Trip to China
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Trip to China May 12 to May 26, 2020 In Partnership with The Confucius Institute at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Trip to China May 12-26 The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln is proud to yet again lead a trip to China for OLLI members. OLLI and the UNL Confucius Institute are working together, again, to organize a 15-day trip to China in May 2020. This trip, unlike previous trips, will be planting the OLLI flag in the mountainous nature southwest of China. We will visit culturally diverse parts of China, going through Tibetan, Hmong, Han, Zhuang, Bai, and Naxi regions of China. The trip will begin in Chengdu, visiting the Jiuzhaigou Nature Preserve, Panda Preserve. Then we will travel to Guilin, known for towering karst mountains among rice paddy farms, where we will stay in a rural guest house from which you can explore the area on bike (or electric bike). Lastly, we will travel to Yunnan in the very southwest of China where we will visit historic towns and villages representing various different cultures. At this information session we will be sharing details with potentially interested travelers as well as take feedback and input. Tentative Itinerary Day 1 (Tuesday, May 12) Nebraska to Chengdu We will spend the whole day in the air, leaving from Lincoln or Omaha to Chengdu with 1 or 2 stops in between depending on the air-tickets we can reserve. We will fly over Canada, Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and Russia en route. Day 2 (Wednesday, May 13) Arrival in Chengdu (D) The group will be received by a local guide at Chengdu Airport upon arrival and transferred to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to get recovered from jetlag. Day 3 (Thursday, May 14) Chengdu (BLD) The group will enjoy whole day escorted tour to cover Giant Panda Breeding Base, 10 kilometers north of Chengdu. This 600-acre research station and breeding ground has been in operation since in 1987, opened to the public in early in 1995 with 40 plus pandas as well as other endangered species like lesser 2 pandas and black-necked crane which currently reside at the base in quarters. In the afternoon, walk along Jinli Street and visit Wuhou Shrine. Jinli Street and the Tibetan Quarter are the perfect places to buy friends and family some cool gifts. There are lots of folk-style artifacts and paintings for sale (the Sichuan opera masks are particularly eye-catching). The snacks here are out- of-this-world tasty! Jinli is full of teahouses and bars as well. Wuhou Shrine (Memorial Temple of Marquis Wu), which is dedicated to the great strategist in Chinese history, Zhuge Liang. Face Changing and Sichuan Opera Show , one of the must for Chengdu is arranged today after dinner. The traditional performing formula is quite systematic in that it combines the stunts like face-changing, Tihuiyan, sword-hiding, fire- spitting and beard-changing with the plot and different characters, highlighting the romanticism of opera in a magical and exaggerated manner. Day 4 (Friday, May 15) Chengdu - JiuzhaiGou (BLD) After breakfast and just take two-day luggage to airport for one hr flight 3U8009(10:20-11:20)to JiuzhaiGou. Upon the arrival, take lunch in hotel restaurant and enter JiuzhaiGou Valley for sightseeing. The Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a reserve of exceptional natural beauty with spectacular jagged alpine mountains soaring above coniferous forest around a fairyland landscape of crystal clear, strange-coloured blue, green and purplish pools, lakes, waterfalls, limestone terraces, caves and other beautiful features. 3 Day 5 (Saturday, May 16) JiuzhaiGou - Chengdu (BLD) After breakfast and go to airport for 3U8010 (12:10- 13:15) back to Chengdu. In the afternoon, go to visit Renmin Park to see local people’s daily life and experience the slow, relaxed mentality of Chengdu. Here you might encounter the Majong players scattering everywhere within the park and tea drinkers staying together gossiping about their lives. Then hang around the Wide & Narrow Alleys. Here they particularly referred to the two famous lanes in Chengdu – Kuan Alley (Wide Lane) and Zhai Alley ( Narrow Lane). Both Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley (Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi) are the gentrified ancient alleys from Qing Dynasty ( 1644 -1911 ) in Chengdu. Ranking as one of the finest pedestrian thoroughfares in downtown Chengdu, Kuan-Zhai Lanes offers a visually pleasing blend of traditional Sichuan architecture fused with modern Chengdu commerce. Dozens of quadrangle homes built in the Qing style stand nestled between fashionable cafés, nightclubs and clothing boutiques; and visitors