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China Contrasts October 13, 2015 – October 24, 2015
China continues to be a study in contrasts and this program introduces you to some of those contrasts. In its quest for economic stature, China has uprooted many of its inhabitants and built ghost cities with tall buildings and no residents. It has totally changed the look of cities like Beijing and Shanghai so that little remains of the “Old China” There are, however, places where you can see how China was two or even seven hundred years ago, areas like Pingyao with its fortified walls and medieval ways or visiting some of the 30 million people who continue to live, by choice, in caves. How ironic that these unique sights are connected by China’s high speed rail network covering distances in half the time and taking you from the 21st to the 7th Century in rapid time; A time warp indeed.
12 Days: $1,895 per person inclusive of accommodations in 1st class hotels, 11 Meals; 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, comprehensive sightseeing, private guides throughout, private transfers and high speed rail tickets. International airfare, estimated at $790 from Seattle, is additional and we can assist in booking. An optional single supplement $538 is available for those not wishing to take advantage of our roommate matching guarantee. Guaranteed Departure
- A private tour of Dounghuamen Market, a prime example of Beijing night markets
- Climbing Coal Hill for great views over the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- The chance to have a picnic lunch on the Great Wall at Mutianyu
- Your first ride on one of China’s new high-speed trains taking you from Beijing to Taiyuan
- Exploring the four miles of intact walls around the ancient, and unchanged, town of Pingyao
- Visiting cave dwellers living underground, year round in Shanxi province
- A bicycle ride admiring the Ming dynasty ramparts in Xi’an
- A picnic lunch on the Blue Dragon ridge overlooking the mountains of Huashan
Days 1-2: Tuesday/Wednesday, Oct. 13/14, 2015 USA-Beijing
You board your aircraft for the overnight flight to Beijing. As you cross the Pacific you also cross the International Date Line technically “losing” a day which will “find” on your return flight.
Day 3: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 Arrival in Beijing
Upon arrival you clear immigrations and customs you meet your Ultitude guide who will take you into the city. On the way you will notice the “Bird’s Nest” the modern stadium that was the site of the 2008 Olympic opening ceremony. Stop at your hotel to drop off your luggage then proceed to Houhai Lake where you get a chance to explore the hutongs, narrow alleys and streets of Beijing. At one time they were a major part of the city but now there are only a few areas left as the city continues to expand. Finish your day at the Dounghuamen Market a prime example of Beijing night markets. Listen for the loud yells from the won ton vendors attracting customers. Return to the hotel for a good rest
Day 4: Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 The Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City
After an early breakfast you will head towards the Temple of Heaven passing by a cohort of Chinese involved in a variety of outdoor exercises while Tai Qi and Fung Fu are the most commonly assumed in the west, sabre practice, meditation, Tango ( yes, Tango) and gymnastics are all used to stretch the body and increase circulation. You will take time to admire the simplicity of structure of the temple and its hidden symbolism combining both Buddhism and Taoism. You then head over to the Forbidden City whose entrance faces south on to Tiananmen Square. Most Chinese buildings face south which symbolized the barbarian threat from the north. The construction of the city was finished in 1420 during the reign of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle, and served as the Imperial administrative centre throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties until the fall of the empire in 1911. According to legend the Forbidden City is comprised of 9999 rooms. Finish the day by climbing Coal Hill offering great views over the Forbidden City and, indeed, all of Beijing. Breakfast
Day 5: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 The Great Wall and the Summer Palace
Today you will visit one of the most important and most recognized sites in the world. The Great Wall started out during the Qin Dynasty but it was during the Ming Dynasty that workers restored and expanded the Wall to its height, width and length we recognize today. At the peak of its condition, the wall extended over 3,500 miles (think Portland, Maine to San Diego) from ancient Manchuria to the start of the Gobi desert. Rather than visit the section of the wall visited by the mass of tourist buses we go to the Mutianyu section where the crowds are smaller. Here you can hike along the wall and even have a picnic on the Great Wall. In the afternoon you will stop at the Summer Palace where the Emperors and the court would retreat to escape the summer heat in the city. Chinese Temples, pavilions, lakes and gardens comprise the Palace including a boat made of Marble (and reputedly paid for out of diverted Navy funds). Breakfast
