14 DAYS, BEIJING,XIAN,LHASA,NACHU AND SHANGHAI

Our guide will pick you up at Beijing airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

- Tiananmen Square: This vast iconic space that has retained a symbol of China’s enduring nationalism covers 40.5 hectares (100 acres) close to the geographical center of Beijing.  In the center of the world’s largest square stands Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and the periphery is surrounded by imposing governmental buildings including the National Museum of China and the Heavenly Gate, the entrance to the Forbidden City.

- The Forbidden City: The world’s most extensive preserved palace complex, the Imperial Palacewasconstructed over a 14-year period beginning in 1406.  The home to 24 Emperors from 1420-1911, the city is a maze of great squares, halls, gates, gardens, and living quarters.  This “city within a city” is composed of 980 surviving structures exemplifying traditional Chinese palatial architecture, covering nearly 720,000 sq meters (7.8 million sq ft).

-Heaven and Earth (TianDiYiJia): Hidden behind the walls of a beautifully restored courtyard mansion nearby the Imperial Palace you will find TianDiYiJia.  Known as ‘Heaven and Earth’ in English, this luxurious Chinese restaurant boasts stylishly ornate traditional designs, serving refreshingly unique fusion cuisine.

- Temple of Heaven: One of the purest examples of Ming architecture, the Temple of Heaven is a truly symbolic, beautifully balanced structural masterpiece, holding great significance in the historic evolution of China’s enduring civilization.  Magnificent gardens filled with Beijing residents enjoying morning Tai Chi or relaxing under shaded trees surround the temple.

- Dinner at Dadong Duck Restaurant: With a reputation as one of Beijing’s finest dining establishments, the Dadong Duck Restaurant is the perfect place to experience a traditional Peking duck dinner in a uniquely modern style.

- Great Wall at Mutianyu: Located just 80 kilometers from Beijing’s city center in Huairu County is the longest restored, accessible section of the Great Wall.  Mutianyu stretches 22 kilometers and is composed of solid slabs of granite, gravel, and earth reaching 8 meters at its highest point and 5 meters at its widest span.  A series of 22 watchtowers spaced approximately 1-kilometer apart mark this run of the Great Wall.  Constructed first in the Qi Dynasty (550-577), Mutianyu was rebuilt in 1568 and remains in that condition today.  Stunning views in all directions make it a perfect location to experience the Great Wall.

 Lunch at Local Restaurant: Have lunch at Xiaolongpu, the local cuisine restaurant on the food of the Mutianyu Great Wall. It provides the local organic food, the fresh vegetable and trout.

 -Olympic Stadium: Some of the world’s most internationally renound architects helped to create a new identity for Beijing to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games.  Structures such as the National Stadium, commonly known as the 'Birds Nest’, and the Olympic Swim Stadium, or ‘Water Cube’, have become iconic structures that represent a turning point in China’s modern history.  Venture through both of these intriguingly fascinating complexes that speak to the exciting future of a rapidly changing Beijing.

- Summer Palace: Spend the morning basking in the peaceful elegance of the Summer Palace.  First erected during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) as a retreat for royal courts, the Summer Palace is widely regarded as one of the world’s most noted classical gardens.  Covering 294 hectares, of which is water, the Summer Palace is seen as the quintessential Chinese garden, achieving a purely seamless unity with nature.
 

 
- Boat-transfer in the Summer Palace: For a truly unique experience, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the royal gardens of the Summer Palace by ferry boat.

 
After Lunch you will be transferred to airport for your flight to Xian;
After you arrive in Xian, you will be met and transferred to your hotel; U China Travel guide will assist you check in and after a break depart hotel for Dinner and Evening Show:
 
- Evening Show at Tang Yuegong: Experience traditional dancing and singing as it was performed during Xian’s reign as China’s capital in the Tang Dynasty.

- Terracotta Warriors: An accidental discovery in 1974 revealed the guarded tomb of Emperor Qin.  Dating back to 210BC, the Emperors tomb was securely guarded by an army of 7,000 terracotta warriors and archers with horses and chariots in full battle dress.  Each figure is unique, and their painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 sites, which are protected inside enormous hangars. Just an hour and a half from Xian, there is also an excellent museum, which hosts a film about the history of the vaults. In order to preserve the historical discovery, no flash photography is allowed inside the hangars.

- Banpo Museum: The museum was established in 1958 on the site of an ancient clan commune dating back more than 6,000 years. Today 2 exhibition halls display items from the site such as stone tools, spinning wheels, pottery and daily living utensils. Just over an acre of land is dedicated to the third exhibition space, demonstrating traditional methods of pottery making, shelter construction, and burial practices.

Shanxi Historical Museum: As the birthplace of ancient China, the history represented at the Shaanxi Historical Museum in southern Xian portrays the enduring history of Chinese civilization. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection of beautifully displayed relics.  You will find that most exhibitions have been presented in both English and Chinese, but our guide will happily help you translate if necessary.

 
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda:  The clean, simple lines of this Pagoda stands five stories tall on the grounds of the Da Ci’en Temple in a southwestern suburb of Xian.  A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang brought back from his epic journey to India. Composed of several large halls, the Pagoda houses magnificent statues and murals depicting Buddhist figures.

