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A rare new addition to the ranks of great railway journeys, our tours between Tibet’s capital Lhasa and Hong Kong take in an extraordinary sweep of natural wonders and culture. We will enjoy everything from Lhasa - Tibet’s holiest city but until now virtually inaccessible in its remote Himalayan location - to China’s spectacular sights including the Three Gorges, Li River, the Terracotta Warriors, the world’s highest railway and the stunning international city of Hong Kong.
Our visit to Xian not only includes the 6,000 Terracotta Warriors (among the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century) but also the city’s remarkable old walls and pagodas, as well as its drum and bell towers. We will also visit the extraordinary Yunnan Stone forest, known in China as the ‘First wonder of the world’, and have a chance to get close to Giant Pandas.
Home for most of the tour will be the Shangri-La Express, although we will also ride on the purpose built high altitude regular service train to Lhasa and a modern fast express to access Hong Kong.
A luxury river cruiser will be our home for four nights during our unhurried journey through the world-famous Three Gorges. This gives us time to absorb the sensational sight of the peaks soaring (in places) more than 4,000ft around us, but also some of the remarkable things created here by man. Fengdu’s unique ‘Ghost City’ is a man made vision of Hades, telling the story of those forced to live out their personal hell for eternity. Equally remarkable is the world’s largest dam.
In contrast to all of this is Hong Kong, one of the world’s great modern cities, situated in its stunning position on Victoria Harbour. With so much packed into this remarkable tour our itineraries offer the journey of a lifetime. Why not treat yourself? |
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: LHASA |
| Once known as one of the most inaccessible cities on earth, Lhasa is located in a small basin surrounded by mountains, and it literally means "place of the gods". At an altitude of around 11,975ft (3,650m) it is one of the highest cities in the world; it is also the traditional seat of the Dalai Lama and the holiest centre of Tibet with over a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history. Guests are met at the airport and transferred to the centrally located five star Brahmaputra Hotel for a three night stay. Today we have free time to explore the city or we can spend time in the hotel whilst we acclimatize. |
| Day 2: LHASA |
| On our first full day here, we visit the 13th century Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest shrine and the spiritual home for almost all Tibetans. Next we explore the adjacent Barkhor market, the oldest market in the capital and a well-trodden route for the many pilgrims who make their way to the temple. A local lunch is accompanied by traditional folk music. This afternoon we visit the 17th century Potala Palace, former seat of the Tibetan Government and the Dalai Lama’s winter residence before he fled to India in 1959. It contains thousands of rooms and dominates the city skyline. Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 metres and is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet – truly one of the architectural wonders of the world. |
| Day 3: LHASA |
| Morning visit to Norbu Lingka, the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace, it was built in the 1740’s as a retreat from which to escape the heat of the summer. Meaning either “jewel garden” or “precious garden” it is still a tranquil haven from the noise of the city and a wonderful place to explore. This afternoon we have free time to wander through Lhasa and soak up the atmosphere of this fascinating city. |
| Day 4: LHASA, SHANGRI-LA EXPRESS |
After breakfast we board the new high-altitude train and embark on our descent from Lhasa cresting the 16,640 foot (5,072m) Tangula Pass on the way to Golmud. This is the world’s highest railway – over 3 miles (5km) above sea level and is a voyage of a lifetime. On arrival in Golmud we join our waiting private train, the Shangri-La Express, the most prestigious train in China and begin our 1000 km-long journey across the Tibetan Plateau.
