Grand China Adventure

Day 1: Beijing

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Beijing. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. Please refer to your tour itinerary for the joining hotel name and address. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Beijing airport. The taxis in Beijing have meters and you can expect to pay between US$20-US$25, depending on the time you arrive. If you have booked an airport transfer with us, please meet your transfer guide in the arrivals area as you exit from the customs hall. Your transfer guide will be holding a Gecko’s sign. There will be a pre-departure briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Don’t forget to check the notice board in the foyer of the joining hotel for details of this meeting and for any messages from your leader.

Day 2: Beijing

Beijing is a thriving metropolis and home to over 12 million people. We have a full day here to explore many of its main attractions. The Forbidden City, built over 500 years ago, has been off limits to commoners until about 100 years ago. After entering through an archway beyond Tiananmen Gate, we spend the morning exploring this huge complex and marvel at the many intricate carvings that adorn its buildings. There is ample free time to explore the many other sights of Beijing, such as the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, or just kick back and soak up the atmosphere of this historic and vibrant metropolis. In the evening you may like to attend a performance of the Beijing Opera or the acrobats. These are optional, but please ask your tour leader to help organise tickets if you are interested.

Day 3: Beijing & The Great Wall Trek

A visit to China is not complete without taking a walk along the Great Wall. Today we do literally that, as we enjoy a half-day trek on one of the most beautiful and secluded sections of the wall. Heading out of Beijing we drive for a couple of hours to Jinshanling, where we catch our first glimpse of China’s most famous structure. After ascending on the wall, we walk in an easterly direction towards Simatai. The distance is only about 10 kilometres, but it will take over four hours, as the trail is sometimes steep and stony. Simatai, where we finish our walk, is one of the most spectacular parts of the wall, with steep undulations and, sometimes, sheer drops. There is a continual chain of watchtowers along the way. Please remember to bring good, strong footwear for the walk, but also be prepared for its difficult nature in some sections. After our day’s exercise, we head back to Beijing.

Day 4: Beijing

We enjoy a free day in Beijing to catch up on some of the sightseeing that we have missed. In Tiananmen Square, you can join the queues and visit the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao. The Great Hall of the People, the base for the Chinese Government, lies to the west. Near the Temple of Heaven and not far from our hotel is a rather bizarre Natural History Museum, which has an interesting dinosaur collection. China is a great place to buy cheap clothing and there are many places in Beijing that cater for this. Shoppers may like to try their bargaining skills at the famous street markets. In the evening we board the sleeper train for Datong. You can either purchase dinner on the train or buy some food prior to boarding. We stay in six-berth air-conditioned cabins that have an open and relaxed feel about them. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. Travelling on the train is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese-language skills.

Day 5: Datong

Now an industrial city and transportation hub, Datong once served as a military stronghold throughout numerous dynasties and also as a capital of some ancient kingdoms. In those days it flourished in trade and agriculture, and was a centre for Buddhism. A highlight of our stay here is a tour to the Yungang (Cloud Ridge) Caves, one of the three great Buddhist grottoes in China. Construction began as early as 460AD and there are over 50,000 Buddha statues that were carved into the caves by over 10,000 artisans, stonemasons and their assistants.

Day 6-7: Pingyao

On Wednesday we spend a day travelling by public bus with the locals to Pingyao, via Taiyuan. We then spend a delightful day exploring this ancient town that is designed in the shape of a tortoise - a traditional Chinese symbol for longevity. It is full of temples, traditional architecture, city walls, watchtowers and battlements. China’s earliest banks were set up in Pingyao, which at a stage during the Qing Dynasty was the financial headquarters of the entire country. Boarding an evening train, we again travel hard-class sleeper and slowly head towards Xian.

Day 8-10: Xian

We arrive early Friday morning into Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province. Here we have a full day to explore this amazing city. On Saturday morning we travel to the awesome army of Terracotta Warriors. Unearthed in 1974 by farmers digging a Well, these life-sized soldiers, horses and chariots were all individually hand-carved. There are over 6,000 of these clay statues, all in battle formation and facing east, in order to protect China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuang. Afterwards, we have free time to wander around this historical city. The Muslim Quarter, situated just a few blocks from our hotel, is a fascinating place to visit, with its Great Mosque and vast array of market stalls. The local dumplings here are legendary! Alternatively, you can cycle along the top of the ancient city walls or climb the Bell Tower, with its commanding views across town. On Sunday evening we join our overnight train to Chengdu.

Day 11-12: Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province is known for its hot, spicy dishes that are generally considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. In such a food-loving country, that is no mean achievement! A history of trade built on cottage industry handicrafts has had a major influence on the development of Chengdu. Recent changes in the regulations in China have seen a revival of this tradition of private industry and, at almost every turn, you see signs of a thriving market. After our overnight train journey, this afternoon is an opportunity to relax and an appropriate way of doing this is to simply sit on a bamboo chair at the teahouse in Renmin Park, sipping tea and watching the world go by. There is often an ear-picker with cotton buds wandering around, if you feel the need! A stroll to Wenshu Temple will take you past beggars, children, tourists, fortune-tellers and fireworks sellers. This is an active and noisy place of worship. On Wednsday morning we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, located just out of the city. Giant pandas are one of the world’s most endangered species and have become an icon for conservation movements everywhere. Still found in parts of Sichuan province, they are very difficult to spot in the wild. In the afternoon there is the option of visiting Shang Li Old Town or Huang Long Xi Old Town for a tour. These towns are a photographers paradise as the ancient towns have been preserved dating back 100s of years.

