DAY 01 HometownQBeijing

Starting your tour by taking deluxe flight to Beijing, cross the international date line.

DAY 02 Arriving Beijing

Arrive in Beijing-the capital of China. Nexus Holidays tour guide greets you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

DAY 03 Beijing

Beijing served as the capital of 5 dynasties over a period of 800 years with each emperor identified as a dragon sent from the heaven. Start your city tour with a visit to the Forbidden City. This complex, the largest and most intact conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace ever built in the world, features more than 800 buildings with 9999 rooms, resplendent golden-glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars and vermilion walls. Next stop is the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, its monuments and buildings situated around the square’s perimeter. Then tour to the Temple of Heaven, which was used to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvest in ancient times. Enjoy the famous Peking Duck dinner in the evening.

DAY 04 Beijing

The highlight today is a trip to the astonishing Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass. The Great Wall is the most famous image of China throughout the world. It is the only man-made object visible from the moon, and as one of the Eight Wonders of the world. It is a symbol of Chinese traditional culture and the pride of the Chinese nation. Later visit the Sacred Path of Ming Tombs, 13 of the 16 Ming emperors have their tombs here. This is an attractive destination as much for the natural scenery of the area as for the tombs themselves. Visit the Cloisonne Factory and the biggest Jade Exhibition Center in Asia. Followed by a tricycle tour to the historic Hutong and Alley of Beijing old town, take in the sights and sounds of Beijing of olden times.

DAY 05 Beijing

Tour to the Summer Palace in the morning, the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer resort for Emperors and the chosen few. Then visit Silk Carpet Factory. After lunch you will be transferred back to the hotel for your free time, dinner is on your own.

DAY 06 BeijingQLhasa

Take a morning flight to Lhasa-the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region since the 7th century and is both political and religious heart of Tibet. Although Lhasa is famous for being one of the highest cities in the world, what really knocks you out here is the full scale impact on your senses of the breathtaking beauty, unique landscape and the holy atmosphere of this religious center. Visit the Drepung Monastery in the afternoon, a collection of Buddhist chapels and colleges. The Norbulingka is the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas and deserves a visit both for its historical and cultural significance. More than just a simple summer retreat, this is the headquarters from which the Dalai Lamas ruled Tibet during the summer months.

DAY 07 Lhasa

In the morning sightsee the Potala Palace, the home of the Dalai Lamas, the traditional theological rulers and Buddhism’s highest ranking priests of Tibet. It was the former political heart of Tibet and contains unimaginable treasures. Then visit the Lhasa’s holiest temple— Jokhang Temple, the religious center of Tibet. This 1300-year-old temple houses a pure gold Buddha statue that was a gift from the Tang Dynasty of China. Sightseeing the Barkhor Bazaar, which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. Today it is a big free market where you can get a typical Tibetan souvenir here at a good price. Visit the Sera Monastery. It is here that the monks’ famous daily debates take place.

DAY 08 LhasavTsedang

Motor coach to Tsedang after breakfast, upon arrival visit the Yumblagang, the oldest chateau in Tibet, it remains an impressive and imposing sight overlooking the valley from the top of a steep hill. Then tour to the Tradruk Temple, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibetan history. It contains the precious relics the Pearl Tangkha, which, 2 meters in length, 1.2 meters in breadth, is made of 29026 pearls and different precious stone by Naidong during the reign of Pamodrupa Kingdom.

DAY 09 TsedangvGyantse

Take a coach to Gyantse, visit the Palkhor Monastery, a huge temple with a unique history and a wealth of Buddhist art. It is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images) stapu. This is a spectacularly well preserved chorten, crowned with a golden dome and still containing literally thousands of wonderful murals.

DAY 10 GyantsevShigatse

Go to Shigatse by coach in the morning, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery—the official seat of the Panchen Lama, the chief spiritual and temporal authority of Tsang. It was founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup and the first Dalai Lama. It is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang region of Tibet, which once housed 3800 monks. The most amazing image in this monastery is the statue of the giant Maitreya (Future Buddha) erected by the ninth Panchen Lama in 1914. This giant statue stands 26 meters in height. A total of 6700 ounces of gold and 115875 kilograms of copper and a great quantity of precious things such as pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers were used for its construction. It is the biggest bronze statue in the world and one of the key relics to be preserved by the central government. Then visit the Shalu Monastery. The building here is a mixture of Tibetan and Han style architecture. The Tibetan style part of the building dates back to the 10th Century although very little of this has actually survived today. The Chinese influence is evident in the inner section of the monastery.

DAY 11 ShigatsevLhasa

Drive back to Lhasa by motor coach. Upon arrival you will enjoy the free time at your own leisure and dinner is also on your own.

DAY 12 LhasaQShanghai

In the morning fly to Shanghai-the largest commercial and financial center of China. The rest of the day will be your free time. After dinner you may take optional tour, the night cruise on the Huangpu River at your own expense (￥150 RMB）.

DAY 13 Shanghai

Stroll the Nanjing Road and the Bund (Wai Tan) waterfront area, a sweeping area along the Huangpu River, where used to be foreign concessions and now is the symbol of modern Shanghai. Here is the best place to capture the western influence of the old days. Visit the Shanghai Museum and the Old City Temple, visit the fresh water pearl exhibition Center. Dinner is on your own.

DAY 14 ShanghaiQHometown

Tour guide will transfer you to the airport and home your sweet home.