China — North & Central Asia, China & Tibet intro — Explore Worldwide 2008/09 online holiday brochure

lo w Ye l Chongqing DAZU Baoding Shan Rice terraces Minority villages Li River GUILIN Cruise Ya NORTH & CENTRAL ASIA, CHINA & TIBET CHINA Longji villages/Sarah Crilley Hong Kong/Diane Nelson Scene near Yangshuo/Paul Reynolds Along the Yangtse 16 DAYS HOTELS/RIVERBOAT THROUGH THE YANGTSE RIVER GORGES Ref YR / YRB JFMAMJJASOND JFMA Along the Yangtse Ref YR & Imperial Journey Ref YRC & Xian + Beijing Extn Ref YRB Great Wall, Forbidden City CHINA BEIJING Ye l l o w Sea TAI SHAN Sacred mountain KAIFENG XIAN LUOYANG QUFU SHANGHAI SUZHOU Terracotta Army NANJING River Gorges Cruise Maoping CHENGDU Pandas ng ts e Zouzhuang Yichang Riverboat on the Mighty Yangtse & Shanghai Flying to Chengdu, we visit the Panda Research Centre, then drive to the vast Buddhist sculptures carved into the mountains near Dazu. We then board our Chinese riverboat. Over two and a half days we cruise the most spectacular section of the Yangtse River, stopping along the way to visit temples and towns and to take a side excursion into some of the small gorges. The main highlight of the journey is passing through the spectacular Three Gorges before reaching the dam itself; an impressive feat of modern engineering. Finally, we fly to Shanghai an historic seaport and bustling and cosmopolitan city at the mouth of the Yangtse river. LONGJI Extend your tour... HONG KONG YANGSHUO Shenzen km 0 800 Kowloon & Star Ferry Temples & markets XIAN & BEIJING EXTENSION Extend your tour to include the cultural sights of Xian and Beijing Ref. YRB. See Factfile for further details. South China Sea Combine your tour... Along the Yangtse & Imperial Journey 30 DAYS HOTELS/RIVERBOAT FACTFILE Ref YRC As well as including the cosmopolitan cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai, this trip spends time exploring the backroads and villages of rural China. We admire the stunning karst scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo and terraced rice fields of the Longji minority area. We then board a Chinese riverboat to cruise the dramatic Yangtse River Gorges. Hong Kong, Yangshuo & Longji After exploring the lively city of Hong Kong, we take an overnight train to Guilin where the rounded limestone peaks of hump-back mountains have inspired poets and painters through the ages. A unique panorama of fishing villages and paddy fields unfolds as we drift along the Li river to the delightful small town of Yangshuo, where you can enjoy a leisurely bike ride or walk in surrounding villages. Driving North to Longji we enter a region famous for its spectacular rice terraces, which in places sit tier upon tier climbing up to a staggering 800m. This area is home to the Dong and Yao minority peoples whom we are likely to encounter on our walks through the paddies. Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Hong Kong. 2 Arrive Hong Kong. 3 In Hong Kong; half day orientation tour. 4 Drive Shenzen (China); overnight train Guilin. 5 Boat to Yangshuo. 6 Free in Yangshuo. 7 Drive Longji; walks on rice terraces. 8 In Longji; fly Chengdu. 9 In Chengdu; visit Panda Research Centre; drive Dazu. 10 Visit Buddhist sculptures at Baoding Shan; travel to Chongqing and board Chinese ferry. 11 Explore Fengdu ghost city. 12 Cruise through Three Gorges; visit small gorges; descend through dam locks. 13 Disembark; visit dam, cruise Yichang, fly Shanghai. 14 In Shanghai; city tour. 15 In Shanghai. 16 Fly London. Itinerary Ref. YRB Xian & Beijing Extension: Days 1 to 15 As above. 16 Fly Xian; half day city tour. 17 Visit Terracotta Warriors, bronze chariot exhibition and pits 1, 2 and 3; overnight train to Beijing. 18 In Beijing. 19 Drive to Mutianyu; visit Great Wall. 20 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 9nts hotel, 1nt guesthouse, 3nts bed in two-berth cabin aboard Yangtse Riverboat, 1nt sleeper train; 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners included. Xian & Beijing Extension plus 3nts hotel, 1nt sleeper train; 4 breakfasts included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Boat/Flight/Riverboat on Yangtse/Train. Comment: A comprehensive tour of SE China combining culture, dramatic landscapes and a boat journey through the Three Gorges. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s) boatmen and interpreter/guides. Group Size: Approx. 15 to 20. Enjoy an in-depth adventure through both old Imperial and modern Communist China. FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 to 15 Same as Ref. YR. 16 Drive Zhouzhuang; boat on Grand Canal to Suzhou. 17 In Suzhou; visit Gardens. 18 Train to Nanjing; visit Yangtse River Bridge and Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum. 19 Train to Yangzhuo; drive Qufu. 20 Drive Tai Shan; ascend Mt Tai Shan on foot (2-3hrs) or optional cable car. 21 Visit temples on summit; visit village, overnight train to Kaifeng. 22 In Kaifeng. 23 Continue to Luoyang via Song Tombs and Shaolin Monastery. 24 In Luoyang; visit Longmen Caves. 25 Drive to Xian; visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Old Muslim Quarter. 26 In Xian; visit Terracotta Warriors Site. 27 Fly Beijing; afternoon visit to Temple of Heaven. 28 Visit Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square. 29 Visit Great Wall. 30 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 22nts hotel, 1nt guesthouse, 3nts bed in two-berth cabin aboard Yangtse Riverboat, 2nts overnight train; 27 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 4 dinnners included. See insert p2. 170 Essential information, departure dates & prices see Pricing & Information Supplement

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