Best of China with Tibet (19 days)

Beijing – Xi’an – Chengdu – Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Lhasa – Chongqing – Dazu– Shanghai

Join us on an extraordinary journey to Tibet, the “Roof of the World”! High above the clouds, Tibet is a land of breathtaking landscapes, profound spirituality and ancient traditions. Highlights include the magnificent Potala Palace, sacred monasteries, turquoise Yamdrok Lake and a visit to a Tibetan family.

This luxury China tour also features the Great Wall, Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, Chengdu’s giant pandas and the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings. 

Please note that the tour reaches elevations of up to 5,020 metres. Travellers should be aware of altitude sickness risks and take appropriate precautions.

Important Features

• Small group size – average 15, maximum 20
• Expert local guides hand-picked by company owners
• No shopping stops
• Quality meals at non-tourist restaurants
• Unlimited supply of bottled water during group activities
• Great Wall visit at Mutianyu with cable car

Options Available

• Peking opera show in Beijing
• Princess Wencheng stage performance in Lhasa
• Face changing performance in Chengdu

Best of China with Tibet Itinerary

Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner

Day 1/Thu: Departing for Beijing
Depart from a city of your choice, losing a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our driver on arrival for your transfer to the hotel. You’ll have the remainder of the day at leisure. The guide will contact you in the evening.

Day 3/Sat: Beijing (B/L/D)
The capital of China, Beijing is a major cultural, educational and political centre with a population exceeding 20 million. One of China’s great historic cities, it served as the imperial capital for much of the past eight centuries. Beijing is renowned for its magnificent palaces, temples, ancient city gates and other historical landmarks, many of which date back to the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties.

We begin today with a visit to the Forbidden City, officially known as the Palace Museum. This vast imperial complex served as the residence and administrative centre of the emperors of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. Built between 1406 and 1420, it comprises approximately 980 buildings spread over 72 hectares (180 acres). Its traditional Chinese palatial architecture influenced palace design throughout East Asia. Although the Qing Dynasty fell in 1912, the last emperor, Puyi, was allowed to remain in the Forbidden City until his expulsion in 1924. The Palace Museum opened the following year. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City is one of the world’s largest and best-preserved complexes of ancient wooden buildings.

Next is Tian’anmen Square, measuring approximately 880 metres from north to south and 500 metres from east to west. Tian’anmen Gate stands at its northern end, with the Monument to the People’s Heroes near the centre. The Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China flank the square to the west and east, respectively, while Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and Qianmen (Front Gate) lie to the south. Since the May Fourth Movement of 1919, Tian’anmen Square and its surroundings have been associated with major political events and demonstrations, including the pro-democracy protests of 1989.

Our afternoon sightseeing takes us to the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in southeastern Beijing, this vast complex was where Ming and Qing emperors performed elaborate ceremonies and offered sacrifices to Heaven, praying for good harvests and the well-being of the empire. Construction began in 1406 under the Yongle Emperor and was completed in 1420. The complex was subsequently expanded and renovated during the Qing Dynasty. Covering 273 hectares (674 acres), the Temple of Heaven is nearly four times the size of the Forbidden City.

The Hongqiao Pearl Market is located across the street from the Temple of Heaven. Known for its freshwater pearls, jewellery and other merchandise, it attracts both local and international shoppers. If interested, you may ask the guide to drop you off there after sightseeing, but you will need to return to the hotel independently by taxi.

Dinner tonight features Peking roast duck, one of Beijing’s best-known dishes. Traditionally roasted until the skin is crisp, the duck is carved tableside and served with thin pancakes, scallions, cucumber and a savoury sauce.

Day 4/Sun: Beijing (B/L)
After an early breakfast, we set out on a full-day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, approximately 75 kilometres northeast of central Beijing.

