12 Days China Highlights with Tibet Train Experience

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Home > China Tours > Tibet Tours > 12 Days China Highlights with Tibet Train Experience

Tour Code: XZ-06L
12 Days China Highlights with Tibet Train Experience
Destinations: Beijing,Lhasa,Xi'an,Hong Kong
Attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

Standard
Luxury

Starting from
USD 2569 per person!

Itinerary
Highlights
Add-ons
Tour Quotation
Trip Preparation
Tour Reviews

Day
01

Arrive in Beijing
Upon your arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, our tour guide will meet you outside the Baggage Claim Area, holding a greeting sigh showing your name. Then you are going to be transferred to the hotel to check in.

Day
02

Beijing (B/L/Roast duck dinner)
After breakfast at hotel, tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and start your China tour. The morning visit starts the Tian An Men Square, which is the largest public square in the world. From here you can see the grand Monument of People's Heroes, Mao Zedong Mausoleum and the modern National Grand Theater. Then you will proceed to visit the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties. Also here you will see the art works in ancient China, which are all under national level protection. After lunch at local restaurant, the afternoon visit features the Summer Palace. The park is a harmonious combination of Chinese ancient structures, traditional garden designing and man-made scenery. Today, you will have the chance to taste the authentic local specialty, the Peking Roast Duck Dinner. Then appreciate the Chinese Kungfu Show (alternatively you could choose Peking Opera).

Day
03

Beijing (B/L)
Today you are going to visit the Badaling Great Wall, a symbol of ancient Chinese civilization. Being one of the must-sees during a China tour, the Great Wall offers you a superb background to take pictures. Hiking on the Great Wall will also be a special memory of your China tour, since Chairman Mao Zedong once said that he who hasn't climbed the Great Wall is not a true man. After lunch, you will pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties used to pray for good harvest to the God of Heaven.

Day
04

Beijing / Lhasa (B)
Transfer to airport and take flight to Lhasa. Meet our Lhasa local guide upon arrival and then be transferred to hotel. You are suggested that you have a good rest at the hotel to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude of Lhasa.

Day
05

Lhasa (B/L)
The Lhasa tour starts from a visit to the Potala Palace, a holy place for Tibetan Buddhism. This ancient architectural complex is considered a model of Tibetan architecture. Then proceed to visit Jokhang Temple, which is the most important and lively temple in Tibet. Its location was determined through astrological calculation by princess Wencheng in Tang Dynasty. In the afternoon, have a free stroll at Barkhor Street. It is a quadrangle street surrounding Jokhang Temple and is both the spiritual and commercial centers of Lhasa.

Day
06

Lhasa (B/L)
In the morning, pay a visit to Norbulingka, which once served as the summer palace for Dalai Lama in ancient times. Then continue to visit Tibet Museum. It is now the best place to get more and deep understanding of the history and culture of Tibet. The afternoon visit features the Sera Monastery, a major Buddhism training institute established in 1419. Monks here debate Buddhist Doctrines.

Day
07

Lhasa / Xian (B)
Transfer to railway station and take overnight soft sleeper train to Xian. Being the highest railway at the elevation in the world will bring much excitement to your trip. The train journey will take you about 33 hours with few choices of food on board, you are highly recommended to take some fast food or snacks in advance.

Accommodation: Overnight soft sleeper train

Day
08

On the way to Xian
You will spend full day on train. You will pass by Nakchu, Golmud, Xining and Lanzhou and then reach Xian in the evening. You will be met by our local guide in Xian upon arrival at railway station and transfer to hotel. No meals arranged today.

Day
09

Xian (B/ A la carte lunch/ Tang dynasty dinner show)
Today’s highlight is an excursion to the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. They were made over 2,000 years ago with different facial expression and height. 7,000 warriors and horses composed an underground army to protect the Qin emperor after his death. Each one makes an artwork up to the national protection standard. Then enjoy the a la carte lunch at a delicate restaurant, which boasts tasty food and graceful environment. Proceed to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in Tang dynasty to store the Buddhist scriptures brought back from ancient India by Monk Xuanzang. Then back hotel to have a short refreshment to be well prepared for the Tang Dynasty Imperial Dumpling Banquet with Show.