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| Day 5: ON BOARD |
| Traversing the vast distances that make up the world’s most populated country, we spend day on board the Shangri-La Express. We have time to chat to fellow guests in the bar car, attend one of the lectures and lessons on offer, spend time watching the spectacular scenery that we pass or we can just relax in our cabins and watch a DVD in the bar car. Meals today are served in our recently built restaurant car and we can sample authentic Chinese cuisine at its best. |
| Day 6: XIAN |
| Breakfast arrival in the ancient city of Xian. Our tour takes in the highlights of the city including the Great Mosque, the 14 km city walls, Drum and Bell Towers, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. If there is time we can take a stroll through the winding lanes of the historic Muslim quarter and spend some time bartering for souvenirs. We dedicate several hours to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants barely 30 years ago. The 6,000 Terracotta figures, arranged in row after row of warriors and horses, are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. This evening we see the excellent Tang Dynasty dinner show. |
| Day 7: YICHANG - THREE GORGES CRUISE |
| After a day spent on the train enjoying the scenery, we arrive early evening into Yichang, where we transfer to one of the five star Victoria Cruises river boats for our three-and-a-half day cruise through the spectacular Three Gorges. After settling into comfortable cabins we climb 250 feet through five locks before departing through the eastern part Xinling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges at 43 miles (70km). |
| Day 8: THREE GORGES CRUISE |
| Our first port of call this morning is the Three Gorges Dam Project. As of 2007 it is the largest hydroelectric river dam in the world at five times the size of the Hoover Dam. We continue our cruise through the Western Xinling gorge and in Shennong we transfer to a smaller boat and take a short excursion into one of the smaller gorges, where we get to see fantastic views of the mountains which are scattered with hundreds of enchanting eroded caves. Once back on board our main boat we can join in the various activities on offer on our spacious boat, maybe have a Chinese lesson or learn more about the history of this fascinating region. |
| Day 9: THREE GORGES CRUISE |
| Today we visit Fengdu Ghost City situated on Ming Mountain which is actually a man-made version of Hades telling the story of “sinners” who have been forced to live out their own personal hell for eternity. With its 75 temples and numerous sculptures, it is certainly a unique experience. Back on our boat we continue into the scenic 44 km Wu Xia Gorge and we have the opportunity to learn the traditional Chinese game of Mah-jong or have a calligraphy lesson. |
| Day 10: THREE GORGES CRUISE |
| The final gorge that we pass through today is the 8 km Qutang Gorge, the narrowest and most spectacular of the Three Gorges, with its steep imposing mountains. Perilous peaks along both sides of the Gorge tower towards the sky, some reaching up to a height of 4,291 feet (1,500m). We will have time for a short excursion at one of the sights along the way. |
| Day 11: THREE GORGES CRUISE - CHONGQING |
| Upon a morning arrival in Chongqing, we have a tour of the old part of the city before re-joining the Shangri-La Express. |
| Day 12: CHENGDU |
| Mid morning we arrive in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province and the centre for traditional Chinese medicine within this vast country. Also the home of the Giant Panda, we will have the opportunity to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Institute and get close to these remarkable rare creatures. At lunchtime we start our transit over one of the world’s most spectacular railway lines. Completed in the 1970’s, the line to Chengdu tortuously passes over many precariously perched bridges and deep ravines, before plunging into yet another tunnel. Scenery definitely not to be missed! |
Day 13: KUNMING |
| After an enjoyable morning on board the train, we arrive into Kunming and visit the local sights including the Golden Temple, which is actually made out of copper. We spend the night in a hotel. |
| Day 14: YUNNAN STONE FOREST |
| This morning we visit the dramatic Yunnan Stone Forest with its magnificent stone masterpieces and various strange and steep intricate formations. Walking through the forest we can marvel at the animals, plants, and even human figures that can be found here. Some are elegant, some are rugged, and each is lifelike with its own distinguishing characteristics. An old local saying claims that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' |
| Day 15: GUILIN |
| Morning arrival in the enchanting city of Guilin, where we spend the day sightseeing. Situated on the Li River amongst some of the finest scenery in the world, our day includes a cruise on the river amongst the strange karst rock formations that feature on so many of the covers of books about China. We also visit the 600,000 year old Yudi Lan (Reed Flute) Cave on the outskirts of the city. |
| Day 16: KOWLOON, HONG KONG |
| After lunch we arrive into Guangzhou, an ancient city situated on the Pearl River, and say goodbye to the Shangri-La Express, our home for the last 16 days. We transfer to reserved seats on the high speed train to Kowloon, a journey which takes under two hours. On arrival we are transferred by bus to a centrally located, five-star hotel for a one-night stay. We can say our goodbyes tonight at the farewell dinner. |
| Day 17: HONG KONG |
Free time in this exciting city before we are transferred to the Airport Express station for check-in. |
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