Tibet by Rail and Yangtze River Cruise

Journey to mystical Tibet, the "Land of Snows" by the “Sky Train", the world’s highest train ride from Xining to Lhasa across the 5200 meter high mountain pass amidst the grand vistas of surreal mountain ranges and uniquely shaped Tibetan Landscape. Begin the tour in Beijing, where we will tour Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace. Fly to Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province, visit to the Kumbum Monastery and take the evening train to Lhasa.  During our stay in this Buddhist land, explore the mountain monasteries, spin the prayer wheels, shop in the colorful markets and sample the unique food and culture of this fascinating region. We will then travel to Chongqing to embark on our 5 star Yangtze River Victoria Cruise for three nights.  This magical cruise offers breathtaking views of natural landscapes—as well as a visit to the modern engineering marvel at the Three Gorges Dam Site—as you sail through this spectacular region. Disembark in Yichang and travel on to Shanghai. Visits to the Shanghai Museum, the Yu Yuan Gardens, and the Children’s Palace.  Enjoy a Shanghai cuisine farewell dinner and bring home your memory of a lifetime.

  What's Included:

• Roundtrip international air from New York to Beijing, Beijing/New York
• Air and land transportation within China
• Qinghai-Tibet train fare
• Services of an English-speaking tour manager
• 4 star hotel accommodations
• Overnight Qinghai-Tibet train
• 5 star Yangtze River cruise
• Admissions and cultural events  
• Meals according to itinerary
• Welcome Peking Duck dinner
• Dai Ethnic dinner party  
• Shanghai cuisine farewell dinner
• Acrobatic Show
• Baggage handling for one piece of luggage per person
• Airport/hotel transfers
• Tibet travel permit

Tour Date(s):

• September 11-24, 2009

Tour Cost:

• $4,599 per person, double occupancy

• Single supplement: $1420

  Cities:         

• Beijing, Xining, Lhasa, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Shanghai

• With optional post- trip extension to Xi'an, please send you request to info@MingsChina.com.

   Special Notes:

• price includes Qinghai-Tibet Train fare, for either lower or upper soft sleeper berth, in semi-private, quad-occupancy cabins.  Should you not want to share the cabin with others, we can arrange a private compartment for extra costs.

• This trip is limited in size.  Maximum of 20 guests.

   Related links:    China Tibet Information Center

                             Pictures of Tibet Railway

                             Sceneries along Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1            9/11           US/Beijing

Depart New York for Beijing. Cross the International Date Line to the wonders of China. In-flight meals.

Day 2            9/12            Beijing

Arrive late day in Beijing, China’s bustling capital. Board your air-conditioned motor coach, sit back and enjoy the night scenery of Beijing as your bus takes you to your hotel. You will be surprised to find how modern Beijing really is. Beijing now rivals Hong Kong and Tokyo as one of the great cities of Asia. Beijing’s tourism industry has been brought up to Western standards almost overnight, with shopping malls and international hotels, all connected by an intricate freeway and subway system criss-crossing the city.  Welcome dinner tonight featuring delectable Peking Duck. (D)

Day 3            9/13            Beijing

We get up early today to begin our official tour of Beijing.  First is the imposing Forbidden City, so called because it was off limits to the public for 500 years.  Situated on 250 acres, the Forbidden City was home to two dynasties of emperors, the Ming and the Qing.  It is the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world, with more than 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms. In front of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, Chairman Mao’s creation, the largest public place in the world and site of many history-making events.  A visit to the 15th century Temple of Heaven provides a glimpse of where the emperors made offerings for the harvest. Today it is a popular place for local people to play chess, practice tai chi or listen to the Peking Opera. Dai ethnic dinner tonight followed by a special world famous Acrobatic show. (B.L.D.)

Day 4             9/14            Beijing, evening flight to Xining

The Great Wall of China once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Visit the Cloissonné Art Works to experience the meticulous craftsmanship of Chinese artisans in the ancient style. Evening flight to Xinning, capital of Qinghai province, and the most common passing channel of the famous Silk Road. (B.L.)

Day 5:             9/15            Xining and Sky Train to Lhasa

Spend the full day exploring this ancient city, Xining.  Morning, visit to the Kumbum Monastery, one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist sites in China. After lunch view Qinghai Lake - the largest in China. It's here, in Qinghai Province, where the waters of two of China's mightiest, most revered rivers - the Yangtze and the Yellow - begin their journey, nourishing the nation as they travel to the sea. Tonight, transfer to the station and board the ‘Sky train’ to Lhasa to experience world’s highest railway journey. You will sleep in a soft sleeper compartment with two double decker beds. Should you not want to share the compartment with others, we can arrange a private compartment for extra costs. The 2,000 km journey lasts for 25 hrs. Peeping through UV blocked big train windows you remain captivated with a flashing glimpse of Chinese countryside, flat cultivated land, brown hills, river-side valleys. The train rolls across the 5200 meter high Tanggula mountain pass amidst surreal mountain vistas, as you near Tibetan plateau. The train continues to roll through mesmerizing views of turquoise Qinghai Lake and uniquely shaped vast Tibetan plateau right below the huge mountain range with 7000+ meter peaks dominating the entire landscape.  Oxygen supplying equipment and an oxygen mask is also available in the train for those who are prone to altitude sickness. You will have the best services from soft sleepers, vacuum flush toilets, flat-screen TVs to the finest of cuisine.  (B.L.D.)

