Trip Notes - Intrepid Travel http://www.intrepidtravel.com/tripnotes/CBSAC/2011-01-01 Last Modified: 12-01-11 Iconic China trip notes: CBSAC validity: 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 Introduction Welcome to Intrepid real life experiences... we hope that you enjoy exploring the world as much as we do. Take in China's iconic sights and highlights on this in-depth adventure. From Hong Kong to Beijing, discover ancient relics, natural wonders, vibrant cities and a culture and history dating back thousands of years. Whether you're standing atop the Great Wall, checking out the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, cycling past paddy fields or scoffing dumplings in Shanghai, you'll be creating memories of China to last a lifetime. To save you money and the hassle of booking multiple trips, this journey is a combination of some of our most popular adventures. As this is a combination trip your leader and group may change. Style Intrepid Original This is how it all started; the trips that made us one of the world's leading operators of small group adventures. And they're still as popular as ever! Original trips are all about variety: the places, the people, the activities, and even the accommodation and transport we use. From homestays to market trips to visits to community projects, there's a new experience every day, with many activities included. Trip Map Itinerary Days 1-2 Hong Kong Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting at 6:00pm. We will be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader. Your group leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception 1 of 12 14/01/2011 3:17 PM Trip Notes - Intrepid Travel http://www.intrepidtravel.com/tripnotes/CBSAC/2011-01-01 for this information. It was as a British colony that Hong Kong made itself known to the world and since the 1997 handover back to Chinese rule, the city is still a unique and fascinating place to explore and see where the East really does meet with the West. Hong Kong's cityscape is spectacular, where traditional Chinese stores sit next to 21st century brand names; towering skyscrapers nestle alongside ancient temples and the modern fast paced life of Hong Kong in only minutes from picturesque islands and beaches. The locals are very proud of their Cantonese culture and history, so step out of the shopping malls and off the main streets to discover another side of Hong Kong. For those who arrive early there are many ways to take in the skyline of Hong Kong: take the Star Ferry across the harbour to see it lit up after dark or venture up to the top of Victoria Peak for a birds eye view. Explore the historical streets of Hong Kong Island from a double- decker tram or hike one of the many walking trails and beaches found on the beautiful outlying Islands. For the less adventurous, but just as active, search out a bargain in one of the city's multitude of markets and malls. As there are no included activities here we strongly recommend that you spend a few extra days in Hong Kong to take full advantage of all there is to see and do. All of our accommodation on this tour is twin share with private bathrooms. Please note that at some hotels reception and other staff may speak only very limited or no English. If you have any issues with the hotel while on the trip, please speak to your leader. Tonight you can choose to join your fellow travelers for an optional group dinner at a local restaurant of your leader's choice to try some Cantonese specialty dishes. After breakfast (not included, but plenty of options available nearby) on day 2 we leave our hotel to cross into mainland China. It can take approximately 2 hours to get from Kowloon to the Chinese Mainland: first we take the subway from the station near our hotel to central Hong Kong changing lines to get to the border point. We go with the crowds through immigration procedures and then walk the short distance from the border to the train station to board our first overnight hard sleeper train (approx. 13 hours) to Guilin, gateway to Yangshuo. Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious but it is certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people as it is the main form of transport for locals. We use hard sleeper class trains for our overnight train journey on this trip. These are not as rough as they sound - compartments are open-plan, clean, with padded three tiered berths (6 to a compartment), sheets, pillows and a blanket provided. Safe hot drinking water is always available for making coffee, tea or instant meals. Basic bathroom facilities are situated at the end of each carriage with toilets and washbasins. Most trains have a dining carriage where meals are available three times a day, and there are often snacks available on the train along the way. Days 3-4 Yangshuo Arriving in Guilin early morning, we transfer by public bus to the picturesque town of Yangshuo (approx. 1.5 hours). Yangshuo has become very popular with international and domestic tourists in recent years and has a great café and bar culture. There are plenty of places that offer local Chinese as well as western food, breakfasts, drinks and desserts for you to try for your optional lunches and dinners here. It is also one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions and have plenty of fun at the same time. In your free time you can take a relaxing boat ride along the Li River, try your hand at Chinese calligraphy or cooking, or take an early morning tai chi class by the riverside. In the evening, the spectacular outdoor show staged by Olympic Opening Ceremony director Zhang Yimou is a definite highlight and highly recommended! We have free time on days 3, 4 and 5 for optional activities. The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalized in many traditional Chinese paintings - picture immense limestone karsts dotting the rural landscape and towering spectacularly over rice paddies and the meandering Li River. On day 4 we experience the landscape on a bike ride to gain an insight into rural Chinese life, stopping for lunch at the house of our local friends for a tasty meal made from locally grown and farmed produce. This is an absolutely stunning region to explore, as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location. Days 5-7 Shanghai To maximize our time in Yangshuo we have a free morning here. Late afternoon on day 5 we take a private bus to Guilin Airport (approx. 2 hours) for our flight to Shanghai (approx. 2 hours). We will arrive late in the evening and transfer straight to our hotel for the night. Please note that flights in this region can often be delayed by rain and fog so on occasion we may not arrive until very late indeed! Blending 21st-century architecture with old-world character, Shanghai is the vibrant pulse of new China. For those who arrive early perhaps go across the river to take in the sights of Pudong - the modern financial centre - with its amazing skyscrapers such as the iconic Pearl Tower or shop until you drop in China's hippest stores! The impressive Shanghai Museum houses one of the best collections of Chinese bronze and artwork - you could easily spend the whole day here discovering the various exhibitions. In the evening, you could catch a performance by the famous Shanghai Acrobats or hang out in the new trendy Xintiandi district. On day 6, you may like to join your leader for a local breakfast before heading out on a walking tour to get to know some of Shanghai's neighborhoods such as the Bund with its spectacular array of art-deco style buildings, the narrow winding lanes of the Nongtang or the European influenced French Concession. The walking tour will finish around noon after which you are free to continue your explorations. As this is a combination trip, today some of your group members will finish their journey here in Shanghai and tonight there will be a group meeting at 6pm to meet your new group members as well as find out more about what awaits us on the next part of our trip. Please note that your leader may also change today. Day 7 is a free day to take in more of the sights and sounds of Shanghai. Day 8 Water Town Today we enjoy a day trip to one of Shanghai's nearby water towns (approx.2 hours) by private transport. These ancient towns built along networks of canals are quite popular with local and foreign tourists alike, but it is not hard to see why! Cobblestone streets, picturesque bridges and traditional stone buildings lining the alleyways conjure up images of a China almost lost in the country's headlong rush to modernity. Spend some time wandering here; perhaps take an optional gondola ride before we head back to Shanghai again to board our next 2 of 12 14/01/2011 3:17 PM Trip Notes - Intrepid Travel http://www.intrepidtravel.com/tripnotes/CBSAC/2011-01-01 overnight hard sleeper train of our trip, bound for Xi'an (approx.