Passage Through China

Day 1: Beijing

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.

Day 2-3: 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 Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship. You will visit one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. 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 12-hour trip is a great opportunity for our group to get to know each other.

Day 4-5: Xian

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. In the late afternoon, we catch the overnight sleeper-class train to Lanzhou.

Day 6-7: Xiahe

After an early arrival 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.

Day 8-9: Langmusi

From Xiahe we travel by local express bus to Langmusi, a rustic town that stands at 3500 metres above sea level. 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 takes about 8 hours through some amazing countryside.

Day 10-11: 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 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.

Day 12-13: Chengdu

We take a last look at this ''Heaven on Earth''. Leaving 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.

Day 14: Leshan

Today we travel to one of the major traveller's highlights of China - the Giant Buddha at Leshan. Situated on the shores of the Min River, the sleepy town of Leshan is bursting with alleys and backstreets just waiting to be explored. The Giant Buddha ('Dafo') measures 71 metres high and is located at the convergence of the Dadu and Min Rivers. At the time it was built, it was the largest Buddha image in the world. Carved out of the cliff face, construction on this amazing statue began in the year 713 AD by a Buddhist monk named Haitong. It took 90 years to be completed. It was built for good luck because many boats had previously come to grief on this treacherous bend in the river. Ironically the construction of the statue led to the creation of a buffer that resulted in the raging torrents being diverted away from the dangerous cliffs, perhaps saving many lives as a result. After our excursion we return to Chengdu.

Day 15: Guilin

We have this morning at leisure in Chengdu. There is the option to visit Wensu Monastery to have a vegetarian banquet at the teahouse. We are transferred to the airport late this afternoon for our flight to Guilin, where we spend the night.

Day 16-17: Yangshou

This morning we transfer to Yangshuo, a small town which is nestled amongst the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. It is a haven for back-packers and here we stay in a delightful local hotel. Yangshuo offers a relaxed and intimate atmosphere and is an excellent place to explore by bicycle. We join one of our local friends and spend a few hours exploring the wonderful scenery in the surrounding countryside, including Moon Hill, and meeting some of the inhabitants of the nearby villages. We finish our bike ride by enjoying a home cooked lunch in our friend's family home. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding market town of Fuli is an option to consider in your free time. This is also one of the better places for souvenir shopping so make the most of it. This afternoon we travel by bus to Ping An.

Day 18-19: Ping An

The village of Ping An is in the heart of the world-famous Longi Rice Terraces. Sculpted into the land for thousands of years, these terraces at Longi offer spectacular landscape and photography opportunities. We visit the Terra, land of the local Yao minority people and their villages. We travel by foot from Ping An to Dazai over four hours. We will have the opportunity to witness local Yao minority women with their famous hair combing ritual. This peaceful village offers a lasting memory of the tranquil way of life of many Chinese. We return to Ping An by local bus and have the evening and following morning at leisure. We return to Guilin in the afternoon to board the overnight train to Guangzhou (Canton), the capital of Guangdong Province. Again travelling in soft sleeper class, this is our last night in mainland China.

Day 20: Guangzhou – Hong Kong

We arrive in Guangzhou this morning then transfer to the port and board a boat for Hong Kong. After a 3 hour hydrofoil ride into Hong Kong's Victoria harbour we will then be transferred to our centrally located hotel in Kowloon, next to bustling Nathan Road. In the evening there are numerous restaurants in which to enjoy a farewell dinner, and it is only a short walk to the waterfront for the spectacular Sound and Light Show displayed on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island, 8:00 to 8:20pm every night.

Day 21: Hong Kong

Your tour ends after breakfast. If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended that you extend your stay to further explore this exciting city. A journey up to the top of Victoria Peak on the famous Peak Tram is a good introduction to Hong Kong. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, the hotel staff will be on hand to advise you as to the options available