11 Days China Trains Tour: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Lhasa
- Duration
- 11 Days / 10 Nights
- Pace
- Easy
- Group size
- Private, on your dates
- Best season
- All year
The trip at a glance
Eleven days, four cities, two ways of seeing China: the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terra-Cotta Warriors in Xi'an, giant pandas in Chengdu, and then Lhasa, with the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple. Most of the way you travel by train, so you see the country between the cities. This is a private tour, for your own party only.
Tibet comes last. You spend the first week inland and fly from Chengdu to Lhasa on Day 8. That order gives your Tibet Travel Permit time to be arranged while you travel, and you reach Lhasa after a week of gentle sightseeing, with a rest afternoon before the Potala.
Read the full overview
An overnight train on Day 3. You leave Beijing on an evening sleeper train and wake up in Xi’an. It saves a hotel night and a morning of travel, and it is a small part of China that most flights miss.
We run Tibet with our own team. For the inland cities we work with local partners we have known for years, and we stay with you the whole way. You have one point of contact from your first email to the last day.
This route is a good fit if you want the classic China highlights and Tibet in one trip, and you prefer to see the country by rail. Want a different start city, one more day somewhere, or a longer stay in Lhasa? As it is a private tour, we can change it for you.
Photo credits: Great Wall at Juyongguan, Peter K Burian, CC BY 4.0; Terra-Cotta Army Pit 1, Joe Hart, CC BY 2.0; giant panda in Chengdu, George Lu, CC BY 2.0; all via Wikimedia Commons. Tibet photos are our own.
- Beijing
- overnight train
- Xi'an
- high-speed train
- Chengdu
- flight
- Lhasa
Where you go, and how high you sleep
The route, stop by stop
Beijing → overnight train → Xi'an → high-speed train → Chengdu → flight → Lhasa
- Arrive in BeijingDay 1
- Juyongguan Great Wall and Yonghegong Lama TempleDay 2
- Tian'anmen and the Forbidden City, overnight train to Xi'anDay 3
- Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot SpringDay 4
- Xi'an city tour, then high-speed train to ChengduDay 5
- Giant Panda Base and Kuanzhai AlleysDay 6
- Du Fu Cottage, a Chengdu teahouse and a free afternoonDay 7
- Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, rest dayDay 8
- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor StreetDay 9
- Tibet Museum, Norbulingka and the Sera Monastery debateDay 10
- Depart from LhasaDay 11
Day by day
Days 1–2 · Beijing hotel
Arrive in Beijing
Our guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. In the evening you have a Peking duck dinner at a well-known restaurant.
Juyongguan Great Wall and Yonghegong Lama Temple
Walk on the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, built through a mountain pass. In the afternoon visit the Yonghegong Lama Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the middle of Beijing, a first look at the culture you will meet in Lhasa.
Tian'anmen and the Forbidden City, overnight train to Xi'an
Walk across Tian'anmen Square and through the Forbidden City, the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors. In the evening you board the overnight train to Xi'an, with sleeping berths.
Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot Spring
Arrive in Xi'an in the morning. Visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors, the army buried with China's first emperor more than 2,200 years ago, then the Qin Mausoleum and the Huaqing Hot Spring, an old imperial bathing place at the foot of Mount Li.
Xi'an city tour, then high-speed train to Chengdu
Visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, walk on top of the Ancient City Wall and spend time in the Muslim Quarter. In the afternoon take the high-speed train to Chengdu.
Giant Panda Base and Kuanzhai Alleys
Visit the Giant Panda Base in the morning, when the pandas are most active. In the afternoon walk through the Kuanzhai Alleys, a restored old neighbourhood of courtyards and teahouses.
Du Fu Cottage, a Chengdu teahouse and a free afternoon
Visit Du Fu Cottage, the garden where the Tang poet Du Fu lived, and spend time in a Chengdu teahouse. The afternoon is free to rest and pack for Tibet.
Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, rest day
Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, about 2 hours 30 minutes. Our Tibetan guide and driver meet you at the airport. The rest of the day is free, to drink water, walk slowly and get used to the altitude.
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, then the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in Tibet, and walk around Barkhor Street with the pilgrims.
Tibet Museum, Norbulingka and the Sera Monastery debate
Start with the Tibet Museum and the Norbulingka summer palace, which are opposite each other. After lunch go to Sera Monastery to watch the monks debate in the courtyard.
Depart from Lhasa
Our guide and driver take you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your flight.
What is included
Included
- Airport and station pick-ups and transfers
- Private vehicle and English-speaking guide in each city
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary, with daily breakfast
- Entrance tickets for the sights listed in the itinerary
- Tibet Travel Permit
- Tibetan guide and driver in Lhasa
Not included
- Flights, including the flight from Chengdu to Lhasa
- China visa
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses and tips
- Single room supplement
Photos from this route
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Can I combine China highlights and Tibet in 11 days?
Yes. This private tour spends seven days in Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu and three in Lhasa, with the flight to Lhasa on Day 8. If you want more time in Tibet, we can shorten the inland part or add days in Lhasa.
Why is Lhasa at the end of the trip?
It gives your Tibet Travel Permit time to be arranged while you travel inland, and it lets you see the lower cities first and reach Lhasa rested. You also arrive in Tibet after a week at low altitude, so the first day in Lhasa is a rest day.
Is the overnight train comfortable?
You sleep in a berth on the overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an. Bring a small bag for the night; your large bag stays with the guide where it can. It saves a hotel night and a morning of travel.
How do I get to Lhasa from Chengdu?
On Day 8 you fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, about 2 hours 30 minutes. We book the flight for you at the airline's price. Flights into Tibet are not part of our tour fee.
Do I need a permit for Tibet?
Yes. Every foreign visitor needs a Tibet Travel Permit, and we arrange it for you once your tour is confirmed. Please send us your passport details early, so the permit is issued before you leave for Tibet.
Can I start in a city other than Beijing?
Yes. This is a private tour, so we can change the order and the start city, for example to start in Xi'an or Chengdu. Tell us your dates and we will suggest a route.
Can I add more days in Lhasa or travel on to Everest?
Yes. Many guests add days in Lhasa, or a tour to Shigatse and Everest Base Camp. Ask us and we will build it on to this tour.
What does it cost?
Please send us your dates, the number of travellers and your start city, and we will reply with the price within 24 hours.
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