11 Days Big Cities and Tibet Tour: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Lhasa
- Duration
- 11 Days / 10 Nights
- Pace
- Easy
- Group size
- Private, on your dates
- Best season
- All year
The trip at a glance
China's two great cities, its ancient capital and the roof of the world, in 11 days. Beijing for the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, Shanghai for the Bund and the old town, Xi'an for the Terra-Cotta Warriors, and then Lhasa. Almost every long distance is by high-speed train; the only flight is from Xi'an to Lhasa. A private tour for your own party.
Old and new China, side by side. You begin among the palaces and temples of imperial Beijing and, a day later, stand under the towers of Pudong across the river from the Bund. From Shanghai you go back in time again to Xi’an, where China’s first emperor is buried with his army of clay soldiers.
Read the full overview
High-speed trains between the cities. Beijing to Shanghai takes about four and a half hours, Shanghai to Xi’an about six. The stations are in the city centres, there is no airport queue, and you watch the country go past at 300 km an hour. On Day 8 you fly from Xi’an to Lhasa.
Tibet at the end of the trip. You arrive in Lhasa after a week at low altitude, with a rest day before you see the Potala Palace. Leaving Tibet until last also gives us time to arrange your Tibet Travel Permit while you travel.
One company for the whole trip. We run Tibet with our own team. In Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an we work with local partners we have known for years, and we stay with you the whole way as your one point of contact.
Because this is a private tour, the route is yours to change: a different start city, a slower pace in Shanghai, or more days in Tibet. Ask us.
Photo credits: Shanghai skyline, Ernest Jourdier, CC BY 4.0; Forbidden City, Gisling, CC BY 3.0; Yu Garden, Chainwit., CC BY 4.0; Xi’an City Wall, xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0; all via Wikimedia Commons. Tibet photos are our own.
- Beijing
- high-speed train
- Shanghai
- high-speed train
- Xi'an
- flight
- Lhasa
Where you go, and how high you sleep
The route, stop by stop
Beijing → high-speed train → Shanghai → high-speed train → Xi'an → flight → Lhasa
- Arrive in BeijingDay 1
- Juyongguan Great Wall and Yonghegong Lama TempleDay 2
- Tian'anmen, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, then to ShanghaiDay 3
- Yu Garden, the old city, Zhujiajiao water town and the BundDay 4
- Nanjing Road, then high-speed train to Xi'anDay 5
- Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot SpringDay 6
- Wild Goose Pagoda, the City Wall and the Muslim QuarterDay 7
- Fly from Xi'an 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, 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 north of the city. In the afternoon visit the Yonghegong Lama Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the heart of Beijing.
Tian'anmen, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, then to Shanghai
Cross Tian'anmen Square and walk through the Forbidden City, the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors. In the afternoon see the Summer Palace with its lake and gardens. In the evening take the high-speed train, or a flight, to Shanghai.
Yu Garden, the old city, Zhujiajiao water town and the Bund
Visit the Yu Garden and the old city in the morning. In the afternoon drive out to Zhujiajiao, an old water town of canals and stone bridges. In the evening walk along the Bund and see the Pudong skyline lit up across the river.
Nanjing Road, then high-speed train to Xi'an
A free morning, with time to walk on Nanjing Road, Shanghai's main shopping street. At midday board the high-speed train to Xi'an, about six hours.
Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot Spring
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 at the foot of Mount Li.
Wild Goose Pagoda, the City Wall and the Muslim Quarter
Visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, walk or cycle on top of the Ancient City Wall, and end the day in the food streets of the Muslim Quarter.
Fly from Xi'an to Lhasa, rest day
Fly from Xi'an to Lhasa, about three hours. 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, opposite each other across the road. After lunch, watch the monks debate in the courtyard of Sera Monastery.
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 Xi'an to Lhasa
- China visa
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses and tips
- Single room supplement
Photos from this route
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How do I see Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Tibet in 11 days?
Two days each in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, joined by high-speed trains, then a flight to Lhasa for three days. This private tour does exactly that, with Tibet at the end.
Why only one flight?
High-speed trains join Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an in a few hours each, from city centre to city centre. There is no fast train to Lhasa from Xi'an, so that last leg is a flight of about three hours.
Why is Tibet at the end and not the start?
You reach Lhasa after a week at low altitude and rested, which makes the first days at 3,650 m easier. It also gives us time to arrange your Tibet Travel Permit while you travel through the inland cities.
How long are the train rides?
Beijing to Shanghai is about four and a half hours; Shanghai to Xi'an about six. We book your seats, and your guide takes you to the station and meets you at the other end.
Do I need a permit for Tibet?
Yes. Every foreign visitor needs a Tibet Travel Permit, which we arrange once your tour is confirmed. Send us your passport details early so it is issued before you fly to Lhasa.
Can I take the train to Lhasa instead of flying?
Yes, but it takes much longer: the Xi'an to Lhasa train is more than 30 hours. If you would like the train, we can add a day and plan it for you.
Can I add Everest Base Camp?
Yes. Four more days take you from Lhasa to Shigatse and Everest Base Camp and back. Ask us and we will build it on to this route.
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.
