14 Days Private Train Journey: Beijing-Xi'an-Lhasa-Chengdu

Welcome to our beautiful country. Upon arrival, be met by our private guide and driver with a warm smile. They will transfer you to the hotel and help you check-in in your hotel. The rest time is free time on your arrangements.

No meals

• Hotels: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel Room

Beijing International Airport

After a sound sleep in the hotel, you will explore the Tian’anmen Square, the center of Beijing and the largest urban open square in the world. Walking through Tian’anmen Square, you will tour the Forbidden City. It was home for 24 Emperors from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

After a local lunch, take a short visit to Jingshan Park where you can get a nice shot of one watchtower of the Forbidden City and take a panoramic view of Forbidden City. Walk around the Hutongs and visit a Hutong family and you will experience the “old” Beijing in the new Beijing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Jindingxuan Dim Sum Restaurant with a la carte menu

Feature Dinner Option: Peking Roast Duck (Dadong Peking Duck, Qianmen Quanjude Peking Duck), Fangshan Restaurant, Mei Family Restaurant, Bai Family Restaurant)

Optional Evening Activity: Peking Opera or Kungfu Show

Notes:

• Kindly note that boat cruise on Kunming Lake is usually not available from December to March as the water will freeze.
• There are 2 exits in Xi’an North Railway Station, South Exit and North Exit. South Exit is usually the main exit. To ensure that we can pick you up smoothly, our guide and driver will wait for you at the 2 exits separately. You will have the guide’s contact information in advance in case that you cannot find them.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

Forbidden City

Tian’anmen Square

Hutong Tour

Morning tour to Temple of Heaven, which used to be where emperors offered sacrifices to the gods of Heaven for harvest. Now it is a bustling place where locals take part in traditional activities such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, and others. Drive about 1.5 hours to become a real hero by visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less crowded yet well-preserved segment of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty. Cable car, chairlift and slide way are available here. We will include one of them for you based on your preference in the tour. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant with a la carte menu

Note: Cable care, chairlift and toboggan are at your choice. We can arrange it based on your preference.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

Temple of Heaven

Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall

After breakfast, drive to the outskirts of Beijing to spend an enjoyable time in the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. After lunch, you will be transferred to the Beijing West Railway Station to take the bullet train to Xi’an. You will be picked up by your Xi’an local guide at Xian North Railway Station and escorted to your hotel. The rest of the day is on your own arrangement.

Notes:

• Kindly note that boat cruise on Kunming Lake is usually not available from December to March as the water will freeze.
• There are 2 exits in Xi’an North Railway Station, South Exit and North Exit. South Exit is usually the main exit. To ensure that we can pick you up smoothly, our guide and driver will wait for you at the 2 exits separately. You will have the guide’s contact information in advance in case that you cannot find them.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

Summer Palace with cruise

Beijing West Railway Station

Business Class Seat

First Class Seat

Second Class Seat

Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian

Sofitel Legend Suite

As the guards of Qin shi Huang, the first feudal emperor in Chinese history, Terracotta Armies were huge and orderly. Uncover the mysterious veil of this historical site with the introduction of the guide. You will be amazed by these fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans.

After Lunch, you will be transferred back to the city area to wander leisurely around bustling and lively Muslim Quarter, a place where you can try different local snacks and explore Muslim culture. What you should not miss is the Great Mosque. It is a fusion of Chinese culture and Islamic culture, hidden in the bustling streets.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at local restaurant near the Terra-Cotta Warriors scenic area with a la carte menu

Feature Dinner option: Defachang Dumpling Restaurant, Lao Sun Jia Muslim Restaurant, First Noodle under the Sun

Optional evening activity: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dumpling Banquet

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

Terra-Cotta Warriors

Copper Carriage

Muslim Street

Great Mosque

Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show

Lao Sun Jia Muslim Restaurant

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby on time. You will tour the ancient City Wall, the most completed city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. After a quick touch of the Xi’an history, you will get to know the local life and eating culture by taking a dumpling making lesson in a local family and chat with the locals. You will enjoy the dumplings made by yourself with the locals after the lesson. Move on to one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks, Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Then the night is for your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in the local family

Note: Tandem is available for family with small kids on the Xi’an City Wall

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

Ancient City Wall Biking

Dumpling Making

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After breakfast, head to the train station to take the regular overnight train to Lhasa. You will appreciate the different scenery along the way to Tibet. 

Meals: Breakfast

Note: There are 4 bunks in one soft sleeper cabin, which means you will have to share one cabin with other 2 travelers if you are a group of 2. Please note there are only public toilets between each carriage on the train. Shower facility is not available.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Z Train to Lhasa

Soft Sleeper

Xian Railway Station

To ensure you a worry-free arrival, our guide and driver will wait for you at the train station exit. Our guide will help you take care of the hotel check-in. After that, you can rest in the hotel to get used to the high altitude or explore the surroundings on your own.

No meals

• Hotels: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa

Potala Palace View Room

Shambala Terrace Night

Shangri La Lhasa

Train En Route

Today is your first day to explore the highland. We specially arrange you the attractions needing smaller physical strength. As the largest monastery of Tibet constructed in 1416, Drepung Monastery plays an important role in Tibet Buddhism. Sera Monastery is also one of Lhasa’s three largest monasteries (Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery) and is the place where Buddhist maters preach. There are thousands of sculptures of Buddha some of which are from India. Lunch will be arranged in a well-chosen local restaurant, after which a visit to Norbulingka will take place. As the biggest manmade garden in Tibet Autonomous Region, Norbulingka, in Tibetan, refers to “Park of Treasure” and used to be the summer palace of Dalai Lamas to deal with the government issues and hold religious activities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Tibet Steak House with a la carte menu

Feature Dinner option: Tibetan Family Kitchen, Phin Tsok Ge Don Restaurant

Notes:

• Slow down your movement, even if you feel energetic. Moving slowly is the best way to avoid mountain sickness.
• The first two days arriving in Tibet, we suggest visitors keep warm, not take a bath, smokers smoke as little as possible, and do not drink alcohol.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa

Sera Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Norbulingka

Norbulingka

Greeted by your local guide in the hotel lobby after breakfast, you will be escorted to Potala Palace, regarded as landmark and the symbol of Tibet. After lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple with a history of more than 1,300 years and many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here. Follow on is the visit to Barkhor Street. It is an area of narrow streets and a public square. The street is a good place for visitors to learn about Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts.

Meals: Breakfast, Lhasa Kitchen with a la carte menu

Note:

• Follow all the taboos of Tibetan Buddhism when visiting Potala Palace, such as not wearing a hat, not taking pictures inside.
• There are 1080 steps to the Potala Palace. It may be a little tiring, so you can stop for some rest from time to time.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa

Potala Palace

Family Potala Palace

Barkhor Street

Jokhang Temple

Today, you will leave Tibet. After saying goodbye to your Lhasa guide and driver, you will take the flight to Chengdu. You will arrive at the hometown of pandas and many delicious foods, Chengdu after the 2 hours’ flight. Upon your arrival, you will find your name sign held by our Chengdu guide at the arrival hall. The guide will show you to the parking lot to find the driver and help you do the hotel check-in. Enjoy your first night in Chengdu on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, Chengdu Xijinge All Suites Apartment

The Ritz Carlton

Room

Suite

Get up earlier today to get a close contact with the cute pandas. You will not watch them, but also take care of them for one day as a panda keeper. Your tasks include feeding the pandas with bamboo and apple and making panda breads with the teachers. You might have to do some cleaning duties in the enclosure, or collect and weigh the panda poop. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in the panda base

Feature Dinner option: Lao Ma Tou Hotpot, Huang Cheng Lao Ma

Optional evening activity: Face changing show and taste the local tea in Shufengyayun Theater

Note: Kindly note that there is age restriction for the panda keeper program from 10 to 65 years old for the consideration of safety.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, Chengdu Xijinge All Suites Apartment

Face changing show

Panda Keeper Program

Panda Keeper Program

Panda Keeper Program

Every park in China is not only for sightseeing, but also for exercises. The People's Park is no exception. You will find lots of locals, especially seniors doing exercises in the park every day. Find a local tea shop to taste the local tea and feel the atmosphere of this city.

Explore the Jinli Ancient Street for some local snacks. The stores and hotels with old-fashioned style are the feature of it. Close by is the Wuhou Ancestral Hall, which was an memorial temple with a history covering over one-thousand-years, established as a memorial to the prime minister of Shu (221 - 263) in the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280) - Zhuge Liang.

The whole day tour will end at Jinsha Site Museum. It has become a landmark building in Chengdu, with 2235 pieces of cultural relic collections - gold ware, bronze ware, jade ware, stone ware, lacquered wood ware and pottery and ivory.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in a local hot pot restaurant with a la carte menu

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, Chengdu Xijinge All Suites Apartment

People’s Park

Wuhou Ancestral Hall

Jinli Ancient Street

Jinsha Site Museum

After a simple touch of Chinese culture, history and food, today you will say goodbye to our guide and driver and take an international flight home. Your private vehicle, driver, and guide will transport you to the airport and take you all the way to the security gate for your convenience.

Meals: Breakfast

Tips:

• For the train travel, you’d better arrive at the train station at least 40 minutes in advance.
• Kindly note that the Forbidden City is closed on every Monday. If you happen to have Forbidden City in your schedule on Monday, our guide will help you adjust the arrangements.
• People with serious heart disease should not go to Tibet, and people with light heart troubles follow doctors' advice, as should people with high or low blood pressure.

• Meals: Breakfast,