The Great Wall is one of China’s most impressive engineering achievements. Its earliest sections date back to the 7th century BCE, when individual states built defensive walls against rival states and nomadic groups. Following China’s unification in 221 BCE, the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, ordered existing fortifications to be connected and extended. Successive dynasties continued to build and maintain defensive walls, but the most extensive reconstruction took place during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), when much of the brick-and-stone Wall familiar to visitors today was built.

Stretching across northern China, the Great Wall was intended to defend against incursions from the north, regulate border crossings and facilitate military communications. Despite its formidable appearance, it was never an impenetrable barrier, as demonstrated by the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th century under Genghis Khan and his successors, including Kublai Khan.

The Mutianyu section, originally established in the 6th century and substantially rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty, is known for its well-preserved watchtowers and mountain scenery. Cable car rides are included, allowing visitors to spend more time exploring the Wall itself.

Day 5/Mon: Beijing – Xi’an (B/L)
We begin our sightseeing with a visit to a traditional hutong neighbourhood. Hutongs are narrow alleyways lined with siheyuan, traditional courtyard houses typically enclosed by buildings on four sides. The term hutong dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) and is believed to derive from a Mongolian word meaning “water well,” reflecting the importance of wells as gathering places in early settlements.

Next is the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s finest imperial gardens. Originally known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, much of the complex was destroyed by British and French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Reconstruction began in 1886, and the garden was renamed Yiheyuan (Garden of Nurtured Harmony). Covering approximately 290 hectares, the Summer Palace is dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, with more than 3,000 bays of traditional buildings spread throughout the grounds.

After lunch, we board a high-speed train to Xi’an (approximately 4 hours 20 minutes). The journey takes us through the North China Plain, passing farmland, villages and rapidly developing cities. China’s extensive high-speed rail network, built largely over the past two decades, has transformed intercity travel, making long-distance journeys faster and more convenient.

Day 6/Tue: Xi’an (B/L)
With a history spanning more than 3,000 years, Xi’an served as the capital of several Chinese dynasties, including the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) and Tang (618–907). It was also the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting China with Central Asia and regions as far west as the Mediterranean.

We spend the morning visiting the Terracotta Army, located approximately 30 kilometres east of Xi’an. Discovered by local farmers in 1974, this extraordinary collection of life-sized terracotta warriors and horses was created to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor (221–210 BCE), in the afterlife. The site is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch, we return to the city for a stroll along the ancient city wall. Originally built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it is one of China’s best-preserved city walls. The wall runs approximately 13.7 kilometres around the old city, enclosing an area of 14 square kilometres. Standing 12 metres high, it measures between 15 and 18 metres thick at its base.

Day 7/Wed: Xi’an – Chengdu (B/L/D)
Morning sightseeing begins at Xi’an Museum. One of the city’s leading cultural institutions, Xi’an Museum houses more than 110,000 historical artefacts, including ancient bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and works of art spanning several thousand years of Chinese history. The museum complex also encompasses the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and the historic Jianfu Temple grounds. Together, these attractions offer a fascinating introduction to Xi’an’s rich cultural heritage and its importance as one of China’s great ancient capitals.

We then visit the Great Mosque in the old town centre and the adjacent Muslim Quarter. The mosque was established in the 8th century, although most of the surviving complex dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), with further additions during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Unlike many mosques in the Middle East, the Great Mosque is predominantly Chinese in architectural style, with traditional courtyards, pavilions and tiled roofs rather than the domes and minarets commonly associated with Islamic architecture elsewhere.

This afternoon, we travel by high-speed train to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Situated on the fertile Chengdu Plain, the city is known for its rich history, distinctive cuisine and relaxed lifestyle. The surrounding region has long been called the “Land of Abundance,” owing to its agricultural productivity.

Archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui and Jinsha reveal that the Chengdu region was home to a sophisticated Bronze Age civilization long before the Qin conquest of the ancient state of Shu in 316 BCE.

