Trip to China and Tibet
Travelogue, photos and China travel info

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE IN CHINA? AND IN TIBET?

China is a huge country that has so much to offer, starting from a long history absolutely fascinating, ending with beautiful landscapes and interesting contemporary culture. Surprisingly, China still doesn't have lot of tourists, so you might be wondering what to see exactly in China and how to optimize the route, since the visit of the entire country would take months. The tour itinerary in China shown in this section of travel-tour-guide is three weeks long and is a good mix between history, archeology, nature, landscapes and culture. Of course, China also offers other attractions not covered by this trip itinerary due to lack of time, such as Yunnan with its ethnic minorities and beautiful pagodas, or maybe Hong Kong, to name just a few examples, but this is a good reason to return again and again in this beautiful country.

WHERE TO GO IN CHINA?
WHAT IS THE SUGGESTED ITINERARY IN TIBET?

This trip review focuses a voyage to China that includes day tours to Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo and Chengdu. Trip extension to Tibet, visiting Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyangtse. This is a customized tour specifically made for myself only (no group departure), the complete itinerary has been designed by myself and operated by car, driver and tour guide. The detailed day by day itinerary is summarized below:

• Day 01: Travel to China from your country (you may arrive the next day)
• Day 02: Free time in Beijing to recover from the long trip
• Day 03: Excursions in Beijing: day tour to Forbidden City and more attractions
• Day 04: Day tour to the Great Wall in Badaling and other excursions
• Day 05: Flight from Beijing to Lhasa (Tibet) via Chengdu or direct
• Day 06: Day tour in Lhasa to Potala Palace and Jokhang temple
• Day 07: Lhasa day tour to Drepung and Sera monasteries
• Day 08: Overland trip in Tibet from Lhasa to Gyangtse, visit Palkhor Monastery
• Day 09: Trip from Gyangtse to Shigatse, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Day 10: Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa across southern Tibet
• Day 11: Flight from Lhasa to Chengdu in Sichuan
• Day 12: Day tour to panda research center in Wolong
• Day 13: Day tour to Leshan Giant Buddha and Baoguo temple
• Day 14: Day tour to Mount Emei, Wannian temples - travel back to Chengdu
• Day 15: Flight from Chengdu to Xian, visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda and provincial museum
• Day 16: Xian day tour to Terracotta Warriors, Great Mosque and city Wall
• Day 17: Flight from Xian to Guilin and city tour in Guilin
• Day 18: Li river cruise to Yangshuo through rural China
• Day 19: Full day tour to Longsheng and Longji rice terraces
• Day 20: Travel from Yangshuo to Guilin and then to Shanghai
• Day 21: Shanghai city tour to museum, Yuyuan Garden, TV Tower
• Day 22: Full day excursion to the water city of Zhouzhuang
• Day 23: Free day in Shanghai, flight back to your country (you may arrive the next day)
• Day 24: Arrive in your country

HOW TO GET TO CHINA AND HOW TO GET AROUND?

Trips to China are usually offered by several worldwide tour operators, but if you want to travel independently without having to join a group, or maybe you want to customize your itinerary to better include the places that you like, it may be a good idea to contact a travel agency in China that can provide a car with driver and book all the accommodations required. The tour in China presented in this trip review, was organized via Travel China Guide, by simply communicating them the desired route and the services required. Getting to China is very easy from all over the world, since most major cities in China are served by many daily flights departing from all the continents, while domestic travel is provided through an extensive network of air and rail links, allowing tourists to get just everywhere they wish.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO TO CHINA? AND TO TIBET?

The best season to visit China corresponds to the spring and fall, generally from April to early June and from mid September to early November. The winter months may be too cold and foggy in most regions, while the summer months are typically too hot and humid, with possible heavy rainfall. Unfortunately this can create some difficulties for those who can only travel in fixed weeks through the year, even considering the fact that this is not a short trip (unless you reduce the route, missing however many attractions). The best time to visit Tibet is late spring and early autumn as well, when there are better conditions in terms of temperature and precipitations.