Guilin-Chengdu-Tibet-Xi'an-Beijing Tour Itinerary 21 Days

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive Guilin
Meals: /
Detailed Itinerary: Fly to Guilin. Upon arrival, be picked up and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Guilin Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we are going to visit the Elephant Trunk Hill which is located at the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River in the southwest of Guilin city. Then we go and visit the Reed Flute Cave which is known as 'the Palace of Natural Arts'. The next place we will visit is Piled Silk Hill which is in the city center. The traversed stone blocks piled one after another just like the colorful folded silk, that's how the name of the hill came into being.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Guilin Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: The highlight of today is the Li River Cruise. This cruise along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is an unforgettable experience. As you take in the stunning scenery there's something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river. Between spectacular limestone peaks you'll see graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes pulling carts or cooling off in the river. You may see fishermen gliding along on their narrow bamboo rafts, and if you're very lucky you might see one of the famous fishing cormorants. After the cruise, we are arriving Yangshuo.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Yangshuo Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will visit Yangshuo Moon Mountain and Yangshuo Big Banyan Tree. Big Banyan Tree is one of the main scenic attractions of Yangshuo County. After then, we will head back to Guilin and take the evening flight to Chengdu.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Chengdu to Mt. Emei
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today, we will drive out Chengdu to Leshan County south of Chengdu to visit the Giant Buddha. The Giant Buddha is located on the Lingyun Mountain where Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River meet. It has been the largest stone carved sitting Buddha statue in the world so far. We stay overnight at Emei.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Mt. Emei to Chengdu
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Mt. Emei is one of the most famous mountains for Buddhism in China. It has many temples and beautiful scenery. Baoguo Temple lies right at the foot of Mt. Emei. We may visit the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years, The Brick Hall, etc. After all that, we will head back to Chengdu.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Chengdu Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we are going to visit the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center which locates at the Axe Hill 10 kilometers from the north suburb of Chengdu. The environment there is exquisitely designed; the air is refreshing with the bamboo growing luxuriantly and flocks of wild birds flying around. In the afternoon, you are on your own to stroll around the city. You might go to visit the Jinli Lane, south of Chengdu, a very exotic place to relax.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Chengdu to Lhasa
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Fly to Lhasa, Tibet. Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you and transfer you to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Lhasa River. The rest time is free for relax and adjustment.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Lhasa Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today, our highlights are Potala Palace and Jokhang temple. The cardinal landmark of Lhasa, Potala Palace, is a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. Potala Palace is a place where you can appreciate the Tibetan culture, religion and art of architecture as well. Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple to pray for their now and future. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Around the temple is the Barkhor Street, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet. We can have a visit after the Jokhang visit. Out there, we can visit a handcraft product store.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Lhasa Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today's highlights are Norbulingka and Sera monastery. Norbulingka used to be the Summer Palace for the Dalai Lamas where they handled political affairs, and practiced religious activities. The whole park has more than 370 rooms of different sizes, and lawns, shaded by green trees and embrided by various flowers. With the clear water, and the flowers and trees around, it is known as the "park within the park"
Sera monastery is one of the greatest Gelugpa monasteries. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect, covering an area of 114,964 square metres. The structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is a typical Tibetan architecture. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Lhasa/Shigatse
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will drive to Shigatse. Make a tour to Yamdroktso Lake on the way. Yamdroktso Lake is a coiling, many-armed body of water shaped like a scorpion. It doubles back on itself on the western side, effectively creating a large island within its reaches. For Tibetans, it is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Also, we will go for the tour of Palkhor monastery, built in the 15th century, is situated in the west of Gyantse Town with mountains enclosing form three sides of the east, west and north. Its uniqueness is that its three sects of Buddism-Shaja, Ningma and Guolu stayed harmoniously under one roof. We will stay in Shigatse tonight.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Shigatse/Shegar
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: After today's visits to Tashilumpo monastery and the local free market in Shigatse, we are heading to the town of Shegar; we might call it the gateway to Mt. Everest area. On the way, you are going to pass two high mountains named Gyula and Gyatsola.

Day 13

Place & Transport: Shegar/Mt. Everest Base Camp/Lhatse
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we drive southward to the highest monastery of the world- Rongbuk monastery. We are getting closer to Mt. Everest from now on. Taking carriage up to the base camp, you will have a comparative close view of the highest mountain in world. After the stunning visit, we are getting back to Lhatse.

Day 14

Place & Transport: Lhatse/Lhasa
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will drive back to Lhasa city, other time is free for you, and you can buy some presents for your friends or your family.

Day 15

Place & Transport: Lhasa/Xi'an
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: In the morning, we will transfer you to the Lhasa railway station to take the highland train to Xi'an. You are going to say bye-bye to Tibet.

Day 16

Place & Transport: Train Trip (on board)
Meals: /
Detailed Itinerary: After a whole day train ride, in the evening, the train arrives in Xi'an railway station. You will be met by our local guide and then transfer you to hotel.

Day 17

Place & Transport: Xi'an Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today, firstly, we will visit Xi'an City Wall that was built in the Ming dynasty over 700 years ago. The Xian City Wall is the most complete ancient city wall in China. Next stop is the Shaanxi Historical Museum, the large-scale modern State-class museum, is situated at the western side of the "Wild Goose Pagoda" in Xian City.

Day 18

Place & Transport: Xi'an Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: The first highlight of today is the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. This incredible 2000 year-old army of life-sized warriors, each one unique, is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. After the Terra Cotta visit, we will head back to city of Xi'an to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda (7 floors, 64.5meters high) where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his classics brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city – Xi'an. Also today, we are going to experience the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum which, with 900 years of history, holds a large collection of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. In the evening, take the overnight train from Xi'an to Beijing.

Day 19

Place & Transport: Beijing Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: The train from Xi'an arrives in Beijing in the morning. At the railway station, you will meet our guide who will have you drive to hotel to have a rest. Then, we begin today's visits. First of all, it is the Tian'anmen square which enjoys the world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride. Then we will pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, which is home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. After then, Temple of Heaven is our next stop which is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. In the evening enjoy the Peking Roasted Duck which is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing.

Day 20

Place & Transport: Beijing Sightseeing
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today's highlight is the Great Wall visit. We are going to visit the less-crowded section of the Great Wall called Mutianyu where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. Next, we drop a visit to the Sacred Way which is an attractive tree-lined walk leading to the Ming Tombs. After the Ming Tombs visit, we head back to hotel.

Day 21

Place & Transport: Depart Beijing
Meals: /
Detailed Itinerary: Today you will say bye-bye to Beijing and fly back to your sweet home.