Southern China Explorer 12 Days | Starts/Ends: Chengdu

TRIP NOTES

Southern China Explorer 12 days | Starts/Ends: Chengdu

PRIVATE TOUR: Take in the • Yangshuo - Rafting on Yangshuo River, • Laundry, drinks, items of a personal highlights of southern China on this bicycle ride to a local village and visit to nature • unique 12 day tour, from the Giant West Street Tipping - an entirely personal gesture • Dragon’s Backbone - Explore these iconic Pandas of Chengdu and sacred rice terraces DETAILED ITINERARY Mount Emei, to spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge. Add to this the What's Included Day 1 : Chengdu stunning landscapes of Yangshuo, • 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 1 dinner Hello China! Arrival transfer from Chengdu the coiled Dragon's Backbone and • 11 nights superior hotels (deluxe upgrade airport to our hotel for check-in. Overnight - minority tribes for an unforgettable available on request) Chengdu • 3 economy class flights: Chengdu journey. - Lijiang, Lijiang - Guilin and Guilin - Day 2 : Panda Research Base Chengdu HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS • Airport arrival and departure transfers days 1 and 12 Trip Highlights • Touring of Chengdu, Leshan, Mt Emei, • Chengdu - Giant Panda Research Base Lijiang and Yangshuo and Wenshu Monastery for a cup of green • Hiking at Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baisha tea and Wenhai villages • Leshan - UNESCO-listed Giant Buddha • Mt Emei cable car ride • Mt Emei - Cable car to UNESCO-listed • Rafting excursion on the Yulonghe River sacred in Yangshuo Today a short drive out of town takes you to mountain dotted with temples and • Yangshuo bicycle ride to a local village the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant pavillions • Day trip to the rice paddy terraces of Panda Breeding. Opened in 1993 it is fast • Baisha and Wenhai villages - Experience Longsheng, known as the Dragon's becoming one of China’s must see places. local way of life and learn about tradition Backbone The area in which it is based is the ancestral and culture • English-speaking local guides for all homeland of the Giant Panda since ancient • Tiger Leaping Gorge - Guest house with scheduled sightseeing times. The centre has been created to help stunning views of the gorge, mountains • All transfers and transportation in private and imitate the pandas’ natural habitat in and fields A/C vehicles order that they might have the best possible • Lashi Lake - Dinner with a local family What's Not Included environment for rearing and breeding. Being one of the world’s most endangered species • International flights and visa

Southern China Explorer - 12 days updated on 27-09-2021 12:03:56 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 1 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 TRIP NOTES

Southern China Explorer

- this is very important for China’s beloved Emei - Chengdu - Lijiang. Your morning starts explore. From here continue on to the Lashi mascots. with a visit to UNESCO-listed Mt Emei where Lake where you’ll enjoy dinner with a local you’ll then take a cable car half way up the family before returning to Lijiang for the night. Later visit the Wenshu Monastery, built during mountain. From here continue on foot to the Overnight - Lijiang (B, D) summit where you’ll be greeted with fantastic the Qing Dynasty. The temple is a hidden gem Days 7-9 : Yangshuo - cruise with few tourists visiting and a stop must be views of the surrounding landscape. As one of made at the delightful teahouse located inside the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, on the Yu Long River the temple grounds which serves a fine cup Mt Emei is a site of pilgrimage for many and is of green tea and some of the best vegetarian dotted with temples and pavillions. Later take food in the city. The evening is spent at the cable car back down the mountain and leisure. On most nights Sichuan Opera is continue return to Chengdu for your onward performed at the Shufengyayun Theatre and flight to Lijiang. Overnight - Lijiang (B, L) tickets can be booked locally or in advance. Day 5 : Tiger Leaping Gorge Overnight - Chengdu (B, L) Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge. Today take a Day 3 : Giant Buddha of scenic two hour hike to Baisha and Wenhai Leshan villages, both nestled at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain. Here you’ll enjoy a cultural Lijiang - Yangshuo. This morning fly to Guilin, experience, meeting Naxi and Yi people, and onward transfer to Yangshuo. Renowned learning about their way of life, traditions and for its striking scenery, vast areas of karst culture. Bidding the villages farewell drive out limestone outcrops that rise up from flat rice to Tiger Leaping Gorge and check in to a paddy fields, Guilin and Yangshuo are often guest house for the night. Spend the evening the subject of many Chinese paintings. This enjoying views of the gorge itself, surrounded afternoon enjoy a relaxing rafting excursion by snow-capped peaks and endless fields. on the scenic Yulonghe River.

