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26 Days Paths of Silk in the East - featuring the South and East Tour Package
Starting off in the strikingly beautiful and ethnically diverse Yunnan region of China, we have the chance to wander through the provincial capital and enjoy a cultural experience like no other. Padogas, temples, dogon sculptures and massive gold statues of Buddha are but a few of the treats in store for us as we explore this magical city and our trip through the old wooden-alley district only adds that bit of colour to the adventure. We are enchanted by the historic centres of the lakeside city of Dali, just as we are spellbound wandering through the overgrown foliage that blankets Longquan Temple in Haidong, and our sentiments of awe and wonder are only intensified when we see what nature has in store when we travel to Black Dragon Pool via Jade Dragon Mountain. Our breathtaking cruise past rugged, mist-shrouded mountains, traditional villages and grazing wildlife as we glide down the Li River acts as the ideal relaxing prelude to our exploration of the bustling Shanghai, one of the world’s busiest ports. We visit Suzhou, China’s ‘city of gardens’, and once again take to the waters on an unforgettable Yangtze cruise through this land brimming with history, myth and legend. With Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors and Great Mosque and the Beijing region’s Great Wall, Summer Palace and Forbidden City as the stunning highlights in the final stages of this tour, there’s no danger of leaving China wanting. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrival in Kunming Today we arrive in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan. The city lies 1891m (6,200 ft) above sea level and is majestically crowned on three sides by the dramatic mountain ranges of the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. Marco Polo made reference to this place as one of the most pleasant cities in China--'very great and noble'--when he journeyed through it in the 13th century. Overnight in Kunming. Dinner if required. Day 2 Kunming: Town Tour Mongol and Chinese dynasties have left their mark here in the form of pagodas and the magnificent Yuantong temple, the largest Buddhist shrine in the area and a popular destination for pilgrims who come to marvel at the dragon sculptures and huge golden Maitreya (Future) Buddha statue. We visit the excellent Ethnic Museum near Kunming, before heading back to the city to wander the old wooden-alley district of old Jini Lu, a lively and colourful place with many shops, bars, and restaurants. Overnight in Kunming. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Kunming - Dali Today we travel by road (+/- 6 hours) across the plateau toward the stunning Cangshan Mountains that rise 4000m (13,200 ft) from the shores of tranquil Lake Erhai. Our destination is the quiet lakeside city of Dali. Dali's mountainous setting, it's proximity to the huge Lake Erhai, and traditional stone buildings that line the cobbled streets combine to give this historic city an enchanting ambience. We will take time to meander down Hugo Lu and other ancient streets, dawdling in stone built cafes and generally soaking up the atmosphere. We will have the opportunity to investigate the origins of the distinctive Bai race (Bai comprise nearly half of the Dali population) in the Dali Museum. These Tibeto-Burmese people have long established roots in the Erhai Lake region stretching back 3,000 years. Overnight in Dali. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Dali: Erhai Lake Down at Erhai Lake, the 7th largest in China, wooden junks peacefully ply the calm waters in search of the day's catch. Frustrated cormorants hungrily line the water's edge, eyeing the fisherman's bounty, unable to indulge themselves due to the restrictive rings that are placed around their necks. Sailing on this magnificent 250 square kilometre lake to the eastern shore, we pass Jinsuo Island to reach Haidong. As we wander through Longquan Temple, a feeling of a lost world is evoked by the overgrown and crumbling appearance of this forgotten jewel. In distinct contrast, white tiled Laotai Temple shimmers in pristine splendour. Both temples offer superb photographic opportunities in their lakeside mountain setting. We return to Dali with free time to explore the Old Stone Town and colourful markets. Overnight in Dali. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Dali - Lijiang We journey further (+/- 6 hours) into this undiscovered interior to the delightful alpine settlement of Lijiang (elevation 2400m / 7,900 ft). Dominating the entire Lijiang Valley is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The city grew up as a migration centre for Tibetan nomads; however, the matrilineal Naxi tribe were the most significant settlers in the area. Today the women can still be seen in their blue cotton trousers and sheepskin capes. Much of Naxi architecture remains preserved and the distinctive two storey wood framed Naxi houses with earthen sidewalls can readily be seen alongside the criss-crossed canals and red granite streets that dominate the old centre. Overnight in Lijiang. