People of China

This is one of our most frequently travelled itineraries as some of the most unique places in China are included on this journey. China is a diverse country and offers travelers the experience of going from lively and hectic city like Shanghai to the relaxing south for a whole other side of China, you will think you are in a completely different country. However this China trip is much more than a tour of China's most unique attractions; it also offers a chance to escape from the crowds and busy streets. For instance, strolling down the Li River on a boat with the limestone peaks of the Karst mountains poking out of the Li valley, it looks as if time has just stood still in this area and is a relaxing way of seeing this maginificent scenery and is such a contrast from dynamic Shanghai.

Duration:	16 days/ 15 nights	Departure:	Daily
Comfort Level (1-5):	3 (see accommodation)	Accommodation:	Comfortable and characteristic hotels
Price:	From AUD$2619 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included:	Transport, accommodation, 4 domestic flights, transfers and excursions as described below
Transport:	As described below	Excluded:	International flight, (airport) taxes, meals and drinks, entrance fees, transfers not mentioned in itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Shanghai

Your journey starts in Shanghai, the majority of international flights arrive at Pudong, a new airport an hour away from the city. After you have collected your luggage, one of our representatives will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name on it in the arrival hall and will transfer you to your hotel. You’ll stay at one of the older hotels in Shanghai. The historic ambience of the hotel has been maintained by keeping the wooden floors and the cables that help support the roof. The location is ideal at Suzhou Creek at only a stone throw distance from the Bund. In the evening simply exit the hotel and you’ll be on Shanghai boulevard, the Bund. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or start exploring the city of Shanghai.

Day 2: Shanghai

You will have the whole day to explore Shanghai and walk past the large classic colonial buildings, which you’ll be doing along with quite a few Chinese. These days there are few rules and trade is booming. International fashion stores and yuppie bars are found side by side in beautifully renovated buildings, such as the infamous Peace hotel. You can find watches here worth a Chinese mid-size car or you can buy the latest popular software versions for about $6.

Across from the Bund, Pudong’s skyscrapers shoot into the sky. This is Shanghai’s Manhattan, where buildings shoot into the sky in a fury of building rage. The motto here is: "To become rich is glorious". The old Chinese street lanterns in the Bund now compete in the unfair struggle against the small bundled laser lights coming from Pudong’s business district.

Day 3: Shanghai - Luzhi - Tongli

You need to be at Shanghai airport around 14:00 where you’ll be picked up for the private one hour transfer to the quiet aquatic town of Luzhi. The most picturesque canals along the Yangtze River now have souvenir stores along them, however in most side canals everyday life is in full swing. You’ll see elderly men playing Mah-jong, half deteriorated house boats amidst water lilies, women hidden behind dark stoves…. every alcove offers a new view. Every house by the Yangtze River has a dock, although this may not be much more than a set of stairs leading into the water at times. This is where the people who live here grow herbs, wash their clothing and store anything that doesn’t fit into their small houses. Fish for dinner are kept fresh in a fish basket in the water. In short, you’ll enjoy strolling around this town for an hour or so and then you can step into one of the old tea houses for nice cup of tea.

Next your mini van will take you to your hotel in the idyllic and charming town of Tongli, only 30 minutes further down the road, before sunset. The red Chinese lanterns in the entrance gates and in the courtyard of your hotel will be lit and you’ll probably want to go out to one of the restaurants nearby for dinner. If you feel up to it after dinner, walk around the canals near your hotel for a little while and soak up the evening atmosphere.

Day 4: Tongli - Suzhou

Try to make an early start this morning; after 11:00 the Chinese tourists will start to roam the streets, but until then it’s still quiet and you’ll have a chance to see Tongli awaken. The best way to view the city is from the Yangtze River water. Early in the morning you can rent a boat and a steersman to take you through the canals for only 70 Yuan. The experience may be reminiscent of the Venetian gondolas. Narrow, uneven cobble stone streets and old trees line the canals.

At 15:00 (check-out is in the morning) your public bus will depart to Suzhou, where you’ll catch a taxi cab to your hotel.

Day 5: Suzhou - TGV Train to Shanghai

Enjoy a day of exploring the ancient city of Suzhou; with over 2500 years' history the city still retains unique characteristics of the past. At 17:30 you’ll head for Shanghai in a high-speed train. You’ll see the countryside make way for apartment buildings and factory grounds in no time. After a while it will become dark and you’ll see the lights on the many skyscrapers (Shanghai has twice as many as New York). On arrival at the Shanghai train station a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. It has been a long day, but we definitely recommend a visit to a bar/restaurant near your hotel with an overwhelming view of the illuminated Bund (until 23:00) and the Pudong skyline.