Day
10

Xian/ Hong Kong (B)
After breakfast, visit Ancient City Wall, the biggest and best preserved defending system in China. Then drive to airport for flight to Hong Kong, the paradise for shopping. Hong Kong driver will pick you up at the airport and then drive to hotel to check in. The balance of the day is free at your leisure.

Day
11

Hong Kong (B)
Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast is provided. Today is free for you to make your own arrangement. You are suggested to Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Stanley Market. Or you could do some shopping.

Day
12

Hong Kong (B)
After breakfast, drive to the airport for the departure flight. End of service.

Accommodation:

City	Hotel	Star
Beijing	Crowne Plaza Beijing Brief Introduction Located on Wangfujing Avenue, the Crowne Plaza Beijing situated in the very central area of Beijing downtown, it puts guests in the heart of the city's best shopping, tourist and business area, just a 10-minute stroll from top Beijing attractions including the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square. Sleek design and neutral tones make for a relaxed atmosphere in which to work, rest or play and all rooms are kitted out with luxurious bedding and the usual modern conveniences to make your stay as comfortable as possible. The recently-renovated Club Floor is ideal for business travelers and rooms on higher floors offer views of the Forbidden City. Two in-house restaurants offer Western and Chinese diningoptions: Angus Grill and Beijing Xiaowang's Home, and of course, the famous Wangfujing food street is just steps away for guests hungering after something a little more unusual. Four well-equipped meeting rooms are available for events for up to 300 people. Hotel Facilities Meeting facilities, Business center, Currency exchange, Ticket office, Taxi calling service, Gift shop, Beauty salon, Laundry service, Handicapped friendly rooms, Charged parking, Airport pickup service, Escalator/elevator, Chinese Restaurant, Western Restaurant, Coffee shop, Bar/lounge, Central air conditioning, Slipper, Writing desk, 24 hours hot water, Electric kettle, Bathtub, Hair dryer, In-room safe, domestic direct-dial, International direct-dial, Indoor swimming pool, Fitness facilities, Massage, Sauna Hotel Address/Location 48 Wangfujing Avenue (Wangfujing Dajie) Railway Station Beijing Railway Station 4 km Airport Beijing Capital International Airport 37 km Downtown Tian'anmen Square 2.5 km Attractions around the Hotel Tian'an Men Square Wangfujing Area Forbidden City Qianmen Street Close
Lhasa	Four Points By Sheraton, Lhasa Brief Introduction Situated in eastern Lhasa city, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa situated in a very convenient location on the Lhasa River and faces Jiangsu Avenue. The hotel has 102 guest rooms, including three suites, are warm and inviting with a contemporary design. Guests can enjoy the comforts of home like a 32-inch flat screen LCD TV, free High Speed Internet Access, Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, and more. Service with a Smile. Come and experience friendly, honest service as staff welcomes you to beautiful Lhasa city. Three dining venues provide everything you need to make your stay complete. Hotel Facilities Business center, Car/Bus rental, Ticketing office, Laundry house, Parking lot, 73 guest rooms including three suites. Flat screen LCD TV, free High Speed Internet Access, Developed dinning facilities and different kinds of cuisines Hotel Address/Location 5 Section 1 Lin Kuo East Road 30km to Lhasa Railway Station Attractions around the Hotel Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street Norbulingka Tibet Museum Lhasa Nunnery Close
