NORTH AMERICA / CHINA

Board your 747 jetliner this morning and begin your journey to the ancient wonders of intriguing China.

ARRIVER SHANGHAI

Arrive in Shanghai, the largest and most populous city in China. It is also China’s main center for industry, commerce, foreign trade, science and technology located at the spot where the mighty Yangtze meets the East China Sea.

SHANGHAI CITY TOUR

Visit the Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road, is the waterfront area of Pu Xi (West City) that faces the newer part of Shanghai - Pu Dong (East City). Proceed to the Yu Garden, a classical garden in downtown Shanghai, boasts a history over 400 years. Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden is expressing the quintessence of South China landscape design from Ming and Qing Dynasty. Over forty spots, divided by dragon walls, wound corridors and beautiful flowers, form a unique picture featuring one step, one beauty; every step, every beauty. Later, visit the Shanghai Museum, located on the People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum houses over 120,000 historical artifacts, covering a period spanning from pre-history to the last imperial dynasty. End your day’s tour with a visit to Nanjing Road, China's premier shopping street, 3.4-mile-long Nanjing Road, starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jingan Temple and Yan'an West Street. Today Nanjing Road is a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world. This evening attend a performance of the famous Chinese Acrobat Troupes. BLD

SHANGHAI / KUNMING

Take a morning flight to Kunming, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Stone Forest and Jade Lake.  Stone Forest has been known since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) as the 'First Wonder of the World.' The Stone Forest is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres) and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. Jade Lake has a local name, which is ‘Cuihu’. The lake lies in the north western region of the city in a park that has the same name. In the middle of the lake there is an island which has got the Pavilion of the Green Waves (Biyi Ting), belonging to the 17th century. There are two dams which dominate the Jade Lake in Kunming. There is one dam running in the north-south direction. The dam is crossed by three bridges and its name is Dike of Governor Ruan (Ruan Di). This dam was built at the end of the 18th century. The other dam is the Tang Dike (Tang Di). This dam was constructed in the year 1919 and this runs in the east- west direction. BLD

KUNMING / LIJIANG

Board morning flight to Lijiang-Shangri-La, the fairyland of minority areas described in s book “Lost Horizon.” The whole city is all in ancient feature and has been rewarded “The City of Cultural Heritage.” In the afternoon tour the Black Dragon Pond, as the water is as green and lucid as jade, the pond is also entitled "Yuquan" or Jade Fountain. On the bank of the pond willows hang their withes like silk thread. One can see arbors and pavilions beside the pond, temples hidden in the trees and variegated flowers found everywhere. "A tree of cherry blossom accompanies a tree of willow, while a rose climbs to the tip of one of a tree's twigs." That is how the calm and exquisite view of the place is described. Longshen Pavilion on the east side of the park was built in the second year of the Qianglong era of the Qing Dynasty. In its five compounds are grown over 500 kinds of flowers, their grace and beauty all defy description. It is therefore praised thus : "At Yuchuan the flowers of the four seasons are like embroidered brocade". Emperor Jiaqing and Emperor Guanxu conferred on it royal honors for its famed excellence. Visit the Dongba Museum; you can explore the Naxi culture by visiting the unique museum. Lastly visit James Luck House, who was a famous American historian and geography explorer. He stayed in Lijiang for over 18 years. The rest of the day is free to explore the ancient town on your own. Tonight enjoy the ancient Dongba Naxi Music. BLD

LIJIANG EXCURSION

Explore Jade Peak Temple, one of seven lamaseries in the area. Luxuriant trees dominate the scenic landscape. Visit Baisha Minority Village and Ancient Wall Paintings. Enjoy a cable car ride to Jade Dragon Snow Caped Mountain, enjoy a Tibetan Dance Performance. Jade Dragon Snow Caped Mountain is one of the 10 World Famous Mountains, till this day no human being has dared to climb this mountain. Everyone would respect its holy and horrific features while standing at the top of the mountain. BL

LIJIANG / ZHONGDIAN (SHANGRI-LA)

