15-Day Yangtze River Cruise, Panda & Tibet Discovery Tour

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing, Greet & Meet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Dinner at Halal restaurant
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Your professional Muslim expert tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with your private vehicle on standby and assists you to your hotel. Relax at hotel to recover from the jet lag.

Day 2 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Fresh Water Pearl, Temple of Heaven

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Niujie Mosque
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Explore Beijing from Tiananmen Square in the morning. Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world and it has great cultural significance as it was the site of many important events in Chinese history such as Chairman Mao’s declaration of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on Oct, 01, 1949. Next walk to the Forbidden City. As the royal residences of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 15th to 20th century, the Forbidden City was the centre of state power in late feudal China and witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over 505 years. Visit fresh water pearl shop and the Temple of Heaven after lunch at a local Halal restaurant and Salat at the 900 year old Niujie Mosque. The Temple of Heaven, built between 1406 and 1420 by the same emperor who was responsible for building the Forbidden City, is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site regarded as a masterpiece of architectural and landscape design.

Day 3 Great Wall, Jade Carving, Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, Photo Stop at Olympic Venues

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Visit the Great Wall of China and jade carving factory in the morning. The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of China as the great military defense project of successive Chinese Empires. Today, the wall is still impressive at 3,750 miles in length, stretching from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. The Great Wall embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and Chinese people. Visit the Sacred Way of the Ming Tomb after lunch and Salat at a local Halal restaurant. The Sacred Way is a stone paved path which stretches as long as one kilometer to the north of the main gate of the Ming Tombs. Next, make a photo stop at the 2008 Olympic Venues of Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center).

Day 4 Summer Palace, High Speed Train to Xian (about 5 hours)

Destination: Beijing & Xi’an
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Mercure Xi ‘an Downtown or similar

Morning visit to the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, the Summer Palace. Using Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as the basic framework, the Summer Palace combined political and administrative, residential, spiritual, and recreational functions within a landscape of lakes and mountains, in accordance with the Chinese philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. Board second class high speed train to Xian in the afternoon. Xian is the ancient capital city of China and the starting point of Silk Road.

Day 5 Terracotta Warriors & Reproduction Factory, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter

Destination: Xi’an
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xian Great Mosque
Accommodations: Mercure Xi ‘an Downtown or similar

Morning visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses and its reproduction factory. Considered one of the foremost archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974 by local farmers digging a well. The 8,000-plus life-sized figures are arranged in vaults to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, a major architect of the Great Wall and unifier of China. Visit the Muslim Quarter after lunch and Salat at Xian Great Mosque. The area north of the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarter of Xian which covers several blocks with an estimated 60,000 Muslims in the region. There are about seven ancient mosques in the area, among which the Great Mosque built in 742 is most famous and popular among all. Experience a seemingly endless labyrinth of street food, restaurants and bustling local life at Xian’s Muslim Quarter.

Day 6 Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Museum, City Wall, Bullet Train to Chengdu

Destination: Xi’an & Chengdu
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Mercure Chengdu Downtown or similar

Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum in the morning. With a history of more than 1,300 years, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to store the Buddhist scriptures delivered from ancient India. It is a perfect example of the multi-eaved square brick pagodas built in ancient China. Currently there are 13 storeys left as the top two storeys were destroyed in earthquakes. Continue to visit Xian Museum. Xian Museum boasts nearly 130,000 relics that all relate to the history of Ancient China and Xian specifically. Afterwards visit Xian City Wall. The City Wall of Xian is one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in the world. Walking atop the Wall you can get the panorama of Xian skyline. Board second bullet train to Chengdu (about 3 hours) in the afternoon.

Day 7 Chengdu Panda Base, Wuhou Temple, Jinli Street, Fly to Lhasa

Destination: Chengdu & Lhasa
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or similar

Morning visit to Chengdu Panda Base, a research and breeding facility for pandas. Rivers, lakes and wild bamboo forests form the panda’s natural ecological environment. Observe pandas of different ages eating, playing and resting. Watch female pandas nursing their cubs. Continue with a visit to Wuhou Temple, an ancestral temple in memory of Zhuge Liang and other heroes in the state of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period when Chengdu was the capital of the state of Shu. Afterwards, roam around the 550 meter long Jinli Ancient Street which had been bustling over eons. Fly to Lhasa in the afternoon. Meaning “Land of the Gods” in Tibetan language, Lhasa had served as the capital of Tibet for over 1,300 years. Transfer to hotel for rest and adjust your body to high elevation upon arrival at this 12000 feet elevated city of Lhasa. Please be sure to drink plenty of water during your time in Tibet.

