[Xining to Lhasa Train Segment] 8-Day Classic Qinghai-Tibet Train Tour: Beijing + Xining + Lhasa, Tibet

Welcome to China's capital — Beijing. Our guide will greet you at the airport/train station exit and transfer you to a hotel in downtown Beijing for check-in and rest. You are free to spend the rest of the time as you wish — rest at the hotel to ease jet lag, or take a stroll around the neighborhood. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By air: Beijing has two airports, Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. Both offer numerous international and domestic routes. You can fly to Beijing from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Cambodia, as well as from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Wuhan. 2. By train: Beijing's rail network is extremely well developed. You can take a high-speed train to Beijing from cities such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin.

After breakfast, you will visit the world-renowned Tiananmen Square. [Tiananmen Square] is located on Beijing's central axis and is the largest city-center square in the world. It holds an important place in Chinese history and has witnessed countless major historical events. Here you can view the majestic Tiananmen Gate Tower and learn about China's long history and culture. Then cross the square to visit the Beijing Palace Museum. [The Forbidden City], also known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is the world's largest and best-preserved complex of wooden palace structures. Here you can visit the important halls along the central axis in order, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following your guide's commentary to learn more about the historical stories of the Forbidden City. Afterwards, you can also visit the nearby Jingshan Park (about a 15-minute walk) to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the magnificent scenery of Beijing. In the afternoon, you will drive to visit the famous royal garden — the Summer Palace. [Summer Palace] is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden existing in China, and one of China's four great gardens. Known as the museum of imperial gardens, it features beautiful scenery, with pavilions, towers, lakes, and bridges offering breathtaking views.

After breakfast, you will drive 73 kilometers (about 1.5–2 hours) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, part of the Great Wall — one of the Seven Wonders of the World. [Mutianyu Great Wall] is the longest and best-restored section of China's Great Wall, enjoying the reputation of being "the finest section of the ten-thousand-li Great Wall." You can first take the cable car up to Watchtower No. 14, then hike westward, enjoying the magnificent mountain scenery and the winding, majestic views of the Great Wall along the way, before reaching the highest point at Watchtower No. 20 to complete your Great Wall journey. After touring the Great Wall, return to downtown Beijing and, along the way, view the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center) and take photos with them. Then return to the hotel for a good rest.

This morning, our guide will take you to Beijing Airport to board a flight to Xining, the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (flight time about 2.5 hours). Upon arrival at Xining Airport, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Xining Railway Station to board the Qinghai-Tibet train to Lhasa (about 20 hours). As the train slowly departs, you can see the beautiful plateau scenery passing by through the window — rolling mountain ranges, vast and lush meadows, livestock grazing leisurely, and more. You can also chat amicably with fellow travelers or local Tibetans on the train. Tonight you will stay on the train. Since the train travels on the plateau and the altitude gradually rises, be sure to rest well and not stay up late, so as to better adapt to the high-altitude environment.

After traveling through the night, today the train will arrive at Lhasa Railway Station. Our driver will greet you at the train station exit and transfer you to a hotel in Lhasa's urban area for check-in and rest. For the remaining time, you can rest well at the hotel and let your body slowly adapt to the high-altitude environment. Warm tips 1. On the day of arrival in Lhasa, do not do strenuous exercise, and do not take a shower or drink alcohol. Rest more, drink water, eat fruit, and avoid overeating. You may bring American ginseng lozenges or health supplements such as rhodiola and Gao Yuan An to relieve altitude sickness. 2. Follow the guide's arrangements and try not to go out for activities. Maintaining a calm mindset and getting plenty of rest is the best way to prevent altitude sickness. 3. If you feel unwell, please promptly seek help from your guide or hotel staff and go to a hospital for treatment.

After breakfast, head to visit the holy site in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhist followers — the Jokhang Temple. [Jokhang Temple] was first built in 647 AD and has a history of 1,350 years. It is the most splendid surviving building from Tibet's Tubo period, with 5 golden roofs and 108 Buddha halls. Here you can see the world's rare life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 and devout pilgrims worshipping in front of the Jokhang Temple. In the afternoon, drive about 30 kilometers (50 minutes) to visit Sera Monastery, one of Lhasa's three great monasteries. [Sera Monastery] is also one of the six main monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is solemn and sacred. At Sera Monastery, you can watch the famous Buddhist debates, which usually begin at 15:00 (except Sundays). During the debates, the monks engage in fierce argument, and you can truly feel the faith and power of Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, return to downtown Lhasa and visit [Barkhor Street]. This is not only the route for local kora (ritual circumambulation) but also a very lively ancient commercial street. Here you may encounter locals in Tibetan robes and devout pilgrims, stroll through the alleys to browse handicraft shops, or find a sweet tea house and learn from Tibetan friends how to be tranquil and at ease.

After breakfast, head to visit the world's highest ancient palace-castle complex — the Potala Palace. [Potala Palace] is located on Maburi Hill in the northwest of Lhasa's urban area. It is a magnificent structure combining palace, castle, and monastery, and is also the largest and most complete ancient palace-castle complex in Tibet. Built against the mountain, the palace has 13 stories, stands 117.19 meters tall, and stretches over 400 meters from east to west. You will climb up the long staircase step by step, overlooking Lhasa as you go, taking in the full grandeur of the city. Pause for photos and rest along the way, then step inside the Potala Palace to explore this mysterious ancient palace that is rarely shown in images online. Afterwards, drive about 12 kilometers (35 minutes) to visit [Drepung Monastery], one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is built layer by layer against the mountain, grand in scale, its white walls and red eaves appearing especially serene and peaceful under the sunlight. Inside, you can visit the Tsokchen Assembly Hall, Ganden Podrang, the four great dratsangs, and other important buildings to learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture. You can also head to the debate courtyard to watch monks debating Buddhist doctrine (around 14:00), or stroll through the monastery in search of inner peace. In addition, around August each year, a grand thangka-unveiling ceremony is held here — the famous Shoton Festival.

Today marks the end of this 8-day train journey from Beijing to Xining and Lhasa, Tibet. Our driver will take you to Lhasa Airport or the train station ahead of the agreed time for your onward destination. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in Tibet, such as Nyingchi or Mount Kailash in Ngari, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you. We look forward to welcoming you again someday in the future.