Southern China Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Kunming

Arrive in Kunming at any time. As your fellow travellers will be arriving at different times, there are no planned activities for today. Please check with the reception staff for a message from your leader regarding an evening meeting. This will be a chance to discuss the upcoming trip, answer any questions, and complete a few bits of paperwork.

Days 2-3 Dali

The ancient, walled town of Dali nestles snugly between the towering Cangshan Mountains and beautiful Erhai Lake. The town is small enough to explore on foot, but a bicycle or bus ride can take you out to some of the smaller villages of the local Bai minority group. You can stop and explore the markets or ancient courtyard houses, which now serve as small communities with several families living around one courtyard. The countryside around Dali is incredibly fertile and the fields are always dotted with farmers ploughing, sowing or threshing. You may also want to take a boat trip to enjoy the beautiful scenery and visit some of the temples and villages on islands in the lake. Day 3 is a free day to sample the delights of Dali – it is an ideal place to explore by bike, or you can take a short horse trek into the mountains behind the town. Option to visit the colourful Shaping markets where women in traditional dress sell their wares.

Days 4-5 Lijiang

The old town of Lijiang is a World Heritage Site and home to the Naxi minority. Old men smoking pipes and women in their traditional costumes can be seen throughout the town, as can examples of the Naxi script, a form of pictograph, that is little changed after hundreds of years. The best way to spend a day in Lijiang is to get lost in the small pedestrian lanes that meander throughout the town. Every twist and turn reveals picturesque old buildings, local arts and crafts, fast flowing canals and beautiful arched bridges. You can also spend an afternoon resting in a pavilion in Black Dragon Pool Park, gazing at the reflection of Jade Dragon snow Mountain and listening to the local Naxi music.

Days 6-7 Tiger Leaping Gorge

On day 6, a 3 hour drive takes us to Tiger Leaping Gorge.In the heart of Yunnan province, the fast flowing Yangtse has cut a dramatic gorge so narrow in places that legend has it a tiger once escaped capture by jumping across it. Reputed to be one of the deepest gorges in the world, we allow two days to explore this magnificent landscape. We’re sure you’ll agree that this area rivals the better-known Three Gorges as the most spectacular scenery along the Yangtze River. There are two routes through the gorge, the ‘high road’ and the ‘low road’. We take the high road as it is inaccessible to vehicles and enables us to pass through local villages along the way, although the exact details of the hike may vary according to local conditions. Weather conditions in the gorge vary considerably throughout the year. The rainy season is primarily over the summer but it can rain at any time of year. At such times it may be dangerous to trek certain sections of the gorge due to rock falls. Before you arrive at the gorge your tour leader will have enquired about the prevailing conditions and will have decided the best way to complete the trek and the most suitable guesthouses to use along the way. The maximum length of the trek in optimum conditions is 27km from the entrance of the gorge in Qiaotou. In these circumstances, you would walk 7km on the first day and 20km on the second day. The first day is easy walking on a combination of a new dirt road and smaller farmers' trails. The second day is harder, and includes an ascent up the '28 bends', where the path twists and turns, climbing steeply, until you come out at the top of the path (not the top of the gorge – that is still several hundred metres above you!). It is hard work but the views from the top are absolutely incredible and make the slog worthwhile! You can also see where the tiger reputedly jumped across the gorge, a mythical occurrence from which the gorge derives its name. On the morning of the third day you will have time to relax or take another short walk in the gorge if you wish. In less optimum conditions, for example when it has been raining heavily, it may not be possible to complete the full hike. Your tour leader will decide the best route to take within the gorge to maximise your enjoyment and ensure that you see the most spectacular sections whilst taking account of safety issues. Whilst no previous experience is required to make the trek through the gorge, it is important that you are fit before starting. You should be prepared for more than just an afternoon stroll as the trek can be hard work, particularly in the summer. We recommend that you bring light hiking boots with ankle support.

Day 8 Guilin

Return to Lijiang for the flight to Guilin.