Day 13: Leshan

We depart Chengdu in the morning, heading for Leshan. Situated on the shores of the Min River this sleepy town is bursting with alleys and backstreets, just waiting to be explored. Measuring 71 metres in height, the Giant Buddha (Dafo) is located at the convergence of the Dadu and Min Rivers and is considered the largest such statue in the world. Construction on this amazing sculpture began in 713AD, by a Buddhist monk called Haitong, and took 90 years for it to be completed. After visiting this impressive site, we continue onto Emei Shan town where we will leave our main luggage and pack a day pack to last for two nights. From Emei Shan town we catch bus Wannian car park and then proceed to hike for 1 1/2 hours to stay the night at Wannian Temple, where we can observe monks in their day-to-day activities in these tranquil surroundings.

Day 14-15: Emei Shan

The morning we wake in the monastery and prepare ourselves for a leisurely hike up to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei. In this eight-hour hike we avoid many of the tourists to pass through villages and amazing countryside as we make our way to the summit. After this hike we overnight on the summit to enjoy a spectacular sunset . The following day we make our way down from the Golden Summit to the car park were we catch a bus to Emei Shan town. Here we have time to have the option of soaking those tired legs in the hotsprings otherwise Emei Shan town is a fascinating place to explore. On Saturday night we board our sleeper train for Kunming. This journey can take up to 20 hours, so bring along a good book.

Day 16-17: Kunming

Kunming is a beautiful city with wide boulevards, picturesque lakes and tranquil gardens. We take a stroll around and explore the Flower Market. Those of you who are more adventurous can try some of the delicacies at the roadside stalls. There’s free time to explore some of Kunming’s other sights, such as the Bamboo Temple or Yuantong Temple, before catching the sleeper train to Dali on the evening of Day 17.

Day 18-19: Dali

Arriving in Xiaguan (Dali City) at around 6:30am, we continue on by bus to the old town. Travellers just love Old Dali, with its stunning mountain backdrop and the nearby spectacular Erhai Lake. We have time to explore the cobblestone backstreets of the Old Town, before cycling into the surrounding countryside and visiting a local Bai minority village. There is an opportunity to jump on a ferry across Erhai Lake to explore the interesting village of Wase. There is also plenty of free time here for you to participate in a multitude of activities. You can take a chairlift up the mountains behind the town and take a walk through the forest and stop at the occasional monastery along the way. Alternatively you can just relax in a café on Huguo Li, known to the locals as ‘Foreigner Street’.

Day 20: Lijiang

We travel through the countryside on a bus bound for the picturesque town of Lijiang. The Old Town of Lijiang is criss-crossed by a maze of narrow streets and canals that are lined by rickety old wooden buildings, and contains a bustling market square. We stay in an authentic Naxi-style guesthouse in the heart of this area. You have the afternoon free to explore the Old Town or perhaps climb Shizi Shan (Lion Hill), for a panoramic view of a sea of classical rooftops. In the evening we can catch a recital from the Naxi Orchestra performing their traditional music (please note that this option is not available if the orchestra is on tour). N.B. For our trek though Tiger Leaping Gorge, you will need to pack a daypack with clothing for the next three days. You will also need to bring along a light raincoat, as the weather there is highly changeable. A water bottle is also recommended. You will be able to leave your larger bags at our Lijiang hotel.

Day 21-23: Tiger Leaping Gorge

We leave Lijiang by bus and head to Qiaotou before starting our trek. Over the next three days we embark on some exercise, as we hike along scenic trails, overlooking the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (known here as the Jinsha River). The river thunders through Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is in turn framed by 5,000-metre-high mountains. As we wind our way up and down the hillsides, we enjoy some spectacular views along the way. There is no hurry so we take our time and stop to talk with the local villagers en route. The accommodation is quite basic, as we are visiting a remote area that is only frequented by adventurous travellers. Some people may choose to bring a sleeping sheet, although this is not essential. Good hiking boots are required and it is advisable to bring warm clothing, especially for the evenings and in the cooler months. Depending on the time of the year and weather conditions, our trekking route can vary greatly. Our tour leader may not be able to advise us of the actual itinerary until the last minute. After two nights in the gorge, we arrive back into Lijiang, when we have free time to relax in a sidewalk café and soak up the atmosphere.

Day 24: Lijiang-Kunming

We leave Lijiang this morning and catch the bus back to Kunming. The journey is a long, but pleasant one, as the landscape changes from rolling hills to mountainous countryside, punctuated by rich farmland. On our last night in Yunnan, we can go out and try Kunming’s famous ‘Over the Bridge’ noodles for dinner.

Day 25: Kunming

Our adventure ends this morning in Kunming. Checkout time is usually around 12 Noon; however you are free to leave at any time in the morning.

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