China: Giant Pandas and
Yangzi River Cruise
September 4-18, 2007
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| Lisa Stevens--panda curator and China tour leader. |
We are thrilled to announce that Lisa Stevens, the National Zoo’s curator of pandas and primates, will join the trip. Lisa has worked with giant pandas for many years, knows China well, and will be the perfect person to have with us.
Enjoy China’s most beautiful cities, visit the natural habitat of China’s giant and red pandas, and see them up close. Visit the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace. Tour the old Beijing district by pedicab for a first-hand view of traditional life. Marvel at the Great Wall, the most enduring symbol of China. Fly to Xian to view the legendary terracotta warriors.
Travel
to Wolong for an unforgettable experience at its giant
panda reserve. Learn from panda researchers about efforts
to protect this endangered species. A visit to the Chengdu
Panda Breeding Center provides another opportunity to
see these beautiful and playful animals. In Chongqing
visit General Stilwell’s Museum, then board the
Victoria cruise ship for a memorable cruise
down the Yangzi River to see the breathtaking Three
Gorges and the engineering feat, the Three Gorges Dam.
Finally, fly to Shanghai for an exploration of this
European-influenced city with beautiful colonial buildings
on the historic Bund. Visit the world-class Shanghai
Museum and classical Yuyuan Gardens.
We offer two optional extensions. The first takes you to the Huang Mountains to discover 500-year-old villages, beautiful Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, and the crown jewels of the region, the Huang Mountains—a U.N. World Heritage site. The second takes you to Guilin to explore a land of spectacular limestone formations, rice terraces cut into precipitous hills, the lovely Li River, colorful rural villages, and much, much more.
Dates, Cost, and Contact:
- September 4–18, 2007
- $4,490 per person, double occupancy (international
airfare from Washington, D.C., to China not included);
international air New York to Beijing and Shanghai
to New York available: $1,390 coach class
Single supplement: $1,390 - Huang Mountains extension: $1,790
Huang Mountains single supplement: $690 - Guilin Mountains extension: $1,990
Guilin Mountains single supplement: $890 - For more information, contact China Advocates at
888.333.2585.
Itinerary
September 4: New York/Beijing
Depart New York for your non-stop fight
to Beijing.
September
5: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing at 5 p.m. Your group is
met by your tour director and you transfer to the Peace
Savetel Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of
downtown Beijing.
September 6: Beijing
Following a welcome orientation this morning, visit
the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of imperial China.
Truly one of the great achievements of Chinese civilization,
its construction employed hundreds of thousands of workers
between 1406 and 1420. You’ll marvel at its expansive
architecture, the magnificent imperial gardens, and
the many museums of Chinese antiquities and treasures
within the complex. Lunch follows at Zhuyuan (Bamboo
Garden) Restaurant.
After lunch visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the finest expressions of the Ming Dynasty. Built in the 15th century, the Temple of Heaven represents the most advanced principles of architectural mechanics and geometry available at the time. This evening you’ll enjoy a special Peking duck banquet.
September
7: Beijing
Today is devoted to the famous Great Wall of
China, the largest defensive structure ever built. Mutianyu
is a rugged section of the Wall that offers a less crowded
access (with cable car availability) and a more striking
perspective as the Wall climbs and winds over the surrounding
hills. Here, as elsewhere, the Great Wall presents a
visual experience that consistently exceeds visitors’
expectations. Scholars estimate that the Wall, averaging
25 feet in height and nearly as thick, once stretched
for 3,700 miles, passing through 16 provinces. A box
lunch is provided. Dinner is on your own this evening.
September 8: Beijing
An optional early morning walk to the Changpu
Park offers an excellent opportunity to observe local
residents involved in traditional health practices,
including Taiji and Qigong.
After
breakfast, we explore Beijing’s picturesque Houhai
District, with stops at the Bell Tower and Drum Tower,
as well as a visit to Prince Gong’s garden residence.
Many old courtyard homes are preserved, and the narrow
hutong alleys border the tree-lined lakes north of the
Forbidden City. We tour the District by pedicab for
a closer and more engaging perspective on traditional
Chinese life. Divided into smaller groups, you enjoy
lunch at the private home of a local family.
In the afternoon, we visit the Summer Palace, with sufficient leisure time to explore the beautiful grounds. Cruise on the lovely Kunming Lake and stroll through the royal gardens. You also tour the Painted Gallery, the longest covered walkway in China, famous for its exquisite landscape paintings. The Palace was built in 1888 by the Empress Dowager Ci Xi, using funds originally allocated for the Qing Imperial Navy.
This evening, enjoy an imperial banquet at the renowned Fang Shan Restaurant in Beihai Park.
September
9: Xian
This morning you fly to the ancient Tang Dynasty
capital of Xian. Upon arrival, drive directly to the
Terracotta Warriors Museum and begin with a viewing
of the extraordinary 2,300-year-old terracotta warriors
and the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang.
The warriors still stand on the original site of the
emperor’s burial complex, where peasants discovered
them in 1974.
Your day concludes with a dumpling banquet, featuring 20 varieties of traditional Chinese dumplings. Overnight at Shangri-la Hotel.
September 10: Chengdu/Wolong
Take a morning flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival,
transfer by motorcoach directly to Wolong Panda Reserve.
Overnight at the new Wolong Hotel for two nights.
September 11: Wolong Reserve
Meet with resident researchers at the Reserve
and learn about giant panda conservation programs. Spend
a lot of time today with the giant pandas. Also visit
the Small Panda Research Center to learn about China's
other pandas—red pandas. Also stop by a Tibetan village
and school nearby.
Lunch and dinner are at the hotel.
September
12: Wolong/Chengdu
After breakfast, return by bus to Chengdu. In
the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Chengdu Panda Breeding
Center. Meet with more than 20 giant pandas and the
directors and panda caregivers.
Dinner is at Chufengyuan Restaurant.
Overnight at the Jinjiang Hotel.
September 13: Chengdu/Chongqing
After breakfast, drive to Chongqing. In the afternoon,
visit the General Stilwell Museum and the local markets.
Dine this evening at Yangzi Island Restaurant. After
dinner, board the Victoria cruise ship.
September 14 and 15: Yangzi
River Cruise
The main focus of your Yangzi River cruise is
the extraordinary Three Gorges, the deep valleys and
towering mountains carved over millennia by the Yangzi.
Each day, however, you’ll also enjoy special side
trips onshore, including visits to the ancient village,
Shibaozhai, a ride through the narrow tributary, Shennonxi,
and a tour of the Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping.
September 16: Yichang/Shanghai
After lunch, disembark from the ship in Yichang.
Transfer directly to the airport for a short flight
to Shanghai. Check in to the Salvo Hotel near the historic
Bund. Dinner is on your own this evening.
September
17: Shanghai
After breakfast, visit the Shanghai Museum, a
world-class museum that boasts a wonderful collection
of Chinese bronzes, jade, pottery, ceramics, paintings,
calligraphy, old coins, and furniture. Enjoy a special
vegetarian lunch at the Jade Buddha Temple. In the afternoon,
visit the lovely Yuyuan Garden renowned for traditional
Chinese landscape design, bridges, pavilions, and beautiful
houses. The rest of your day is free for shopping and
exploring the exciting downtown area of Shanghai.This
evening, enjoy a farewell banquet at the Jingjiang Hotel
North Wing, famous for Shanghai cuisine.
September 18: Shanghai/New York
Your morning is free for packing and last-minute
shopping. After lunch, leave for the airport for the
return flight. Arrive in New York the same
day.
What's Included and What's Not
The trip cost includes the following:
- All domestic land and air transportation in China
- All siteseeing, cultural activities, and meals on tour (except as indicated)
- Double occupancy accommodations on the Victoria cruise ship
- Double occupancy accommodations in five-star deluxe hotels or best available
- A China Advocates tour director and local guides
- Chinese airport taxes and gratuities for guides and drivers
The trip cost does not include the following:
- International air transportation (air transportation available to and from San Francisco, see above)
- Medical insurance
- Two dinners as indicated above
- Visa processing fee
Huang Mountains and the Huizhou Culture
Extension
September 18–22, 2007
September
18: Shanghai/Tunxi, Anhui
Depart Shanghai airport for a one-hour fight
to Tunxi (Huangshan City) in Anhui Province. Anhui boasts
an idyllic landscape of rice cultivation unspoiled by
industrialization. Its unending greenery gives the impression
of vast, well-tended parkland.
Check into Huashan Hotel. If time allows, the group will visit Laojie Antique Street and the Wan Cui Lou Museum, specializing in art and antiques from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
September 19: Huizhou
Today visit the U.N. World Heritage Sites of
Hong Village and Xidi Village in Huizhou. Wander the
lanes of these authentic Ming and Qing dynasty villages.
Enjoy a traditional lunch at a courtyard home, prepared
by the proprietors in Anhui style.
Stop by Shexian town, famous for its memorial arches, narrow angular lanes, and merchant homes. The old town center of Doushan is noted for its concentration of old homes and stone-lined alleyways. Dinner is on your own.
September
20: Huangshan
Today, travel by motorcoach to Anhui’s crown jewels—the
Huang Mountains. The staggering beauty of granite precipices
emerging from fog banks has inspired Chinese artists
for centuries. Travel to the summit by cable car. The
elevation is around 4,000 feet; the altitude should
not pose a problem to most travelers. Walk 40 minutes
to the West Sea Hotel and check into modest rooms.
Vistas of amazing beauty lie a few minutes from the hotel. The Huang Mountains are famous for seas of clouds entwining the granite peaks that stretch as far as the eye can see. Every direction offers a unique view as immortalized in the scenic names of the Nine Dragons, Daoist Priest, Ox Nose, and Hunchback. Choose between short strolls on nearby paths or longer hikes along the summit ridge. This is a great time to sit at the edge of thousand-foot cliffs and absorb nature at its most sublime.
September
21: Huangshan/Shanghai
This morning you are free to explore the mountains.
In the afternoon, take a return motorcoach to Tunxi.
After dinner, fly to Shanghai and check in at the Salvo
Hotel.
September 22: Shanghai/New York
Your morning is free for packing and last-minute
shopping. After lunch, leave for the airport for your
return flight home.
Guilin Extension
September 18–22, 2007
Enjoy a five-day journey exploring the sublime scenery of Guilin. Fly from Shanghai to Guilin and transit to Longsheng, long-known for spectacular rice terraces cut into precipitous hills since the Yuan dynasty. Longsheng is the home of Yao and Zhuang minorities who continue to wear colorful dress and carry on their age-old traditions. Travel by motorcoach to Guilin, famous for its unique karst limestone formations—vertical mountains thrust up from the seabed more than 300 million years ago. Cruise down the Li River, winding past Mural Hill, Folded Brocade Hill, and Crescent Moon Hill. Disembark in Yangshuo and travel to Yongcun and Lexiang villages nestled in a breathtaking agricultural valley surrounded by distant karst scenery. Wander into the fields for a great experience in rural China. Enjoy Yangshuo’s lively Xijie (West Street) filled with restaurants, shops, and local inns. Take a raft ride on Yulong River enjoying the beautiful Yangshuo scenery. Return to Shanghai to fly home the next day.
Explore China and its wonders with us!
