CHINA & THE ORIENT INSTANT EXPERT a travel professional’s guide to China & the Orient CHINA & THE ORIENT For almost two thousand years, the Orient has been one of the great travel destinations of the world. From the days of yore, plying the Silk Road and sailing on ancient trade vessels, to present times, travellers have long remembered the grandeur of ancient monuments, tombs, and imperial palaces, the fascination of traditional rural villages and cultures, and the timeless beauty of great rivers, towering mountains and vast plains and grasslands. Since the opening of our first Orient office in Hong Kong in 1983, our company has built a region-wide network ensuring a level of expertise, on-site management and country knowledge that is unequalled. One with the countries and peoples of the Orient, we look forward to the future and the exciting potential this region offers. With on-site offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Abercrombie & Kent Hong Kong and China and more to come, Abercrombie & Kent offers the INSIDER ACCESS most comprehensive deluxe travel services No other company has invested the time *Entrance into closed hall of Forbidden City to and resources into building such a available. A diverse team of talents, both local and view how the imperial families once lived. expatriate staff, our Orient offices remain comprehensive presence that can deal with a myriad of travel requests from highly *Attending the Beijing Opera training school committed to providing the best in service, personalised individual travel to special and get in the full gear, from the authentic knowledge, and arrangements. interest group experiences. An A&K China costume to the magnificent face paint. programme means substantive itineraries, *Visit the “East-end Art Zone” that covers Welcome to the world of Abercrombie & Kent, unmatched access, and thoughtful over 30 art organizations and individual where a rich fabric of tradition is woven into travel arrangements. This is manifested in artists’ studios with one of its feature artists. arrangements reflecting our founding credo – unprecedented insider access to historic *Learn from a well- known Herbal Medicine “Inspiring Experiences”. We know from our own sites, cultural institutions, and personal Doctor to improve body and mind. visits that a trip to the Orient can enhance and contacts that cannot be equalled. A&K has built up strong working relationships with a *Walk among Terracotta Warriors with change your life. We and our Orient team invite you diverse group of resource experts who exclusive access to a Xian restoration site. to experience the region’s exotic allure through the specialize in art, architecture, archaeology, eyes of Abercrombie & Kent. business, journalism, history, and much more – these specialist guides enhance any With warm regards, arrangement taking a tour and turning it into an experience. Adding to this expertise is a deep-rooted interest in China Geoffrey Kent and A&K continues to open new regions and take you to the China beyond: Tibet, Yunnan, the Silk Road, and crossing borders from China to Central Asia. CHINA & THE ORIENT A&K in China With a rich history dating back 5,000 years, the nation boasts a wealth of antiquities, stunning landscapes, and intriguing ancient traditions. The technological advancement of the modern age allows the nation to create breathtaking skylines and architectural feats. The rich diversity creates unparalleled opportunities for historical exploration, river cruising, and cultural experiences for travellers amidst a backdrop of comfort and style. Travel out of the busy cities of this incredible nation and you will find the sheer joy of crossing such a vast and ancient land – from the green paddy fields and misty hilltops of the south, to the mountains of Tibet, and the scorched, epic landscapes of the ancient Silk Road in the northwest. To say that China is just a country is a misnomer; China is a world of its own. BEIJING HONG KONG SHANGHAI Beijing has been the heart and soul of China A city of dazzling contrasts, Hong Kong is a unique blend A bustling metropolis, Shanghai has always throughout its illustrious history. A fascinating city of East and West. Marvel at the sights, from the peaks of captured ones imagination with its seductive mix of that has enchanted the imaginations of visitors for Kowloon and New Territories providing a stunning tradition and sophistication, seamlessly merged with centuries. Behold the juxtaposition of Chinese backdrop of deep water to the glimmering high-rise a cosmopolitan air. Shanghai has always epitomised history and development, from the Great Wall and buildings that signal the energy and prosperity of the city. modern China while its history remains one of its Forbidden City to the wonders of modern biggest draws. architecture of the Olympic Village, Beijing is all about grandiosity. XIAN The home of the famed tomb complex of Emperor GUILIN Qin, with its resident army of intricately detailed