While many people simply stop at the Naxi The following day continue your exploration Yage Guesthouse for lunch on their way along Chengdu - Emei. Driving to Leshan your of Yangshuo with a bicycle ride to a the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek, there is a lot morning is spent exploring the UNESCO- local village. Later you can spend some to be said for spending the night in this listed Dafo (Great Buddha), which is carved time exploring West Street, an ancient alley simple but comfortable accommodation. The into the face of Lingyun Hill overlooking the laden with quirky shops tea shops, antiques, tranquility and the spectacular views of the treacherous confluence of the Min, Qingyi and calligraphers and art studios. By nightfall, visit mountains and gorge from the guesthouse, Dadu rivers below it. Dafo has huge 8m feet, any of the cafes, pubs or bars or attend the especially at sunset, makes the stay here his ears droop 7m, his shoulders span 28m nightly ‘Impression Liu Sanjie’ musical. worthwhile. Overnight - Tiger Leaping Gorge and his nose measures a whopping 5.6m! This (B) afternoon continue your journey to Mt Emei. Spend day 9 at leisure further exploring The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure Day 6 : Lijiang Yangshuo at your own pace. Maybe enjoy a exploring the local area. Overnight - Emei morning class at the ‘Cloud 9’ cooking school. Shan (B, L) Overnight - Yangshuo (B:3) Day 4 : Mt Emei - cable car & walk

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang. First thing today is a hike in the upper reaches of Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you can take in the stunning surrounding landscapes. Later travel to Shigu Town, the first bend in the Yangtze River where you’ll have some free time to

Southern China Explorer

Day 10 : Dragon's Backbone We recognise any vaccine that has been fun, and by travelling with a local you to get - rice paddy terraces of authorised for use in the country where to see the wonders of the country through Longsheng the vaccine was administered. This includes their eyes. Tour guides will remain with groups vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Covaxin, of 6 or more. Where groups are 5 or less, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer- travel between cities will be unescorted with BioNtech, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik. transfers at either side of the airport/train station and a local guide will conduct the In all instances, you must be fully immunised. scheduled sightseeing within each city. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow a minimum Entrance fees of 14 days before travelling in order for Entry fees to most sites are not included immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 although reasonably priced. In China, we’ll vaccine has different dosages and timeframes collect the entrance fees on Day 2 of the for immunisation, so please check the related tour at the Welcome Meeting (the amount is Yangshuo - Longsheng - Guilin. Early today medical advice associated with your vaccine. noted under exclusions on the first page of travel out to Longsheng, to walk the rice Children under 18 years are not required to this document). A comprehensive breakdown terraces of the Dragon’s Backbone. Beginning provide evidence of vaccination to travel at of the entrance fees is provided upon arrival. at the base of Mt Longji the verdant green rice this time. All funds collected in China for entrance fees fields coil up the steep mountain, layer upon and optional excursions (that you may wish layer, climbing to its summit. Taking a walk If you are unable to be vaccinated due to undertake) are payable in local currency - along the stone paths no more than a metre to medical reasons, you may apply for an Chinese Yuan (CNY). wide, we’ll pass many of the Yao and Red Yao exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on minority women. Reaching the ‘Seven Stars a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must Note: If you are over the age of 60 at time accompanying Moon’ lookout, soak up the provide supporting documentation from a of travel, a discounted ticket or free entry spectacular views. The full panorama reveals medical professional. to some sites may be possible (subject to thousands of ribbon like terraces cascading to change by the government). Entrance fees Proof of COVID-19 immunisation must the valley floor beneath. Leaving the Dragon’s will be collected in full on day 2, and your be provided to us no less than Backbone continue on to Guilin where the guide/s will attempt to get a discount at each 4 weeks prior to travel. We accept evening is free. The Guilin night market is site on your behalf. If a discount is obtained COVID-19 digital certificates, NHS Covid always a hive of activity if you wish to head out your guide will issue a refund at this time. Pass or Vaccination Record Cards e- and explore. Overnight - Guilin (B) Please make your guide aware of this (if you mailed to [email protected] or you are eligible) at the Welcome Meeting so that Day 11 : Chengdu can upload your vaccination history the discount can be requested throughout the Guilin - Chengdu. On day 11 fly back to yourself via our traveller login. https:// tour. Chengdu. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, www.onthegotours.com/Login taking in the sights or doing some last minute The information you will need to upload Tipping kitty shopping. Overnight - Chengdu (B) includes: Administering national authority or At the start of your tour at the Welcome Day 12 : Chengdu government, document No, name of Vaccine, Meeting, we’ll collect a small tipping kitty date/s of vaccination. (the amount is noted under exclusions on Wednesday. Today your arrangements come the first page of this document) from all tour to an end. Spend the day further sightseeing Groups & guides participants to cover tips throughout your this exciting city before included departure Some of our group tours are sectors of a larger holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing transfer to the airport.(B) tour. Some travellers on your trip may only when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage travel with you for part of your tour. It also handlers, bus drivers, train conductors and KNOW BEFORE YOU GO might be that you end your holiday part way other support staff throughout the tour. through a longer tour and others in the group COVID-19 Vaccination This amount does not include a tip for your continue on. Requirements tour guide. For a job well done, we suggest As of 01 November 2021 it is a condition of Guides: We believe the best way to see a USD$3-5 per traveller, per day. Tipping your travel, as detailed in our Terms & Conditions country is through the eyes of a local and guide is an entirely personal gesture and that all travellers over 18 years provide proof as such we only employ tour guides native ultimately the amount is up to you. of COVID-19 vaccination. to the country you are visiting. Our guides are passionate, caring, knowledgeable and

