China In Depth

We are traveling with an organized tour through Intrepid Travel. Below is the itinerary...

Hong Kong, Guilin region, Yangtze River & the Three Gorges, Huangshan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Zhouzhang, Suzhou, Luoyang, Xi'an, the Terracotta Warriors, Beijing, The Great Wall, Chengde.

The varied and wonderful delights of China unravel before us on this all-encompassing trip up the eastern seaboard. From the scenic beauty of the Guilin region, the Three Gorges and Huangshan, the vitality of Hong Kong and Shanghai, to the imperial splendour of Xi’an and Beijing — this journey has it all. We’re proud to bring you this exciting itinerary which includes China’s best known attractions.

Day 1 (June 24)
Arrive Hong Kong
You can arrive at our joining point hotel at any time today as there are no planned activities.
Day 2 (June 25)
Overnight train
We travel by bus across the border to Guangzhou before boarding an overnight sleeper train to Guilin. Experiencing life on the train is a great way to get to know the country and its friendly people.
Days 3-4 (June 26-27)
Yangshuo
Yangshuo is a small riverside town set amongst spectacular limestone karst scenery. We take a local boat up the Li River, taking our bicycles for a leisurely ride back through the countryside. Yangshuo has become a firm favourite amongst Intrepid travellers with its laid back atmosphere, friendly locals and stunning rural countryside.
Day 5 (June 28)
Overnight train
Our journey continues by train overnight to Yichang, situated on the banks of the mighty Yangtze River, and our gateway to the Three Gorges.
Day 6 (June 29)
Yichang
We arrive in Yichang at noon and spend the afternoon visiting the gigantic Three Gorges Dam construction site, which will be the world’s largest water storage reservoir when completed in 2008.
Days 7-8 (June 30-July 1)
The Three Gorges
Our Yangtze River experience takes us through the most beautiful portion of China’s longest river, passing ancient rock formations and the towering cliffs of the stunning Three Gorges. We use basic Chinese-style boats rather than luxury cruisers, in the Intrepid style.
Days 9-11 (July 2-4)
Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains)
We leave Yichang by bus to Wuhan from where we take a short flight to the beautiful 72 Peaks of Huangshan. The options here are as varied as your spirit is adventurous — ranging from a steep trek to an easy glide by cable car. Whichever way you get there, the view from the top is magnificent and the hot springs are a perfect way to end the day.
Days 12-13 (July 5-6)
Hangzhou
We take a local bus to the beautiful city of Hangzhou. One of the city’s main attractions is the West Lake, surrounded by hills, gardens, temples and pavilions. Hangzhou is also the centre of one of China’s most well known tea growing areas and home to numerous traditional teahouses.
Days 14-16 (July 7-9)
Shanghai
Our journey continues to Shanghai, a massive and sometimes overwhelming city that has always been connected with the wild and exotic life of the Orient. There is so much to see and do here. You can stroll along The Bund with its art deco architecture, visit the busy Yuyuan Bazaar and the Shanghai museum, one of the best in China.
Day 17 (July 10)
Zhouzhang
We travel by bus to the small village of Zhouzhang. The cobblestone streets are lined with traditional village style architecture. Chinese gondolas make their way through the small canals and under the classic arched bridges.
Days 18-19 (July 11-12)
Suzhou
We take a leisurly boat ride along one of the regions many waterways, followed by a short boat trip to Suzhou. Suzhou is famous for its gardens, canals and quiet alleyways and offers plenty of cycling opportunities. We attend a performance of traditional music, opera and theatre in the Garden of the Master of the Nets (seasonal) before boarding the overnight train to Luoyang on evening 19.
Days 20-21 (July 13-14)
Luoyang, the Longmen Caves
Henan province is where Chinese civilisation emerged thousands of years ago and the history of the region is still very evident today. We stay in the old imperial capital of Luoyang, which is famous for the nearby 6th century Longmen Buddha Caves. On Day 21 we take an afternoon train to the Tang Dynasty capital of Xi’an.
Days 22-23 (July 15-16)
Xi’an, the Terracotta Warriors
Xi’an offers some of the major attractions in the Middle Kingdom and is enclosed by a massive city wall. Xi’an, meaning "Western Peace", is home to the famous army of Terracotta Warriors that were discovered in 1974. In the evening of Day 23 we board an overnight sleeper train heading for Beijing.
Days 24 –25 (July 17-18)
Beijing
You could spend weeks exploring China’s capital city, Beijing, but we’ll definately have time to visit the main highlights including the impressive Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Days 26-27 (July 19-20)
Chengde and the Great Wall at Simatai
The Great Wall is a must see for any visitor to Beijing and we stop for a walk along the wall at the Simatai section before exploring the temples and palace buildings of Chengde. Much of the Chengde architecture resembles that of Mongolia and Tibet as the Qing emperors wanted to please meddlesome minority groups during (and after!) their construction.
Days 27-28 (July 20-21)
Beijing
We head back to majestic Beijing and have time for some more exploration. A bicycle ride through the narrow lanes of the old residential areas, called Hutongs, is the perfect way to end an exhilarating three weeks in China and your time in Beijing.
Day 29 (July 22)
Depart Beijing
You may depart any time today.

**All photographs (unless otherwise noted) are the property of Stenning Schueppert and may not be distributed or circulated for any purposes (personal or commercial) without his express written consent. Questions or comments regarding selected photographs are, of course, welcome.
Created 4/16/01; Updated 1/22/02; v1.4.

China China In Depth

China
China In Depth