Hong Kong	InterContinental Grand Stanford Brief Introduction The InterContinental Grand Stanford is conveniently located by the sea, overlooking Victoria Harbor. A short walk from major sights in Hong Kong, the hotel also grants guests easy access to the Star Ferry Pier and an MTR station. Guestrooms are elegantly designed and decorated, featuring mini-bars and internet access. Executive rooms feature extra amenities, such as fax machines. The hotel houses three world-class restaurants, caters to a variety of international tastes. For recreational pursuits, the hotel offers guests a rooftop swimming pool and fitness center. Hotel Facilities Meeting facilities, Business center, Currency exchange, Chinese cuisine, Western cuisine, Coffee shop, Bar/lounge, domestic direct-dial, International direct-dial, Massage, Sauna, Outdoor swimming pool Hotel Address/Location 70 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon Hung Hom Station 1 km East Tsim Sha Tsui Station 1 km SOGO Causeway Bay 4 km Hong Kong International Airport 38 km Attractions around the Hotel Victoria Harbor Star Avenue Victoria Peak Close
Xi'an	Sheraton Xian North City Hotel Brief Introduction Ideal for guests in town on either business or pleasure, the Sheraton Xian North City Hotel is conveniently located outside the North Gate of the city wall, at the intersection of Longshou North Road and the major north-south thoroughfare Weiyang Road. Corporate and government offices and the old city are just a few minutes away, while the train station is 10 kilometres from the hotel and Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is 35 kilometres away. Hotel Facilities Multilingual staff, restaurants, room service (24 hours), ATM/banking, audio-visual equipment, child care, banquet facilities, bar/lounge, beauty services, business center, coffee shop, concierge desk, meeting rooms, currency exchange, dry cleaning/laundry service, gift shop, town car service, massage spa treatments, medical assistance, parking (free), safe-deposit box, tour assistance. High-speed internet, climate control, satellite television, voice mail, direct-dial phone, free local calls, refrigerator, mini-bar, coffee/tea maker, complimentary bottled water, wake-up calls, makeup/shaving mirror, slippers, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, bathroom phone, desk, iron, ironing board, in-room safe, rollaway beds, non-smoking rooms. Atrium Coffee Shop features International and Asian cuisine beneath a 60-foot roof with skylights; Cathay Chinese Restaurant serves Cantonese and Sichuan dishes and local specialties; Lobby Lounge offers afternoon tea or evening cocktails with outdoor garden seating. Hair salon, sauna, swimming pool, spa services, fitness facilities. Ballroom holds 400 people, meeting rooms, business center, audiovisual equipment. Hotel Address/Location No. 32 Wei Yang Road, Xian 1.6 km to Ming City Wall and Gates 3 km to Bell Tower 3.0 km to Xi'an Train Station 35 km to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport 20 km to Xian International Golf Club 48 km to Qin Terracotta Warriors Attractions around the Hotel Banpo Museum and Neolithic Village City Wall and Gates Bell Tower Big Wild Goose Pagoda Close