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Lijiang: Jade Dragon Mountain & Black Dragon Pool This morning we have an excursion to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with a chairlift ride to discover the much famed thirteen peaks. On the way we visit Baisha village, the ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. This afternoon visit the Black Dragon Pool and the Jade Spring Park. The place derives its name from waters that 'sparkle like jade'. The entire park is grassy and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. The park has some stunning photographic opportunities with the pond and Five Phoenix pavilion in the foreground and the the summit of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a backdrop. We visit a museum containing many local artifacts from the Dongba culture that originated in the primary polytheistic Naxi religion that incorporates elements of Lamaism, Buddhism, and Daoism. The Dongba scriptures comprise a series of more than 20,000 books done in Naxi pictographs along with more than 2,000 hieroglyphs--a form of writing invented by the Naxi people more than 1,000 years ago. The name itself, Dongba, is the name applied to the shamans of this culture--wise men who combined the functions of witch doctor, scholar, craftsman, and artist. We return to Lijiang. Overnight in Lijiang. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Lijiang: At Leisure Today is free for independent exploration. Overnight in Lijiang. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Zhongdian Today we drive to the Tibetan town of Zhongdian (+/- 6.5 hours, with stops) via the first bend of the Yangtze and Tiger Leaping Gorge. At the village of the Stone Drum we will have a look at the first great bend of the Yangtze River. Here the river makes a 180 degree turn over 20 km, first flowing south, then north, running parallel to itself. Locals say if it were not for their village standing guard at the bend, China would lose the water of the Yangtze to southeast China, like the Mekong and Salween rivers. We also visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest in the world. During the millennia, the Yangtze has carved a gorge into the massifs of the Haba and Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, both over 5000m (16,400 ft) high with glacier peaks towering over rice terraces on the Yangtze banks. At 3300m (10,800 ft) above sea level lies Zhongdian (Gyalthang in Tibetan), "the Land of Limitless Bounty," and the capital of the Diqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. This is an idyllic Tibetan town rumoured to be the model for the utopian "Shangri-la" described in James Hilton's 'The Lost Horizon.' Overnight in Zhongdian. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Zhongdian Area: Songzanlin Monastery Bordering Tibet and Sichuan Province, Zhongdian occupies a spectacular high plateau at the heart of the Hengduan Mountains. Today we visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery or the 'Little Potala', located near Shangri-La County at the foot of Foping Mountain. Since the 5th Dalai Lama chose the site through divination in 1679, the monastery has grown into the most important community of its kind in Yunnan. Naturally, throughout its history spanning 325 years there have been ups and downs--the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), for instance, saw the lamasery almost completely destroyed--but the strong faith of the people of Shangri-La has always prevailed and today Songzanlin once again houses more than 700 monks and lamas. Built in the style of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the magnificent monastery complex resides on top of a hill and consists of the two Zhacang and Jikang lamaseries--which take on the form of five-story Tibetan watchtowers--five gates, numerous sub-lamaseries and hundreds of rooms for the monks. Walking up the 146 steps that lead to the main prayer hall is a tiring exercise at 3300 m (10,400 ft) above sea level, but it allows you to trace mentally the pilgrimage route that generations of devout Buddhists living on the plateau take on their knees and foreheads every year. We return to Zhongdian with leisure time to enjoy this charming town. Overnight in Zhongdian. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Zhongdian - Kunming Today we fly to Kunming. On arrival we travel to the Western Hills, site of a great system of temples and alleyways carved into the towering rocks by a Taoist monk. Weather permitting, we will have wonderful views over Dian Chi Lake and Kunming City and its environs. Overnight in Kunming. Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Kunming - Guilin Today we fly to Guilin, a city of around half a million people situated in the Guangxi Province of southern China. The name Guilin means 'the cassia tree forest'; in autumn the sweet fragrance of the cassia flowers wafts through the town. The well-known highlight of the city is its surreal landscape of limestone pinnacles that rise hundreds of feet into the air like fingers pointing skywards. Overnight in Guilin. Breakfast and dinner. Day 12 Guilin Area The city of Guilin was founded in the Qin Dynasty in 314 BC as a small settlement on the Lijiang River. It became increasingly important following the construction of a canal joining the river with another further north, providing a transport link with the Yangtze. The imperial court could thus send food and provisions by water from the Yangtze plains to its armies in the far south. The town became the provincial capital in the Ming Dynasty and remained so until 1914 when the capital was moved to Nanning. According to a popular Chinese saying, "Guilin's scenery bests all others in the world." Its shapely-rising limestone towers and crystal-clear waters are often portrayed in Chinese artworks. This morning we will tour some of the most famous rock formations, such as Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's symbol, so named because of its resemblance to an elephant's sipping water from the Lijiang River with its trunk. We also visit Daxu Old Town. With a history of 1000 years, the small main street is lined with various ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Adding to its natural beauty are many fascinating caves. Later this afternoon we will visit Reed Flute Cave, named after the reeds growing around the cave mouth, with its fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Overnight in Guilin. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Guilin - Li River Cruise - Yangshuo Today we enjoy a spectacular cruise down the meandering Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. The scenery is breathtaking as mist-covered jagged mountains loom before you and quaint villages dot the riverbanks. Pass humped limestone peaks, fishermen astride bamboo rafts and grazing water buffaloes. The boat passes through the Luogu Rapids where the sound of the rushing water is said to resemble gongs and drums. Further along looms Folded Brocade Hill, with its multicoloured vegetation, and Crescent Moon Hill, whose summit contains a cave shaped like a half moon. Legend tells us that every sailor drowned in the Li is transformed into a demon, clutching at the boats which navigate the rapids. As the launch floats past valleys, bamboo groves, and mist-shrouded crags, one has the sensation of being carried backward in time through a traditional Chinese painting. Local river craft are still physically towed upstream in convoys; a few are still towed by men and women in harness. Our journey ends at Yangshuo, located about 65 km (40 miles) from Guilin. This is a town of about 30,000 inhabitants, set dramatically amidst the limestone mountains for which the area is famous. It is a small town with a small town feel. Time permitting this afternoon we will visit the town and its lively market. Tonight we will attend the "Yin Xiang Liu San Jie," an exciting local minority show performed on the banks of the Li River. The Ying Xiang Liu San Jie is a spectacular light and dance performance directed by Zhang Yimou, a famous Chinese filmmaker. This is a breathtaking show, using the beautiful mountains and river as the backdrop for the performance. Overnight in Yangshuo. Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Yangshuo - Guilin - Shanghai This morning we return to Guilin and fly to Shanghai, the "Paris of the East". Shanghai, among the two or three largest cities in the world, is China's most populous as well as its most "urban" city. Despite the profound changes in social and economic structure brought on since 1949, Shanghai retains the look and feel of a great Western metropolis, with a population that seems quite at home amidst the press of crowds and the throbbing energy and diversity of city life. In many ways, Shanghai's ambiance is more like that of New York or Rome than that of Beijing or Guangzhou. Shanghai is the center of China's trade and industry. Foremost among China's 14 Coastal Open Cities, it has been the pacesetter in China's modernization drive. Almost half of the country's entire internal and external commerce passes through the city, conveyed by ocean vessels, river craft, airplanes, and railroads. Situated on the Huangpu River, it lies 28 km (17 miles) upstream from the mighty Yangtze River. The Yangtze, in turn, links Shanghai to the Pacific Ocean on the east to the interior cities of Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chongqing. The city is also linked to the Grand Canal via the east-west Wusong River (also known as Suzhou Creek). Overnight in Shanghai. Breakfast and dinner. Day 15 Shanghai: City Tour We spend today exploring Shanghai, starting with the city's famous waterfront promenade, the Bund; and the tranquil Yuyuan Garden. This is possibly the most celebrated classical Chinese Garden in Shanghai. We will visit the Jade Buddha Temple, famous for its two rare statues of Buddha carved out of a single piece of white jade. One depicts Buddha at the moment of his enlightenment and the other as he is passing into Nirvana. The two statues were brought from Burma by a Chinese monk in 1890, eight years after the temple's construction. There are a number of other statues of Buddha, his disciples, angels, and celestial guardians to be seen in the various halls. Many worshippers still attend services here, although most are older people and overseas Chinese. We also visit the world-renown Shanghai Museum which houses sensational works of art from all Chinese periods, beautifully displayed on several floors. Out of a collection of 120,000 pieces, the museum is especially famous for its bronzes, jade, and ceramics. Included in your visit is use of a personal Audioguide which provides an informative commentary on the exhibits. Overnight in Shanghai. Breakfast and dinner. Day 16 Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai Today we travel by bus to the nearby historical town of Suzhou, China's well-known "city of gardens", which tops all others in both the number and the artistry of gardens. Dating from Pi Jiang Garden of the Eastern Jing Dynasty, Suzhou's art of gardening has endured for 1,500 years. There were once over 200 gardens in the city, of which 69 are still in good preservation today. Our tour here will include a visit to the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Garden of the Master of Nets. We also visit the Hanshan Temple before returning to Shanghai with