Day 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 The 8:30 Express to Pingyao
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Beijing railway station where you board one of the new state-of-the-art Chinese high speed trains bound for Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province. You arrive there later in the morning and to the Jinci a remarkable building constructed in honor of Prince Shuyu who founded the Jin state. Take time to examine the superb wooden dragon sculptures that surround the temple, often only found in imperial places of worship. From your journey on a 21st Century train you are now driven to Pingyao, the best preserved medieval city throughout the whole of China. A collection of paved alleyways, lined with traditional courtyard style homes lit with red lanterns and surrounded by perfectly conserved reinforced city walls. Having escaped the accelerated development of the past twenty years, the town is a perfect example of the traditional China that most people have in their minds. Explore the city walls on foot and get a real sense of the layout of the streets below. The wall is four miles around and 30 feet high and punctuated with 72 watchtowers around the perimeter. Enjoy your evening in ancient China Breakfast
Day 7: Monday, Oct. 19, 2015 Wang Family Residences and the Land of the Cave Dwellers
Today you will explore the area outside the Pingyao city walls. Many local merchants amassed immense fortunes during the Ming and Qing dynasties and built themselves huge palatial homes. You will visit a perfect example of these homes built by the Wang family and made up of an imposing labyrinth of courtyards, small gardens, temples and narrow stairways. You will next stop in the small village of Zhangbicun famous for its incredible network of tunnels built 90 feet underground in the 7th Century to prepare for attack by outside invaders. You will also explore some of the cave dwellings in the area. It is estimated that over 30 million people in china still live in caves. Even though the conditions in these cave homes are very basic with no running water and electricity, they have their advantages. The temperature inside the caves remains at a constant year round, protecting the inhabitants from the bitter cold winds in winter and keeping them cool in the summer months. Return to Pingyao and enjoy the evening discovering the narrow streets of the old town which are lit by red lanterns hanging from doorways. Breakfast
Day 8: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015 Journey to Shaanxi Province
Today you will journey to Shaanxi Province the place often considered as the place where Chinese civilization began. Situated on the Silk Road, its main City, Xi’an has served as capital of the Empire three times. Before leaving Pingyao however take the opportunity to walk the streets once more as the town comes to life with people on bikes and vendors setting up shop. Your guide will take you to Rishengchang which started out as a small dye store in the 17th Century and grew into China’s first bank opening branches throughout China and contributing to Pingyao’ s establishment China’s first financial centre. You wilt then head back to Taiyuan where you board another high speed train to Xian where you are met by an Ultitude guide and transferred into the city which was from the 7th through 8th centuries the most populated city in the world. This afternoon you will take a bicycle ride in the city admiring the ramparts built during the Ming Dynasty. Breakfast
Day 9: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 The Warriors of Qin Shi Huangdi
In 1974, a few farmers stumbled upon one of the greatest archeological finds of the century, thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors lined up in battle formation to protect the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. More soldiers continue to be unearthed. The statues you can view are separated in three pits. You will begin with pit number 2 (that is still being excavated) and number 3 (that shelters the majority of items). You will end with pit number 1 the most impressive one with about 2,000 warriors. In the afternoon you will discover that the city is also one of many cultures. Muslim merchants from Central Asia came to China to do business and left their influence. The country has 15 million Muslims and the Hui minority is predominant in Xi’an. You will visit the Chinese-style Mosque and the vibrant neighborhood around it housing a number of butcher shops and different sorts of stores where men wear white skill caps and women wear colorful headscarves. At dinner this evening you will appreciate the unique ambiance of the night market as you dine on the neighborhood’s specialties of spiced lamb kebabs, flat bread and mutton soup with noodles. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Thursday, Oct 22, 2015 Flower Mountain and Blue Dragon Ridge