Travel overland to Zhongdian, “The Lost Horizon”. Drive along the ancient Tea & House Trade track and the Tiger Jump Gorges, it is a beautiful 230 Km drive. In the afternoon visit Tibet Villages, interact with the natives. Later visit Napa Lake, which is a seasonal lake, it becomes a lake during the spring time. Otherwise Napa Lake is blooming with thousands of fragrant flowers and snow caped with mountains. BLD

SHANGRI-LA

Today, explore Songzhanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region. The monastery is full of treasures. There are a lot of golden figures of Buddha josses, golden lamps, Tibetan lections, silver censers and so on. All of these are wonderful collections accumulated from each dynasty. They are precious productions made by people of both Tibet nationality and Han nationality. Then visit Zhongdian Ancient Town and lastly the Regional History Museum. BLD

SHANGRI-LA / TIBET LHASA

Transfer to the airport for flight to Lhasa. Then travel overland to the holy city of Lhasa. On arrival you will be transferred to the hotel, the rest of the day will be at leisure. BLD

LHASA

Visit Potala Palace, perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Early legends concerning the rocky hill tell of a sacred cave, considered to be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara), which was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo built a palace on the hill. This structure stood until the seventeenth century, when it was incorporated into the foundations of the greater buildings still standing today. Construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694 ; its construction required the labors of more than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922 the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace was only slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the invading Chinese in 1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious structures, it was not sacked by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 1970s, apparently through the personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a result, all the chapels and their artifacts are very well preserved. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which is located at the foot of Tatipu Hill is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. It is one of three famous monasteries in Lhasa along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. The Sera Monastery is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built the monastery in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. Tonight enjoy a western dinner and a cultural dance show at the Crazy Yak Restaurant. BLD

LHASA

In the morning visit the Jokhank (Dazao) Monastery, was built in the seventh century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. Its four story main building demonstrates a combination of the Han, Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese architectural styles, as well as a man - made world outlook of Buddhism. With the Hall of Amitayus Sutra as its center, the monastery symbolizes the nuclear to the universe. The Hall of Sakyamuni is the essence of the monastery. Stroll along Barskhor street, Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, it has a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan people are always proud of it. In the afternoon visit a Tibet Hospital and a family house at a local community. Tonight enjoy a Tibet dinner at Great Yak Restaurant. BLD

LEAVE LHASA

Start your journey on the Holly Roll Train. Begin your supremacy exploration by taking the Holly Roll Train, boasts records such as the highest tracks above sea level and the longest plateau railroad in the world. OVERNIGHT ON TRAIN BLD

BEIJING TOUR

Hundreds of buildings were demolished to create Tian An Men Square, since 1949 it has been the venue of major rallies held during the Cultural Revolution. Forbidden City – A Tang Dynasty poet wrote, “Without seeing the magnificence of the royal palace, one can never sense the dignity of the emperor.” Completed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, it was the home of 24 emperors and scene of many important events affecting the course of Chinese history. The Summer Palace is the second largest imperial garden in China and is equally famous as the Forbidden City; the Summer Palace is called “Yiheyuan” (Garden of Nurtured Harmony). BLD

GREAT WALL & MING TOMBS EXCURSION

Visit the Badling Great Wall. Construction began more than 2,000 years ago that meanders more than 6,000 kilometers across the country. The Ming Tombs represent the addition of three Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Liaoning to the Ming tombs inscribed in 2000 and 2003. They were built for the founding emperors of the Qing Dynasty and their ancestors, constructed on the principles of traditional Chinese geometry and fengshui. The Tombs are masterpieces of human artistic brilliance. The Scared Way is part of the Ming tombs complex, located in the front part of the royal cemetery, which means the path leading to heaven. This archway is the earliest and largest in China, constructed in 1540. In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck dinner with a live cultural show. BLD

BEIJING / HOME

Leave Beijing and board your homeward flight filled with memories of your exciting journey through Ancient China. B