the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Shanghai. Breakfast and dinner. Day 17 Shanghai - Chongqing - Yangtze Cruise Your morning is free in Shanghai. Later today we fly to Chongqing. Chongqing is the main starting point for downstream cruises along the Yangtze River gorges, a stunning riverine passage. The famous gorges of the Yangtze lie in a 189 km (118 mile) stretch between Chongqing and Yichange: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. Towering mountains drop almost perpendicularly into the river as if hewn by an axe. The spectacular grandeur of these walls and the turgid river that roars through them have long been the subjects of China's romantic poets and painters. To boatmen and navigators, however, they meant dangerous bends, shallows, rapids, and reefs. Adding to these difficulties are a fast current (prior to recent man-made changes in the "green shallows," the flow reached 7.9 m/s) and a variation of as much as 53 m (175 feet) in the river level between dry and flooded seasons. Yet boats have plied this part of the Yangtze since the Western Zhou Dynasty (1066-771 BC). Foreigners who travelled this fabled stretch in the early 1900s recount that it took anywhere from 20 to 60 days to traverse the 648 km (405 mile) stretch between Yichang at the mouth of the gorges and Chongqing. The first power boat trip up the Yangtze from Yichang took place in 1898. We board our cruise this evening. Yangtze cruise ships are generally about 300 ft long with an average capacity of about 150 passengers. A typical boat will have 4 decks and various amenities such as ballroom, beauty salon, business center, shopping boutique, game room, reading room, satellite phone/TV, restaurants and coffee shop. Cabins are outward-facing with lower twin berths, picture windows, ample closet space, en suite bath and toilet, and air conditioning. FOR 2008 we expect to be accommodated on Presdient Cruise Lines (all cruises this year are upstream). Overnight Yangtze River Cruise. Breakfast and dinner. Day 18 Yangtze Cruise At some point in our programme we will have an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, taking a bus across the Three Gorges Bridge which leads toward the top of the hill for a birds-eye view of the construction from the observation deck. Visitors will observe the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, the dam in construction, and the power station. Our guide will provide detailed information on the history of the dam and facts on its construction. In addition, an exhibition room displays a model of the dam and surrounding buildings. Today we make an excursion along the Shennong Stream, which starts at Mt Shennong Jia in Hubei Province north of the Yangtze. It is comprised of Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boot Gorge, both with breathtaking scenery. Moving through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water, visitors can see spectacular sights like ancient suspension coffins and aquatic caves. Overnight Yangtze River Cruise. All meals. Day 19 Yangtze Cruise Today we make an excursion along the Shennong Stream, which starts at Mt Shennong Jia in Hubei Province north of the Yangtze. It is comprised of Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boot Gorge, both with breathtaking scenery. Moving through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water, visitors can see spectacular sights like ancient suspension coffins and aquatic caves. Later today (or tomorrow morning) we have an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, taking a bus across the Three Gorges Bridge which leads toward the top of the hill for a birds-eye view of the construction from the observation deck. Visitors will observe the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, the dam in construction, and the power station. Our guide will provide detailed information on the history of the dam and facts on its construction. In addition, an exhibition room displays a model of the dam and surrounding buildings. Overnight Yangtze River Cruise. All meals. Day 20 Yangtze Cruise Our cruise today continues through the Qutang and Wu gorges. Our river guide will talk about the historic sites, including Ancient Plank Road, Bellows Gorge (Fengxiang Xia), Chalk Wall (Fenbi Tang) and the 12 lofty and misty peaks and precipices in the Wu Gorge. Overnight Yangtze River Cruise. All meals. Day 21 Yangtze Cruise Disembarkation - Chongqing - Xi'an Today we say farewell to the Yangtze and fly from Chongqing to Xi'an, the ancient capital of 11 dynasties and one of the largest medieval cities in the world when visited by Marco Polo. Of all cities on our itinerary, Xi'an and its history most vividly exemplify the extraordinary continuity of Chinese civilization. Only in recent years, however, has Xi'an become well-known outside of China, owing to the 1974 discovery of the astonishing burial site of emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (3rd century BC). To the north of the city lie the rugged Western Hills, dotted with ancient combs and the Wei River which forms a natural boundary. The entire region south of the river is fertile, suitable for growing cotton and coarse grains. The city's impressive ancient walls and wide avenues are laid out in orderly grid patterns. While in Xi'an, we will visit the museum dedicated to the tomb known as Han Yangling, located near the airport.