Day 8 Tibet Museum, Potala Palace, Lhasa Mosque, Jokhang Monastery & Barkhor Street

Destination: Lhasa
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Lhasa Mosque
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or similar

Explore Lhasa from Tibet Museum to know the history, culture and the development of Tibet. Tibet Museum houses a large amount of valuable treasures found in Tibet: ancient religious books written in gold, silver or coral powders, Buddha statues made from diverse materials, colorful Thangkas and many handicrafts with distinctive Tibetan characteristics. Next, visit the highest palace in the world, the Potala Palace. Built on the red hill in the center of Lhasa, the Potala Palace boasts more than 1000 rooms including the Red Palace where Dalai Lama once lived. Continue with a visit to the 1300-year-old Jokhang Monastery after Salat at Lhasa Mosque. Constructed by King Songtsen Gampo in the year 647, Jokhang Monastery is the most famous Buddhist temple in Lhasa and has remained the center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries. Afterwards, follow local Tibetans for a Kora of Jokhang Monastery, walking around the Barkor Bazaar.

Day 9 Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka & Sera Monastery

Destination: Lhasa
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or similar

Morning visit to Drepung Monastery, the largest of all Tibetan monasteries & one of Tibet’s top Gelug university monasteries founded in 1416. The Ganden Phodrang in Drepung was the residence of the Dalai Lamas until the Great Fifth Dalai Lama constructed the Potala. Drepung was known for the high standards of its academic study. Followed with a visit to Norbulingka, the summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. Constructed in the 18th century, Norbulingka comprises a large garden with four palace complexes and a monastery as well as other halls, and pavilions all integrated into the garden layout to create an exceptional work of art. Afterwards, witness monks debate Buddhist philosophy in the courtyard of Sera Monastery.
 
Day 10 Fly to Chongqing, Chongqing Mosque, Ciqikou Old Town, Board the Cruise Ship

Destination: Lhasa & Chongqing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Chongqing Mosque
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Ship or similar

Fly to Chongqing in the morning. Visit the Old Town of Ciqikou after Salat prayer at Chongqing Mosque. The name of Ciqikou can be traced back to porcelain production during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As a busy port located at the lower reaches of the Jialing River, Ciqikou still remains a symbol and microcosm of old Chongqing where shops sell porcelain, other handicrafts and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at the daily life of Chongqing. Board Victoria Cruises in the evening. Victoria Cruise Ship departs Chongqing at 21:00.

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise, Excursion to Jade Emperor Scenic Area

Destination: Yangtze River
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner on board
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Ship or similar

Take a shore excursion to the Jade Emperor Scenic Area near Fengdu, which has the largest image of the Jade Buddha in the world. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda. Additional optional shore excursions (river conditions permitting) to Fengdu’s “Ghost City” (daytime), and the elaborate Fengyan Sanguo “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” show (evening). 

Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise, Excursion to Goddess Stream

Destination: Yangtze River
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner on board
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Ship or similar

Navigate the magnificent Yangtze Gorges. Enter the Three Gorges, one of nature’s most extraordinary sculptures. Today you will pass through the first two – Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Qutang Gorge is the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet), and most dramatic. The 25-mile long Wu Gorge is known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Transfer to another vessel for a relaxing excursion through the attractive gorges of Goddess Stream. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Shennong Stream. Enter Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles), and deepest of the Three Gorges. Additional optional shore excursion (available in the morning, river conditions permitting) to White Emperor City, an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge.

Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise, Three Gorges Dam, Fly to Shanghai

Destination: Yangtze River & Shanghai
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner on board
Accommodations: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an Hotel or similar

Disembark this morning and take a tour of the Three Gorges Dam. This dam is one of the biggest hydropower-complex projects in the world, ranks one of mankind greatest engineering feats to date. There is a viewing platform on Tanzi Mountain where you can overlook the entire Three Gorges Dam which brings in great benefits in flood control and power generation. Leave the cruise ship behind and fly to Shanghai in the afternoon.

Day 14 Yuyuan Garden, Silk Store, The Bund & Nanjing Road, People’s Square, Shanghai Museum

Destination: Shanghai
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
Accommodations: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an Hotel or similar

Morning visit to Yuyuan Garden. This garden is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall. Then spend some time shopping at the Chenghuangmiao market located outside the garden. Afterwards, stroll along the Bund and nearby Nanjing Road. The Bund refers to Shanghai’s famous waterfront stretching for 1.6km along the west shore of the Huangpu River. Nanjing Road is the main shopping street of Shanghai and one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Continue with a visit to silk store, the People’s Square and Shanghai Museum after lunch and Salat at Xiaotaoyuan Mosque. The People’s Square was once the finest racecourse in Asia before 1949, it is now a large open space in which locals hang out all day, every day, practicing Tai Chi and flying kites. Shanghai Museum is specially celebrated in the world for its rich and high-quality collection of 120,000 precious works of art including ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy.

Day 15 Departure from Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (without guide). Wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for traveling with IslamiChina.