18-Day Comfortable China Adventure for Seniors: Lhasa, Yunnan & Panda

Ni hao! Welcome to China. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be greeted by a private Beijing local  guide of Easy Tour China and transferred to your hotel. After, you will be escorted to your hotel in downtown Beijing with a private car.

The rest of the day is free time for you to adapt to China time. If you'd like to spend more time exploring Beijing city, walk around your hotel or speak to your travel consultant/local guide for some inspirational ideas.

Meals: None

Accommodation: Luxury/comfortable hotel in Beijing (3 nights)

Start your Beijing vacation. In Tiananmen Square, where many of China's modern landmarks are located, listen to your tour guide explain China's modern history and take photos for memory. Walk for about 10 minutes and enter the Palace Museum of Forbidden City, the palace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Depending on your physical condition, we will arrange a deep tour of the Forbidden City (3-4 hours) or a route along the central axis plus selected palace sites (about 2-3 hours).

In the afternoon, take a rickshaw to explore the hutongs with a history of over 600 years. Visit traditional quadrangle-style residential buildings, and witness the lives of ordinary Beijingers. And experience tea art in a quaint tea house, one of the traditional Chinese cultures.

Today's difficulty level: Low to Medium

Meals: B, L

It takes about 1.5 hours by car to reach the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall. Take the cable car to reach the summit of the Great Wall to avoid the climb. Walk on the Great Wall for about 60 to 90 minutes, passing through the beacon towers, and enjoy the northern mountain scenery of China. Your guide will tell you about the 2,000-year history of the Great Wall, its military defense function, and the current situation.

Special information: The intensity of the Great Wall tour can be flexibly adjusted according to your physical condition, ranging from low to medium. Moreover, for senior citizens with limited walking ability, Mutianyu is wheelchair accessible.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven (about 1.5 - 2 hours), the place where ancient emperors conducted sacrifices. Appreciate the architecture of the Qinian Hall, the Imperial Dome, and the Echo Wall - the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, and learn about their original function as a ritual for sacrificing to Heaven. Additionally, you can watch local residents (mostly elderly people) doing morning exercises, such as practicing Tai Chi and singing.

After lunch, take the high-speed train (business class/first class/second class available) to Xi'an, another ancient capital of China and one of the eastern starting points of the Silk Road.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Luxury/comfortable hotels in Xian (2 nights)

Drive for about one hour to reach the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. This underground palace, hidden for over 2,000 years, is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world. Follow your guide, but at your own pace. Visit Pit No. 1 → Pit No. 3 → Pit No. 2, where you can see a military formation composed of thousands of life-sized soldiers (about 2.5 - 3 hours). Uncover the legendary story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army, and admire the ancient Chinese pottery craftsmanship.

In the evening, take a leisurely stroll along the Muslim Street, which is one of the most famous food streets in China. Discover many famous Xi'an delicacies, as well as numerous cultural sites, and witness the local people's lives.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

In the morning, visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (about 1 hour). It was built in 652 AD and is a landmark of the Silk Road, one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China. Through the explanations of your private Xi'an guide, learn how Master Xuanzang traveled along the Silk Road and contributed to the construction of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda - so you can also see his statue.

Say goodbye to Xi'an and fly to Lhasa. After arriving, your private local guide will pick you up and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is for rest and acclimatization to the Tibet plateau. 

Special Information: The altitude of Xi'an city is approximately 400 meters, while the altitude of Lhasa is 3,650 meters. For elderly tourists, after arriving in Lhasa, drink plenty of water and avoid taking baths and engaging in strenuous activities.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Luxury/comfortable hotel in Lhasa (3 nights)

In the morning, our guide will plan a senior-friendly tour of the Potala Palace for you (about 2 hours) - at a slow pace with appropriate breaks. This large palace complex consists of the White Palace and the Red Palace, and is home to 1,267 rooms. Explore the sacred temples, the shrine of the stupa, and learn about the story of the Dalai Lama, and the life of the monks. 

Later, head to Longwangtan Park, which is right behind the Potala Palace, and it's a place where locals gather for social activities (chatting, singing, dancing), and you can capture the reflection of the Potala Palace in a small lake.

In the afternoon, watch monks debating at Sera Monastery—one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. Then visit a local Tibetan family, sample butter tea, and learn about their daily lives while chatting with your warm and hospitable host.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

The Jokhang Temple has a history of over 1,300 years and holds a supreme status in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the most magnificent surviving architectural structure from the Tubo period in Tibet and the region’s earliest timber-and-earth structure, blending architectural styles from Tibet, the Tang Dynasty, Nepal, and India. Together with the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. As your guide explains the core tenets of Tibetan Buddhism, you’ll witness devotees prostrating themselves in devout pilgrimage.

Next, visit the Tibet Museum, which showcases Tibetan history and culture (such as Paleolithic tools and Neolithic gray pottery), art (such as thangka paintings), and folk culture (such as handicrafts).

Later, join the pilgrims spinning prayer wheels as you stroll along Barkhor Street—the circuit surrounding the outer walls of the Jokhang Temple. If you’re interested, you can experience authentic Tibetan culture, such as renting traditional Tibetan clothing for a photoshoot, learning to paint thangkas under the guidance of an instructor, or making Tibetan incense. Alternatively, you can savor sweet tea or butter tea at a traditional tea house and immerse yourself in local life.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

Then, based on your flight time, fly to Lijiang (with an altitude of approximately 2400 meters). As the altitude decreases, you will feel your body becoming noticeably more relaxed. Your exclusive Lijiang tour guide and driver will pick you up at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in. This rest of the day is free for you to spend in Lijiang as you like. You can take a leisurely walk in the ancient city or rest at the hotel to regain your energy.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Luxury/comfortable hotel in Lijiang (4 nights)

Lijiang is one of the most relaxing cities in China. When you arrive at Zhongyi Market, you can discover a variety of fresh food raw materials and observe how the locals (some dressed in traditional costumes) purchase ingredients and negotiate prices - it's completely different from supermarkets in your place. If you are hungry, you can also taste various seasonal fruits and traditional snacks.

