China Lifetime Journey

Drive to Longji (Dragon’s Back) to see the stunning rice terraces and colorful minority culture. The terraces look like great chains or ribbons as they wind from the foot to the top of the hill. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scare arable land and water resources in the mountainous area. Then pay a visit to minority Zhuang and Yao villages to see people’s life and customs there. Later, drive back to Guilin and go to Reed Flute Cave, a fascinating gallery of natural sculpture.

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Take a leisurely Li River cruise to enjoy the stunning landscape, disembark at the beautiful small town famous for its Karst landscape—Yangshuo. At night, the West Street is a must-go where shows lively nightlife with both Chinese and western style. Overnight at Yangshuo.

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The day begins by biking to the countryside escorted by your private guide to see the stunning scenery, rice paddies, water buffalo and local farmer’s life. Then your option to take a 1-hour bamboo rafting down Yulong River. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Later, transfer to the airport and fly to Kunming. 

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Make an excursion to the Stone Forest, a typical formation of Karst topography-- the most famous tourist attraction in Kunming. Then fly to Lijiang. Transfer to your hotel.

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Spend the whole morning exploring the famous Lijiang Ancient Town, originally called Dayan, it is a very well preserved old town built by Naxi people with unique culturalbackground. It was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997.Then go to Black Dragon Pool Park, to enjoy the stunning view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain fromit. After lunch, enjoy half day cycling tour to Shuhe Village.

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Drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to take a cable car to Yak Meadow. It is the holy mountain of local Naxi people and the soul of Lijiang. Then visit Baisha Mural and free time at leisure. It was painted in Baisha Town in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an interesting co-existence of Buddhism, Taoism and Lamaism in the artworks.

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Fly to Chengdu, transfer to visit Jinsha Cultural Relics Museum, which was claimed as the first important archaeological find in China at the beginning of 21 century. Then wander around Jinli Old Street to have fun. 

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Pay a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Situated on the Axe Hill 10 kilometers north of Chengdu, 40 plus pandas as well as other endangered species like lesser pandas and black-necked crane currently reside at the base in quarters. Then transfer to take an early afternoon flight to Lhasa. Free time at leisure.

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After breakfast, go to Norbulingka Park, meaning "Treasure Park ", it was first constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served as the whole governmental administration. Then pay a visit to Tibet Museum, it presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas to a world audience in order to educate and inspire others in the value of this significant cultural heritage. Later, visit Sera Monastery, located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City, it is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. 

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Explore 3 famous attractions: first, go to the Potala Palace, a monumental building of Lhasa served as administrative center, seat of government, monastery, fortress and the home of all the Dalai Lamas from the Fifth to the Fourteenth in the past, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site of 1994. Then go to Barkhor Street, where is an area of narrow streets located around Jokhang Temple and the most popular devotional circumambulation for pilgrims and locals. Later, pay a visit to Jokhang Temple, the most sacred and important temple for most Tibetans with over 1300 years of history. 

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Fly to Xian. Transfer to check into hotel.

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The famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is the tour highlight today. It’s often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, which is an enormous collection of vivid Chinese warriors made out of hardened clay. After a visit to the Muslim quarters and get close to Muslim people and their life, go to the Grand Mosque. Built in a Chinese architectural style and most of the grounds are taken up with gardens, the mosque has neither domes nor traditional-style minarets. 

Meal: B, L

Morning visit to the Old City Wall-- the most intact ancient Chinese wall in existence. It encircles and protects the ancient part of Xian City. Then transfer to fly to Chongqing. Be picked up at the airport and transferred to visit Ciqikou Ancient Town. It was named as it had supplied large sum of chinaware dating during Qing and Ming dynasties. After dinner, board the Yangtze Cruise at night. 

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On board, shore excursion to "the Ghost City" --Fengdu or Shibaozhai depending on the schedule of the cruise companies. Since 2010, some cruise companies offer optional shore excursions during your cruise, please kindly check with your travel consultant for more information.

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Today you'll get a close look of the enchanting landscape as you board a small boat and cruise along a tributary to the Yangtze to explore the exceptionally beautiful Lesser Three Gorges or Shennong Stream depending on the arrangement of the cruise company.

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Arrive in Yichang at noon time. After lunch, transfer to the airport and fly to Shanghai. Check in your hotel.

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Visit the beautiful classical Chinese Garden Yu Garden. A saying goes as:" Those who have visited Shanghai but missed Yu Garden cannot claim that they have been to the city." Then pay a visit to Pudong Area and Shanghai World Finance Center to experience the prosperity of Shanghai. Later, wander around the area of the Bund and Nanjing Road. The Bund is located in the Huangpu District, the scenery line of Shanghai and the center of Shanghai. Nanjing Road is a shopping paradise just nearby the Bund. 

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Drive to Zhujiajiao to witness the traditional lifestyle at Yangtze Delta. The centuries-old town Zhujiajiao was a trading area due to its strategic location linking many canals. Later, transfer back to Shanghai and enjoy a free afternoon for your own exploration. 

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Fly to Beijing. Transfer to visit Coal Hill (Jinshan Park) to have a panoramic view of old Beijing.

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Private escorted tour to China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven, Temple of Heaven. It was used to hold a memorial ceremony for the God in Winter Solstice Festival and to pray for harvest in the first month of the lunar year by the emperors in Ming and Qing dynasties. Then go to Tiananmen Square, which is the largest city square in the world. Later, pay a visit to the Forbidden City, nominated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1987, is the largest ancient palatial structure in the world and the best-preserved imperial palace in China. 

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Private escorted tour by round-way cable car to Mutianyu Great Wall-- the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall that connects with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi and Jinshanling in the east. After climbing the Great Wall, pay a visit to the Ming Tombs (Changling), which is the tomb for Emperor Yongle, the third Ming emperor, and his wife Empress Xu. He ruled for 22 years and made some achievements in political, military, economic, cultural and diplomatic fields.

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After breakfast, visit the Summer Palace (with a short cruise on Kunming Lake). This world-wide known palace is located northwest of Beijing and said to be the best preserved imperial garden in the world, and the largest of its kind still in existence in China. It is only a short drive (15 km) from central Beijing but seems like another world. Then enjoy Hutong tour by rickshaw. Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys in Beijing, which represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing.

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Transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination.

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End of service.