Day 6: Shanghai - Yangshuo

Early in the morning you will catch a flight from Shanghai to Guilin. In order to reach Yangshuo’s Karst Mountains, you’ll fly to the city of Guilin first. Many travel organisations book hotel accommodation in the large city of millions, Guilin, and arrange a boat ride on the Li River on to Yangshuo. This may sound like fun; however more than 50 double-deck boats filled with Chinese tour groups go up and down this river each day. Instead of being able to enjoy the splendour of nature all around you, you would most likely be distracted by the cacophony of ship horns honking and very loud tour groups shouting over the river.

Instead of arranging accommodation in Guilin, we will arrange accommodation for you in a charming retreat located between the karst mountains. Only 20 minutes away from Yangshuo, you'll be surrounded by farmland and rice paddies. The room you'll stay in is basic, yet well maintained and the staff is very friendly. There are mountain bikes, kayaks, bamboo rafts and tubes for rent and naturally this area is great for walking. You could hike to the river and catch a glimpse of the bamboo boats you'll be sailing in tomorrow. We found Yangshuo to be quite busy during the evenings and therefore we would usually have a quiet dinner at the hotel under a brilliantly starry sky. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel in Yangshuo, please contact us and we will give you more information on accommodation options.

Day 7: Yangshuo - bike, bamboo boat excursion Yulong River

Today a bike tour and bamboo boat ride are on the agenda. We'll arrange a bike, a boat and an English-speaking guide for you. He will tell you more about life in the area and will bike and sail along with you. You'll travel in a small group today along with other Western travellers.

You'll start off the day with a bike ride along the Yulong River. The scenery here is every bit as beautiful as on the Li River and it features a dramatic array of karst mountains on the banks of the river. During your bike ride you'll leave the main roads and peddle over paths along the river, through farmland and rice paddies and you'll have the karst mountains as constant companions during your ride. You'll be able to stop for drinks or snacks in the small villages that you'll pass during your ride. After biking for a while, the bamboo raft will be waiting to take you down the river. You, your guide and other boats will sail through the peaks of the karst mountains. After a few kilometres you'll get back on your bike and peddle towards the 'highlight' of this trek, Moon Hill. You can choose to climb the hill if you wish. In warm temperatures, this could be quite a strenuous climb, however the view from the top will make up for any inconvenience of getting there. Later in the day, you will return to your hotel unwind with a beer or glass of wine on the terrace.

Day 8: Yangshuo

Today you will have the entire day to spend as you please; there is plenty to do in this area. You can rent a kayak from the hotel, spend another day exploring on a bicycle, or you can even take Kung Fu lesson for an hour. We'll gladly give you more options.

There's quite a show to see on and along the Li and Yulong Rivers in the evenings. The name Zhang Yimao may not ring a bell, however he is the most well known movie director in China and was also responsible for directing the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has created a show here in the outdoors with a backdrop of mountains and the river that attracts about 1000 visitors each and every night. As with most things in China, this show is a large production. No less than 500 actors and actresses in full dress and make-up perform the Chinese love story by San Jie Lu on the banks of the river and on the river itself. The surrounding mountains are part of a magnificent light show every night during the performance. The show can be viewed daily from 20:00 - 21:00. Tickets are on sale on location from $30. After the show you may want to venture out for some souvenir shopping or have a bite to eat in one of Yangshuo's busy streets.

Day 9: Yangshou - Ping'an

Today you will travel from Yangshuo to Ping'an. These two cities are approximately three hours apart with the large city of Guilin in the middle of both cities. The scenery changes during the ride, from karst mountains and farmland to rugged hills and rice paddies. Your driver will drop you off at the trail that leads to Ping'an and will accompany you to the area where a staff member of the hotel will be waiting for you. The 800 inhabitants of Ping'an live in isolation from the outside world. There are no roads leading into the village, you can only get there by foot during a 20 minute subtle climb. If you don’t feel like walking or carrying your luggage up, you can be carried up on a chair. It may feel quite decadent to be carried up the hill by a two men; however you’ll be helping them earn a living at the same time.

Day 10: Ping'an - hike with a guide

At 9:00 you’ll take off with your guide on a walk through the world’s largest rice paddies, The Dragon's Bone or Long Ji. Your walk will be anything but ordinary. You’ll climb and descend through marvellous scenic areas, past rivers, through wooded areas and through rice paddies where the Zhuang push their oxen through the muddy ground. You’ll pass several villages, most of them nothing more than a few houses on built on poles, with friendly, curious inhabitants who will treat you their biggest, brightest smile when you pass. Around lunch time you’ll have a bite to eat and you’ll rest up for a bit in the village before continuing back to Ping'an.