Day 8/Thu: Chengdu (B/L)
Morning sightseeing takes us to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of China’s leading centres for giant panda conservation and research. Native to the mountainous regions of south-central China, the giant panda is easily recognized by its distinctive black-and-white markings. Although classified as a carnivore, it feeds almost exclusively on bamboo, spending much of its waking time eating. Giant pandas are generally solitary animals, and females usually give birth to one or two cubs after a gestation period of approximately five months. Newborn cubs are blind, nearly hairless and weigh only about 100 to 150 grams.

We spend much of the afternoon at Jinsha Site Museum, built around an important archaeological site discovered accidentally by construction workers in February 2001. Dating primarily from approximately 1200 to 650 BCE, Jinsha was a major centre of the ancient Shu civilization that flourished in the Chengdu region during the Bronze Age.

Excavations have uncovered thousands of artefacts made of gold, bronze, jade, ivory and stone, providing valuable insight into the religious beliefs, artistic achievements and daily life of this ancient society. Among the most celebrated discoveries is the exquisite gold ornament known as the Sun and Immortal Birds, which has become a symbol of China’s cultural heritage.

Jinsha shares many cultural characteristics with the earlier Sanxingdui civilization, whose principal archaeological site lies about 50 kilometres northeast of Chengdu. Archaeologists generally regard Jinsha as a later centre of the ancient Shu civilization, reflecting a shift in political and cultural activity towards the Chengdu Plain.

We conclude our sightseeing at Wangjianglou Park, known for its bamboo groves, traditional gardens and historic riverside tower. The park commemorates Xue Tao (768–831), one of the most celebrated female poets of the Tang dynasty. A stop at a traditional Chengdu teahouse offers a glimpse of the city’s relaxed lifestyle.

Day 9/Fri: Chengdu – Lhasa (B/D)
We board an early morning flight (2 hours 30 minutes) for Lhasa and spend the remainder of the day relaxing to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Situated in a wide, mountain-fringed valley on the north bank of the Kyichu River, Lhasa (elevation 3,650 m) is a rapidly expanding city with a population around 870,000 as of late 2022.

Lhasa’s rise to prominence began in the seventh century, when King Songtsen Gampo established his capital here and encouraged the development of Buddhism. Originally known as Rasa, the settlement gradually became known as Lhasa, meaning “Place of the Gods”. Following the decline of the Tibetan Empire in the ninth century, the city’s political importance diminished. Lhasa regained its position as Tibet’s centre of government in the 17th century under the Fifth Dalai Lama.

Day 10/Sat: Lhasa (B/L)
This morning we visit Norbulingka, whose name means “Jewelled Park”. First built in 1755, Norbulingka covers an area of 89 acres and served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. A short distance to the southwest of the Potala Palace, Norbulingka forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site collectively known as the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace.

This afternoon we tour the grand Sera Monastery, where lively debates held every day except Sunday between resident monks often draw a large audience. Sera Monastery is recognized as one of the “great three” Gelug university monasteries of Tibet together with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery.

Day 11/Sun: Lhasa (B/L)
This morning we visit the Potala Palace. This was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Now a museum, the palace is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The 5th Dalai Lama started its construction in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. The palace sits on the site of an earlier fortress built by King Songtsen Gampo. The main building measures 360 metres east-west and 140 metres north-south. Thickness of the exterior granite walls varies between 2 and 5 metres.

Afternoon sightseeing takes place at Jokhang Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist buildings in Tibet and a remarkable combination of Tibetan, Indian, Nepalese and Han Chinese architectural styles. No visit to Jokhang Temple is complete without exploring Barkhor Street and its lively market.

Day 12/Mon: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse (B/L/D)
Following breakfast, we drive along the Southern Route to Gyantse (265 km).

Highlights of the scenic drive include Kamba La Pass (4,700 metres above sea level) and the sacred Yamdrok Lake. Every summer, throngs of Tibetan pilgrims come to the lake to pray for blessings by the lake goddess.

Afternoon sightseeing in Gyantse takes in the Fortress of Gyantse Dzong and Pelkor Chode. We continue to Shigatse (90 km), arriving around dinnertime.