 
- City Wall: Explore the exquisitely intact city walls of Xian.  Walk, ride a bike, or take an electric scooter along the 14 kilometer circuit of ramparts, gates, and watchtowers that make up one of the oldest and best-preserved ancient urban defense systems in the world.  Great views span both sides of the spectacular city wall.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. At 3,500 meters, it is advisable to take the rest of the day easy for better acclimatization.

- Potala Palace: Former winter home of the Dalai Lama, a vast, awe-inspiring maze of corridors and stairs leading through countless rooms of richly decorated statues, tombs, murals and antiques. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Note: you need to be fit for the long stairways.

 
- Jokhang Temple: Built in 647 to please the Tibetan Princess Wen Cheng, Jokhang Temple is part of the Potala Palace complex.  This 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a very rich and thriving Tibetan Buddhism. Many locals pray here regularly; the Temple is surrounded by Barkhor Street and thronged with pilgrims and visitors. Lamps fueled by yak butter burn in front of statues at the entrance to the temple.

 
- Barkhor Street: On Barkhor Street watch pilgrims dressed in traditional wear representative of different regions of Tibet, as they circle clockwise around Jokhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate themselves near the front gate. Join the locals shopping at the colorful stalls that line the street, or enjoy the vibrant energy of Barkhor Street while relaxing in one of the many coffee shops and teahouses.
 

- Yambajan: A visit to Yambajan provides a fascinating glimpse into the culture of Tibetan herders (drokpa) and their semi-nomadic lifestyle.  Also well known for its hot springs, Yambajan covers an area of about 150,000 square meters, and is located 87 kilometers Northwest of Lhasa(2hours drive) in a basin at the foot of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains.

 
- Lake Namtso: This crystal blue lake sparkles amidst snow capped mountain peaks. The lake is accessible by a gravel road from Damxung. If attempting to visit the lake during the rainy season, be sure to check road conditions as the route becomes difficult.

Check into your hotel in Nachu.

This morning you will take 4 hours driving back to Lhasa and visit following sites:

- Tibet Museum: Designed in traditional Tibetan architectural style, construction of the Tibet Museum was completed in 1999.  Highlighting Tibetan culture and the historical plight of the Tibetan people, the museum houses an extensive collection of displays illustrating rich traditions and cultural relics spanning ancient and modern history. An audio commentary is available for those who wish to learn more about the collection.

- Tibet Medical and Astrological Institute: Catch a glimpse into the fascinating practice of Tibetan medicine at the Tibet Medical and Astrological Institute.  2000 year old Herbal and traditional methods of healing are used to treat more than 500 patients daily, with numbers increasing to 1000 in winter months.

-Tangka Paintings: Here you will see this traditional painting art has been practising for thousands years.

You will have a leisure morning, after lunch you will be transferred to Shanghai; After you arrive in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to your hotel;

Jade Buddha Temple:  The Jade Buddha Temple was established in 1882 when a Chinese monk named Huigen imported two jade Buddha statues from Burma.  Although the original temple was destroyed during the 1911 revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty, the jade Buddha statues were saved, and relocated in a new temple that was constructed in 1928. This famous Buddhist temple located in the Western part of Shanghai is a quiet escape from the modern flourishing city.

Shanghai World Financial Center: This 101-story tall skyscraper completed construction and was opened to the public in mid-2008. It Reaches 492 meters (1,515 ft) above the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.
 

 
Yuyuan Garden:  Peacefully situated within the bustling center of Shanghai close to the Yuyuan Bazaar is the Yuyuan Garden.  This exquisite 5-acre garden is famous for its design.  Meandering paths lead visitors across bridges, past rockeries, around picturesque lakes, and through decorative halls and pavilions.  The intentional location of trees and shrubs within the garden serve as frames for charming views and create a sense of peace and harmony throughout the garden.

Watch the acrobatics show at Era (Best Acrobatics in China)

Zhujiajiao Water Town: If you are looking for an escape from the excitement of the big city, visit the ancient water city of Zhu Jia Jiao.  Located in a suburb of Shanghai City, this fan-shaped town characterized by its 36 ornate bridges, each uniquely designed, connects streets filled with ancient architecture dating back from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Jewish Area Tour: Shanghai is a city not only of modern splendor, but also of rich historical merit. With its diverse past steeped in international relations and foreign influence, the city sheds light on a chapter in world history unfamiliar to many in China and abroad. U China Travel is delighted to feature a half-day tour of Shanghai's Jewish District to add yet another layer of richness to its extensive history. The tour provides insight into the significant influence the immigrant Jewish community had on the city's economic and architectural growth, highlighting the achievements of one of its most prominent families, the Sassoon's. In Shanghai's Hongkew District the tour visits the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, a museum documenting the history and experiences of the more than 20,000 Jewish immigrants that sought refuge in Shanghai at the height of WWII.

After breakfast you will be transferred to Airport for your own flight; We also could tailor made your extension trip after Shanghai;