Southern China Explorer

China Country Guide Please note: If you plan to renew your Porterage passport between now and your departure Pack as light as possible! In China, most often Welcome to China - Arrival date, please let us know as soon as possible porterage is not available at railway stations transfer (not your soon to be old passport details). and you will need to carry your own luggage. For tours starting in Beijing A complimentary When booking accommodation, trains or Bags with wheels can be a hindrance when airport arrival transfer is included when flights, we must have the details of the climbing several flights of stairs, though are arriving into Beijing Capital Airport. After passport that you will be carrying with you on a blessing when walking lengthy distances to attending to immigration and customs your trip. reach our awaiting transportation. formalities, please proceed to the arrival hall. If arriving to Beijing into Terminal 2, Health requirements & water Media restrictions when exiting immigration to the arrivals hall, You should seek medical advice for There are restrictions on all media, including please turn right where our representative vaccinations and about medications before social media and free press throughout China. will be waiting. If arriving into Terminal 3 you travelling. Whilst on holiday, you will have limited or will be met just outside the restricted area. no access to social media channels such as As tap water is not safe to drink in China, only The prominent sign depicting our company Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Plus drink bottled mineral water which is readily logo easily identifies our representative. - so no Google Maps and no Play Store. available from hotels, shops and restaurants. Please have your Tour Voucher handy and To bypass the firewall, you could look at Make sure bottled water is sealed. make it available to our representative. downloading a VPN, which is much easier to Our representative will assist you with your Essential packing do before you go to China. luggage and escort you to our vehicle, for your Please check local temperatures so WeChat: transfer to your hotel. you can pack accordingly. Visit Communication between the group and Tour www.worldclimate.com If, for any reason you have trouble locating Guide or Leader is best via the app: WeChat. Please install this App prior to your holiday our representative after waiting 20 minutes • Food in China is very different and arguably as it is very hard to download the app once (remember Beijing is a busy International better than your local takeaway! If you prefer you have arrived in China. If you opt to open Airport) or your flight to China is delayed, western snack food, consider bringing a the WeChat account prior to arrival and it please call or send a text message (standard supply requests that you have to be contacted by text message, not Messenger or WhatsApp) to • Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume, someone already on WeChat before opening the emergency contact number as stated on basic torch/flash light and umbrella for sun or your account, don’t worry, this can be done your Tour Voucher. rain locally with your guide (just have the app • Comfortable closed in walking shoes for If you require a transfers from Daxing downloaded ready to finalise opening your climbing the Great Wall etc International Airport, this can be arranged at account locally). • DEET based mosquito repellent and an additional fee, please speak with your antihistamine cream reservations consultant for further details. There is also limited international calling • Universal travel adaptor options, so please check with your local Visas & passports • Tour Voucher and a copy of your travel provider before leaving home, to source the Visa requirements are subject to change and insurance policy, spare passport photos and a best roaming or online options to keep in visa procurement is the responsibility of the photocopy of your passport regular contact with family and friends during traveller and not On The Go Tours. Please also • A small daypack for your day-to-day needs your travels. ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 • Plastic poncho to go over your jacket. Whilst months from your planned date of departure site-seeing, you can be in the rain for an Travelling by train from China. extended period and even a rain jacket can Fast and efficient, China’s first rail lines get soaked. You can purchase a cheap one were laid in the 19th century, and today the After booking your holiday, please provide locally, but we suggest taking one from home government continues to invest heavily in us with your passport details as soon of a better quality that doesn’t rip easily this crucial mode of transport which connects as possible so that we can proceed to • If your tour includes an internal flight, most many parts of the country. When travelling book all services. Please be advised visa airlines have a 20kg baggage limit during the day, ‘soft’ seats, that is to say requirements are subject to change, therefore • Note: The government has introduced ‘upholstered’ seats are provided. it is essential that you check current a policy for the purpose of environmental visa requirements with the embassy before protection, whereby hotels no longer supply For overnight travel on some of our "Signature travel. For information about visas, head to disposable items such as slippers, shower Range" tours, clients are accommodated in www.onthegotours.com/China/Visas caps, tooth brush/paste, etc ‘soft class’ sleeper cabins. Aboard each

