Long Trip Through the Memories of China, Yangtze and Tibet

This is when you come to Beijing. The rest of the day after the arrival and handing out the free cell phone, you are free to rest from the jet lag or to explore the city on your own.

The Forbidden City

The first stop is the Forbidden City and the tour lasts for two hours. This is the place the Chinese emperors used as a residence from the 1368 to 1911. It is one of the most significant historical monuments in the world and it is a rare privilege to see it. After visit to the Forbidden City, the tour goes to the famous Tiananmen Square. This is the biggest city square in the world and it is well known as one of the places where some of the historically most significant events in China took place. The time predicted for visiting the square is 50 minutes. The daily schedule ends in the local Restaurant. Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, a Chinese lunch served at the local Restaurant

The first stop of the day is the visit to the Mutianyu Great Wall. This is a part of the Great Wall that is not too crowded and it allows more comfortable sightseeing and the transportation there is by the cable car. The Great Wall is one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and it is definitely something that deserves your full attention. The view is more than impressive but the approach is quite steep so the cable car is more than a handy solution. After sightseeing you can go back on foot, by using the cable car again that is about an hour on foot away. Temple of Heaven is the next stop on this day. It has been built in 1420 AD and it was a central place of worship during the Ming and the Qing dynasty. Since 1998 it is a part of a World Heritage by UNESCO and it is more than worthy of seeing. The predicted time for the sightseeing is 1.5 hours. Finally, the daily tour ends in the local Restaurant. This place is famous for its fish based dishes and you will be amazed with the unique taste. Meals: Breakfast at your hotel,a Chinese lunch served at the local Restaurant.

Hutong Tour in Rickshaw

The Hutong Tour in Xicheng District allows you to see something really extraordinary. This district is like a maze that has been transferred from the ancient times to the modern China. The one storey houses, curvy streets and the rickshaws are at your disposal for approximately one hour. After this quick visit to the old Chinese style settlement you will get the opportunity to learn something about one of the most famous Chinese art styles. Chinese Calligraphy Learning includes quick introduction to the technique and history of this art style, demonstration by the teacher and a chance to paint a picture of your own. The daily sightseeing schedule ends in the local Restaurant where you may taste both Chinese dishes. After this the tour goes from Beijing to Xian. The air transportation takes you to this great city. Meals: Breakfast and a lunch in the local Restaurant.

One of the most famous attractions in China is the ancient assembly of Terracotta Warriors and Horses. These figures are over 2 millenniums old and each of them is completely unique. The site was accidentally discovered in 1974 and the excavations are still in progress. This is something that simply any tourist must see. The next stop is the lunch at the local Restaurant where you can enjoy some of the finest delicacies of the Chinese cuisine. And then to see one of the best preserved City Walls in the world. It dates back from the 13th century and is still in a very good shape. Since the tour is pretty long, there are the options of renting a bike, an electric cart or a rickshaw. If the weather is too bad, this attraction is substituted with a visit to the Bell Tower. After this, the Tai Chi Experience at the City Wall is predicted for the end of the daily sightseeing activities. This ancient martial arts form is very popular nowadays in the west and here you will get to have some firsthand experience from the very source. A demonstration by the master of the art will be provided during the class. Meals: Breakfast at your hotel,a lunch served at local Restaurant

The City Wall of Xi'an

When it comes to the history of China, the Shaanxi History Museum is definitely one of the best places to learn something about it. This place is simply magnificent and for the most of the items exhibited there are listings and specifications given in English. The time predicted for sightseeing is 1.5 hours. After the wonderful Museum, you will be visiting the famous Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This is one of the biggest Buddhist temples and it contains some of the most valuable materials Xuanzang has brought from his epic journey to India. The tour goes then to the Forest of Stele Museum. This place contains some of the oldest records from the Confucian period. Also, some old statues and items from the tombs are available here as well. You'll also visit an interesting Shadow Play in the Gao Courtyard, which lasts for 10-15mins is performed by local people during this visit. Your lunch in the local Restaurant where you will be served with some unique dishes characteristic for the area. The recipes for these dishes are very old so you will get to taste something really extraordinary. Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, the traditional Chinese lunch at local Restaurant

This day is predicted for travelling from Xian to Lhasa by air.