Day 13/Tue: Shigatse – Lhasa (B/L)
This morning we visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism. A visit to a local Tibetan family is also included.

After lunch we drive back to Lhasa via a different route – the better paved Northern Route (295 km). Vast pastureland, barren mountain slopes, snow-capped peaks, blue skies, white clouds, the scant population, and ubiquitous prayer flags – these images combine to conjure a sense of solitude and mystery.

Day 14/Wed: Lhasa – Chongqing (B)
Free day to explore on your own. Please ask your guide for recommendations.

The late-afternoon or early-evening flight to Chongqing takes approximately 2.5 hours. 

Situated at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing is one of China’s largest cities and a major economic centre in western China. Built across steep hills overlooking two great rivers, the city is famous for its dramatic skyline, multi-level streets and distinctive cuisine. Chongqing also played an important role in modern Chinese history, serving as the wartime capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).

Day 15/Thu: Chongqing – Dazu – Chongqing (B/L)
This morning, we set out on a full-day excursion to the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extraordinary collection of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian sculptures dating mainly from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

Day 16/Fri: Chongqing – Shanghai (B/L)
Free morning to relax or explore on your own.

Following lunch, we visit China Three Gorges Museum, whose extensive collections trace the history and culture of the upper Yangtze region, including the ancient Ba civilization and the enormous changes brought about by the Three Gorges Dam.

Across People’s Square stands Chongqing People’s Great Hall, an imposing landmark completed in 1954. Inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, the building is one of the city’s best-known landmarks.

We continue to Jiefangbei, Chongqing’s bustling commercial centre, where modern skyscrapers, shopping streets and lively public spaces reflect the city’s rapid development. Time permitting, we also visit nearby Shibati, a historic neighbourhood of steep stone stairways and traditional buildings that offers a glimpse of old Chongqing.

The evening flight to Shanghai takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Day 17/Sat: Shanghai (B/L/D)
With a population of nearly 25 million, Shanghai is China’s largest city and a major centre of international trade and commerce. Its modern skyline contrasts with historical landmarks that reflect the city’s colourful past.

We begin our day with a visit to Jade Buddha Temple in an old neighbourhood. We then walk along the famous Bund, a waterfront promenade with a fascinating history.

After lunch, we stroll through the historic People’s Park and adjacent People’s Square in the heart of the city. Originally part of the Shanghai Race Club, established in 1850, the park and square are surrounded by museums, shops and other cultural attractions.

We wrap up the day’s sightseeing with a tour of the exquisite Yu Garden in the old town centre.

Day 18/Sun: Shanghai (B)
Today is a free day.

If you are interested in Chinese art and history, Shanghai Museum East in Pudong would be an excellent place to spend half a day. The museum houses outstanding collections of ancient bronzes, ceramics, jade, paintings and calligraphy. The original Shanghai Museum at People’s Square now focuses mainly on special exhibitions.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and Nanwaitan Fabric Market, known for its numerous tailor shops, are also recommended.

Optional Suzhou Day Tour

After breakfast, we ride the high-speed train (30-40 minutes) to Suzhou.

Ancient Suzhou is best known for its classical gardens, canals and silk industry. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited Suzhou in the late 13th century and wrote admiringly of its prosperity and silk production. With its network of canals and waterways, Suzhou is often referred to as the “Venice of the East.”

Our sightseeing in Suzhou includes historic Tiger Hill, Humble Administrator’s Garden and a short canal cruise. We return to Shanghai by train in the late afternoon.

The all-inclusive price with lunch starts from US$250 per person and requires a minimum of 2 participants to operate.

Day 19/Mon: Shanghai – Home City (B)
The tour ends this morning. A private vehicle with a driver (no guide) is provided for your transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Dates & Prices

Prices are per person based on double occupancy.

* Land Only price excludes international airfare. Please contact us for a fare quote.