Escorted Package Includes

The first entrance and admission fees to the spots as indicated in the itinerary
Private transfer service in each city as specified
Excellent English-speaking guide service as specified
8 nights hotel accommodations and 1 night on soft sleeper train

a. 3 nights, Beijing

b. 3 nights, Lhasa

c. 1 night, on train

d. 2 nights, Xian

f. 2 nights, Hong Kong

5. All meals as listed

a. 9 hotel western/Chinese breakfasts

b. 1 A la carte meal, Peking roast duck dinner and dumpling banquet as specified

6. Featured local shows and performances

a. Chinese Kungfu Show/ Peking Opera in Beijing

b. Tang dynasty dinner show in Xian

7. Domestic flights of Beijing/Lhasa, Xian/Hong Kong with fuel charges and airport construction fee; soft sleeper train of Lhasa/Xi’an

Special Features

Great Wall

Forbidden City

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

Lama Doctrines Debate

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

About Your Trip

This tour begins with Beijing, the capital of China. Tian An Men Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Ming tombs are some must-see spots in Beijing, an excursion to Great Wall will title you a hero, since Chairman Mao (Mao Zedong) once said: ”he who hasn’t visited the Great Wall is not a true man”.

As the paradise of travelers, the high altitude makes Lhasa a dreamland for travelers, the unique culture, mysterious religion and splendid plateau landscape are all waiting for your own discovery.

Taking soft sleeper train from Lhasa to Xian will be one of the highlights in the tour. Through the UV blocked window, you will be attracted by the flashing glimpse of Chinese countryside, the flat cultivated lands, brown hills, and riverside valleys etc. When you are near the Tibetan plateau, the train passes through the 5200-meters high Tangula Mountain, the pretty surreal mountain views will appear. You can fully enjoy yourselves and appreciate the beautiful natural scenery in the train.

The last stop is Xi’an, once served as the capital city in Chinese history for 13 dynasties. This city will bring you more atmospheres of culture and history when you visit the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, ancient City Wall and so on.

To enrich your travel experience in China, China Dragon Tour offers the following optional programs to help you get deeper understanding of Chinese culture, just click and add them to your tours, you will enjoy a far more memorable China vacation.

Xi'an

USD 40 PP

DIY Terra Cotta Warriors Models
After visiting Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, you could learn how to make Terra Cotta Warriors models, and keep them as souvenirs, this will be a memorable experience of your China tour.

USD 15 PP

Cycling on Ancient City Wall
Xian City Wall is the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China, when visiting the ancient City Wall, where is also good place for cycling, biking on top of the wall in this section, you will have a bird's eye view of the city.

USD 20 PP

Shadow Playing Show
Shadow play is a special drama rooted in China. It is a kind of performing art with manifold arias and genres. As an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment, it uses opaque, often articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images. We are very excited to present you, one of the oldest Chinese entertainments.

USD 20 PP

Paper Cutting Learning
Paper cutting is a traditional art that has evolved throughout the course of Chinese cultural development. Its origin should be closely connected with the invention of paper during the Han dynasty. Chinese people used to paste the paper cuttings on their windows in the traditional Chinese New Year as to celebrate the New Year, you will not only learn how to make your own paper cutting but also have the chance to learn the skills of knife and scissors to dynamically depict splendid Chinese culture and folk festivals.

USD 20 PP

Chinese Calligraphy Learning
Chinese calligraphy is the art of turning square Chinese characters into expressive images by the responsiveness of rice paper and speed and pressure of a pointed Chinese brush. Calligraphy manifests the basic characteristics of all Chinese arts. Calligraphy is not only a practical technique for writing Chinese characters, but also a unique Oriental art of expression and a branch of learning or discipline as well. Just follow us and learn more about our unique Chinese culture.

* Prices shown below based on Per Person.

SeasonGroup Size		2-5 Travelers	6-9 Travelers	10 Travelers & above
High Season (Mar 1st- Nov 30th)	Double Occupancy	USD 3469	USD 3139	USD 2979
High Season (Mar 1st- Nov 30th)	Single Occupancy	USD 4639	USD 4309	USD 4129
Low Season (Dec 1st- Next Feb 28th)	Double Occupancy	USD 3069	USD 2739	USD 2569
Low Season (Dec 1st- Next Feb 28th)	Single Occupancy	USD 3789	USD 3459	USD 3269

Remark: To take this tour, you may enjoy up to 10% Early Bird Discount.

Service Includes:

1. The first entrance fees of the spots as specified;
2. Daily lunches and/or dinners at local finest restaurants;
3. Excellent private guide & driver with private clean and air-conditioned car or van;
4. Hotels with daily western & Chinese buffet breakfasts;
5. Internal flights and/or train charge & taxes;
6. Travel Agency’s Liability Insurance with your tour inside China;
7. Government taxes;
8. Tibet Travel Permit application fee applicable.

Service Excludes:

1. Individual private expense including but not limited to laundry, drink, telex, phone calls or excess luggage charges. etc.;
2. The international flight or train charge of entering and exiting China;
3. China entry visa fees;
4. Meals that are not indicated in the itinerary;
5. Gratuities to guides and drivers.

