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22 Days
Untamed China
neW!
This epic journey offers a diverse and exciting experience. From Beijing to Shanghai we traverse amazing landscapes and visit cultural icons come with us to explore untamed China!
n beijing n great Wall n forbidden City n Xiahe n langMuSi n Songpan n Chengdu n giant panda breeding reSearCh baSe n Xian n terraCotta WarriorS n Suzhou n zhouzhuang n Shanghai
Days 1-3/Beijing - Great Wall Our adventure begins in Beijing, one of the worlds great capitals, with over 2000 years of history. We spend a full day exploring a remote area of the Great Wall at Simatai. We also check out the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square and have time to wander through the backstreets or hutongs. Day /Lanzhou Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, offers a glimpse of modern and old China. This is the only provincial town to lie on the banks of the Yellow River or as the Chinese call it Mother River. Days 5-/Xiahe Xiahe houses one of the most important Tibetan monasteries outside of Lhasa the Labrang Monastery. Here we can witness monks and nomads congregating on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. Days 7-8/Langmusi From the remote town of Langmusi we have the opportunity to hike up into the mountains and visit the isolated Tibetan monastery that overlooks the town. Days 9-10/Songpan Northern Sichuan province contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, with thick alpine forests and wide expanses of grassland steppe set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The town of Songpan is nestled into this countryside and there are many options for exploring, from horseback riding to hiking. Days 11-13/Chengdu - Giant Pandas Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, which is known for its spicy food. It is here we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, set up in 1990 to ensure the survival of Chinas captivating yet endangered national treasure. An overnight train takes us to Xian. Days 1-15/Xian - Terracotta Warriors Xians most famous attraction is the Terracotta Warriors one of worlds greatest archeological treasures. There are over 7000 life sized statues, horses and chariots in battle formation. We also have time in Xian to explore the markets, walk or bicycle along the ancient wall, or stroll through the engaging Muslim Quarter. Days 1-18/Luoyang - Shaolin Temple We make our way to the birthplace of kung fu, the Shaolin Temple. This area attracts thousands of disciples who train under watchful masters eyes. After watching the kung fu students practice, we can visit the famous Longmen Grottoes, where thousands of Buddha statues are carved into the mountain side. Days 19-20/Suzhou - Zhouzhuang Suzhou is a picturesque city, known for it silk and embroidered handicrafts, as well as the many beautiful gardens. The following day we venture to Zhouzhuang, known as Venice of the East, a canal town that has been preserved through the ages. Days 21-22/Shanghai In the morning a short train ride takes us to the Paris of the East, Shanghai. We have time to explore this dynamic city, and take a stroll along the famous waterfront (The Bund). The street is lined by striking Art Deco buildings from Shanghais decadent boom period from the 1850s to the 1930s. Our trip ends in Shanghai on the morning of Day 22.
trip info
Prices: See page 2.
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Moderate. Transport: bus, sleeper train, train. Accommodation: 3 nights sleeper train, 2 nights guesthouse, 16 nights hotel. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect US$300 from each person on Day 1. Want more? Link this trip with another Geckos adventure: Vietnam and China Revealed. Tour Code: GTUC. Further Info & Trip Notes www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/gtuc
Starts Sun 2008 08-Jun 29-Jun
Finishes 20-Jul 31-Aug Sun 21-Sep 29-Jun 20-Jul
10-Aug 21-Sep 12-Oct
CHINA
Lanzhou Xiahe Langmusi Songpan Chengdu
Beijing
ll Ye
Xian
Luoyang Shaolin
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R.
Suzhou Untamed China
Shanghai
www.geckosadventures.co.uk
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