See the most famous sights in China: The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and adorable pandas. Explore the mystical land of Tibet to discover fabulous palaces, holy monasteries and sacred temples. Complete your tour with a relaxing cruise on the Yangtze River.
Days 1-2: Fly to Beijing
Fly overnight to Beijing, China's capital city.
Day 3: Forbidden City
Sightseeing today includes a stroll through Tiananmen Square, past Chairman Mao's Mausoleum to the treasure-filled Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China. We also visit the unique Temple of Heaven. Our evening meal includes the local delicacy, Peking Duck.
Day 4: Great Wall & Summer Palace
Walk on the Great Wall to appreciate 2,000 years of historical significance whilst admiring the panoramic views. The Great Wall is Chinas most iconic attraction, which stretches over 4,000 miles from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west. Also, tour the exquisite Summer Palace and see a fascinating Chinese Acrobatic show in the evening.
Day 5: Fly to Xian
Fly to Xian, the former ancient capital and visit the Shaanxi Museum which is home to thousands of priceless relics. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Shui Jiao dumpling meal followed by a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.
Day 6: Terracotta Warriors
Visit one of the most important archÅological discoveries of the 20th century the Terracotta Warriors. The figures were created over 2,000 years ago to accompany Emperor Qin Shihuang into the afterlife. We also walk along the Ancient City Walls and stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter to explore the Islamic food markets.
Day 7: Fly to Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet. The afternoon is at leisure to help acclimatise to the altitude.
Day 8: Jokhang Temple & Bazaar
Sightseeing today includes a stroll around the Barkhor circuit where traditional dress, market stalls selling religious trinkets and the sound of chanted prayers create the atmosphere of a medieval carnival. We also visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, which is the most sacred in Tibet and the Sera Monastery, which has about 600 monks in residence.
Day 9: Potala Palace and Norbulingka
Explore the crown jewel of Tibet the Potala Palace. The palace is an architectural wonder that towers over the city with thousands of rooms filled with treasures such as intricate shrines and beautiful frescoes. We also visit Norbulingka; the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama, containing several palaces and chapels; and a local Tibetan carpet workshop. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner and dance performance in the evening.
Day 10: Fly to Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province where we will take a tour of the city's highlights. Enjoy a delicious Sichuan meal in the evening.
Day 11: Panda Conservation Centre
Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see these charismatic animals being reared in wooded surroundings reminiscent of their natural habitat. Travel to Chongqing to board your Yangtze River cruise for the next three nights.
Days 12-13: Yangtze River Cruise
Over the next two days, we will take a side trip to the striking Goddess Stream or the Shennong Stream. We also enjoy various shore excursions along the way.
Day 14: Fly to Shanghai
After visiting the site of the Three Gorges Dam you will disembark your cruise in Yichang. Fly to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the "Paris of the East" where we will enjoy a dinner of traditional Shanghai cuisine.
Day 15: Discover Shanghai
Sightseeing today includes a stroll through the beautiful Yu Gardens and the Old Town as well as a visit to the Shanghai Museum, which houses over 120,000 pieces of bronze, coins, jade, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. We also walk along the famous Bund with its colonial architecture and explore the restored Xintiandi area featuring unique 1920s style Shikumen buildings. In the evening, enjoy a cruise on the panoramic Huangpu River, where the historic Bund and the futuristic Pudong come face-to-face, before having a dinner of traditional Shanghai cuisine.
Day 16: Fly Shanghai to UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.
Moderate
‘China & Tibet Discovery’ is a moderate tour. This mean that the itinerary requires a good level of fitness. ▪ On several days there will be sightseeing on foot for extended periods of time. ▪ Whilst in Lhasa, you will be at an altitude of 3,700m which may cause some customers to experience Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) symptoms. AMS occurs in some people when they travel to altitudes over 3,000m [9,840 feet].
Your accommodation is selected for convenience of location, comfort or character, and can range from a business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. In more remote areas, accommodation may be of a lower standard and may not have all western amenities.
Coaches: Coaches with air conditioning are used on our group tours for city sightseeing, short excursions to the countryside and longer transfers where necessary.
Most Wendy Wu groups consist of 10 travellers or more and will be accompanied by both a National Escort and local guides. There will usually be no more than 29 travellers in each group although you may encounter other Wendy Wu tour groups while you are travelling.
Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don't include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment's notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.
