YUNNAN & SICHUAN - THE BEST OF SOUTH-WEST CHINA
Code: YUN-010 (15 days 14 nights)
Chengdu - Panda Research Centre - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emei Shan - Lijiang - Dali - Shaxi - Qiaotou - Trekking through Tiger Leaping Gorge - Zhongdian (Shangri La)
Description
The south-west of China holds an astonishing array of landscapes and cultures, unique in the world, many protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Foundation. The climate, topography and prevalence of minority groups in south west China has more in common with its border countries than it has with other parts of China. These mountainous regions have an abundance of rivers and lakes, are swept by the summer monsoon and have a vibrant mix of cultural traditions. The most prominent dweller of the region is the Giant Panda "Bear". The only good chance to see these amazing and cute animals from close up in a somewhat natural environment is at the Panda Research station on the outskirts of Chengdu. The biggest Buddha in the World, the holy Emei Mountain and the magnificent landscape of northern Yunnan are only a few of many highlights. For the more active traveler this tour also includes an inspiring, 3 day trekking tour through one of the deepest canyons in the world - the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Highlights
- Visit the cute Panda Bear close up at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre.
- Discover the hidden temples of bustling Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province
- Taste a real Sichuan Hot Pot
- Visit Leshan Giant Buddha, the biggest Buddha in the World
- Witness a magnificent sunrise on top of Emei Mountain
- 3 days Trekking Tour through the Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Walk the Jade Belt Walk high above Dali with magnificent views of the Erhai Lake
- Stroll through idyllic Shaxi and sleep in a 150 year old Bai house
- Experience UNESCO protected Old Town Lijiang
Program
Day 1. ARRIVAL IN CHENGDU (B)
Arrival in Chengdu. Pick up at the Airport and Transfer to your Hotel. In the afternoon we make a short city tour including the Qingyanggong and Wuhou Temple. After that we take a stroll through the picturesque Kuangxi Street.
Day 2. CHENGDU (PANDA RESEARCH CENTRE) - LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA
Early morning drive to the Giant Panda Research and Breeding Centre on the outskirts of the city. This is probably the only chance to see these amazing creatures up close in a somewhat "natural" environment. Observe these endangered creatures while they are having their Bamboo Breakfast. After we head south towards Leshan. Lunch on the way. In the afternoon visit the Giant Buddha of Leshan located 1.5 hours south of Chengdu, At 71 metres high the largest Buddha in the world and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This colossal Buddha was carved into a cliff face overlooking the confluence of the Dadu River and the Min River. Work started around 713 A.D. and it took over 90 years to complete. Take a boat trip on the Dadu River from where you will have the best photo opportunity. Overnight accommodation at Leshan.
Day 3. LESHAN - EMEI SHAN
Visit the Buddha Park to experience the dimensions of the Dafo up close. Drive to Emei Shan. Since the "Middle Kingdom" during the 6th century, Mount Emei (Emei Shan) is considered as one of the 4 sacred Buddhist mountains in China. Emei Shan became a holy mountain because of a man named Pu Gong who one day witnessed the coming of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra to the mountain. Pu Gong was then instructed to build the "First Audience Hall" temple at the top. Emei Shan (Mt. Emei) was originally a Taoist retreat and only became a Buddhist Mountain during the 3rd century.The mountain sometimes is also called "The Mountain of the big Light" (Da Guang Ming Shan) was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Upon arrival. We board a public bus to Lei Dong Ping, located about 2300 metres above sea level. You walk over to the cable car which will take you up to the "Golden Summit" located at 3077 meters. We visit Huazang Temple. Overnight accommodation in a simple accommodation at the Summit.
Day 4. EMEI SHAN - CHENGDU
On a clear day you enjoy a magnificent sunrise from the top of Mt. Emei. After that you can either walk down (2hrs) or take the cable car back down to Lei Dong Ping and continue from there to Wannian Bus Station. From the bus station at Wannian we take the cable car to Wannian temple. After a beautiful 2 hours hike (mostly downhill) through magnificent pine tree forest past countless pavilions and various Temples, waterfalls and idyllic ponds we reach Wuxianggang from where we continue by bus to Baoguo town for lunch. In the afternoon drive back to Chengdu. Overnight accommodation in Chengdu.
Day 5. CHENGDU - LIJIANG
In the morning transfer to the airport and flight to Lijiang. The ancient Naxi town of Lijiang is located in a fertile valley 2'400 meters above sea level at the foot of the 5'596 meter high Yulong Shan or Jade Dragon Mountain. Transfer (about 30km) to your hotel in Lijiang. In the afternoon we take a first through the apparently countless and, on first sight, confusing narrow lanes and canals crisscrossing the old town. We also learn more about the secrets of the mystic Naxi-Dongba culture. An earthquake destroyed most of the city in 1996, and after its reconstruction, Lijiang was listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site. We climb Lion Hill and enjoy a panoramic look over the roof tops of the old town of Lijiang.
Day 6. LIJIANG
After breakfast visit the wonderful "Black Dragon Pool" Park from where, weather permitting, one has a spectacular view of the 5'596 Meter high "Jade Dragon Mountain" (Yu Long Shan). At this time of the day the light is ideal for taking pictures of the Black Dragon Pool and the mountain in the background. Visit the interesting Dongba Museum. After that drive to the nearby traditional village of "Baisha", the former capital of the Naxi kingdom. Visit the Liu Li Temple, with its beautiful, well preserved wall paintings. Continue to the village of Yuhu, a romantic village where the Austrian-American Botanist Joseph Rock used to live from 1922 to 1949. His house has been transformed to a small museum about the live and work of Joseph Rock. Time at leisure to explore the old town on your own. In the evening optional visit of a traditional Naxi Dongba Music concert.