A city famed for its rugged mountains, crystalline life-size terracotta soldiers, Xian is a historian’s waters, verdant forests, and mysterious caves, paradise which served as the ruling seat for 11 Guilin, whose beauty has been celebrated for different dynastic periods in ancient Chinese centuries in Chinese arts, enjoys a reputation for history. being the most beautiful place in China. Top 5 must sees *Beijing – The Great Wall has been built up in myth and legend, and it remains one of the great man-made wonders of the world. *Shanghai – Watch the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe which performs nightly at the Shanghai Centre theatre. *Xian - The Terracotta Warriors Museum with fi gures made from mineral rich loess soil. Warriors were meant to safeguard the emperor’s passage to the afterlife and additionally protect his kingdom from attack. *Sichuan– Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, a perfect family tour to learn about the habitat of the national treasures, and have the opportunity to hug a baby panda. *Hong Kong – Enjoying a helicopter ride for a spectacular birds eye-view of Hong Kong’s amazing skyline. CHINA & THE ORIENT Top fi ve off-the-beaten track experiences *Take an exciting toboggan ride down from the Great Wall. *Savour the great taste of the famous Peking Duck Dinner. *Participate in a ceremony performed by a monk reciting special scriptures for the wealth and health in Tibet. *Traditional tea ceremony in Shanghai. *Junk cruise in Hong Kong. A&K in “Off-the-Beaten Track” China CHENGDU SILK ROAD Chengdu is home to the panda, one of China’s Starting in Beijing, venture into the Gobi desert on national treasures. These endangered species live a camel safari before meeting with an Uighur in natural habitats within the Chengdu Panda family in Urumqi. Watch the skillful horsemanship Breeding and Research Centre, and are a must of Kazakh nomads and see the breathtaking see. Face-changing shows, Mount Emei and Giant scenery along the Karakorum Highway. On this Leshan Buddha are also the highlights of this journey you will follow in the footsteps of the Sichuan Capital. ancient traders and pilgrims. GUIZHOU TIBET With its unique mountainous terrain, Guizhou Coined as the “Third Pole” and “Roof of the World” remains relatively isolated and preserves its for its altitude, Tibet’s rich 2,000 year old religious natural karst limestone landscape. The province roots can be visualized through the Jokhang boasts 8 national nature reserves and also hosts Monastery, Potala Palace and Sanggye Dhungu the South China karst UNESCO World Heritage cliff Buddha statues. Meet with Ani Tsangku Nuns site. The Miao ethnic minority is a significant at a chanting ceremony or attend a Lhasa monk community in Guizhou and noted for their high- scripture recital which is an enlightening quality embroidery and silver ornaments. experience in this ancient and mysterious part of the world. PINGYAO With a history tracing back to 800BC, the well- YUNNAN preserved Pingyao is a living museum that brings Shangri-la is always associated with Yunnan, and you back to the ancient China. The renowned City Ringha is famous for its divine peaks, deep Wall, Ming-Qing Street with well-organized canyons, and torrential rivers. The Lijiang Old shops, and the earliest Chinese bank create an Town is the home of the Naxi ethnic minority, made urban fabric in this UNESCO World Heritage up of cobbled streets, wooden buildings and Site. gushing canals. CHINA & THE ORIENT A&K on the Yangtze River THE YANGTZE RIVER FENGDU YANGZI EXPLORER The mighty Yangtze River is known as the symbolic Explore the real life of a relocated family, or visit the Large cabins and suites are stunningly-designed lifeline of China. At 3,900 miles, the world’s third town of ghosts populated with temples. Intimate and personalized high crew to passenger longest river, the Yangtze River flows from the SHENNONG STREAM ratio. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to Shanghai, cutting through With crystalline water flowing through stunning China dividing the country into north and south. The Insightful shore excursion into the towns and gorges, a boat ride rowed by local Tujia people gives river with its numerous tributaries and feeders tributaries, and witness how life passes by the people a breathtaking experience along the river. provides a great transportation network through the dwelling along the riverside. heart of some of the most densely populated areas in THREE GORGES Children and themed sailing interactive children’s China. From the spectacular Three Gorges region to The most celebrated of natural wonders in China, activities such as kite making and cultural lessons. the vast feat of engineering that is the Three Gorges the three gorges include the mysterious Qutang Themed sailing for festivals and summer vacations Dam, cruising through the heart of the Yangtze River Gorge , Wu Gorge with majestic peaks, and the are also arranged from time to time.