Then enter the UNESCO-listed Lijiang Ancient City (Dayan). The melted snow water from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain forms a river that runs through the ancient city, and then divides into numerous branches that run throughout the city. Visit Mu Mansion, the official residence of the Lijiang hereditary chieftain Mu Family, to learn about the history of the Lijiang royal family. Then go to the Black Dragon Pool, which is adjacent to the Dongba Museum, to capture the reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the lake.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

Free day at your own discretion. For elderly tourists who are seeking a relaxing vacation in Lijiang, you can delve deeper into the ancient city, and then find a café to spend your leisure time. For active elderly people, we can arrange for you to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge. At the viewing platform, you can watch the turbulent waves beneath the two cliffs. Along the way, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the First Bend of the Yangtze River.

Meals: B, L

Travel from Lijiang to Shaxi (the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours). During the trip, visit the Shibaoshan Grottoes, also known as the Shizhong Mountain Grottoes or Jianchuan Grottoes. They were carved during the periods of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, about 1300 to 1000 years ago. They showcase the most exquisite Buddhist art in Yunnan.

Arrive at the ancient town of Shaxi, a key town along the Tea Horse Road. Compared to the touristy Lijiang Ancient Town, Shaxi is pristine and quiet. While strolling along the Sifang street of the ancient town, you can discover many cultural heritages, such as the theater stage in Shaxi. If it's Friday, go to the bustling Shaxi Friday Market. Watch the locals (many dressed in traditional costumes) buying and selling local products.

Today's difficulty level: Medium

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Shaxi Ancient Town (1 night)

In the morning, drive to Dali, stopping along the way to visit Xizhou Ancient Town, home to the largest and best-preserved collection of Bai ethnic residential architecture. In these typical Bai courtyards—featuring the “three wings and a screen wall” and “four-sided courtyard with five inner courtyards” layouts—you’ll admire the intricate carvings and paintings adorning the beams, brackets, upturned eaves, gate towers, screen walls, and gable walls.

Upon arrival at Dali Old Town, founded in 1382 and famous for its history and laid-back atmosphere, you’ll stroll through the old town with your guide. Visit the ancient city gates, historic towers (such as Wuhua Tower), the Dali Confucian Temple, and Foreigners’ Street.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Dali Ancient Town (2 nights)

This morning, head to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. To the west is the Yingle Peak of the Cangshan Mountain, and to the east is the Erhai Lake. The main pagoda is the 69.13-meter-high Qianxun Tower, which was built from 823 to 859 AD. The two smaller pagodas to the south were built from 1108 to 1172. Your guide will tell you the best spots for taking photos of the three pagodas and the panoramic view of Dali.

In the afternoon, take a boat tour of Erhai Lake - it is the second largest lake in Yunnan after Dianchi Lake. Sit back and watch the egrets flying across the lake, the rural scenery on both banks, the small Putuo Island in the distance, and the beautiful scenery of Cangshan Mountain even further away. Make a short excursion to the Nanzhao Folklore Island.

Then head to Erhai Wetland Park. Walk along the flat path and enjoy the Erhai Lake from land.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

Continue your tour of China and head to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas and also known for its laid-back lifestyle. After arriving, your private Chengdu local guide and driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of the day as you like.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Luxury/comfortable hotel in Chengdu (3 nights)

This morning after breakfast, head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Morning hours are when pandas are most active; they run around, climb trees, flay with the toys, and even fight with each other sometimes. Plus, you’ll learn about the current state of giant panda conservation. Electric carts at the park can help elderly visitors reduce the amount of walking.

Then, take a brisk stroll along Kuan Zhai Alley, which consists of three old-style streets and about 70 traditional courtyard houses. It’s one of the best places to experience Chengdu’s laid-back urban vibe and local gastronomic scenes.

Next, head to People’s Park to indulge in Chengdu’s slow-paced lifestyle—sip a bowl of traditional Dawan tea and watch local parents looking for partners for their children at the “Matchmaking Corner (marriage market).”

Optional Sichuan Opera: One of the best Chinese operas, featuring face-changing, spewing fire and other unique techniques.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

In the morning, head out to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, the world’s only living-theme museum dedicated to the culture of a specific culinary tradition. Delve into the culture of Sichuan cuisine, Sichuan wine, Sichuan tea, Sichuan opera, Sichuan-style architecture, and Sichuan-style gardens. Sample dozens of local snacks—such as Zhong’s dumplings, Long’s wontons, and dan dan noodles—at the self-service snack street. Better yet, join a cooking class and learn how to prepare a few classic (yet relatively simple) Sichuan dishes, such as Mapo Tofu, from a chef.

In the afternoon, explore Jinli Ancient Street—one of the top things to do in Chengdu—and admire traditional Sichuan-style residences. You can also pick up some nice, iconic souvenirs for your friends and family.

Today's difficulty level: Low

Meals: B, L

Free time on your own until your guide and driver escort you to the airport. Have a safe journey flying back home. End of your 18 days China tour package. Welcome you to travel with Easy Tour China again!