13 Day China & Tibet Highlights

13 Day China & Tibet Highlights

Please note that entry to Tibet is not possible from December 15 to April 15 annually.

Home to UNESCO-protected wonders, eye-popping architecture, high-altitude escapes, and the cuddliest of all national animals, China has everything a traveler could want. Let this engaging journey from Beijing to Shanghai (with a detour into the Buddhist kingdom of Tibet) introduce you to the China you know and the one you’ve only dreamed about.

With modern skyscrapers sharing city blocks with imperial temples, Beijing straddles epochs. You’ll witness this first-hand on a private tour of Tiananmen Square (the world’s largest public square), the sprawling 15th-century Forbidden City, and the peaceful Temple of Heaven complex, considered the world’s finest example of Chinese architecture. The Great Wall is one of humankind’s most incredible feats of engineering and rarely is it more picturesque than at Mutianyu, located amid the misty forests and rolling hillsides of the Huairou District north of Beijing. In the company of a private guide, you’ll spend a full day exploring the 22 watchtowers and 26-foot (8-meter) granite slabs of emperor Qin Shihuang’s immortal edifice.

Later, head south to Xi’an, former abode of China’s imperial dynasties and current home of one of the country’s most significant Muslim populations. After a private cycling tour around the city’s wall (the most complete fortification of its kind in all of China), spend a full day exploring the sacred Big Wild Goose Pagoda, visiting the Neolithic Banpo Village archaeological site, and coming face-to-face with the 7,000-strong Terra-Cotta Army.

From there, the scene shifts to Lhasa, capital of Tibet and city of the sky where, after adjusting to the altitude, you’ll spend a day exploring Drepung and Sera, two of Buddhism’s most important monasteries, with a private guide. Later, learn more about the Buddhist faith on a private tour of sacred sites like UNESCO-protected Potala Palace, the stunning Jokhang Temple, and Bhakor, the circular pilgrimage route that doubles as a bustling market for prayer flags, scriptures, and religious totems.

Famed for its food, tea, and panda bears, Chengdu is a traveler’s delight. After a tasty welcome dinner of Sichuan hotpot, you’ll have the chance to meet the city’s cuddliest residents on a private tour of the Panda Research Center before strolling down Jinli Street to learn more about China’s long-standing cultural relationship with tea at a traditional tea house.

Last stop: Shanghai, a glittering city of the future with both feet firmly planted in its exciting past. You’ll start on Nanjing Road, one of the world’s busiest and glitziest shopping districts, before exploring the science-fiction architecture of the Bund waterfront on a private walking tour. Finally, say goodbye to China in elegant style in nearby Zhujiajio, the “Venice of the East,” where you’ll cruise the scenic canals that wind through the town from the deck of a private boat before unwinding from the adventure in Shanghai’s serene Yu Garden, an oasis of peace amid a city the never sleeps.

Kensington Tours creates private trips from the world’s finest ingredients. Tailor-made with care by your personal Destination Expert, your personalized trip is always a one-of-a-kind experience made just for you. Expert local guidance and 24/7 service come standard.