16 Days
(Hong Kong--Guilin--Yangshuo--Xi'an--Beijing)
The perfect introduction to China for the first-time visitor, this tour is also an excellent choice for repeat visitors who want to return for a more adventurous, in-depth experience. Bicycling in the countryside, walking through the back alleys of the cities, trying the local specialties in small family-run restaurants and street markets--all of these activities are included to take you beyond the "tourist's China" to the real lives of the people.
As a prelude to the tour, you have a full day on your own for sightseeing or shopping in Hong Kong, China's returned jewel. Guilin, located in one of the most scenic regions in China, is the next stop. After a day of bicycling, visiting Guilin's riverfront parks and picturesque older neighborhoods, we take a boat cruise down the Li River through the heart of this wonderful scenery. A special treat along the way is a visit to a magnificent cavern, where another boat ride on an underground river leads to the huge central chamber, with its fantastically-shaped stalagmites and stalactites.
The cruise ends at the small town of Yangshuo, our base of exploration for the next two days. The surrounding countryside is the setting for our bicycle explorations. My local friend Mrs. Zhou will guide us along traffic-free country lanes past small hamlets and grazing water buffalo to Moon Hill Village. There, her family will welcome us to their home and serve a wonderful multi-course lunch featuring such local specialties as delicious stuffed chili peppers and fermented green beans. If you like, you can try their home-made rice wine, too. A second day of exploration will take us and our bicycles by boat to one of the nearby small market towns for another chance to view the rhythms of small town life close up before starting the easy ride back. At dusk, another boat trip on the Li River permits us to see the traditional art of using cormorants to catch fish by lantern light.
The next stop is Xi'an, the home of the legendary terra cotta army. Traces of Xi'an's rich history can be seen even today, particularly in the Moslem Quarter of the city, with its Great Mosque, colorful and aromatic spice markets and food stalls with unusual Moslem specialties. Of course, there will be a full day to visit the magnificent terra cotta army.
From Xi'an, the tour proceeds to Beijing. Besides visiting the well-known imperial monuments of Beijing, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square, you will see the immense changes that are thrusting the city into the twenty-first century, and have the chance to visit the hidden back streets where life continues as it has for centuries. As always, we eat at small family-run restaurants and visit the bustling night street markets to find the true local flavors. In addition, we will enjoy a special Beijing Roast Duck dinner, as well as a performance of Chinese acrobats or the Beijing Opera, before returning home.
Price: $2,250 per person, double occupancy.
All-inclusive land cost.
Minimum six travelers.
Maximum twelve travelers.
Dates:
April 3-18, 1999
October 2-17, 1999
Detailed Itinerary
| Day 1 (Saturday): | Depart from the United States. |
| Day 2 (Sunday): | Arrive in Hong Kong in the evening. |
| Day 3 (Monday): | A free day to rest from the flight and for sightseeing and shopping in Hong Kong. |
| Day 4 (Tuesday): | Fly from Hong Kong to Guilin, Guangxi Province (morning); balance of day for a city tour of Guilin. |
| Day 5 (Wednesday): | Sightseeing by foot and bicycle in and around Guilin, including the riverfront parks and older neighborhoods. |
| Day 6 (Thursday): | Boat cruise on the Li River through the stunning karst landscape; stop along the way to visit an underground cavern; arrive in the small city of Yangshuo in the afternoon and have the balance of the day to explore the town. |
| Days 7-8 (Friday-Saturday): | Sightseeing in and around Yangshuo, including a bicycle ride on country lanes and paths to the Moon Hill Village for lunch at a farmer's house, and a river trip to the town of Fuli. |
| Day 9 (Sunday): | Drive from Yangshuo to Guilin (morning); fly from Guilin to Xi'an (afternoon). |
| Days 10-11 (Monday-Tuesday): | Sightseeing in and around Xi'an, including a full-day visit to the terra cotta army, and a city tour including the Moslem Quarter, the Great Mosque, and the ancient city walls. |
| Day 12 (Wednesday): | Fly from Xi'an to Beijing (morning); balance of day for sightseeing in Beijing. |
| Days 13-15 (Thursday-Friday-Saturday): | Sightseeing in and around Beijing, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, ancient hutongs and night food markets. |
| Day 16 (Sunday): | Depart from Beijing and fly to the United States, arriving home the same day. |
C.S.T. Number 2034611-40
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