Day 6               9/16              Arrival in Lhasa
After an approximate 25 hrs of train ride across the "roof of the world", you finally arrive in Lhasa with fond memory of your just accomplished world’s highest train journey. Train arrives at Lhasa at 8:58pm.  You will be met at the train station by your Tibetan tour guide to escort you to your hotel.  Rest well tonight.  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner aboard the train.

Day 7               9/17              Lhasa

Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The city, with an altitude of 3700 m above sea level, has long been the "Holy Land" of Tibet.  Due to the high elevation, altitude sickness can happen to anyone regardless of your age and health condition. Most visitors to Tibet will experience some symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization. Please consult with your physician prior to traveling to Lhasa. After adjusting to the altitude, visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkor street around Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. In the afternoon visit Norbulingka, which means "the garden of treasures" in Tibetan language. Located in the west suburbs of Lhasa, this palace complex was built in the 18th century and served as the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. (B.L.D)

Day 8               9/18               Lhasa

Like the previous days, you experience invaluable insights during your visits to Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. This 17th century Potala Palace offers an awesome view of the entire city and also has private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels. Ancient history has it that Drepung Monastery which was built in 14th century used to shelter around 10,000 monks but as now there has been quite a decline resulting in only few hundreds. Tibetans’ respect and belief are immensely knotted with this monastery. (B.L.D)

Day 9               9/19              Lhasa to Chongqing

Morning at leisure.  Take afternoon flight to Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. The city is high on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. City tour before boarding the 5 star Victoria cruise ship for a 3-night Cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. Departs Chongqing at 9:00pm.   (B,D)  

Day 10             9/20              Yangtze River Cruise

It is time to relax as the ship gently moves downstream towards exciting new destinations. Listen to onboard lectures and demonstrations about Chinese traditions. - Begin with an excursion to mysterious Fengdu, an ancient river town, popularly known as the “City of Ghosts”.  The 27 temples on Mingshan Hill are filled with statues of ghosts and devils. According to Chinese legend, spirits go to heaven and evil goes to Fengdu. The town overlooks Ming Shan Hill, home of Tianzi, the King of the Dead. The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks. The only people here are those who make a living from visiting cruise boats. Meals on board. Victoria Cruise Ship

Day 11             9/21               Yangtze River Cruise

Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges(0800-1300). -The Lesser Three Gorges are the three separate valleys of the Daning River: Dragon Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge and Emerald Gorge. These lie on the lower reaches of the Daning, which flows into the Yangtze. The gorges are truly spectacular. Sheer cliffs soar up towards the sky from the brown-green water. Mountain tops hover above the ribbon of mist, disconnected from their roots. Its "subtle mountains, clear waters, pretty rocks, dangerous rapids, sharp turns, fantastic caves, and stalactites in various shapes" create the timeless beauty that you see in Chinese landscape paintings. Monkeys, mandarin ducks and other water birds can be seen loitering on big boulders in this area. In addition to the wonderful natural scenery, there are a number of historical places of interest along the way, such as a suspended coffin, boat coffin, and remains of an ancient plank walkway. Meals on board.

Day 12              9/22                Yangtze River Cruise/Yichang/Shanghai

Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site (8:00-10:00). Have lunch onboard. Arrives in Yichang at 1:30pm. -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 will be competed 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. Since Sep 1st, 2005, the first 1000 tourists each day get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities. After lunch, say farewell to your ship’s crew in Yichang and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. Evening at leisure. Dinner on your own (B.L)

Day 13               9/23                Shanghai

After breakfast, visit the Bund. Have a stroll along the waterfront to experience the smells, sights and sounds of the old "Wall Street" of Shanghai. Banks, trading houses, residences, hotels and clubs all had a view of bustling Huangpu River traffic as they shared in the city's rising and falling fortunes. Then walk along the famous shopping street of Nanjing Road. Known as "the No.1 commercial street of China", it is also one of the most prosperous streets in Asia. Continue the tour in the Old Town with its winding alleyways, shops, tea houses and restaurants. Explore the tranquil Yu Yuan Gardens, an example of garden architecture from the Ming dynasty. Enjoy a cultural excursion to the impressive Shanghai Museum. Farewell dinner tonight featuring Shanghai style cuisine.  (B.L.D)

Day 14               9/24                Return home

Transfer to Pudong International Airport for connecting flights to USA. Crossing back over the International Date Line, you will arrive home on the same day! (B)

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