Southern China Explorer wagon are 9 compartments that comprise - prices don't vary greatly, but selection can about delays, then travelling during these of 4 bunks per compartment. Four people vary from location to location. holidays is possibly not for you. For of mixed gender share one compartment. more information: www.timeanddate.com/ On occasion, dependent upon group size, In the tourism industry it’s common practice holidays/china/2021 you may be sharing with local people on for commission to be offered in exchange for the overnight journey, though sometimes recommending particular shops or suppliers. It's not like home! dependent upon how the Chinese Railways This can become an issue when clients feel Travel to far - flung corners of the earth Booking Office configure the bookings, obliged to purchase. We do our best to avoid involves lifestyles and conditions that are the cabin may be filled with four of our this by monitoring all shopping experiences sometimes very different from what you passengers. offered. are used to back home. You must come prepared to cope with unusual situations, All shopping experiences on your tour A dining wagon serves reasonably priced local inadequacies and unpredictable events have been noted in the itinerary and they Chinese food of the noodles and rice variety, as and when they occur. Foreign travel is been carefully selected based upon positive along with snacks and drinks. A very simple definitely not suitable for people who expect feedback from On The Go travellers. You menu is published in English. Each wagon or demand everything to go exactly as are under no obligation to partake in a offers a WC and hand basin facility. At one planned. With the greatest respect and in the listed shopping experience and you are end, is a Chinese squat-style WC, whilst at interest of your ultimate enjoyment you must most welcome to wait inside or outside the the other end is a modern Western-style understand this. Things can and do change in premises. WC. Cabins are lockable from the inside and foreign countries. luggage is stowed in overhead compartments Although we only visit reputable retailers, Please visit www.onthegotours.com/China/ and under the bottom bunk. Bed linen and please note that we cannot explicitly Travel-tips-and-useful-info for what to wear, slippers are supplied, and often there is a guarantee the quality of their products. All local customs, currency, WiFi and other TV mounted on the wall at the end of each purchases made whilst on holiday with us are helpful information to prepare for your bed that may even work. Most channels are at your own discretion. Please make sure that holiday. broadcast in Mandarin, excluding one English you are completely happy with your purchase. Channel, which has little of interest on it! On The Go cannot be held responsible for • Be prepared as the locals smoke For overnight travel on budget "Essentials any items that you buy if they fail to meet everywhere in China Range" tours, clients are accommodated in expectation, or any shipping arrangements. • The Chinese don’t have an awareness “open” 6 berth bunks. We try to get all Proceed with caution. of personal space, be ready to have people standing very close to you, nudge you or even of our travellers in the same compartment/ Holidays & events seating area so that you can have fun getting walk into you, they are not being rude, it’s just China has many important National Holidays to know each other better, playing games a very different culture and events that are celebrated throughout the etc. It is possible to upgrade to a four-berth • Many tourists report scams in Shanghai, so country. During these times (the lead up to soft sleeper on your trip, please contact us be friendly but careful. Never ever follow a them and afterwards) there can be delays to at time of booking for rates (upgrades are stranger anywhere public transport, the roads can be much busier only possible if the open class ticket has not • Spitting and snorting is common in China as and many sites are a lot more crowed as the already been purchased and please note that they see the use of tissues as unhygienic locals take this time to visit family, celebrate you will be sleeping in another carriage to that • Some locals won’t queue and will often walk the holiday and experience the wonders and of those in the 6 berth carriages). straight to the front of a line with no awareness amazing places within their own country. or care of what they have done wrong

Shopping in China During this time you’ll likely to encounter • Chinese people are delighted if you make China is a virtual Aladdin's Cave. Government- a celebratory atmosphere, but an additional any attempt to speak Mandarin, even if it’s run Friendship Stores in almost all cities level of patience, flexibility and understanding only a couple of words stock a range of fixed-price souvenirs and goes a long way so that you may enjoy your Toilets/washrooms handicrafts and can offer a reasonable idea holiday. of what is acceptable in terms of quality Public toilets, when found, are usually ‘squats’ and price. After a visit to the Friendship As tourists, you will be generally be - holes in the ground with footrests at either Store, visit private stores, craft shops and unaffected and your tour guide will side and often don’t possess a door! They local department stores. However, the best do their best to plan around these can be a novelty and are easy to use. The shopping is often at public markets. If you see events. Though when initially planning custom is to wash with water from a jug or little something you want, buy it when you see it your holiday, if you prefer not to travel pipe attached to the toilet using your left hand. when sites are crowded or are concerned Doesn’t appeal? Here are some hints!

Southern China Explorer

• Time yourself with the accommodations you are staying at • If you are out and about, find the nearest hotel, restaurant, fast food outlet, or toilets at tourist attractions, which all tend to have Western style facilities • Ask your tour guide to make a stop • Always take some antiseptic hand gel or antibacterial hand wipes with you and BYO toilet paper as its rare in public toilets