China13 days
Beijing to Lhasa: The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors & Tibetan Monasteries — 13 Days
From the Forbidden City and Great Wall through Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors to Lhasa's Potala Palace, traveling by rail across the Changtang Plateau.
This journey moves through four distinct regions of northern China and Tibet, traveling partly by rail and partly by vehicle. Beijing anchors the first phase, where the Forbidden City and Mutianyu section of the Great Wall offer a concentrated account of imperial architecture and Ming-era fortification. The overnight train from Beijing deposits you in Xi'an, where the Terracotta Warriors — over 2,000 figures in three excavated pits, each individually sculpted with different expressions and armor — remain one of the world's most substantial archaeological assemblies. A second rail journey carries you through Xining and onto the Tibetan plateau itself, aboard the world's highest railway line. From Lhasa, a southern loop includes Drepung and Sera monasteries, the Potala Palace (the 130-meter complex that served as seat of the Tibetan government and winter residence of the Dalai Lamas for centuries), and a four-day southward route through the Yamdrok Tso lake region to Gyantse and Shigatse before returning to Lhasa for departure.
Highlights
- Walking tour of the Forbidden City, the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for more than 500 years, and the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures listed by UNESCO.
- Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, 2 hours from Beijing, one of the best-preserved restored sections with views across northern approaches to the capital
- The Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an — three open pits containing nearly 2,000 of the 6,000+ figures discovered by farmers in 1976, each individually sculpted with distinct costume, height, and facial expression
- Kumbum Monastery near Xining, one of the six great Gelukpa monasteries, founded in the birthplace of Tsongkhapa and featuring an enormous monastic university complex with butter sculpture galleries
- The Changtang Plateau crossing aboard the world's highest railway line, traversing snowcapped passes and vast grassland lakes before arrival in Lhasa
- Potala Palace in Lhasa, perched 130 meters above the city with the White Palace (secular administration) and Red Palace (chapels, shrines, and tombs of successive Dalai Lamas)
- Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet and most sacred site, with the golden Buddha at its center and pilgrims circuiting Barkhor Street in clockwise kora
- Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, once housing 10,000 monks, with its main assembly hall still used for monastic chanting
- Sera Monastery north of Lhasa, where afternoon philosophical debates among monks are held daily except Sundays
- Yamdrok Tso lake viewed from Khamba La pass at 4,750 meters, with descent and ascent to Karo La at 5,045 meters for views of Nojin Gangzang glacier
- Gyantse Kumbum, an eight-story structure within Pelkhor Choede Monastery containing hundreds of tiny chapels filled with Buddhist images, founded in the 15th century
- Tashilumpo Monastery in Shigatse, seat of the Panchen Lamas, with intricate decorations and religious imagery throughout its buildings
- Hutong alleyways of Old Beijing, traditional courtyard neighborhoods showing local lifestyle and residential architecture
- Xi'an City Wall, the most significant preserved city fortification in China, stretching over 13 kilometers in a circuit around the city
- Muslim Quarter of Xi'an, home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries, with narrow streets, halal butchers, sesame-oil factories, and small mosques
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijing & Welcome Dinnerhotel lobby · hotel area
You arrive in Beijing and meet your guide at 6 pm in the hotel lobby for a briefing on itinerary and logistics. An orientation walk around the hotel area follows, with dinner featuring Peking Duck.
2Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square & Hutong NeighborhoodsForbidden City · Tiananmen Square · Hutong alleys
The day covers central Beijing on foot and via subway. Tiananmen Square contains the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. You then enter the Forbidden City, built 1406–1420 as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese imperial government for over 500 years. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1987, recognizing it as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The afternoon moves through Hutong alleys—networks of traditional courtyards—offering views of how residents have lived in central Beijing for centuries.
3Great Wall at Mutianyu & Overnight Train to Xi'anMutianyu section of the Great Wall · Beijing to Xi'an
A two-hour drive from Beijing brings you to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the best-preserved and restored segments. A picnic lunch is provided on the wall. You return to Beijing in the afternoon with free time before boarding the overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an (approximately 12 hours).
4Xi'an City Wall, Shadow Puppet Theater & Muslim QuarterXi'an City Wall · shadow puppet theater · Muslim Quarter · 400-year-old restored residence
Arriving in Xi'an by train, breakfast is served at the hotel. A walking tour of the ancient City Wall follows—a fortification stretching over 13 kilometers in a complete circuit around the city. The morning continues at a 400-year-old restored residence, once home to seven generations of the Gao family, royal court officials, with period furnishings, pottery, porcelain, and paintings intact. An afternoon performance of Chinese shadow puppetry is followed by a chance to meet the artist and handle the puppets. The day concludes with a walk through the Muslim Quarter, where the Hui Muslim community has lived for centuries with shops, halal butchers, sesame-oil factories, mosques, and food markets.
