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Trip Number: 12565A
Price: $4,295 (12-15)
$5,295 (or fewer)
Deposit: $200
Capacity: 15
Staff: Pritpal Singh Kochhar
Highlights:
- See Shanghai and the garden cities of Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Suzhou, and
Hangzhou
- Visit Sani, Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan minority communities in the mountainous
southeast
- Cruise the fabled Li River, and visit the Stone Forest and Tiger Leaping
Gorge
Includes:
- All accommodations, on-trip transportation, entrance fees, meals, gratuities, and English-speaking guides
- All domestic airport transfers, except Shanghai arrival and Guilin departure
The Trip
Photo: John Bird
Our trip begins in Shanghai. We will visit the Shanghai Museum, the Bund, and
the ancient garden cities of Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. Historically,
Shanghai has been a major trading port and gateway to central China. The Bund
was where the major western legations were located. In the meantime Shanghai
has become one the world's most modern cities. The Ming and Qing towns are noteworthy
for their unique architecture, folklore, lifestyle, and brilliant cultural heritage.
The second focus of our trip is the Chinese minorities, who live in the mountains
of southern China. Many of the minorities that we visit have historically been
matriarchal in nature, with unique courting traditions and family structue.
The Songzaling monastery is the largest Tibetan monastery outside of Tibet.
Our trip ends on April 25 when we return to Guilin and visit Red Flute Cave,
the Elephant Trunk Hill Park, and the art college.
Itinerary
Photo: John Bird
Day 1: Arrive in Shanghai. Dinner at a local restaurant will
be our first meeting as a group. We will stay two nights at the Zhao An Hotel.
Day 2: We'll enjoy a morning visit to the Shanghai Museum.
In the afternoon, we'll go sightseeing in the Old City, known as "Paris
of the East," cruise on Huangpu River, and take a walk along the Bund.
In the evening, we'll watch an acrobatic show.
Day 3: Today we'll drive from Shanghai to visit the most famous
water town in China, Zhouzhuang. Zhouzhuang is simple and serene, still keeping
much of its traditional appearance, with alleyways, canals, bridge towers, and
teahouses, as well as the Hall of Shen's Residence and Hall of Zhang's Residence,
which date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. We will also see Zhouzhuang's
Double Bridge, consisting of Shide Bridge and Yong'an Bridge.Then we'll continue
to Suzhou, where we will stay two nights. Like shining pearls scattered here
and there, Suzhou boasts numerous lakes of various sizes. Its noteworthy Ming
and Qing towns are unique in their architecture, folklore, lifestyle, and brilliant
cultural heritage. With their old houses built over the water, and many bridges
and bridge towers, the area's custom is for the locals to drink "Granny
Tea" and to walk across three successive bridges to ensure good fortune.
Day 4: We will make a morning visit to Tiger Hill, Humble
Administrator's Garden, and the Silk Embroidery Institute. During the afternoon,
we will take a ride in small gondolas through the back canals of the Grand Canal
in the old city and visit other famous Suzhou gardens as time permits. In the
evening we will attend a performance at the Garden of the Master of the Nets.
Photo: John Bird
Day 5: We will drive from Suzhou to Hangzhou, and en route
visit another famous water town, Tongli. We will stay two nights in Hangzhou.
Tongli is another typical Chinese water town, with 54 stone bridges from many
dynasties, a so-called "museum of ancient bridges." We will visit
the Garden of Quiet Meditation, belonging to a former mandarin, which dates
back to 1885 AD. Though the garden is only 0.3 hectare, all the buildings are
positioned so closely around the central pool that the pavilions, halls, corridors
and rocks seem to be floating on water. Other places of interest include the
Chong Ben Mansion that belonged to a wealthy merchant and the Jia Yin Residence
of the Confucian literati.
Day 6: In the morning we'll visit Huagang Park, taking a ride
in a private small boat rowed by local people on the West Lake. In the afternoon
we plan to visit the Lingyin Temple and Longjing Tea Plantation, where we can
see farmers' homes and the Bamboo Grove.
Day 7: We'll fly from Hangzhou to Kunming, where we'll go
sightseeing on the Western Hills as time permits. We will stay two nights in
Kunming.
Day 8: We'll begin our journey with a bus ride to the world
famous Stone Forest, where we'll walk through the forest and also visit a Sani
minority village.
Photo: John Bird
Day 9: We'll take a morning flight from Kunming to Dali, where
we'll take a cruise on Lake Erhai, visit the Three White Pagodas, and explore
the old town of Dali. We'll stay two nights at the Landscape Hotel in the old
town of Dali.
Day 10: We'll start the day by visiting the morning market,
viewing the Bai minority architecture in the village of Xizhou, joining a traditional
three-course tea with a performance by the local Bai minority people, and visiting
a local tie-dye factory. After lunch, we will take a chairlift up to the beautiful
Cangshan Mountain to hike along a level trail. For the rest of the afternoon
we will continue to explore the old town.
Day 11: Today will start with a drive from Dali to Lijiang.
In the afternoon, we plan to visit the Dongba Museum of the Naxi culture and
the Black Dragon Pool Park. We'll stay two nights at the Grand Lijiang Hotel
in Lijiang near the site of the old town.
