Itinerary:
Day 1:Shanghai to Hong Village
We will drive 5 hours today to Hong Village, a World Cultural Heritage Site in Anhui province. Hong Village, evolved in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, has a great fame for her water-supplying system. The bird view of village's shape is like a resting water-buffalo. The running water flows in the winding ditches to every household, and is finally gathered in a little lake at the entrance of the village.
Inside these ancient houses you can appreciate the splendid wood carvings on the beams and columns. After your visit, you will conclude that Hong village's major difference from other villages is that the well-preserved ancient houses get along harmoniously well with her beautiful surroundings. Hong village is also one of the locations for Oscar Best Foreign Film "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" in 2000, directed by Ang Lee. Overnight GH in the village.
Day 2:Hong Village to Yellow Mount
Explore the village in the morning and head to Yellow Mountain after lunch by bus. Hike up about 3 hours and stay on top of the mountain. The Yellow Mountain, one of the most fascinating places in China, has attracted thousands of poets & artists, inspiring them to create the great poems and many traditional Chinese paintings.
Day 3: Yellow Moutain to Anqing
In the morning we will hike an hour to catch the sun rising on the Peak of Yellow Mountain. Then descend for about three hours with beautiful and famous sceneries alongside to the foot of the mountain. We will drive four hours to Anqing city. Overnight hotel.
Day 4: Anqing to Wuhan
Today we will drive 6 hours to Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province. In Wuhan we will visit Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan's most famous attraction. From the outside, the structure appears traditional, but if you peek inside, the 1980s elevator belies its modernity. Mao is said to have ascended the tower in 1927 to view the Yangtze River.
In the evening we will have a food exploration. The city is famous for its snacks - be it succulent, spicy duck's neck, designer dumplings, hot and dry noodles (re gan mian), chili-spiced pigeons, the delicious and often squirty soup buns (tang bao), salty doughnuts (mian wo) or doupi (sticky rice, egg, beef, mushrooms and beans wrapped in a pocket of soy skin) – eat, gorge, snack, feed… yum. Overnight hotel.
Day 5: Wuhan to Yichang
Today we will drive 6 hours to Yichang. Yichang is located at the Eastern entrance to the three gorges. Yichang is an ancient city with a history of more than 4,000 years.
Yichang has abundant water resources and it is lauded as the largest hydroelectric base in the world, indeed it is a bright pearl shining on the Yangtze River. The river runs through the city center and the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project and Three Gorges Dam Project are located there. Benefiting from these projects, Yichang has become the largest hydroelectric resource center in China. In Addition, the tourism centered on the Three Gorges has made the city more famous and more prosperous. Xiling Gorge which is located near Yichang is an important part of the 'Three Gorges Gallery'. The Three Gorges Dam Project is one of the great wonders of modern human history and it has become a tourist hot spot of the world.
Explore the city for rest of the day. Overnight hotel.
Day 6-7: Yangtze River Cruise
Two day Yangtze River Cruise. Overnight on ship.
Day 8: Wanzhou to Chengdu
Our cruise will end in Wanzhou. From Wanzhou we will drive five hours to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province. Rugged Sichuan has always been remote from the power centers in eastern China, and its distinct culture is a joy to experience.
In the afternoon we will visit Giant Panda Breeding Research Base just outside of town. After seeing the cute pandas, for a taste of Sichuan culture, we will join the locals in a Chengdu teahouse. Don't rush it—the idea's not to grab a quick pick-me-up, but to unwind and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
After a lush dinner we will catch a Sichuan opera performance, characterized by amazingly rapid "face changing" tricks, fire breathing and earthy humor. Overnight hotel.
Day 9: Chengdu – Leshan - Dujiangyan
After breakfast we will drive one hour to Leshan. Leshan's claim to fame is Dafo, or the Grand Buddha, carved from the red-rock cliff face overlooking the confluence of the Min, Qingyi and Dadu Rivers. Dafo is the world's largest Buddha, measuring 71 meters (233 feet) in height.
After lunch we will drive two hours to Dujiangyan. Sichuan's Dujiangyan Irrigation Project (Dujiangyan Shuili Gongcheng), for example, dates back to the 3rd century BC, when official and engineer Li Bing devised a scheme to both control the flood-prone Min River (Min He) and to use its waters to irrigate surrounding farmland. The project has continued and expanded in the centuries since, with today's network of dams, pumping stations, canals and bridges covering some three million hectares. Overnight hotel.
Day 10: Dujiangyan to Xinduqiao
Today we will drive 320km to Xinduqiao. Xinduqiao (Dongeluo in Tibetan), is considered to be the "Paradise of Photography" by Chinese photographers due to its superb scenery. Overnight GH.
Day 11: Xinduqiao to Lithang
We will drive 220km today to Lithang, a town deeply loved by Tibetans. Lithang, peacefully located on the highland at an altitude of 4,014m/13,166ft, is the home of the 7th and 10th Dalai Lamas and many living Buddhas. Now Lithang is becoming better known due to the International Horse Racing Festival in August. Overnight hotel (4,014m/13,166ft)
Day 12: Lithang to Markham
We will drive 300km today. Depart from Lithang we will get into the Haizi Mountains. You will get up to the summit and then go down to the Batang which is located in the bank of Jinshajiang River. Here produce many good fruit and they enjoined very high honor in east Tibet. It was said that the apple had been planted by a foreign preacher firstly. And the Christian churches here are still well protected now.
When we get over the Jinshajiang River, we will be in Tibetan Autonomous Administration District, and the Markham County is the first county we meet since we enter in Tibet. Overnight hotel.
Day 13: Markham to Zuogong
From Markham we will drive 160km crossing Lancangjiang River first to get to Zuogong. We will pass Dongda Mountains (5008meters), the tallest mountain pass on the route from Sichuan to Tibet. Overnight hotel.
Day 14: Zuogong to Ranwu
Today we will drive 320km to Ranwu. We will drive across the famous ninety-nine bending and down to the Nujiang River that makes today's trip full of challenge. We have to be accustomed to the temperature up and down and the altitude changes at the same time. Overnight hotel.
Day 15: Ranwu to Pome
140km drive for the day. We will pass Ranwugou ditch, which is an enormous ice glacier. The car have to get through from the glaciers very carefully, it will give us the most exciting impetus but without danger. The Ranwu Lake is the famous high land glacier lake; there is dense forest near the bank accompanied with the clean and clear water in the lake. The shadow of the forest in the lake, the birds play and fly freely near the water. What a fairy land displayed in front of us. The Pome county which located in the dense forest, will take our great attention. Mountain Everest is located near this county, so we can easily see the Snow Mountains around the county. The most famous two are Nanjiabawa summit and Jialabei summit. Overnight hotel.
Day 16: Pome to Bayi
220km drive for the day. We will drive in the dense forest and visit primeval Menba and Luoba minorities. Their ways of living are much similar with the Tibetans, but they still keep their primitive way of life and the dwellings. We will also pass Nyingchi, the most attractive place in Tibet. Overnight hotel.
Day 17: Bayi to Lhasa
400km drive for the day. Today we will drive to visit Basomtso Lake, it is said to be the copy of Switzerland: stiff peaks, snow mountains, crystal lake, green vegetation, island in the small lake. We will drive cross Mount Mila (5,013m), the last snow mountain on National Highway 318. Finally we will get to the holy city – Lhasa. Overnight hotel.
Day 18: Lhasa
Full day to wonder around Lhasa. We will start the day at Potala Palace. The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m. Also founded in the 7th century, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty and originality of the architecture of these three sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest. Overnight hotel.
Day 19: Lhasa to Shigatse
We will drive 300km to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. After arrival we will visit Tashilunpo Monastery. Traditionally home to the Panchen Lama, the monastery was built in 1447. It miraculously escaped much Cultural Revolution-era destruction, so it's a refreshing sight for reconstruction-sore eyes. Tashilunpo is large enough to seem like a small walled town, and there's plenty to see. Highlights include massive collections of jewels and gold Buddha statues, the Assembly Hall and its colorful unfurled thangkas, and the shrines and thrones of each of the Panchen Lamas, many of whom are buried on site. Due to the controversy revolving around the Panchen Lama, neither the Gyancain Norbu (recognized and appointed by the Chinese government) nor Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (identified and recognized by the Dalai Lama) live here today, but there are a few hundred resident monks. Overnight hotel.
Day 20: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp
We will drive 250km today to Mount Everest Base Camp (5200m). On the way the views are stupendous on a clear day, and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range including peaks over 8000, Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu. When you finally get to Everest Base Camp, the first sight of the mighty Everest simply leaves you speechless. All the hardship you bear along the way makes sense at this while. Yes we are there! Overnight GH.
Day 21-22: Everest Base Camp to Lhasa
Drive the same way back to Lhasa.
Day 23: Lake Nam-tso
Today we will drive to visit Lake Nam-tso. Nam-tso (Heavenly Lake/Namucuo), is the highest salt water lake in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,718 meters (15,479ft) above sea level. The clear, sapphire blue waters, encircled by snow-capped mountains make the scenery even more breathtaking than the altitude.
Covering a total area of 1,900km², the Nam-tso Lake is one of Tibet's holy four, making it a necessary destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. Prayer flags and Sanskrit rock carvings abound, evidence of the lake's importance in Tibetan culture.
Big celebration party in the evening!
Day 24: Lhasa to Shanghai
We will fly back to Shanghai today. Adventure ends.