5Terracotta Warriors Near Xi'anTerracotta Warriors · Xi'an · nearby village
The Terracotta Warriors, discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after 2,000 years underground, are displayed in three main excavation pits. Approximately 2,000 of the 6,000+ figures—warriors, archers, and chariots—are visible, each individually sculpted from clay with distinct costume, height, and facial expression. Lunch is taken in a nearby village before return to Xi'an in the mid-afternoon, leaving the remainder of the day free.
6Kumbum Monastery & Train to LhasaXining · Kumbum (Ta'er Si) Monastery
A bullet train departs for Xining, arriving approximately 4.5 hours later. Upon arrival, transfer proceeds to Kumbum (Ta'er Si) Monastery, located 30 kilometers outside the city. Kumbum, meaning "100,000 images," is one of the six great Gelukpa monasteries, founded in the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, a significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism. The complex functions as a monastic university where many incarnate Lamas have studied. You view the stupas, teaching halls, and butter sculpture galleries before returning to Xining to board the overnight soft-sleeper train to Lhasa (approximately 21.5 hours). As the train departs Xining, it climbs to cross the Changtang Plateau—a high-altitude landscape of grassland and open terrain.
7Changtang Plateau & Arrival in LhasaChangtang Plateau · Lhasa
You travel aboard the world's highest railway line, passing through the Changtang Plateau. Passes may be snow-covered year-round; in summer, grassland lakes attract bird species. Arrival in Lhasa is marked by a welcoming ceremony: you are presented with a white katak (prayer scarf) by your guide. Altitude: 3,656 meters. Allow time for acclimatization.
8Drepung & Sera MonasteriesDrepung · Sera · Nechung
This day visits two of Tibet's largest university monasteries on the lower slopes of hills north of Lhasa. Drepung, founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, once housed up to 10,000 monks; its main assembly hall remains active with monks chanting. Nearby stands Nechung, temple of the Oracle, historical advisor to the Dalai Lamas. The afternoon moves to Sera, where monks engage in philosophical debate in the courtyard daily except Sundays.
9Potala Palace & Jokhang TemplePotala Palace · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor Street
The Potala Palace served as the seat of Tibetan government and winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas, perched 130 meters above the city. It divides into the White Palace (secular functions) and the Red Palace (chapels, shrines, and tombs of the Dalai Lamas). Visits must be conducted with a guide; entry times are assigned when tickets are booked. The Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart and most sacred site in Tibet, draws pilgrims regularly. The complex contains a large golden Buddha at its center. After the visit, you join pilgrims walking around Barkhor Street in clockwise direction, a sacred kora (circumambulation circuit) for Tibetan Buddhists. Depending on ticket assignment, the order of Potala and Jokhang visits may be reversed.
10Yamdrok Tso, Karo La Glacier & Gyantse DzongDzong · Khamba La · Karo La pass · Pelkhor Choede Monastery · Gyantse Kumbum
From the summit of Khamba La at 4,750 meters, views of Yamdrok Tso, a turquoise-colored alpine lake, are visible. The route descends to skirt the lake's shore before climbing to Karo La pass at 5,045 meters, which offers close-up views of Nojin Gangzang glacier. Upon arrival in Gyantse, you visit Pelkhor Choede Monastery, founded by the King of Gyantse in the 15th century. Within the complex stands Gyantse Kumbum, an eight-story structure containing chapels filled with Buddhist images. A walk to the Dzong (fort) above the town provides views across Gyantse and surrounding countryside.
11Shigatse & Tashilumpo MonasteryShigatse · Tashilumpo Monastery · local market
A short drive through small villages leads to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city. Upon arrival, you visit Tashilumpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lamas. The buildings feature decorations and religious imagery. Afterward, you may perform a kora (circumambulation) around the monastery or visit the local market.
12Return to LhasaLhasa · Yarlung Tsangpo River · teahouse · Barkhor Street
The six-hour drive back to Lhasa follows the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The remainder of the day is free—you may shop independently, sit in a teahouse, or walk the pilgrimage circuit around Barkhor Street.
13Departure from Lhasaairport
The day is free. A transfer to the airport is included for your departure.
Where you go
- 1Forbidden City
- 2Tiananmen Square
- 3Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
- 4Xi'an City Wall
- 5Muslim Quarter
- 6Terracotta Warriors
- 7Xi'an
- 8Lhasa
- 9Potala Palace
- 10Jokhang Temple
- 11Barkhor Street
- 12Shigatse
- 13Lhasa
- 14Barkhor Street
Included
- Included:
- · 10 nights' hotel accommodation based on twin share
- · Local English speaking guide service in each city for FIT booking of 2-5 pax
- · National English speaking guide service throughout for group booking of 6 pax or up
- · Private transfers as specified
- · Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
- · 11 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners
- · Overnight soft-sleeper train Beijing-Xi'an (1 night) & Xining-Lhasa (1 night)
- · Regular class fast train Xi'an-Xining
Not included
- Excluded:
- · International flights
- · Travel insurance
- · Chinese visa
- · Expenses of personal nature, ie laundry, alcoholic drinks, and etc.