Issue link: http://gadventures.uberflip.com/i/619326
Dates and prices are subject to change. For booking, availability, and detailed itineraries, consult your travel agent or check online. Hidden China & Inner Mongolia CLASSIC Highlights › › Envision ancient times at the Great Wall of China › › Live like a local in an Inner Mongolian ger › › Marvel at the Hanging Monastery of Datong › › Stare down the Terracotta Warriors › › Learn traditional Chinese painting in Pingyao What's Included Great Wall excursion and entrance. Inner Mongolia city tour. Traditional Mongolian ger stay. Yungang Grottoes visit (Datong). Hanging Monastery visit. Local family visit with Chinese painting lesson (Pingyao). Terracotta Warriors excursion including local lunch with a farmer's family (Xi'an). Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour (Beijing). All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotels (8 nts), traditional ger (1 nt, multi-share), sleeper train (2 nts) TRANSPORT Train, private van, public bus, walking GROUP LEADER English-speaking CEO throughout, local guides MEALS 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner. Allow USD210-275 for meals not included. ITINERARY To truly understand China, you've got to get out and meet it on its own terms, which is exactly what this 12-day trip through the country's northern reaches delivers. Up here, you'll get to the big stuff (the Great Wall, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Beijing) and lesser-known treasures that only the hardiest of travellers ever get to see: village life in Inner Mongolia, the amazing Yungang Buddha Caves, and the nearly 3,000-year-old city of Pingyao, to name just a few. DAY 1 BEIJING Arrive at any time. DAY 2 BEIJING Visit the Great Wall of China and return to Beijing in time for an overnight train to Inner Mongolia. ( 1B ) DAY 3 INNER MONGOLIA Arrive in Baotou and continue into the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Spend the night in a traditional ger (yurt) and enjoy an included dinner at the homestay. ( 1B, 1D ) DAYS 4-5 DATONG Enjoy a free morning in Inner Mongolia before catching a train to Datong. Visit the Yungang Grottoes to see thousands of Buddha statues and admire the Hanging Monastery on the outskirts of town. ( 2B ) DAYS 6-7 PINGYAO Travel by train and arrive at Pingyao in the evening. Enjoy some down time staring at the beautiful scenery, playing cards, or chatting with your fellow passengers. Explore this traditional town and enjoy an included visit to a local family with a traditional Chinese painting lesson. ( 2B ) DAYS 8-10 XI'AN Take a fast train to Xi'an and spend some time exploring the city. Visit the Terracotta Warriors and enjoy an included lunch at a local farmer's house. Enjoy a free day in Xi'an with options to visit the Muslim Quarter, ride a bike around the city walls, check out the Big Goose Pagoda, or do some shopping. Take an overnight train to Beijing. ( 3B, 1L ) DAY 11 BEIJING Arrive in Beijing in the early morning. Enjoy a guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. In the evening, choose to take in a Chinese acrobats show, a Kung Fu show, or the Chinese Opera. DAY 12 BEIJING Depart at any time. ( 1B ) ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE WALK THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA: Want to get active? Add on a hike along the Great Wall. See tour ACGA on page 53. Guaranteed Departures This tour has four IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | special departures. April 22 - May 03, June 10 - June 21, July 08 - July 19, Sept 02 - Sept 13 12 DAYS—BEIJING TO BEIJING FROM $ 1499 OPTIONAL MY OWN ROOM: $ 349 TOUR CODE: ACNC IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP – MAX 16, AVG 12 SERVICE LEVEL: BASIC PHYSICAL DEMAND: LIGHT Xi'an Pingyao Datong Inner Mongolia C H I N A Beijing Best of Yunnan CLASSIC Highlights › › Explore the old town of Lijiang › › Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge › › Wander cobblestoned streets in Shaxi › › Indulge in the spicy cuisine of Yunnan What's Included Bird and Flower Market visit (Kunming). Old Town Lijiang visit. City walk (Shanxi). Tiger Leaping Gorge hike. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotels/guesthouses (9 nts) TRANSPORT Train, private van, walking, plane, public bus GROUP LEADER CEO throughout, local guides MEALS 9 breakfasts. Allow USD190-250 for meals not included. ITINERARY China is developing faster than just about anywhere else, but after wandering the scenic highlands of Yunnan for a while, you can't help but wonder, "What's the rush?" This 10-day trip is ideal for travellers eager to dig into a side of China you won't find in bustling Beijing. Hike the huge (and hugely gorgeous) Tiger Leaping Gorge, explore ancient villages, and stroll the streets of the Ming-influenced old city of Dali. This is China, unfiltered. DAY 1 KUNMING Arrive at any time. DAYS 2-3 DALI Enjoy a walk around the Bird and Flower Market in Kunming before an express bus to Dali. With free time, opt to visit the old town, take a boat around Lake Erhai, or ride a bike to Xizhou. Choose to spend some time wandering the local markets. ( 2B ) DAYS 4-5 SHAXI Travel by bus to Shaxi with free time to explore. Enjoy an included walk around the quiet cobblestoned streets, viewing the fabulous ancient architecture of this hidden traditional village. ( 2B ) DAY 6 LIJIANG Travel to Lijiang and explore the UNESCO Heritage-listed Old Town. Opt to visit the Black Dragon Pool Park. ( 1B ) DAYS 7-8 TIGER LEAPING GORGE/LIJIANG Transfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge and start on the famous hike. The route follows the stunning scenery of the Yangtze as it cuts through the gorge. Hike the second morning before a bus back to Lijiang. ( 2B ) DAY 9 LIJIANG/KUNMING Enjoy a free day in Lijiang before flying back to Kunming. ( 1B ) DAY 10 KUNMING Depart at any time. ( 1B ) ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE WILD CHINA: Add some other highlights to your Yunnan tour with 'Wild China'. See tour ACWC on page 52. Guaranteed Departures Number of IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | departures / month. 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■›■ J F M A M J J A S O N D 10 DAYS—KUNMING TO KUNMING FROM $ 1299 OPTIONAL MY OWN ROOM: $ 399 TOUR CODE: ACBY IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP – MAX 16, AVG 12 SERVICE LEVEL: STANDARD PHYSICAL DEMAND: AVERAGE Kunming Lijiang Dali Shaxi Tiger Leaping Gorge C H I N A ASIA›› CHINA 51