This trek will take about 5 hours. If the weather is poor or if you don't feel like walking the entire 5 hours, there are also shorter treks available. In the evening, the Zhuang will show you their singing and dancing traditions at your request. The Zhuag perform a type of folk dancing for Chinese country women in traditional dress. Afterwards travellers usually gather on the veranda to sit, talk, drink or play a game until late in the evening.

Day 11: Ping'an - Kunming

This morning you will have an early morning transfer from Ping'an to Guilin airport to catch your flight from Guilin to Kunming. Upon arrival into Kunming, you'll be picked up by our local representative who will take you to your Kunming hotel. The city of Kunming is bordered on three sides by mountains, with one side opening onto the Dianchi Lake, in ancient times it was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road and the rich cultural and historical heritage of the city offers a wealth of treasures. Once you have settled in, the remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish! We recommend you spend some time could exploring the city centre and perhaps visit ancient Buddhist temples or indulge in traditional Chinese cuisine. Among the many sites around Kunming some real highlights include Jindian (The Golden Temple) Park and the Buddhist Qiongzhu Temple surrounded by bamboo forest.

Day 12: Kunming - Stone Forest

This morning you'll be picked up by one of our local representatives and will be taken to the Stone Forest by private car; upon arrival please pay an entry fee of approximately Yuan 140. In order to avoid the masses of Chinese tourists, we recommend you visit the outer forest first. Towards the evening it will become more peaceful and quiet in the park and you'll be able to visit the more popular parts of the park without encountering other tourists. You will marvel at the abstract masterpieces and stone formations that resemble animals, plants and even human figures, each carved by nature itself. The formations are believed to be over 270 million years old and are as unique as they are spectacular.

Day 13: Stone Forest – Kunming - Lijiang

This morning you will board your onward flight to Lijiang and on arrival a transfer will take you to the ancient city centre called 'old town' or 'Dayan'. This part of Lijiang is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and also car-free. You’ll be dropped off at the square, the last point where cars are allowed. Our representative will accompany you to your courtyard hotel in the ancient centre of the city. The Ancient Town Protection Fee is included in the price of this trip. Carry the payment stub that the representative will give to you when out and about in the city, you’ll have to present it every time you enter the ancient city centre.

You’ll stay at a courtyard hotel in a wooden house much like any other family in the city would live in. All rooms are positioned around a courtyard full of plants, sitting areas, lanterns and such. When you exit the hotel you’ll step into small, interesting alleys. The staff at the reception area can provide you with a map; it’s easy to get lost in the muddle of alleys. There are many (souvenir) stores, (internet-) cafés and restaurants. Lijiang is the number one tourist destination for Chinese tourists. You’ll see many Chinese tour groups walking through old town. These groups are almost a tourist attraction in itself to most visitors; you’ll be amazed by their group behaviour. They love to buy the kitschiest knickknacks and you’ll always wonder what they are trying to take a picture of, since they are usually aiming the camera away from attractions you might find interesting.

Day 14: Lijiang – countryside bicycle tour

This morning you’ll head out for a bike ride in the area around Lijiang. Together with your guide you’ll ride out of Lijiang and on to a paved road with white mountain tops to the left and right of you. After about 45 minutes you’ll reach the traditional Naxi village Baisha, where you’ll park your bike and wander through the streets. This village is just as beautiful as Lijiang, only less touristy and more genuine and peaceful.

Just after noon you’ll arrive back in Lijiang and you’ll have enough time to freshen up at your hotel. Go for a walk towards the more modern part of Lijiang in the afternoon. You’ll be surprised by the stark contrast of both parts of town; in modern Lijiang you’ll see billboards, traffic and traffic lights that you won’t see in the old town.

Day 15: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge

From Lijiang you’ll depart on your two day hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge. You’ll be picked at your accommodation by your guide up at 7:45 and you’ll take the public bus towards the starting point about 2 hours away in Qiaotou.

Once you leave the bus and pay the entrance fee (Y 50) you’ll start on your hike along with your guide and you’ll walk for two hours until you reach the Naxi guest house. This first leg of your hike won’t be easy. You’ll climb quite a bit, however if you have an average level of physical fitness it shouldn’t be a problem. There are many side paths and forks in the trail that you could get lost on, so you’ll be happy to have your guide along with you. While walking you’ll see terraces full of vegetable, rice and other foods. You’ll walk through hardwood and pine forests and you’ll cross over areas with large altitude differences. Here and there you’ll find places to stop for a bite to eat or drink.

Day 16: Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang - Kunming - End of trip

This morning you will have a transfer from to Lijiang airport to catch your flight from Lijiang to Kunming. If you are not finished exploring this area you can visit Zangdian a buddist town near Tibet which is full on temples and Buddist monasteries. For a real authentic experience we offer a farm stay experience in Zangdian.

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