a drive to Wuzhen, for a visit of the small historical water town. You board a cruise along its zigzag waterways. After lunch board the coach to Hangzhou. Then take a leisurely cruise on the beautifully stunning West Lake before going to the Flower Harbour (Huagang) Park to see the Red Carp. Next visit a tea plantation to sample some of the best green tea in China and to see the ancient process of refining tea. In the evening a buffet dinner is served at your hotel. |
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| Day 15: Hangzhou / Xian | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning a transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian, the most historical city in China and the capital of ancient China for 11 dynasties. You visit the ancient city wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon. Dinner is served at a local restaurant and then a transfer to your hotel for check in. |
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| Day 16: Xian | Meal: B/L/SD |
| Today you visit the "Terracotta Warriors". They are found at an archaeological site which so far has yielded some 8000 ancient terra cotta soldiers and horses, each a unique, finely detailed sculpture. This afternoon a tour to the Banpo Neolithic Village Museum. Dinner is served as a delicious dumpling banquet and followed by stage show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre. |
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| Day 17: Xian / Beijing | Meal: B/L/BD |
| This morning you board your flight to Beijing. Take an afternoon tour to the magnificent Temple of Heaven, a Ming Temple where the Emperors performed annual rites essential for the well being of their land. You then head off to the 2008 Beijing Olympic venues of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube for a photo stop. A buffet dinner will be served at your hotel. |
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| Day 18: Beijing | Meal: B/L |
| Today you will visit Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. From Tiananmen Square enter the Forbidden City. This massive complex was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With almost 10,000 rooms, this well-preserved imperial palace is the largest in the world. After lunch, ride a trishaw to tour the ancient city alleys of the Hutongs and experience the lifestyle of the local people. Later, take a traditional Chinese sculled cruise on Houhai Lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery while being serenaded by a local musician playing classical Chinese music (available from April to October). Dinner is not included tonight but you have free time for dinner at the Houhai bar and restaurants street, where there are so many restaurants to choose from. |
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| Day 19: Beijing | Meal: B/L/SD |
| Today you experience the splendour of the Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is an amazing manmade structure built over 2000 years ago to protect China from northern invaders. Next a visit to the Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Marvel with fascination at the Marble Boat and the ornately painted Long Corridor. This evening, enjoy a delicious Peking Duck Banquet. |
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| Day 20: Beijing / Australia | Meal: B |
| Today is at leisure in Beijing. A late checkout till 6pm, then a transfer to the airport for your flight home to Australia. |
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| Day 21: Australia | |
| Arrive in Australia in the morning. |
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