10 Days Chengdu – Xi’an – Xining – Lhasa Private Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival

   Our driver will be waiting for you at the exit of Chengdu airport / train station by  holding a welcome sign with your name. Then you will be transferred to the hotel. Please enjoy your free time in the rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Chengdu

2. Day 2: Chengdu
   Giant Panda Center, Jinsha Site Museum, Wuhou Temple, Jinli Old Street (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our guide and driver will greet you in your hotel lobby and escort you to Giant Panda Center to get a close look at pandas in their different life stage: the infant pandas, the baby pandas, the young adult pandas and the elder adult pandas. The lovely creatures will definitely touch your heart.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Pay a visit to Jinsha Site Museum. It is an excellent place to learn about Chengdu's history. There are thousands of cultural relics that can date back to 3000 years ago. You will follow your knowledgeable tour guide to appreciate the precious artifacts such as golden sun bird disc, golden mask, bronze standing figure and stone tiger, and get to know the stories behind them. You also can enjoy a leisurely walk around the lovely park. Then drive to Wuhou Temple – the memorial temple of Zhuge Liang, the outstanding strategist of Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). After that you will take a walk in Jinli Old Street. That street used to be one of the oldest and busiest commercial streets of Shu Kingdom. In that street tourists will see some typical elements of Chengdu lifestyle. E.g. Tea houses, taverns, bars, local snacks, handcrafts, local specialties, etc.

   Accommodation: Chengdu

   

3. Day 3: Chengdu - Leshan - Chengdu by Car
   Leshan Giant Buddha (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: After hotel breakfast, you’ll head to the amazing Giant Buddha in Leshan. Drive around 2 hours from Chengdu city, you can enjoy the urban scenery on the way.

   Regarded as the tallest stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha was carved out of a cliff face 1300 years ago. When you look up to it from its toes, it’s hard to imagine how ancient Chinese people built this massive statue which withstood the ravages of wind and rain as well as man-made damages. You will climb up the stairs to the top of the mountain to enjoy wonderful scenery. The stairs may seem intimidating, but the hiking is well worth the time and effort.

   Friendly Tips: There are 2 ways to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, one is climbing up the mountain, one is taking a cruise along the river to take far view of it. Climbing up the mountain was included in the package as most tourists said this way is better. Taking cruise is optional. If you would like to take cruise instead of climbing up the mountain, or if you want to try both these 2 ways, just ask your tour guide for assistance.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After the tour you will be escorted back to hotel in Chengdu by 18:00.

   Accommodation: Chengdu

   

4. Day 4: Chengdu – Xi’an by Flight
   Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: Your driver will meet you in hotel and transfer to airport for flight to Xi’an. Our tour guide will greet you at Xian airport with holding your name. Then directly transfer from airport to visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Known as “the eighth Wonders of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture, which is the most significant discovery of the 20th century.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was originally built to hold Buddhist sutra and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India. Now surrounding the Big Wild Goose Pagoda there build a big Garden, where people can have a retreat at there.

   Accommodation: Xi’an

   

5. Day 5: Xi’an – Xining by Bullet Train
   Xian Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: Our tour guide will pick up you from your hotel at 09:00, and then visit  Xian Ancient City Wall which is the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for the military defense in the ancient time. Since it is cycling the city, visitors can ride a bike around the city wall. Then visit the colorful food street – Muslim Quarter. In the afternoon, come to the Great Mosque, which is a major place for religious activities of Muslim in Xi’an.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After then transfer to take the Bullet train D2693 (15:00-19:36) or similar train to Xining. Met by local guide and driver and check in hotel.

   Accommodation: Xining

   

6. Day 6: Xining - Lhasa by overnight train
   Ta’er Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, local market (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: In the morning after hotel pickup we will visit the Tibetan style Ta’er Monastery. In the first month, the fourth month, the six month or the ninth month of Chinese calendar, you will have chance to experience the royal temple fair in the temple.

   Noon: Lunch in lcoal restaurant.

   PM: Then pay a visit to Dongguan Mosque, the well known ancient architecture in Xining and the religious activity center of thousands of Muslim people in Xining. At last take a walk in the local market to meet some authentic local things and have a glimpse of local people’s daily life.

   At last escort to train station for overnight train to Lhasa.

   Accommodation: On the train

   

7. Day 7: Lhasa Arrival

   Upon your arrival, the local guide will meet you at train station by holding a name board. Then transfer to hotel for check in. Please have a good rest and acclimatize you to the plateau climate.

8. Day 8: Lhasa
   Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: We will head to see the World Cultural Heritage Potala Palace which was the winter palace of the sovrans of Tibetan area in ancient time. The whole architectural complex includes two parts, the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace is the place where the Dalai Lamas lived and handled political affairs, while the Red Palace mainly houses the stupas of the Dalai Lamas. Your tour guide will share a wealth of information with you to help you understand its history and Tibetan Buddhism.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After Lunch, move to another World Heritage Jokhang Temple. That 1400 years old temple is the most sacred temple Tibetan Buddhists’ mind. And then on the Barkhor Street around Jokhang Temple you will have some free time to have a glimpse and feel daily life of nowadays Tibetan people. The devout people doing Kora (a special way of pilgrims by circle around a building or mountain) have impressed lots of visitors.

   Accommodation: Lhasa

   

9. Day 9: Lhasa
   Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery (Breakfast +Lunch)

   AM: After Breakfast, start your visit with Drepung Monastery, located 11km away from Lhasa city, that 700 years old monastery is one of three greatest monasteries of Gulug (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: In the afternoon, we will visit the Sera Monastery, which located at the north top of Lhasa city, about half hour drive from Drepung Monastery. Public debate on Buddhist classics among monks is a highlight attraction of the monastery.

   Accommodation: Lhasa

   

10. Day 10: Lhasa Departure

    Our driver will meet you in the hotel 3-4 hours before the flight departs and transfer you to the airport. This great 10 days China private tour ends here.