Day 12: Today we'll visit Yufeng Monastery to see a typical
Tibetan Lama temple, and then travel to Baisha village to view the famous Baisha
Murals. Before driving back to the old town for lunch, we'll also visit a Naxi
village (Joseph Rock's Former Residence) in Yuhu Village. In the afternoon,
we explore the old town of Dayan and maybe also pay a visit to the Nature Conservancy's
Visitor's Center in Lijiang. In the evening, we will attend a performance of
the Naxi orchestra.
Day 13: We'll drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La, with a side
trip to the First Bend of the Yangtze River and the Tiger Leaping Gorge -- one
of the deepest gorges in the world. We will stay two nights in Shangri-La.
Day 14: In the morning we'll visit a Tibetan village and a
Tibetan school. After lunch we'll visit the Songzanling Monastery and the old
town.
Photo: John Bird
Day 15: We have scheduled a morning flight to Kunming, followed
by a connecting flight to Guilin. We will stay overnight in Guilin.
Day 16: We start the day with a cruise on the picturesque
Li River to Yangshuo. We will have ample time to visit the sites, go bike riding,
and shop around Yangshuo, where we will be staying the night. This evening we
will have our farewell dinner, either at a local restaurant or at our hotel.
Day 17: After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel by bus
back to Guilin. Our visit to the Reed Flute Cave, the Elephant Trunk Hill Park,
and the art college will mark the end of our trip. Those leaving Guilin will
be transported to the airport, where you can catch late-afternoon or evening
flights to Shanghai or to Hong Kong, and catch your flights home or to your
next destination the following day.
Post-trip tours or travel arrangements are available to Beijing and other cities
through our agent in China.
Getting There
The trip begins with a welcome dinner at a hotel in Shanghai. The leader will
inform the participants on the modes of transportation (taxi, coach or any other)
that can be used in getting from the international airport in Shanghai to the
hotel. The cost of this transfer is not included in the trip price.
Accommodations and Food
Photo: John Bird
Included in the price: All meals from dinner on day one through lunch on the
last day, tea and sodas/beer with meals, accommodations, tours, guide service,
in-country transportation including flights, portage, tips to the national guide,
local guides, bus drivers, luggage handlers, and local departure taxes.
Not included: International flights and other travel arrangements to the beginning
of the trip (Shanghai) and from the end of trip (Guilin), passport and visa
fees, bottled water, beverages beyond those provided at meals, services of a
personal nature, laundry service.
Trip Difficulty
This trip is described as moderate. Some days may seem arduous because of
long drives between destinations. We will pass over several mountain passes.
Most of our trip will be in mountainous terrain, and we will be staying several
nights at elevations that exceed 5,000 feet, and two nights at about 10,000
feet. Air pollution is an ever-present problem in much of the area where we
will be traveling, and this may prove bothersome to folks with respiratory ailments.
This trip is suitable for people in good general health who are able to walk
moderate distances and climb several flights of stairs.
Equipment and Clothing
The leader will send trip members a list of recommended clothing and equipment.
References
The leader will provide references to the approved participants as part of the
periodic bulletins that will be sent to them prior the trip.
Conservation
Photo: John Bird
China is environmentally challenged on many fronts due to its immense population
and rapid development. The ever-increasing demand for food and lumber has imposed
a staggering burden on the land to grow food crops, support livestock, and yield
fuel and building materials.
Increased agricultural production through technological modernization, expansion
of irrigation, and land reclamation all have been vigorously promoted. Often,
the implications of these policies have not been considered, and their consequences
have been serious environmental degradation. Deforestation of mountains and
the cultivation of grasslands have greatly increased the erosion of topsoil
in both north and south China. China has recently banned cutting trees in key
watersheds and now recognizes the link between past practices and recent devastating
floods. In the last thirty years, 30% of the China's agricultural land has been
lost to salinization, alkalization, erosion, and the encroachment of building
on cultivated land. Desert areas, already very large in China, have increased
by 25,000 square miles. Reclamation of thousands of square miles of lake and
river areas in central China has caused a 50% decline in fish production.
In its cities, China suffers severe air pollution -- a growing problem because
of increased use of motorized vehicles. Its rivers and waterways are heavily
polluted in many places.
We will observe, firsthand, the long-range effects of overpopulation and dwindling
resources. We will also witness some of the innovative ways that China has found
to use some of its more plentiful resources to provide low-cost building materials
and how it responding to a myriad of environmental challenges.
Trip Price
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.
See the How to Apply for an Outing
section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation
Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the
trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing
up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing
approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical
Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on
the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to
the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and
notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.
Staff
Pritpal Singh Kochhar ('Pepi') was born in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas where he developed his love of the mountains. In 1976 he moved to New York City where his exposure to people of different cultural backgrounds sparked his love of travel. His wanderlust has developed his enjoyment for contemporary foods, tastes and smells. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge of foreign customs with trip participants. Besides leading Sierra Club trips he enjoys sailing, scuba diving and reading about current affairs. His experience with eastern religions will highlight many a conversation you will have with him. Pepi has been a member of the Sierra Club for over 10 years and has traveled to China, India, Nepal, Iceland, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Thailand, India, Russia and Turkey on previous Sierra Club trips.
E-mail: pskochhar@hotmail.com
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips