Mountains and Myths in China and Tibet

Beijing is China’s capital, a cultural and political nerve center more than 20 million people call home. Among them are our on-the-ground local experts who help open doors to the city’s most extraordinary experiences.

Meander by pedicab through a hutong — a neighborhood of small winding alleyways — witnessing local daily life firsthand. Then travel outside the city to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Walk or ride a cable car to the top and view the stunning mountains. Return to Beijing, where tonight you gather for a welcome dinner.

Fly to Lijiang, a city surrounded by the lofty peaks of the Hengduan Mountains in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province. Home to over a million residents, Lijiang is the hub of the Naxi minority, the descendants of Tibetan nomads. Begin your explorations at Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll Black Dragon Pool Park, its arched bridge, wood pagoda and snow-crowned mountain backdrop forming a living postcard. Stop by the Dongba Museum to learn more about the Naxi culture.

Immerse yourself in the local cultures surrounding Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on a guided tour. Ride by cable car up to Yak Meadow and enjoy a scenic stroll, absorbing the mountain vistas. Proceed to Yuhu Village, where you visit with a Naxi family to learn more about their unique culture, including Naxi traditional dress, and try your hand at their pictographic language.

Take a scenic drive to Shangri-La, a city named after the Hilton novel’s mythical Tibetan paradise. Cross an 8,600-foot pass, taking in the view of the Yangtze River flowing through the valley below. Stop in the charming village of Shigu to visit a memorial commemorating a historic military action. Eat lunch before continuing to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest chasms. Upon arrival in Shangri-La, settle into your modern hotel overlooking Old Town (also called Dukezong Ancient Town).

Immerse yourself in the Tibetan culture of Shangri-La with a visit to the 300-year-old Songzangling Monastery, also known as Little Potala Palace. Stop into a Tibetan family’s home and sip yak butter tea before visiting the Tibetan Culture Museum to view a colorful thangka (traditional Buddhist painting) exhibition. Climb to Guishan Temple for scenic views and the opportunity to spin one of the largest prayer wheels in the world. Return to Old Town this evening before savoring a Tibetan hot pot dinner.

Fly to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet, one of the highest cities on earth at 12,000 feet. Enjoy an afternoon on your own, free to relax and acclimatize.

Wander Lhasa’s colorful Barkhor Bazaar, perusing lively market stalls selling all manner of handicrafts, such as ornate prayer wheels, embroidered thangkas and Buddhist rubbings. You may find yourself standing side by side with Tibetan and Chinese residents or even nomads from eastern Tibet. Then discover the spiritual heart of Tibet at the sacred Jokhang, a 1,300-year-old temple housing Tibet’s most revered golden Buddha. Then venture just outside the city to the Sera Monastery.

Begin the day with Sanggye Dhunghor, where some 200 statues are carved into a dramatic rock face. Next, set foot in the towering Potala Palace, considered the crowning glory of Lhasa. Once a center of political and religious power, it contained the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas as well as their golden tombs. Proceed to the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence at Norbulingka, a colorful palace surrounded by ponds, gardens and pavilions. This evening, sip cocktails and learn about Tibetan traditional dress, perhaps donning the garments yourself.

Fly to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. This “city of eternal spring” is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Kunming’s proximity to several nations just across China’s southeastern border has made it an important transit hub throughout history. Benefiting from abundant annual rainfall and a temperate climate, local gardens bursting with azaleas and rhododendrons are plentiful. Visit Western Hills, a park offering scenic outlooks and temples such as the stone-carved Dragon Gate.

Discover one of the most unusual landscapes in China, the Stone Forest. Hike among the rock pillars, spotting notable formations such as Baby Elephant, Baby Buffalo and Moon-Gazing Rhino. Stop at the Shilin Karst Geology Museum before returning to Kunming.

Walk along colorful, fragrant Yongdao Street, perusing its markets full of flowers, birds and fish before flying to Hong Kong, famed for its dazzling high-rise skyline, electric atmosphere and non-stop nightlife. The original “East meets West” Asian locale, Hong Kong is a capital of culture and a center of world trade. Enjoy an evening to explore the city as you please.

Experience the city’s bustling market culture with stops at a herbal market, street-side antique shops and an open-air curio market. Ride the funicular up to Victoria Peak for a stunning view of Victoria Harbour, and finish with a traditional sampan (wooden boat) ride through the local fishing villages. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.