China Explored - Overland Trip
2 weeks: Beijing to Hong Kong (IMT-AACE)
Intro
This trip takes you on a journey through the very heart of this vast country. For many the highlight will be the hike along the Great Wall, far from the madding crowds, or biking through the stunning landscapes around Yangshuo. Whatever your preference, you will be hard pressed to see more of China in the same amount of time.Group Size
Max 18Activities
3-5 hour walk along the Great Wall, optional cycling in Yangshuo, extensive walking at sightsAccommodation
7 nights simple hotels, 3 nights cruise boat, 4 nights sleeper trainTransport
Public and private bus, airconditioned Yangtse cruise boat, train & taxiFully Escorted
By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Xi’an and on Yangtse cruiseWINTER ITINERARY:
Please note that for winter departures this trip follows a different itinerary from Days 7 to 11, as follows:Day 7, CHENGDU – SHANGHAI –
A morning visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, before we fly to Shanghai. Free afternoon to explore or take a river cruise.Shanghai
One of the great cities of the world, Shanghai is currently undergoing a major face-lift. Historically renowned as the seat of colonial power in the east, with all the resulting decadence, excitement and vices, Shanghai entered a period of stagnation when the communists came to power. Now it is being redeveloped, and part of the city has become a Special Economic Zone, its streets full of gleaming new office buildings and crowned by the space-age Pearl TV Tower. The rest of the city is also undergoing huge change, with much of the old being pulled down to make way for the new. It is an exciting and vibrant place which embodies the astonishing development which China has been experiencing in recent years, and exemplifies the economic powerhouse that China has become. Despite the frantic construction, the colonial legacy lives on in the form of beautiful neo-classical buildings which housed the major trading corporations of the east, most notably along the Bund, the road running along the waterfront.
A highlight of any visit to Shanghai are the astonishingly dextrous Shanghai Acrobats, who put on an incredible performance which inevitably leaves you rather humbled.
Day 8, SHANGHAI –
A full free day to explore the bustling city. In the evening we see the famous Shanghai acrobats.Day 9, SHANGHAI – LONGSHENG –
A morning flight to Guilin and transfer to Longsheng, the ‘Dragon’s Backbone’ rice terraces. The scenery in this area is outstanding with rice terraces cascading down the hillside and stretching in all directions. We stay in a small wooden guesthouse as guests of a local family.Longsheng
A short drive out onto the countryside takes us to the incredible ‘Dragon’s Backbone’ rice terraces. Here we can clamber along the stone paths used daily by the farmers who, with an empathy for nature, have mastered this landscape and transformed the steep hills into thousands of terraces, often no more than a metre wide. Walking amongst the paddies, the incredible colours and man made patterns will take your breath away. We can also visit one of the beautiful villages of the local Zhuang or Yao minority and possibly get invited in to explore their incredible timber homes.
Day 10, LONGSHENG–
Today we trek along the ridge to another picturesque village before returning to our guesthouse.Day 11, LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO –
Transfer to the scenic town of Yangshuo. The day is free to explore the beautiful countryside or perhaps take a lesson in Tai Chi, calligraphy or Chinese cooking.Please note that for the winter itinerary, you will stay for 9 nights in simple hotels, 2 nights guesthouses and 3 nights sleeper train.
Itineraries
Day 1,BEIJINGArrive and check in.
Day 2,BEIJING - GREAT WALLA day at the Great Wall with a 3-5 hour hike along one of the less visited sections.
Day 3,BEIJING - XI’ANVisit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Overnight train to Xi’an.
Day 4,XI’ANMorning guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors. Free afternoon to explore the Great Mosque and other sights.
Day 5,XI’AN – CHENGDUA free day to explore the many fascinating sites of Xi’an before the overnight train to Chengdu.
Day 6,CHENGDUAfternoon arrival in Chengdu. This evening there’s the chance to see the fascinating Sichuan variety performance.
Day 7,CHENGDU – CHONGQINGA morning visit to the Giant Panda Research Base. In the afternoon we take a short train journey to Chongqing where we board our cruise boat.
Day 8 to Day 9,YANGTSE RIVER CRUISEWe cruise down the Yangtse River, passing through the spectacular Three Gorges. Along the way we stop for various excursions to places of interest. (BLD)
Day 10,YICHANG – GUILINWe disembark in Yichang and transfer to Wuhan for the overnight train to Guilin. (B)
Day 11,YANGSHUOEarly arrival in Guilin and transfer to the scenic town of Yangshuo. The day is free to explore the beautiful countryside or perhaps take a lesson in Tai Chi, calligraphy or Chinese cooking.
Day 12,YANGSHUOA full free day to explore. Perhaps hire a bike and cycle along small tracks through the fields amidst the amazing karst scenery.
Day 13,YANGSHUO - SHENZHENAfternoon transfer back to Guilin. Overnight train to Shenzhen.
Day 14,HONG KONGArrive in Shenzhen before taking the train through the New Territories to Kowloon.
Day 15,Hong KongTour ends.
Last updated: 26th November 2008
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