Leave Xian with your driver and guide and head to Huashan. ‘Hua” means flower and ‘shan’ means ‘mountain’ so ‘Huashan’ could be translated as ‘Flower Mountain” and takes its name from the many different peaks that make up this site. Often forgotten, Mount Huashan is one of the 5 sacred Taoist mountains and offers superb views of the sharp peaks which are seen throughout China and which have inspired numerous painters, poets and photographers. You will take a cable car to the Northern Peak and then proceed on foot to the Eastern Peak where you can admire the breathtaking views along Blue Dragon Ridge. Enjoy a picnic lunch along with the views. Return to ground level where you are transferred to the Huashan train station for the one hour journey to Luoyang the ancient capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 The Cave of 10,000 Buddhas
At the end of the Han Empire in the Third century AD the region became the home of various small kingdoms. After some time, the Tuoba, a Turkish speaking people from the north who were often considered by the Chinese as barbarians, unified the area and founded the Northern Wei dynasty and, in 494 AD established their capital in Loyang. They converted to Buddhism and adapted to the traditional Chinese mores of the area. This later gave birth to the creation of the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, now UNESCO listed as a perfect example of Chinese Buddhist rock art of the period. The caves are spread about a half mile on both sides of the Yi River. You will see, among others the Cave of 10,000 Buddhas on the west bank and on the east bank the Ancestor Worshipping Cave, in particular known for its 50 foot tall seated Buddha. You will also visit Shaolin temple the true home of Chinese martial arts. You will then be transferred to Luoyang station for the high speed train to Beijing. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel. Breakfast
Day 12: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 Return to USA
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your return light to the USA. You “find” your lost day and arrive back the same afternoon. Breakfast
Accommodations
Beijing: Ron Yard
This boutique hotel in Beijing is a traditional Chinese courtyard. It has 30 guestrooms in the Chinese style and is situated in the center downtown area; it is adjacent to the subway NO.4 line, so it is very convenient to many places. The hotel is located in the deep place of Hutong, to stay here you can not only enjoy the beautiful scene of the four seasons in the yard, but also experience the taste of the Hutong culture of old Beijing. There are many scenic spots and business areas in surrounding, such as the mahakala hall of the Huguosi Temple、Huguosi traditional snacks street、Mei Lanfang Memorial, the people’s theatre, and Prince Gong’s mansion
Pingyao: Tianyankui
When visiting Pingyao, you'll feel right at home at Pingyao Tianyankui Guesthouse, which offers quality accommodation and great service. The excitement of the city center is only away. With its convenient location, the hotel offers easy access to the city's must-see destinations. All guest accommodations feature thoughtful amenities to ensure an unparalleled sense of comfort. Besides, the hotel's host of recreational offerings ensures you have plenty to do during your stay. The hotel is a smart choice for travelers to Pingyao, offering a relaxed and hassle-free stay every time.
Xi’an: Mercure
Xian welcomes travelers to historical Renmin Square, a sprawling area of gardens, heritage structures, luxury hotels and home to Mercure Xian on Renmin Square .Amidst plush décor and furnishings, the hotel features 103 rooms including24 suites all equipped with modern essential such as room safe, satellite TV, broadband Internet access and voice mail
Luoyang: Peony Hotel
Peony Hotel is located in the city centre of Luoyang. It features a restaurant, a gym, and a sauna. Free internet is provided in guest rooms. The air-conditioned rooms come with a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle, and a minibar. Each room has a private bathroom with a bathtub and shower. Guests can enjoy a relaxing massage at the hotel. Other facilities include a tour desk and a business centre. The hotel provides car rentals, currency exchange, and laundry services. The restaurant serves Cantonese, Sichuan, and Western dishes. Room service is also available
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