Mt. Siguniang and Eastern Tibet

1. 1–3

   Days 1–3

   Arrive Beijing

   We will fly out from London Heathrow on an early evening flight and arrive in Beijing the following morning. Over the next few days, we visit the classic sites of Beijing, including the Summer Palace, Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City. We will experience the Beijing Opera and also feast on authentic Peking duck.

2. 4–5

   Days 4–5

   Great Wall trekking; and overnight train

   After breakfast, we drive to the Huanghuacheng section of the great wall for a days trek. The following day we are able to visit sites such as the summer palace and the Mutianyu section of the great wall getting a close up view of this huge man-made marvel. Finally, we transfer to the train station and get on the overnight train to Xi’an.

3. 6–7

   Days 6–7

   Xi’an- City highlights &Terra Cotta Warriors

   On arrival in Xi’an, we spend some time shopping and visiting the highlights of this city, from the Wild Goose Pagoda to the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter. We start day 7 with a Tai Chi lesson and an informal introduction to Chinese Culture before spending the afternoon visiting the incredible Terra Cotta Army Museum; an extraordinary example of craftsmanship and extravagance. Later, we take the overnight train to Chengdu.

4. 8

   Day 8

   Chengdu

   Chengdu is the home of the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. We visit the centre and learn about their struggle for survival in modern China, and the environmental issues that are affecting much of China as a whole. Next, it’s on to visit a local family and learn about the role that Chinese housewives traditionally have, followed by a homemade cooking class of Sichuan cuisine which will take you step-by-step through the process of preparing a traditional Sichuan meal.

5. 9–10

   Days 9–10

   Rilong

   Today, we start heading off-grid. We begin our journey to Mt. Siguniang with a transfer from Chengdu to Rilong which will take six hours by bus. Soon we begin to notice the difference in the culture and scenery as we head ever closer to the geographical and cultural area of Eastern Tibet. We also start to gain altitude, as Rilong is at 3200m. On day 10 we head out for a warm up walk to help with our acclimatisation to the higher altitude, before heading back to Rilong for the night.

6. 11–14

   Days 11–14

   Mt. Siguniang trek

   After registering for the trekking permits, we head to the hills and, over the next few days, gradually increase our altitude with plenty of time for acclimatisation. The scenery is spectacular, and we should soon see our first proper glimpses of the high, snow-capped peaks and jagged ridges of China’s mightiest mountains. Our summit attempt on day 14 is a long day with an early start at 3am for breakfast as we aim to head out on the trail by 4am. The final 700m to the summit is characterised by slabbed sections of various sizes which can be slippery if the weather is wet, but our guides are very experienced and will ensure everyone stays on track. Conditions allowing, we can stay on the summit for 15 mins or so before making our way back down to Base Camp and then on to Rilong in time for dinner.

7. 15–19

   Days 15–19

   Rilong – Danba Community Project

   Today we transfer to Danba where we prepare for our community project over the coming days. This a traditional area of China and the people here, principally ethnic Tibetans, often dress in more colorful and decorative clothing than the Han Chinese we have seen elsewhere in the country. There are a number of community projects we can get you involved with in this region. All are on-going projects so they evolve and change over time, but there may be some scope when the trip is booked for the group to decide what project we would most like to focus on. Examples of the projects that previous groups have done include: • Help local people build a greenhouse to grow vegetables in winter • Help local school students build a shower room / toilet block • Help local people restore their water powered grinding wheel

8. 20–21

   Days 20–21

   Danba - Chengdu

   After finishing the community project, we say good bye to the new friends we’ve been working with and transfer to Chengdu before flying to Yangshuo.

9. 22–23

   Days 22–23

   Yangshuo cycling

   In Yangshuo, we get on our bikes and cycle around 37 kilometers through several places such as Jiuxian, Fuli Bridge, Yulong Bridge, Yueliang Mountain, Gongnong Bridge and Ai Mountain. We can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of farmland, old bridges, Li River and The Moon Mountain as well as have a look at the rural life in China. This will be a highlight of the trip, experiencing some of China’s most dramatic scenery. We also get to visit a local park to see how local people enjoy their morning exercise, especially playing Taiji. We also have a chance to explore the markets and shops of this bustling city.

10. 24

    Day 24

    Shanghai

    We take an early morning flight to Shanghai and arrive mid morning. We visit the financial centre where we see the panoramic view of new Pudong area, followed by a trip to the Shanghai History Museum. Here, we literally walk through Shanghai’s history with life-size exhibits reflecting the historical evolution of the politics, economy, culture, society and people’s life in Shanghai. Finally we will drive 84km to Suzhou and overnight there. In many ways, Suzhou is an antidote to the excesses of Shanghai, with canal scenes, pagodas and humpbacked bridges, but don’t be fooled – it’s still a busy Chinese city and a popular tourist spot.

11. 25–26

    Days 25–26

    Suzhou – Shanghai - UK

    We have most of the day to explore Suzhou and visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, a classic example of Chinese medieval gardens during the Ming period for which Suzhou is so famous. We move on to Pan Gate, an ancient city gate with land and water entrances, again typical of medieval China, (the Pan Gate is the only one left). In the afternoon, we return to Shanghai and have a walk around the Bund, soaking up the atmosphere before a final celebration dinner - our last before we head home on day 26, flying from Shanghai back to the UK, arriving the same day.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.