Shanghai, Lhasa, Gyangtse, Shigatse, Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Beijing 18 day tour

Tour Briefing:
Tour Code: CTT-05
Tour Catalog: Private Tour
Trip Length: 18 days
Starting City: Shanghai
Ending City: Beijing
Route Feature:

Itinerary Briefing:
Day01: Shanghai- Shanghai Museu, Yuyang Garden
Day02: Shanghai- Cruise on Huangpu River
Day03: Shanghai/ Lhasa
Day04: Lhasa- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhour Market
Day05: Lhasa- Drepuang Monastery, Sera Monastery
Day06: Lhasa/ Yamdrotso Lake/ Gyangtse
Day07: Shigatse Tashilumpo Monastery / Lhasa
Day08: Lhasad/ Xian- City Wall
Day09: Xian- Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Huaqing Hot Spring
Day10: Xian/ Dunhuang-  County Museum, Yangguan Pass
Day11: Duhang/ Turpan Mogao Cave, Mingsha Sand Dues camel surfing, Crescent Moon Lake
Day12: Turpan- Emin Minaret, Karez, Jiaohe Ancient City, Uygur dance Performance
Day13: Tupan/ Urumqi- Flaming Mountain, Gaochang Ancient City, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Urumqi International Grand Bazaar
Day14: Urumqi- Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Carpent Factory
Day15: Urumqi/ Beijing- Summer Palace,
Day16: Beijing- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Day17: Beijing- Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tomb
Day18: Beijing flight out.

Day by Day Itinerary:
Day01: Arrive at Shanghai.
Guide pick you from Shanghai airport then visit Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden. Rest in hote.                                            Overnight at Shanghai.

Day02: Shanghai
Cruise on Huangpu River, you will experience the prosperity of modern Shanghai. In the evening the Portman Acrobatic Show will be enjoyed with dinner.
                                                        Ovenright at Shanghai

Day03: Shanghai flight to Lhasa.
Morning time take flight from Shanghai to Lhasa(3650M). Local Tibetan guide will pick you from Lhasa Gongga Airport then dropping off to Hotel. On the way you will see the fabulous Yalutsangpu River.                     Overnight at Lhasa.

Day04: Lhasa city sightseeing
Morning time sightseeing at Potala Palace. Then to visit Jokhang Temple, afternoon walk around Barkhour Market.                              Overnight at Lhasa


Day05: Lhasa city sightseeing
Morning time to Drepung Monatsery, then afternoon to Sera Monastery.    
                                                         Overnight at Lhasa.

Day06: Lhasa/ Yamdrotso lake/ Friend- ship highway/ Gyangtse/ Shigatse
Morning time around 08:00am depart from Lhasa pass Gangbala Mt. which is over than 5000m, then to Yamdrotso lake which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet (another 2 is Namtso lake and Manasarova), then back to Friend-ship highway pass by Shigatse to Gyangtse, visit Gyangtse Kumbum, far view of Zongshan ruins. Then back to Shigatse.                                            Overnight at Shigatse.

Day07: Shigatse/ Lhasa
Morning time to visit Tashilumpo Monastery which was Built in1447 , spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas. Then dirving back to Lhasa.    Overnight at Lhasa.

Day08: Lhasa/ Xian
After arrive at Xian, guide will pick you from airport visit the oldest, largest and best preserved ancient city defense sytem in China- City Wall. Then checking in hotel.                                                    Overnight at Xian.

Day09: Xian 
Morning time visit majestic Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Next you will visit the Huaqing Hot Spring, once the favourite bathroom for the Tang Dynasty Concubine Yang Kui Fe. Visit National Museum of Shaanxi History. Supper taste declious Dumpling Banquet. Then enjoy the marvelous Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.                                                     Overnight at Xian.

Day10: Xian flight to Dunhuang(flight 2.5hours)
Fly to Dunhuang, meaning "Blazing Beacon", was the centre of cultural and economic exchange between the East and the West. Leading institutes of the world regard the Dunhuang collection as an important source of studying Chinese culture, with a stream called "Dunhuangology". Visits will be made to the County Museum, with exhibits from Mogao Caves and sacrificial objects from the Han to Tang Dynasties; and the Yangguan Pass, south-west of Dunhuang with eroded Han Dynasty beacon towers.

Day11: Dunhuang- Turpan(trian soft sleeper )
Spend the morning at the world-renowned Mogao Caves - the largest and richest ancient art treasure-trove in the world.  It was inscribed as a "World Cultural Heritage" site by the UNESCO in 1987. Try sand surfing or camel riding around the Mingsha Sand Dunes and mysterious Crescent Moon Lake. Transfer to the Station for an overnight train to Turpan.                         Overnight on the train  

Day12: Turpan
Transfer to hotel for breakfast and a rest. After lunch, visit the Emin Minaret, a typical Uygur architecture; the Karez - an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis; and the Ancient City of Jiaohe, a mysterious historical site. Be guest of a Uygur family and savour specialties like milk tea, nan, shish kebabs and poluo rice etc. Return to the hotel for Uygur dance performance.

Day13: Turpan/ Urumqi bus
Coach drive past the Flaming Mountain, made famous by the story of the Monkey King; take a donkey cart ride around the Ancient City of Gaochang which contains traces of Nestorian, Christian, Persian and Manichean influences; and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Travel to Urumqi,  the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Enjoy souvenirs-shopping at the International Grand Bazaar. 
 
Day14: Urumqi
Cruise around the Heavenly Lake which is surrounded by alpine meadows and rugged snow-capped mountains densely covered in fir, pine and cypress. After lunch, visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum with exhibits on archaeological treasures from the Silk Road including 3000-year-old mummies. Onward to the carpet factory.

Day15: Urumqi flight to Beijing
Your guide will pick you from Beijing airport visit Summer Palace- the famous imperial garden in China then check in hotel.  Supper time enjoy the delicious Beijing Duck Dinner at the original, century-old Quan Ju De Restaurant.
                                                           Overnight at Beijing.

Day16: Beijing
Morning time visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. After lunch visit Temple of Heaven. After supper enjoy Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre. Driving back to hotel.                                           Overnight at Beijing.

Day17: Beijing
Morning time you guide pick you from hotel to Badaling Great Wall. Walk along the Great Wall about 2 hours. After lunch go to Ming Tomb then back to hotel. 
                                                        Overnight at Beijing.

Day18: Beijing flight out.
After breakfast on time dropping of you to Beijing airport end of the trip.