China featuring T ibet & Hong Kong
China featuring T ibet & Hong Kong
China featuring T ibet & Hong Kong
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Discover Yunnan Province<br />
Rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, Yunnan is one of <strong>China</strong>’s most alluring provinces. It is home to a third of <strong>China</strong>’s ethnic minorities,<br />
fiercely proud and protective of their cultures, with varied landscapes ranging from towering T<strong>ibet</strong>an peaks to rainforests teeming with wildlife.<br />
Yunnan’s capital, Kunming, is a relaxed, cosmopolitan city. Beyond its borders lie charming towns such as Dali and Lijiang, quite unlike anywhere<br />
else in <strong>China</strong>, and tiny villages rarely visited by tourists.<br />
kunming<br />
Mountains & Monasteries of Yunnan<br />
Take a spectacular journey into the heart of Shangri-La, a region of <strong>China</strong> fabled for its<br />
6 days/5 nights. Departing Kunming. daily From $ 1061 pp<br />
stunning natural scenery. Experience T<strong>ibet</strong>an towns, traditional life and some of the most<br />
beautiful landscapes in <strong>China</strong>.<br />
Start with a night in Kunming, then fly to Lijiang. Spend time exploring this enchanting<br />
town, with its rich Naxi minority culture, cobbled streets and local handicrafts. Make<br />
a stop at Lion Hill for sweeping views of Lijiang’s distinctive rooftops. In the evening<br />
enjoy a captivating performance by the Traditional Naxi Orchestra. Take a walk around<br />
off the beaten path Baisha Village. Liuli Dian Temple is a beautiful place to explore and<br />
learn more about regional beliefs. Discover the tranquil T<strong>ibet</strong>an Yufeng Monastery and<br />
see the home of Joseph Rock, the famous Austrian researcher who was considered<br />
the world expert on Naxi culture and Chinese botany. Visit the Dongba Museum of Naxi<br />
Culture and admire snowcapped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Drive from Lijiang past<br />
Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the largest chasms in the world. Walk along the river’s edge<br />
and experience the thrill of surging waters crashing against a cliff face metres below.<br />
Continue on to Zhongdian, often referred to as Shangri-La. Explore fascinating Zhongdian;<br />
view a neighbouring alpine lake, and visit the amazing Songzanlin Monastery. Destroyed<br />
during the Cultural Revolution, the rebuilt monastery offers an insight into the T<strong>ibet</strong>an<br />
belief system. Visit one of the monastery’s ‘Living Buddhas’ if possible, and witness some<br />
T<strong>ibet</strong>an religious practices. Tour the Old Town and visit a T<strong>ibet</strong>an family home for yak<br />
butter tea. Take a return flight to Kunming on your final day.<br />
Want more? ‘Mountains & Monasteries’ can be easily combined with our ‘Lijiang<br />
Wenhai Ecolodge’ tour (below).<br />
Logistics There are good daily flight connections between Kunming and other capital<br />
cities in <strong>China</strong> such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Chengdu.<br />
Inclusions 5 nights accommodation with breakfast daily • private touring • transport<br />
• entrance fees • local English-speaking guides • private arrival and departure transfers<br />
Standard and Deluxe options available.<br />
twin<br />
per person<br />
01 Jan 10 - 31 Mar 11 $1061<br />
Grading: Moderate to Adventurous<br />
Yunnan Day Tours<br />
Departing Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. daily<br />
From $93<br />
Per person<br />
Kunming. Half-Day City Tour. From $ 93 pp.<br />
Fascinating Kunming is the gateway to Yunnan and home to the majority of <strong>China</strong>’s ethnic<br />
minority groups. Begin at Green Lake, the scenic centre of the city then visit the Minority<br />
Museum. Learn about regional costumes, instruments and religious beliefs here. Next,<br />
the Bird & Flower Market offers glimpses into the <strong>China</strong> of old. Explore interesting Muslim<br />
Street before returning to your hotel.<br />
Stone Forest. Half-Day Tour. From $ 166 pp.<br />
Take a scenic drive from Kunming to the legendary Stone Forest, which covers an area<br />
of over 300 square kilometres, and was formed 270 million years ago when an immense<br />
body of water worked its way against the limestone sediment of the seafloor. Explore the<br />
peaks and pillars of stone in the forest, which are absolutely breathtaking.<br />
Kunming City & Stone Forest. Full-Day Tour. From $ 177 pp.<br />
This offering allows you to combine our ‘Stone Forest Half-Day Tour’ with Green Lake and<br />
the Bird & Flower Market.<br />
Dali. Full-Day City Tour. From $ 196 pp.<br />
Dali is an ambient small town that typifies Yunnan, with its stunning mountain scenery<br />
and diverse minority groups. Experience rural Xizhou village and its small, rustic market,<br />
plus Yen’s Family Home, an historic example of Chinese architecture. Walk around Dali<br />
Old Town then visit the Three Pagodas. A scenic chair lift offers brilliant views of the town<br />
and lake. This tour can easily be included in our ‘Mountains & Monasteries’ tour.<br />
Lijiang Wenhai Ecolodge. Full-Day Tour. From $ 183 pp.<br />
Experience ecotourism at its best, outside Lijiang. Two-hours away from Lijiang is the<br />
Wenhai Ecolodge, a community-operated property on the banks of a stunning lake with<br />
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance. Enjoy lunch here before visiting a Naxi<br />
family home before returning to Lijiang. This tour can easily be added to our ‘Mountains<br />
& Monasteries’ experience.<br />
All day tours are private.<br />
All prices valid 01 Jan 10 - 31 Mar 11<br />
26 I CHINA <strong>featuring</strong> TIBET AND HONG KONG
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