can sip tea in a traditional tea house on Kuan before grabbing a beer at a trendy bar just one street away over on Zhai. Sichuan Hot Pot, fiery and numbingly spicy, is one of utmost importance to Chengdu locals will be the special dinner tonight. Day 6 (Sunday, May 17) Chengdu to Kunming (BLD) Leave hotel after breakfast in the morning for the express train G2885 (09:40-16:11)for Kunming. Kunming is the gateway to Yunnan Province. If China's mountain scenery and minority culture interest you, but you don't want to go somewhere too remote or extreme climatically, then our Kunming tours should suit you.Upon arrival, go to check in the selected hotel. After local dinner, enjoy your free time in CuiHu Park if you have energy to walk a little bit to enjoy a leisurely stroll or want to see daily life in Kunming. With verdant islets, emerald lakes, and exquisite pavilions, this park is an oasis in central Kunming. It is a tranquil land for people to escape from the bustling city, and a winter resort for red- beaked seagulls. Day 7 (Monday, May 18) Kunming (BLD) In the morning, leave the hotel for Stone Forest, It is the only karst stone forest in a subtropical plateau region in the world. It is internationally reputed as the "Stone Forest Museum". After getting back the city, have free walking in the Dounan flowers and birds market. 4 Day 8 (Tuesday, May 19) Kunming - Dali (BLD) After breakfast, take express train G8696 (09:56-11:51)from Kunming to Dali. After hotel check-in and lunch, have a walking tour inside Dali Ancient Town located at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains , where clear springs flow and local Bai ethnic group lives. In a quiet corner of the town, you will also find a Chinese- style Catholic church that was built in 1927. Within Dali Ancient Town, you will see Dali City Wall, Wuwei Temple, Dali Ancient Town and Dali Street. Day 9 (Wednesday, May 20) Dali (BLD) Today , First after breakfast, go to see the morning market of Xizhou Village and then visit the houses of the Bai minority people there. You will see typical Bai traditions and dresses. Some buildings are old and have typical ancient architectures, and are the 'real local' houses. Then board boat to have a 2- hour boat riding in Erhai lake, which is blessed with a mild climate and stunning scenery. When you are on the way back form Erhai to Dali Ancient town, you might see the three Pagodas between CangShan Mountains and Erhai Lake, which are considered the landmark of Dali built there more then 1000 years ago. Day 10 (Thursday, May 21) Dali - Lijiang(BLD) After breakfast, take around 2.5 hrs bus tour from Dali to Lijiang. On the way, have a stop in Zhoucheng watching local people dye cloth in their house. Upon the Enjoy lunch and start the tour in Lijiang. Lijiang Ancient Town is the best-preserved minority ancient city. Most of the people living there belong to the Naxi minority, some of whom still make a living by making handicrafts of silver, leather, textiles, and some local snacks. Enjoy the quaint city scenery and see plenty of handicrafts in a distinctive style only found in this area of China. You can climb up to Lion Hill to have a bird's- 5 eye view of the whole town.Then pay a visit to the Black Dragon Pool Park, where the view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is one of the most famous postcard-perfect sceneries in southwest China. And you might pay a visit to see DongBa culture in DongBack Museum about local minority. Day 11 (Friday, May 22) Lijiang(BL) After the breakfast, drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the holy mountain of the Naxi people. Use the cable car and find yourself in a real paradise as you overlook stunning and variant natural beauty, including spruces, meadows, pines, and clouds. In the after, visit the Former Residence of Rock, where the American explorer, writer and photographer for National Geographic spend 27 years since 1922. The rest of the time is free for you to spend within Lijiang Ancient Town. Day 12 (Saturday, May 23) Lijiang – Guilin (BLD) After the breakfast, drive to see Shuhe Ancient Town, the earliest habitation of the Naxi ancestors. It is also an important and well-preserved post of the Ancient Tea Horse Route, an international trade route in Southwest China that uses the horse as its main vehicle. And after lunch, go to catch flight GJ8999 (15:05-16:50) from Lijiang to Guilin. Have dinner , if you like and still have energy, you may think of taking the 1.5-hour cruise is well worth the price as it offers a chance to view Guilin’s tranquil mountain and water scenery, along with traditional Chinese architecture, ancient inscriptions on the bridge arches and well-maintained park-style lake frontage, from the best vantage point: on the water itself.