Day 7. LIJIANG- DALI - CANG SHAN (Jade Belt Wald)
Drive to Dali. Dali is situated on the eastern shores of the stunning Erhai Lake on the foot of the 4000m high Cang Shan mountain range. During the 9th century Dali served as capital of the once powerful Nanzhao and later the Dali Kingdoms, before the town was overrun by the Mongols about 400 years later. Dali is home to the Bai ethnic group. The Bai are mainly involved in agriculture and are known for their fine woodcarving, marble, silver and stone work. In the afternoon we take the cable car to the Zhonghe Monastery that is located half way up Cangshan Mountain. From there a well maintained walkway called the "Jade-Belt-Path" follows along the Eastern slope of the mountain for 11km and offers spectacular views over the Dali valley and the Erhai Lake below. The walk takes about 2 hrs. Take cable car down where our driver will take us back to Dali.
Day 8. DALI - SHAXI
In the morning, before the big influx of Chinese tour groups we visit the recently renovated 3 Pagodas of the San Ta Si Monastery from the 9th century. The 3 towers of the "San Ta Si" (3 Pagoda Temple) have been constructed in the 9th century and are a good example of the ancient Bai craftsman skills. They are the only buildings that remain from the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom. A drive through beautiful landscape takes us us to Shaxi. The traditional Bai village of Shaxi (Sideng) is located about 120 km northwest of Dali in the stunning surroundings of the Shaxi Valley. Shaxi was formerly an important pivotal stop on the Tea and Horse trail from Yunnan to Tibet. The village has been renovated and is preserved under an award winning project by the Technical School Zürich. We will take you to nearby Shibao Mountain. The impressive rock carvings of Shibaoshan are over 1300 years old and are testimony of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet in the region. You can either walk back (1hrs) or take the car back to Shaxi. Overnight accommodation is at a traditional wooden Bai House with a 150 year old history!
Day 9. SHAXI - LIJIANG
In the morning you have enough time for an extensive breakfast and to explore the surroundings of the idyllic Shaxi village with its friendly people on your own. After lunch we leave the beautiful Shaxi valley and drive along the old Lhasa Road towards Lijiang. The road offers spectacular views of the Yangtze Valley. We reach Lijiang in the late afternoon. **
Day 10. LIJIANG - QIAOTOU - TIGER LEAPING GORGE
We drive by public bus from Lijiang to Qiaotou, located at the entrance of the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) and the starting point for our Trek.
Trekking: Qiaotou - Nuoyu Village: Walking Time 2 hrs/6.5km The path climbs steadily while it follows the hillside in a north-eastern direction into the gorge. There are already some spectacular views of the Yangtze River below. After a two hours walk we arrive at the Nuoyu Village where we stay for the night. There is some time to relax, enjoy the well earned beer or to explore the village and its surroundings. Accommodation is at the Naxi Family Guesthouse, a very simple guesthouse which is run by a nice and friendly Family.
Day 11. Trekking: Nuoyu Village - Bendiwan Village
After breakfast we head out to face the "28 bends", the steepest and toughest part of the trek. From the top one has spectacular view of the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) and the "5 Fingers" of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. From there the path is mostly flat or downhill along the hill for another 2 hours until we reach Bendiwan Village. This last part of the trek offers exceptional views. We stay the night at the "Halfway Guesthouse" which has a nice balcony with great views of the Tiger Leaping Gorge! The right place to put your feet up, relax and enjoy the scenery!
Day 12. Trekking: Bendiwan - Walnut Grove - drive to Zhongdian
After a good breakfast we leave the Bendiwan Village, from where the path is mostly downhill towards Walnut Grove. We have lunch at Walnut Grove before a public car takes us back to Qiaotou where our car is waiting for us for the continuation to Zhongdian.
Day 13. ZHONGDIAN (SHANGRI LA)
In the morning you drive to the small and hidden "Dabao" Monastery which is located about 12km outside of Zhongdian. Dabao Si is the oldest remaining Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) monastery in the area. In the afternoon we visit Ganden Sumtseling Gompa, a 300 year old impressive Tibetan Monastery Destroyed during the cultural revolution, the Ganden Sumpseling Gompa is now again one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in the area. If you like we can arrange a special dinner in a typical old Tibetan house in the centre of the old town (own costs).
Day 14. ZHONGDIAN - KUNMING - STONE FOREST
Transfer to the airport and flight to Kunming (arrival about 11 a.m.). Upon arrival in Kunming pick up and drive to the Stone Forest of Lunan where years of rain and erosion left behind a bizarre and impressive landscape of limestone pillars which, with a little imagination, indeed resembles a forest. We have a walk through the maze of paths and walkways leading through this natural wonderland and learn more about the Sani people, an ethnic minority populating the area. Drive back to Kunming.
Day 15. KUNMING departure (B)
After breakfast we take a stroll through the idyllic Green Lake Park (Cui Hu), a popular gathering point for the local population, to see the locals engaged in their morning workouts, practice Tai Chi, show off their birds and enjoy social dancing. Continue to the Western Mountains. Located a 30 Minutes drive outside Kunming, the Western Mountains (Xi Shan) offer spectacular views over the "Spring City" of Kunming and Dian Chi Lake. Visit the Dragon Gate and the Huating Temple from the 11th century. |