15-day Yunnan Explorer
(2011)
Beijing - Chengdu - Lijiang - Shangri-la (Zhongdian)
- Kunming - Shanghai
Scroll down for departure dates, prices and
hotel list.
Day 1/Fri: Departing Home City
The journey begins with our transpacific flight departing the west coast
in early afternoon. Cross the
International Date
Line.
Day 2/Sat: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our guide upon arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 3/Sun: Beijing
Beijing, capital of China, is the country's second largest city in terms
of population. Following a brief orientation we visit
Tian'anmen Square, the
Forbidden City and an old
hutong - alleyway flanked with
traditional residential courtyards. Welcome dinner features delicious
Beijing roast duck, a
local delicacy. (B/L/D)
Day 4/Mon: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary
Great Wall, 70km northeast of the
city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the
undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon,
was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. (B/L)
Day 5/Tue: Beijing - Chengdu
Morning sightseeing at the
Temple of Heaven.
Built for emperors to worship Heaven, the Temple of Heaven is China's
largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings occupying an
area of 273 hectares and three times the area of the Forbidden City. We
flight to Chengdu, capital of populous Sichuan Province, after a tour of
the Summer Palace. (B/L)
 Day
6/Wed: Chengdu
Tour of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre is followed by a visit to the
museum built on the archaeological site of Sanxingdui Culture (Bronze
Age). First chanced upon by a farmer in 1929, Sanxingdui, 40km west of
Chengdu, continued to surprise the archaeological community in the decades
to come. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were discovered and the
breakthrough aroused widespread academic attention from around the world.
The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. So far no
written records of this 5,000-year-old civilization have been found.
(B/L)
Day 7/Thu: Chengdu - Lijiang
Morning schedule includes Wangjianglou (river view) Park and a traditional
tea house. Fly to Lijiang in late afternoon. Lijiang is home to the ethnic
Naxi people whose intriguing Dongba religion and unique customs coupled
with the region's enchanting scenery combine to make Lijiang and its
vicinity a fascinating place to explore. The old town known as
Dayan is
protected as a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage Site. (B/L)
Day 8/Fri: Lijiang
A walking tour of the old town is followed by an excursion to Yunshanping
or Spruce Meadow, an alpine pasture surrounded by virgin forests at the
foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. En route we stop by an ancient village.
The evening concert of classical Naxi music is optional if available.
(B/L)
Day 9/Sat: Lijiang - Shangri-la (Zhongdian)
After breakfast we embark on an overland journey to Zhongdian. The
day-long drive covers 200 kilometres of country road snaking through
scenic river valleys and high mountains dotted by villages of various
ethnic nationalities. En route we stop by at Tiger Leaping Gorge, the
first bend of the Yangtze. (B/L/D)
 Day
10/Sun: Zhongdian
We spend the morning visiting Bita Lake surrounded by virgin alpine
forests and a Tibetan village along the way. Afternoon sightseeing takes
in Songzanlin Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, and a local market.
(B/L/D)
Day 11/Mon: Zhongdian - Kunming
The morning flight to Kunming takes less than one hour. Capital of Yunnan
Province, Kunming is widely known as the "city of eternal spring" due to
its temperate climate year-round. Our sightseeing in Kunming includes the
historic Western Hill Scenic Area. (B/L)
Day 12/Tue: Kunming - Shanghai
Enjoy an excursion to Stone
Forest. Located 126km southeast of Kunming, the Stone Forest is a massive
collection of gray limestone pillars created by water erosion. The tall
rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with
many looking like trees made of stone. Afternoon sightseeing at Bamboo
Temple. Evening flight to Shanghai. (B/L)
Day 13/Wed: Shanghai
Our sightseeing in Shanghai begins with a
stroll on the Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark
neoclassical buildings of European style, followed by
Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden. Evening entertainment is a dazzling
acrobatic show. (B/L/D)
Day 14/Thu: Shanghai
Today is a free day. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own has
never been easier. Our recommended list includes
Jinmao Tower, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run
Maglev
train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's
spectacular neon-lit skyline. (B)
Day 15/Fri: Shanghai - Home City
Free morning to pack and relax. Transfer to airport by taxi (cab fare
approximately $23 or 150 yuan) to board return flight. Arrive home the
same day. (B)
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|
Dates & Prices 2011 |
|
Depart (Fri) |
Return (Fri) |
Full Package
from Vancouver
air add-ons from
other cities |
Land Package
excluding int'l airfare |
Single Supplement
applicable to travellers
without a roommate |
|
Sept 30 |
Oct 14 |
$4850 |
$3850 |
$990 |
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|
Costs
Not Included in Tour Prices |
|
Taxes & Surcharges |
Recommended Tipping |
Chinese Visa Fee |
| Full Package |
Land Package |
| please contact us
for |
current amount |
$10/client/day |
Click here
for details |
|