Getting Ready to Go

Visa: Visas are required for China

Passengers must check with the local Chinese embassy or consultation to determine what personal identification and profile is required to apply a China Visa. Passengers who enter, leave and then re-enter the same country on their itinerary should check if they require a double-entry visa.

Insurance: Actually China Dragon Tour purchases the Travel Service Liability Insurance for every passenger when you book tours via this website (except those who only book hotel or air flight). However, to buy a relatively higher quality life insurance by passengers’ is highly suggested.

Preparation

A considerate pre-planning can make your trip go smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you and then prepare one by one. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas) are in order and that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip. China Dragon Tour suggests that you make copies of passports, visas, and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names. If you lose the originals while traveling, you'll have copies for easier reporting and replacement.

How to make a telephone call in China

Before you depart, please make sure your cell phone can dial international calls. When dialing a number from China to your country, you should proceed as follows: dial your country's Exit Code + destination Country Code + Phone Number. For most countries, the exit code is 00. Exceptions include the USA and Canada (011), Hong Kong and Cambodia (001), Australia (0011), and Russia (8 Pause 10*). For Brazil, please consult with the local telephone company. If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0 (zero), you must drop this starting digit when dialing the number.

In hotels you are able to dial a call back to your country and it is usually much cheaper than your cell phone.

Health Information

Check with your personal physician for the latest overseas travel health information.

Climate and Clothing

China is a huge country with varied climates. In general, the north is cold and dry in winter. In the south, summer is hot and humid, with a rainy season from July through September.

Bring comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather jacket. Some religious sites may require modest dress to enter (no shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless tops).

Tour guide from China Dragon Tour will inform you the next day’s weather and tempereture

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Update:Oct 26,2011

Nationality:US, United States

Dear Brad
Thank you for giving us such an opportunity to share our travel comments on your website.
Generally speaking, everything went well during this trip to China.
The guide service is quite good roughly. I will never forget the Beijing guide Kate, who told us a lot of story of the emperors of Qing Dynasty. Jessie in Xi'an was also excellent. She was quite a teacher. She could answer all the questions we asked about Chinese history. Mr. Wu in Shanghai also made a good tour guide in China. He was patient, and always on time. One point I want to say is that, they were all well educated and proud of your country.
The drivers were kind, friendly and helpful always. They offered us water during the tour, although I know this is an arrangement of your company, I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of them. Mr. Lee in Xi'an was a nice people. You may never image that he had a small refrigerator on his car. Because of this, we were able to drink the cold water when we came back from the Terra Cotta Warriors.
All the lunch you arranged was of high quality. Among those we liked the vegetarian food in Xi'an the best. I was surprised that the stuff in the restaurant could speak English and she gave us an brief introduction to the dishes.
By the way, thanks for coming to see us when we arrive in Xi'an. Also, it is very smart for your company to have an evaluation card in each city. We believe this is the best way to control the service quality.
We think we will recommend you to our friend.
Peggy & Hopkins
Peggy

Update:Jul 29,2008

Nationality:CA Canada

Hi Brad,
we returned to Canada and gained back a day and must comment that our trip to China was marvelous including with the start in Hong Kong. We really appreciate the work into setting up our itinerary and I must admit everything was covered 100 percent. We were also very impressed with all our guides, Candy in Siahuan, (sp) Kevins was great in Chengdu and Linda in Beijing. Our drivers were also very good drivers. The tour guides did a very good job covering all the things that we saw and explaining everything. They were very patient and made life very easy.
In all our stops the guides and drivers were more than patient if it took me a little longer to get in and out of the car and also along the way at the stops. I think that the extraordinary thing is that all these young people have a very good sense of humour and more than enough patience. They certainly were a joy to be with.
I hope that you are feeling better and that you will be able to enjoy your smoked salmon with your family. It is already cooked all you have to do is eat it. It was unfortunate that we could not meet but I know that I made a good choice when I picked your company to organize our tour. Thanks again and have a very good Summer Olympic Games.
Sincerely, Helen Paterson
Jack&Helen

Update:Apr 18,2008

Nationality:DE Germany

Dear E&A Company of CTS,

my family has returned well and in general the tour was well organized. They
complimented the the organization of the tour.