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is well known winter residence of the Dalai Lama and this magnificent structure is a definite must see. You will be provided with a chance to see things that are simply not available for most of the men. The decorations and the architecture of this heavenly place are something that really deserves the attention. You need to be fit enough to tackle the long stairways. The next and much less physically demanding stop is the Jokhang Temple. This is a central temple of the Buddhism and a lot of local folks come here to pray daily. The Barkhor Street surrounds this temple and it is very vivid and colourful. You can take a walk through it or you can simply enjoy in one of the tea or coffee shops and enjoy the view. The daily tour ends in the Lhasa Kitchen where you will be served a meal of your choice. Meals: Breakfast, a lunch at Lhasa Kitchen

The first stop of the day is the famous Sera Monastery. This famous structure is consisted of the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It has a very long history since it was founded back in 1412 by Jamchen Chojey of Zel Gungtang of Sakya Yeshe. It hosts the famous daily debates of the3 Buddhist disciples. The debates are held every day except Monday at 3 PM and it is allowed to watch although it is recommended to keep quiet. From here, the tour goes to the Norbulingka. This is a garden that was built for the 7th Dalai Lama and it serves both for the administration and for religious purposes. The tour lasts 2.5 hours. Next 3.5 hours are reserved for visiting the Drepung Monastery. This monastery is west from the Lhasa on the Gambo Utse Mountain. It is surrounded by the black hills and since it is completely white it looks more than impressive and like if it came from the another world. It was built in 1416 and it is considered to be the main Gelu Sect monastery in China. Also, it was a residence to Dalai Lama until the Potala palace was reconstructed. The famous Shonton Festival is being held there on the beginning of August every year. The daily tour ends in the Steak House Restaurant. This restaurant provides dishes of the western and Tibetan cuisine and the view from it is spectacular. Meals: Breakfast, lunch at Steak House Restaurant.

This day is predicted for travel to Chongqing by airplane.

Chongqing Zoo

The greatest attraction of the Chongqing Zoo is the Panda Room. There you can observe both adults and young pandas in the habitat that is almost natural for them. Naturally, there are some additional species as well and some of them are pretty rare. The predicted visit time is 2 hours. Next one and a half hour is reserved for visiting the Ciqikou Old Town. This place still keeps the original charm of the old days and its wooden houses and narrow streets are quite interesting and lively. It is full of a tea shops and you can also buy some souvenirs or try the local cuisine there. The next stop is the Three Gorges Museum. As its very name says it is dedicated to the Three Gorges Dam and the Yangtze River, but there are also some very interesting exhibits from the war years. It is predicted to spend 2 hours in the museum. After that, the tour goes to Chongqing National Arts Institute Gallery. This place is famous for its great collections of art and it is increasingly popular amongst the tourists since they can buy some really impressive and rather cheap pieces of art. The final stop is the local Restaurant. After this,transfer to the deck and boarding the cruise ship that will take you down the Yangtze River. Meals: Breakfast,a Lunch at local Restaurant

--Shibaozhai, literally means Stone Treasure Fortress, Located in Zhong County, it was first built in Qing Dynasty in 1750. Shibaozhai is one historic site that will look much different in 2009. The wooden architecture stands on the riverside. It is built by catch upon a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs with a height of 56 meters and 12 stories. And every floor of the wooden structure contains interesting artifacts. Each of the 12 floors of Shibaozhai is dedicated to a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265AD), a local scholar or a renowned Chinese poet.

--Taichi exercise.
Passes through the 1st gorge--Qutang Gorge.
Passes through the 2cd gorge---Wu Gorge.
Shore excursion to Shennong Stream(1:30pm-5:30pm). You have the option of visiting White Emperor City(RMB290 per person).
Crew's Performance.
Sails through the 5-steps Ship locks.
Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

--Shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site. Arrive in Yichang at 1:00pm.
Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction has been completed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities.

The Bund is a pretty nice place to see. The 40 minute ride will let you see some really nice buildings along the way and the experience will be more than fulfilling. After that, the tour goes to the Yuyuan Garden. This garden was built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty and it is a perfect example of the Chinese architecture and style. It is surrounded by a local marketplace and there you can find all kinds of snacks, souvenirs and handcraft. The next stop is the worldwide famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower. This is one of the tallest TV towers on the globe and the Shanghai History Museum is situated on its first floor. There you can see the exhibit that says a lot about the Chinese history, with the accent on the revolutionary period. Finally, a visit to the French concession region . A great area to explore, from the old European buildings in shady avenues to the cafes and restaurants and upmarket shopping area of Huaihu Lu The lunch is the local Restaurant. Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, a lunch at the local Restaurant.