Land of the Dragon - Asia - The Adventure Company Family Adventures 2012/3

China 15 days Trip Code: FCH lllllllllll Adventure Level A Cultural Discovery Nature & Wildlife CHINA Great Wall of China Beijing Luoyang Y ELLO W S E A Land of the Dragon Walk on the famous Great Wall of China � See endangered giant pandas at Chengdu � Experience the colossal scale of the Terracotta Army Ma An Zhai Tribal villages Xian Chengdu Panda Reserve llllll llll lll l ll Song Shan Shaolin monks E A ST CHI NA S E A Pingan Guilin Yangshuo Classical karst landscapes lllll Your itinerary Day 1/2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7/8 Day 9 Overnight flight to Beijing Beijing; Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Tiananmen Square Visit Great Wall; overnight train to Luoyang Visit Shaolin Temple; overnight Luoyang Visit Longmen Caves; transfer to Xian Xian; explore city, Terracotta Warriors; fly to Chengdu Visit Panda Research Centre; fly to Guilin, transfer to Yangshuo Day Yangshuo; bike ride into countryside; optional 10/11 cooking lesson Day 12/13 explore villages & rice terraces; overnight village Dragon's Backbone; visit the Wind & Rain Bridge, guesthouses Day 14 Day 15 Transfer to Guilin, fly to Beijing Fly home Insider's view Claire Wilson Managing Director travelled to China with her family: This trip wraps up all the `must do' sights of China and adds a twist of something different with a visit to the rural areas and local villages. Children will love the Pandas of Chengdu, but for me and my family the Great Wall was an awesome sight, as were the Terracotta Warriors. Yangshuo Trip Highlights Great Wall of China You arrive into Beijing, China's capital, where you can explore the crowded streets and marvel at the sights of the Forbidden City. You head out of the city to wander along the snake-like Great Wall of China and hear stories of horsemen invading from the north. Kung Fu & Caves Song Shan is the spiritual home of Kung Fu. You will be amazed at the strength and agility of the Shaolin monks who can balance on one finger. Close by, the thousands of statues of Buddha at Longmen Caves will astonish you. Terracotta Warriors From Xian you'll visit the amazing Terracotta Warriors, whose serried ranks served Emperor Qin, the first emperor of China over 2,000 years ago. Seeing the warriors lined up is truly awe-inspiring. Pandas & Terraces You fly to Chengdu and visit the Panda Breeding and Research Centre, vital to the survival of this endangered animal. Your trip continues to Guilin and Yangshuo, set amongst spectacular limestone scenery and dramatic rice terraces, here you can enjoy many different activities. Rural Communities Enjoy rural China at its best. Finish with a visit to two different ethnic minority villages, where you'll get a unique insight into each community's own distinct culture. Is it suitable for my family? Minimum age: 7 years. This is a busy and varied itinerary. The heat and humidity in summer can make the walks and biking tiring, but any family in good health should be able to take part. Activities Uncover historical sites and ancient civilisations, biking, walking, explore local villages Transport Charter vehicle, overnight train, domestic flight, on foot, bike, bullet train Accommodation Hotels (10nts), guesthouse (2nts), sleeper train (1nt) You will stay in hotels with en suite rooms; your guesthouse may be basic but will have private facilities. On the overnight train, you'll have a soft sleeper carriage with shared facilities. Meals included 4 breakfasts & 2 dinners Temple of Heaven - Beijing Beijing Average Daily Max Temp �C 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Average Daily Hours of Sunshine Average Monthly Rainfall (mm) 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 6 7 8 8 9 9 8 8 8 7 6 6 88 For more information call 0845 004 9423 or visit adventurecompany.co.uk/FCH

Asia contd… Land of the Dragon