Days 9-10 Yangshuo

On day 9, a short drive takes us to Yangshuo. Often remembered as the highlight of a trip to China, Yangshuo has some of the most spectacular scenery and relaxed atmospheres in the country. You can hop onto a bicycle and head off the beaten track for a ride into the countryside, which is like cycling through a traditional Chinese painting! Mountains, rivers, bamboo, rice paddies and water buffalos - there’s something new at every turn. After all that exercise you may want to try your hand at some Chinese arts as here you can have a lesson with a local expert in calligraphy; watercolour painting; cooking; tai chi; kung fu or even try and learn a little of the Chinese language. Then in the evening it’s time to relax for a meal or a drink in one of the many cafés that line the famous West Street or perhaps watch the spectacular Liu San Jie show. Hiring a bike is easy and probably the best way to discover the countryside with its delightful mountains, villages and people.The Liu San Jie Show is a one hour show is directed by Zhang Yimou, director of many famous Chinese movies - including 'Hero', and 'House of Flying Daggers' - and also responsible for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. It tells the story of the 'Third Sister Liu' who was renowned for her lyrical singing. She lived in nearby Liuzhou, before she travelled on a bamboo raft to Yangshuo, where she fell in love and settled. The performance showcases the ethnic diversity of the region, incorporating over 500 singers and dancers - many of whom are local farmers. They perform on and around the beautiful Li River against the backdrop of the incredibly illuminated karst mountains. The Liu San Jie show takes place at 8pm most nights (except when the river is in flood) at the confluence of the Li and Yulong rivers on the outskirts of Yangshuo. The ticket price is RMB188, excluding transport which is an additional RMB2-10 per person. There are 2 cooking schools in Yangshuo that we currently recommend for those who are interested in learning how to prepare some of the fantastic food that you eat on tour. Both employ a 'hands-on' approach to teaching, where you are provided with your own wok and gas burner and all necessary ingredients. The skilled and friendly teachers are Chinese with a very good standard of English. After the cooking class you can sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared. Morning and afternoon classes are available at both cooking schools.

Days 11-12 Hong Kong

On day 11, we board the train to our last destination, Hong Kong.

Day 13 Depart Hong Kong

Depart Hong Kong at any time.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotels/Guesthouses (11 nts), sleeper train (1 nt).
Departure	Departs on selected Mondays, year round
DepEnd	Mon-Sat
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge
Local Payment	USD150
Meals Included	No meals included.
StartFinish	Kunming to Hong Kong
Transport	Train, aircon bus, boat, walking, bicycle, plane.
Brochure Intro	Scenery you've seen in traditional Chinese paintings really does exist! Discover the beautiful landscape and peaceful rivers, observe the ancient art of calligraphy, hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge and explore some of the markets and old courtyard houses which pop up in small laneways off the main roads.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-10-20	2008-11-01	7+
2008-11-17	2008-11-29	7+
2008-12-01	2008-12-13	7+
2009-03-16	2009-03-28	7+
2009-03-30	2009-04-11	7+
2009-04-13	2009-04-25	7+
2009-04-27	2009-05-09	7+
2009-05-11	2009-05-23	7+
2009-05-25	2009-06-06	7+
2009-06-08	2009-06-20	7+
2009-06-22	2009-07-04	7+
2009-07-06	2009-07-18	7+
2009-07-20	2009-08-01	7+
2009-08-03	2009-08-15	7+
2009-08-17	2009-08-29	7+
2009-08-31	2009-09-12	7+
2009-09-14	2009-09-26	7+
2009-09-28	2009-10-10	7+
2009-10-12	2009-10-24	7+
2009-10-26	2009-11-07	7+
2009-11-09	2009-11-21	7+
2009-11-23	2009-12-05	7+
2009-12-07	2009-12-19	7+
2010-03-15	2010-03-27	7+
2010-03-29	2010-04-10	7+
2010-04-12	2010-04-24	7+
2010-04-26	2010-05-08	7+
2010-05-10	2010-05-22	7+
2010-05-24	2010-06-05	7+
2010-06-07	2010-06-19	7+
2010-06-21	2010-07-03	7+
2010-07-05	2010-07-17	7+
2010-07-19	2010-07-31	7+
2010-08-02	2010-08-14	7+
2010-08-16	2010-08-28	7+
2010-08-30	2010-09-11	7+
2010-09-13	2010-09-25	7+
2010-09-27	2010-10-09	7+
2010-10-11	2010-10-23	7+
2010-10-25	2010-11-06	7+
2010-11-08	2010-11-20	7+
2010-11-22	2010-12-04	7+
2010-12-06	2010-12-18	7+

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