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ADD-ON
If you would like to extend your holiday to China by taking any of the following add-ons before your return journey, please see the relevant page for full details.
Hong Kong
4 nights from only £499
See page 25 for details.
Yangtze Gorges Cruise
DAY 6 - A full day's exploration of the beautiful and historic surroundings of Lijiang. Visit Black Dragon Pool Park and the Yak Meadow of the Jade Y Dragon Snow Mountain, where you will take a gondola for stupendous views. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Yuhu, an unspoilt Naxi village where the botanist and explorer, Joseph Rock, lived and worked in the 1930s. Lijiang is famous for its temple frescoes and you will visit some fine examples dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Baisha, formerly the capital of the Naxi kingdom, before returning to Lijiang. DAY 7 - Morning departure along the Yunnan-Tibet road, bound for Zhongdian. First stop is the River Y Yangtze, already well established on its long journey to the East China Sea. You will see the symbolic bend where Mao and his revolutionaries crossed the Yangtze during the Long March, commemorated by a fine statue of a soldier and a peasant next to an ancient Ming footbridge. Drive on to Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is actually deeper than the famous Three Gorges much further downriver. The turbulent waters crash spectacularly through the narrow gap between two sheer rock faces in a torrent of foam and spray. Descend 510 steps for the best view, or hire a sedan chair for around £3. The subsequent drive up onto the plateau is beautiful, with typical Tibetan villages along the way. Late afternoon arrival in Zhongdian for a two night stay. DAY 8 - Zhongdian has been officially renamed Shangri-la and is a vibrant mix of old and new. As with most cities, part of it is modern and developed, but this sits comfortably with the older, more traditional scenes, such as women still wearing their native costume, and fascinating side streets leading from the ancient central square. We include a guided walking tour of the old town and an excursion into the surrounding area. You will drive through Tibetan village communities to Bita Lake visiting the 300 year old Sumtsenling Monastery, one of the most significant in all China. On the return drive, you will stop at a Tibetan household, with farm animals on the ground floor and the family upstairs, complete with prayer room. DAY 9 - Morning transfer to Zhongdian airport for the flight, via Kunming, to Beijing. Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. DAY 10 - Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. As you are flying westwards, your arrival will be later the same day. ALTITUDE During this tour you will travel to altitudes of over 12,000ft. This should not be a problem, although everyone should take it easy at first. If you suffer from heart or respiratory conditions or have any other concerns please consult your doctor.
4 nights from only £599
See page 26 for details.
Panda Explorer
4 nights from only £499
See page 26 for details.
CHINA'S ETHNIC MINORITIES Yunnan Province is home to 30% of all China's ethnic minorities. Some 24 nationalities live there, with their own lifestyles, costumes, religious customs and language. The largest ethnic group in the Dali area are Bai, who number some 1.5 million. They settled in the region 3000 years ago. The young women wear bright red tunics, multi-coloured aprons and intricate hats, symbolising four natural forces wind, flowers, snow and the moon. Lijiang is the home of the Naxi, unique because theirs was, until recently, a truly matriarchal society. Naxi women wear blue blouses and trousers covered by a blue or black apron. The delightful township of Zhongdian and its surroundings are totally Tibetan. Monasteries, prayer wheels and flags, and wooden farmsteads are testimony to over two million ethnic Tibetans who live in China beyond the political borders of Tibet itself. Their villages in northern Yunnan are ancient, sturdy and defiant, but with a warm welcome for visitors from afar. National dress is still frequently worn. In the region around Shilin, near Kunming, you will encounter Sani and Yi peoples.
PRE TOUR ADD-ON
Beijing & Xian
5 nights from only £399
Before your journey into the hidden southwest corner of China why not experience the imperial grandeur of Beijing, including Tian an Men Square, Temple of Heaven, Imperial T Palace, Beijing Zoo and much more on this pre-tour add-on. You will also see the incredible Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. From Xian T we visit the amazing Terracotta Army. T For full details please ask one of our Holiday Advisors.
To view dates & prices click here To book click here
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