Pandas, Buddhas & Bazaars: Tibet, Yunnan & Guilin
Experience the best of China by land and river, from its bustling modern cities to its legendary ancient wonders. Travel with your private party on this custom-made journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way. This immersive private journey reveals China's time-honored riches including the Great Wall's best-preserved section, the Terra Cotta Warriors, and furry pandas. In China's southwest, wander Lhasa’s Barkhor Bazaar and visit the Potala Palace; meet the Naxi people - Tibetan nomads - beneath the Himalaya in Lijiang; cruise Guilin's Li River; and finally, stroll through Hong Kong's architecturally vertical metropolis.
- Walk the less-frequented and well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.
- Get an introduction to the recently unearthed archaeological discoveries of Xian.
- Visit the Panda Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu, to view and learn about giant pandas in their natural habitat.
- Discover Potala Palace, former residence of Dalai Lamas, during a three-night stay in Lhasa, Tibet's spiritual capital.
- Meet the Naxi people - Tibetan nomads - beneath the Himalaya in Lijiang and view the Baisha Murals of Yunnan.
- Experience the dramatic, pinnacle-dotted landscapes along Guilin's Li River.
- Stroll through Hong Kong's architecturally vertical metropolis and ride the funicular to Victoria Peak.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, China’s capital and cultural hub, where you are transferred to your luxurious hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Day 2: Beijing | Culture & Tradition 
This morning, start the day with a tai chi class at the iconic Temple of Heaven. Then set out on a guided tour of the Forbidden City, the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, and Tiananmen Square, a grand monument to the nation’s present-day government. After lunch at a restaurant known for its kung pao chicken, proceed to the Temple of Heaven, a massive complex offering insight into the life, culture and religion of the Ming Dynasty. Next, hop in a pedicab to explore a hutong, a network of traditional neighborhoods with interconnecting lanes.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing | Meals: B L
Day 3: Beijing | The Great Wall
The following day, walk or ride a cable car to the top of the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Continue with a visit to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you see its breathtaking imperial garden, pavilions, temples, pagodas, green pines and fragrant blossoms. Then, take a private boat ride on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake (weather permitting).
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing | Meals: B L
Day 4: Xian | The Eternal City 
Fly to Xian, where you get an introduction to recently unearthed archaeological discoveries at the Yangling Museum en-route to your hotel. This museum represents the culmination of nearly 10 years of excavation work on an area surrounding the tomb of a Han emperor. While the actual imperial tomb of the emperor and his chief consort has yet to be opened, archaeologists have excavated more than 20 satellite tombs, which have yielded a treasure trove of exquisite funerary pieces.
Shangri-La Hotel Xian | Meals: B L
Day 5: Xian | Storied Warriors
The next day, set out on a full-day, guided tour of Xian. Begin at the famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses dig site, among the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. There are more than 8,000 soldiers spread throughout three dig pits, each revealing a unique face, testifying to the remarkable craftsmanship that went into making them. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Great Mosque of Xian in the Muslim Quarter. Once a vital stop on the Great Silk Road, Xian is a melting pot of Asian and Middle Eastern influences. Resembling a Buddhist Temple, the Great Mosque is regarded among the city’s most beautiful, unusual structures. Afterward, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which offers panoramic views of Xian.
Shangri-La Hotel Xian | Meals: B L
Day 6: Chengdu | Meeting Pandas 
Fly to Chengdu — the capital of Sichuan Province — where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the balance of the day at leisure.
Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu | Meals: B
Day 7: Chengdu | Up Close to Pandas
The next morning, meet China’s furry ambassadors at the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center and observe giant pandas roaming freely in their natural habitat. Next, visit the city's lively Jinli Street and People's Park. In the evening, take in a Chengdu Face Changing Show, a captivating form of Sichuan opera.
Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu | Meals: B L
Day 8: Lhasa, Tibet | Gateway to Tibet
Today, fly to Lhasa, a soaring city at 12,000 feet. Relax and acclimatize for the remainder of the day.
Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa | Meals: B
Day 9: Lhasa, Tibet | Lhasa & Jokhang
The next day, visit the Ani Tsangkung Nunnery and Jokhang, a 1,300-year-old temple housing Tibet’s most revered golden Buddha. Wander Lhasa’s Barkhor Bazaar, visit Sera Monastery, and see the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence at Norbulingka.
Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa | Meals: B L
Day 10: Lhasa, Tibet | Potala Palace
On your last day, visit Sanggye Dhunghor and Potala Palace, former winter residence of the Dalai Lama.
Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa | Meals: B L
Day 11: Lijiang | Yunnan Province 
Today, fly to Lijiang, a city in the northwest part of China's Yunnan Province. Yunnan Province (in southwestern China) has a varied landscape encompassing snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, lakes and deep gorges. Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel at the foot of the Himalaya. The city is a hub of the Naxi people, descendants of Tibetan nomads. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its pebbled paths, potted rhododendrons and whimsical architecture.
Banyan Tree Lijiang | Meals: B
Day 12: Lijiang | Discovering the Naxi
The next day, visit Baisha Village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The former capital of the Naxi Kingdom, it remains home to the Baisha Murals, beautiful frescos which depict the civilization’s cultural and religious way of life during the Ming Dynasty. Continue to Longquan Village, a traditional Naxi village that has existed for over 800 years. Then, see the stunning Black Dragon Pool Park and learn about Naxi culture at the Dongba Museum.
Banyan Tree Lijiang | Meals: B L
Day 13: Zhongdian | In the Shangri-La Hills
Drive overland from Lijiang to Zhongdian. Towering 11,000 feet above sea level in China's southern Yunnan Province, Zhongdian is a melting pot of Tibetan and Chinese cultures including the Khampa, Han, Naxi, Lisu, Yi and Pumi peoples. Settle in to your hotel, which is tucked into the hills amid peaceful ancestral farms.
MGallery Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La | Meals: B L
Day 14: Zhongdian | Songzangling Monastery
The following day, visit Songzangling Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and home to the Living Buddha. This 300-year-old monastery — built by the Fifth Dalai Lama — continues to house upwards of 800 monks. Next, stroll through the labyrinthine alleyways of Zhongdian's Old Town, home to Tibetan Naxi and Han families, who live and work in much the same way as they have for centuries.
MGallery Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La | Meals: B L
Day 15: Guilin | Lovely Landscape 
Fly from Zhongdian to Kunming and connect to your flight to Guilin, where you are met and transferred to your hotel along the banks of the Li River. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin | Meals: B
Day 16: Guilin | Li River Countryside
The following day, board a shared-group boat for a scenic, full-day Li River cruise and guided countryside tour. Absorb the beauty of dramatic limestone pinnacle formations on riverbanks and learn about the legends associated with these outcroppings. This idyllic countryside has inspired Chinese poets and painters for generations. After lunch on board, arrive in Yangshuo Village, where you may explore the local market. Return by land to Guilin, passing tranquil rice paddies en route.
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin | Meals: B L
Day 17: Hong Kong | Glittering City
Fly today from Guilin to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your renowned property along scenic Victoria Harbour. Enjoy the evening on your own.
The Peninsula Hong Kong | Meals: B
Day 18: Hong Kong | Bustling City
The next day, experience architecturally vertical Hong Kong Island by land, air and sea. Wander through the bustling Sheung Wan Dried Food and Herbal Market, street side antique shops and an open-air curio market. Then, ride the Peak Tram funicular up to Victoria Peak for a stunning view of Victoria Harbour. Then, take a traditional sampan (wooden boat) ride through the local floating villages and enjoy a dim sum lunch.
The Peninsula Hong Kong | Meals: B L
Day 19: Depart Hong Kong
Transfer today to HKG airport and board your flight homeward bound.
in collaboration with A&K
