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Passage through China
Prices From: $3150 AUD
Tour Code: PAPC
Countries Visited: China
On arrival in Beijing you are transferred to your hotel. In the evening you meet your tour leader and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant - Peking Duck is often a popular choice.
Days 2 - 4: Beijing
Beijing offers endless opportunities for exploration. The enormous Forbidden City, built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. Its size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. The Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship. We also travel to Simatai, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the Great Wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Being perched on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries. Our hotel is located in the south of the city and a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. There are good shopping opportunities at the various markets around the city, such as the centrally located Dashilan Market. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera (optional). We leave Beijing on the overnight train, travelling in ‘soft-class’, four-berth compartments. The 14-hour trip is a great opportunity for our group to get to know each other.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts
Xian is a wonderful place to explore. Food options are excellent here, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in Chinese cafes. Widely regarded as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is rich in history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors introduces us to these entombed statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, the great Qin Shihuang. Peasants digging a well only discovered the underground vault, which was home to this army for two millennia, in 1974. Xian also has a wonderful Muslim Quarter. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes, and the Great Mosque, one of the most important in China. On the late afternoon of Day 6, we catch the overnight sleeper-class train to Lanzhou.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
After an early arrival (6.30 am) in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, we transfer to a bus and travel to Bingling Temple to view some fascinating Buddhist caves. Our journey continues on to Xiahe, a major centre for Tibetan Lamaism. We spend two nights in this amazingly remote town set in a beautiful mountain valley, with the highlight being a visit to the impressive 18th century Labrang Monastery. This Monastery is the most important Tibetan monastery outside of Lhasa. There are many monks walking around the streets, some of who are on pilgrimage from Tibet. The town of Xiahe is where both Tibetan nomad and monk collide. From here we travel by bus to Langmusi.
Meals included: 1 lunch
At 3500m stands the rustic town of Langmusi. This town is surrounded by Monasteries and mountains. It is here we visit the Langmusi Monastery which overlooks the town. There is also the opportunity to hike up one of the peaks above the town and gain a perspective of where you are. In the middle of breathtaking scenery that stretches for miles. If hiking is not your thing then you can relax in this town and soak up the ambience of this settlement. From here we travel by bus down to Songpan. This bus journey take about 8 hours through some amazing countryside
Days 12-13: Songpan- Jiuzhaigou
Songpan is a quaint little town situated over 2000 metres above sea level. The ancient gates from the original walled city remain and from here, an interesting walk down the main cobblestone street will confront you with Tibetan and Qiang minorities selling their wares, such as big Tibetan coats and lots of silver jewellery and embroideries. It is here you can organise an optional morning horse ride or simply soak up the ambiance of this town. Late in the afternoon on day 12 we catch the bus down to Jiuzhaigou. The national park is a UNESCO world heritage site. The scenery in this Park is spectacular with turquoise lakes and flowing waterfalls. It is here we spend a full day in this expansive and stunningly beautiful park.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
We take a last look at this ''Heaven on Earth'' . Leaving the Juizhaigou behind for Chengdu, we climb down from alpine forest areas and wide grasslands to the basin where Chengdu sits - be warned, depending on road conditions, it is an 8 to 10-hour drive!
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province known for its hot, spicy dishes and 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. First we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, located just out of the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of Sichuan province, but very difficult to spot in the wild.In the afternoon there is an opportunity to relax in a bamboo chair at the teahouse in Renmin Park. 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.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Today we travel to one of the Highlights of the tour the Giant Buddha at 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 (Da Fo) 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.One of the four holy mountains in China. The Following day we take catch a bus then followed by a cable car up to the summit of Emei Shan. We stay in a Monastery overnight on the mountain, where we can enjoy a spectacular sunset. In this monastery we can observe monks in there day to day activities in these tranquil surroundings. The morning we wake in the Monastery and prepare ourselves for a leisurely hike down to the Wainan temple and then catch a bus back to Emei Shan Town. We have a free afternoon in Emei Shan town and have the option of soaking those tired legs in the hot springs otherwise Emei Shan town is a fascinating place to explore. On this evening we board our sleeper train for Kunming. This journey can take up to 20 hours, so bring along a good book.
Meals included: 4 breakfasts
Kunming is a vibrant and bustling city with a flourishing Muslim area, exciting markets, interesting temples and a strong ethnic minority influence. A half-day walking tour takes us to the more interesting parts of the city, including watching the locals practising taichi in the morning, in People’s Square, and meandering through the Flower and Bird Market, where you are free to wander around and make your own discoveries. Your tour ends after breakfast on Day 21
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Tour Grade:
| Start Date | End Date | Price |
| 27 Oct 2008 | 16 Nov 2008 | $3150 |
| 02 Mar 2009 | 22 Mar 2009 | $3150 |
| 23 Mar 2009 | 12 Apr 2009 | $3150 |
| 13 Apr 2009 | 03 May 2009 | $3150 |
| 04 May 2009 | 24 May 2009 | $3150 |
| 25 May 2009 | 14 Jun 2009 | $3150 |
| 15 Jun 2009 | 05 Jul 2009 | $3150 |
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