They explicitly praised the guides Jenny and Andreas in
Shanghai/Suzhou/Hangzhou and Kevin in Jiuzhaigou.

All in all they were happy and enjoyed the trip.

Kind regards,
Susanne Schwarz-Njo
Susanne

Update:Dec 27,2007

Nationality:CA Canada

Dear China Dragon Tour,

I just come back from my China tour operating by you. I appreciate it a lot. Here I would like to say THANK YOU to all of you for arranging such a wonderful tour for me and my family.

Although we spend our Christmans Eve in China, we feel like at home because the tour guide in Shanghai sent us Christmas gifts. She said that were arranged by you. So, thanks for your consideration.
Banner

Update:Nov 23,2007

Nationality:US United States

Dear Jessie,
We are sad to be leaving Xi'an. It is much an interesting city and we have enjoyed your company so much.You have been the perfect hoster, making all we needed have been met. You have also clearly explained the history of China for us and we are keen to learn more when we go home.
We wish you luck and good fortune for the future and we hope for your double happiness in the coming years.
Most sincerely
Keith and Elaine.
Keith

Update:Nov 8,2007

Nationality:Sydney

Dear Alan and Mr. Lee,
DAniel and I are extremely happy to have met you on our brief but highly memorable visit to Xi'an China.
You have been very kind, helpful and generous to us and for that we are very very thankful.
Alan, you have been a great guide; to teach us more about the beliefs, history and customs of the Chinese dynasties as well as modern day practices of China. You are very knowledgeable and selfless; always considering others by helping in anyway you can. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours in international trade and fairness.
Should you wish to come to Sydney, please do keep in touch, we would like to meet you again.
Mr. Lee, you have also been very helpful and friendly to us. Your thoughtful nature and generousity has been greatly appreciated. You are a very good driver on the crazy roads of Xi'an. We had a lot of fun watching the traffic and your skillful driving.
Take care, and all the best wishes to you both.
Warmest regards.
Daniel & Eleonor
Daniel

Update:Nov 6,2007

Nationality:USA

Dear Brad,
Thank you for taking such good care of us. You did a great job and Jack and I enjoyed your company and your love of your city Xi'an.
Pat and Jack Ruth
PAt

Update:Oct 16,2007

Nationality:USA

Dear Brad,
Thank you for the good, it should be excellent, service you gave me.I appreciate everything you have done for me.
1.Explained history clearly.
2.Patient.
3.Be on time always.
4.Helpful and caring.

Good luck in your career.

Sincerely
Pat Sun
Sun

Update:Oct 12,2007

Nationality:USA

Oct 10th
Aaron,
We all want to thank you for having such a wonderful guide in Xi'an! Your explanation was so interesting and very well organized. We learned so much about the fascinating city and its showpiece, the Terra Cotta Soldiers.
Thank your for making the changes we requested. We are a very happy group because of you.
With you the best luck in the future, your career, and your future life.
Diana Browm
Diana

Update:Oct 8,2007

Nationality:Ner Zealand

A very well organized tour.
When road was crowded, our driver found a very interesting way to get to the Terra-cotta Soldiers. Allen had a nice manner and was very helpful.
Barbara

Questions & Answers

Jan 4,2012
Ask by Mr.Villenas (US, United States)

Answer

Transfer to Hotel

Hi,we are arriving into Beijing International airport at 2315pm on 14 April. Would you please kindly advise what is the best solution to get my hotel? I will stay at Crown Plaza. Many Thanks Helen

Jan 4,2012
Answer from Mr.王 (CN, China)

the best way is to take taxi to hotel directly.

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