CHINA AND TIBET!

Ni hao and welcome to China during the best time of year to visit! Enjoy the amazing sights you have heard of all your life, and some secrets known only to Rail & Sail! Space is limited — Non-stop flights are first come, first served. Please reserve today at: www.railandsail.com or call!

Included in your tour:

· Round-trip non-stop flights for early bookings*

 *Other gateways by request

· 4-star hotels

· Domestic air and train tickets and transfers

· Daily sightseeing included, with no optional tours.

· Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Home visit

· High speed bullet train to Xi’an

· Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses

· Xi’an City Wall & Muslim Quarter

· Lhasa guided sightseeing and entrances

· Shanghai City Tour

· Maglev Train in Shanghai 

· Most meals included

· All airport transfers in China

· Professional licensed guides of China

· Experienced USA Tour Manager

· Caring and professional travel arrangements

Day 1— Thursday April 16— Depart Seattle for Beijing! Pack your chopsticks and step aboard our transpacific flights to China. Enjoy inflight meals and service and a few movies and the next thing you know we have crossed the international date line and will be landing in Beijing! (In flight meals and drinks included)

Day 2—Friday April 17— Arrive Beijing. Meet your local guide and USA tour manager and transfer to the our hotel for welcome drinks and an evening at leisure. (In flight meals, welcome drinks)

Day 3—Saturday April 18—Beijing City Sights! Enjoy breakfast at our hotel. This morning we hit the biggies with a visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. After an included lunch we are off to visit the Summer Palace. This evening enjoy our welcome dinner of Beijing Roast Duck (Peking Duck). (Breakfast, lunch, welcome dinner)

Day 4– Sunday April 19 — Great Wall of China. Well rested and ready? This morning enjoy a visit to the Temple of Heaven where the emperor would pray for good harvest. It’s also a great place to practice your morning exercises, or take your caged bird for a walk like a real Beijinger! Let’s continue touring and enjoy a visit to the top of the Great Wall of China. One of man’s most amazing architectural feats, its total measurements make it over 13,000 miles in length! Tonight enjoy an evening at leisure. (breakfast, lunch)

Day 5—Monday April 20— Old Beijing Neighborhood Tour, Bullet train to Xi’an. This morning we visit a traditional neighborhood (hutong) by pedicab complete with a home visit. After another lovely lunch, we board the bullet train for a first class train ride to the ancient capital of Xi’an. At times our speed with exceed 300 kilometers per hour! On arrival, transfer to our hotel for modern comfort and pampering. Local restaurant dinner tonight. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 6 —Tuesday April 21— Terra Cotta Warriors. Today enjoy one of the most amazing feats of man’s imagination and force of will! Emperor Qin made himself the first emperor of China after defeating all other warlords. To prepare for his afterlife, he had an army constructed of terra cotta warriors to protect him. He was buried with over 10,000 of these life size figures in his underground tomb which we will visit. Rail & Sail will also include a special visit to the Han Terra Cotta Warriors that are an “ancient Chinese secret” hiding in plain sight in another tomb not far away! This afternoon enjoy a walk on the intact city wall of Xi’an, and a visit to the Muslim Quarter of the city. (breakfast, lunch).

Day 7 —Wednesday April 22 — Xi’an to Lhasa! Check out of our hotel and private transfer to airport for flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, meet your local English-speaking guide at airport, outside of luggage claim, and transfer to hotel. Remainder of the day is free at leisure and adapt to the high altitude. Enjoy the dinner at hotel. (Breakfast, dinner)

Day 8 – Thursday April 23 — Lhasa. This morning we explore the world wonder and pilgrimage site, The Potala Palace, it has stood for centuries as a testament to the Tibetan people and their beliefs. Thousands of pilgrims from around the world come every year to pay homage to this grand estate and the symbol it stands for. This amazing palace has the honor of being the highest ancient palace in the world. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 9 —Friday April 24 — Lhasa We start the day at the Norbulingka Palace to appreciate the beautiful gardens and see some local people going about their daily lives. This was the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Later explore Drepung Monastery. This used to be the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala. The huge Shoton Festival is held here at the beginning of August every year. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 10 —Saturday April 25 — Fly from Lhasa to Shanghai. Today a farewell to the bluest skies in the world, hello Shanghai! (Breakfast)

Day 11 —Sunday April 26 — Shanghai City Sights. Today enjoy a guided city tour of Shanghai including the French Concession, Shanghai Old Street, and Yu Garden for a real “Chinatown” experience in China! (breakfast, lunch)

Day 12 —Monday April 27 — Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town. (day trip from Shanghai) With a history of more than 1,700 years and endowed with another elegant name - 'Pearl Stream' - the little town is offers unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards attached all transport people who have been living amidst the bustle and hustle of the modern big city (breakfast, lunch)

Day 13 —Wednesday May 26 — Free morning/Afternoon depart for home. Enjoy a free morning to shop, pack, or people watch in this amazing city. In the afternoon we depart for home. Also experience China’s showpiece Maglev train—over 300mph on our wasy to the airport!

Reserve online anytime or call. $200 deposit per guest, refundable until 120 days in advance.