* Built in 2005 and regarded as one of the best of its kind in the world, the museum showcases not only the resting place of the occupant, Jing Di, but also how he and others lived during his time, the second century BC. The displays are exquisitely and sensitively done; the piles of hundreds of artifacts, in situ, are like a modern work of "found" art. *NOTE: depending on flight times, we may visit Han Yangling today, as above, or prior to our departure from Xi'an. Overnight in Xi'an. Breakfast and dinner. Day 22 Xi'an: Terra Cotta Warriors Today we view the Terra Cotta Warriors, an impressive legion of thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors that has been guarding the emperor's burial site for over 2,000 years. In 1974, a group of peasants digging a well in Lintong County, about 30 km east of Xi'an, accidentally made one of the century's greatest archeological discoveries. What they stumbled upon were thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors; an estimated 8,000 figures have thus far been identified. We will visit pits 1, 2, and 3 as well as the amazing Bronze Charriots. We also visit the Great Mosque, a five minute walk from the Drum Tower in the center of Xi'an. Inscriptions from the stone tablets indicate that the Great Mosque, located at Huajue Lane, was established in AD 742 during the Tang Dynasty. After restorations in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, the present complex proudly ranks among the largest mosques in China. Unlike Arabic mosques which have splendid domes, minarets reaching into the clouds, and colourful engraved sketches with dazzling patterns, the mosque is built in a Chinese traditional style with the grounds taken up by platforms, pavilions and halls. Finally we visit the Shaanxi Historical Museum, the largest museum in the province. Time permitting, we might also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower from where you have a spectacular view of all four of Xi'an's city gates. While in Xi'an, we will enjoy a "dumpling banquet" for which this area is famous. Overnight in Xi'an. Breakfast and dinner. Day 23 Xi'an - Beijing Today we fly to Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. While many of its elements are common to other Chinese cities, the sum of this city--its scope and presence in history--has no equivalent in China or anywhere else in the world. Beijing is not only the political and administrative center of the People's Republic of China, it is also China's greatest repository of monuments and treasures from the imperial era. It is also the second-largest and fastest growing municipality in today's China, the home and workplace of +/-9.3 million people. Overnight in Beijing. Breakfast and dinner. Day 24 Beijing: Great Wall & Summer Palace This morning we travel north of Beijing to the Great Wall of China. A walk along the enormous undulating towered and turreted wall is spectacular. Rising and falling in concert with the ridges of the northern hills and undulating far off into the distance, the Great Wall consistently exceeds visitors' expectations and remains one of humankind's most remarkable accomplishments. The wall's construction began during the Warring States Period (403-221 BC), when separate sections were built in scattered strategic areas. Following China's unification under the first Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi (221-206 BC), 300,000 men--many of them political prisoners whose bodies are buried in the wall--were put to work connecting the segments into one huge rampart of stone and earth. We will have plenty of free time to explore the wall before returning to Beijing early this afternoon. After lunch we will have a tour of the The Summer Palace, located in the northwest area of the city. During the late Qing Dynasty this was the summer retreat from Beijing's heat for the imperial family and court. Originally created as an imperial garden by Emperor Qianlong, it was destroyed and plundered during the Second Opium War in 1860. In 1888 the notorious Empress Cixi used the money intended for the Chinese Navy to build this opulent summer retreat for herself. In 1900 the Summer Palace was damaged extensively once again during the Boxer Rebellion, but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called "Yiheyuan" (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. Overnight in Beijing. Breakfast and dinner. Day 25 Beijing: Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven We begin today with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the place where one million students rallied for democracy in 1989. This is the largest public square in the world. Originally built in 1651, the square was quadrupled in size in 1958 to its present 40.5 hectares (100 acres) during a massive city-wide reconstruction program. Each flagstone is numbered so that parade units can line up in their assigned places. From here we walk to the Forbidden City, a huge complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens, which was off-limits to commoners for 500 years. This is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties carried out their administration and lived, now open as a Palace Museum. This afternoon we visit the Temple of Heaven, completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. Qinian Hall, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing. It was hit by lightning in 1889 and then completely restored. No nails or pegs were used in the original construction nor in the restoration. Overnight in Beijing. Breakfast and dinner. Day 26 Departure Departure from Beijing. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!
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