China and Tibet
ITINERARY PREDICTED
Day 1: Departure from Barajas Airport in Madrid with a 2-hour transfer at Munich (Germany), the day goes flying by.
Day 2: Arrive in Beijing, we will settle in at the hostel. We will have an evening stroll to Tian An Men Square and we will dine in a typical restaurant which is said to produce the best “Peking Duck” in all of China, as shown by the photos of famous people who have passed through there.
Day 3: Rest day and look around the city. As we might still have jet lag, we try to get used to the time difference. The hostel is near Tian An Men Square, one of the largest in the world, and next to it stands the majestic “Forbidden City”, home to emperors and their court for just over five hundred years; any visit was forbidden and punishable by death for anyone who dared enter. Today we can visit it without any such threat.
Day 4: Close to Beijing there are several sections of the Great Wall, we will visit one of the best-preserved and most beautiful parts of it: the Salimatai. Here we will be able to walk along the Great Wall and contemplate how it appears and disappears over the horizon like a serpent, riding on the crest of the mountain ridges and creating an unforgettable landscape. On the way back down, those who want to can descend a large 400 metre zip wire. After visiting the Great Wall, we will return to Beijing to sleep.
Day 5: In the morning we will visit the interesting markets in Beijing, then we will go to eat and get t know the famous alleys of the old city (the hutong). It was in these alleys that life took place around the wells which supplied water to the traditional grey homes with round doors. In the afternoon we will take the overnight train to bunk which will take us south to the city of Xian.
Day 6: We will arrive in Xian in the morning, the ancient capital of China and departure point of the famous “Silk Road”, we will get to know this historic city where we will have the opportunity to walk through the Muslim Quarter and its mosque. This neighborhood, unique in all of China, still retains the bustle and color of an authentic souk.
The hotel where we will stay is at the foot of the walls surrounding the old town, very close to the Bell and Tambor Towers. On the esplanade in front of these walls we can see the huge Chinese kites flying.
Day 7: Morning visit to the most important archaeological site found in the twentieth century: The Terracotta Warriors housed at the Warrior Museum; there are six thousand statues of clay representing the army, in actual size and number, of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin Dynasty and of China itself.
We will sleep on the overnight train where we will get to know the genuine rail network, full of curiosities and friendly people who do not hesitate to talk to you even if they do not understand you, nor you them, either.
Day 8: Dawn arrival at the city of Chengdu, which is the capital of Sichuan province. Located in the most western part of China, and bordering the autonomous province of Tibet. It is one of the most important agricultural regions in China, and also has one of the largest populations in the territory, with its hundred million inhabitants. It has its own personality and a cuisine known beyond its borders. We will visit its crowded streets, from the modern Nanlu Remin, the temple of Wenshu- of the Tang Dynasty, to the colossal statue of Chairman Mao, which reminds us of an era when the cult of personality was all-powerful.
Day 9: Early morning trip on a local bus to the town of Songpan, located two hundred miles north of Chengdu. The road leading to this city runs almost parallel to the entire length of the River Min Jiang, with turbulent waters running from Tibet. We will also pass through the humid forests of bamboo, the habitat of the panda.
In the afternoon, we will arrive in Songpan, a garrison town during the Qing Dynasty and clearly influenced by Tibet.
Day 10: Start of the three-day trip on horseback. The horse-riding trails in this part of China are very interesting because you really get to know about the lifestyle of the locals. Mongolian horses are small but have a lot of strength and endurance, they can barely run, but then it’s not really the place for that. They climb the steep paths in a sleepy way, but at a constant and tireless pace. The descents will be mainly on foot. The horses carry all the necessary gear for three days. During the afternoon we will arrive at the place where we will camp and visit a beautiful park full of lakes of different shapes and shades, including hot springs.
Day 11: In the morning we will take down the tents and have breakfast. Our guides, men of the mountains, express their Muslim faith in a very particular way. They are very helpful, fully aware that this is not our environment and always willing to help us with everything. The route continues through deep valleys and vast forests, passing by villages where Tibetan prayer flags are waving. We will camp and have food by the light of a good campfire and share a laugh with the locals.
At night the temperature drops considerably, but we will take refuge from the cold under a thick layer of blankets.
Day 12: We will continue the ride towards the town of Songpan, on the way we will probably meet herds of grazing yacks. We will pass by Tibetan hamlets and passes which will allow us to enjoy the vastness of the Himalayan landscape, making out in the distance the highest mountain in the area, the “Ice Mountain” more than 16 thousand feet high.
We will arrive in the afternoon at the village, where we can have a warm shower (in the public baths, there is no hot water in the village) and whoever wants to (and why not) can have a massage and a hearty supper.
Day 13: Return on the local bus that will arrive at 15.00 h. Free afternoon in the city of Chengdu: we can relax and stroll through the safe streets of the city of electric bikes. Whoever wants to can go to the opera, which has an interesting stage and includes performances by comics, acrobats, men dressed as women, and so on. And for those who prefer something different, there are the famed tea rooms of this city.
Day 14: Early in the morning we have to catch a flight to the capital of the Himalayas, Lhasa. We arrive at around midday, but first we will have flown over the largest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas; weather permitting we can see the great valleys, fast rivers and impressive peaks, many of them unknown to man – a real spectacle!. The aircraft will descend to land in the most hidden airport in the world, located in the Tsangpo valley, some 96 kilometres from Lhasa. Despite China’s influence, both economically and culturally, Lhasa is a city of pilgrimage for Tibetans in which they visit the most sacred Buddhist areas; some of whom come from afar doing genuflections, others almost have no luggage, and all of them have faith in their religious symbols.
Once checked-in at the “Yack Hotel” we do what all pilgrims do on arrival: the “Kora”, the circular path around the Jokhang (supreme Tibetan Buddhist temple) located at the Barknor, the heart of Tibetan Lhasa. The sacred path is always taken in a clockwise direction.
Day 15: We are at one of the world’s highest capital cities, at more than thirteen thousand meters above sea level, where any physical exertion seems greater because of the altitude, although this does not prevent us from visiting some places. Tibetan temples were severely punished at the time of the Cultural Revolution, many of them were destroyed but the main ones are still standing and they continue to practice their rituals with fervour. We will visit the Jokhang Monastery, the most important of all, there we will find hundreds of Tibetan deities, all surrounded by an envelopping mysticism, perfumed by the permanent and characteristic smell of yak butter, which devotees put onto the candles as an offering . Prayer wheels which always spin in the same direction or the litanies of monks who, with their prayers emitted from their stomachs create a magical atmosphere, able to surprise even the most skeptical. If time permits us we will get to know the Ramoche, a temple which belongs to the“Gelukpa” sect and of great importance for the Tibetans.
Day 16: From virtually everywhere in Lhasa you can contemplate the figure of “Potala” as an emblem of the Tibetan people, which is perched on the mountain in the middle of the city; in front and to the left the Tibetan area and behind the residential area of China. This representative building, and probably one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, is not in fact a temple, it was for centuries the residence of the Dalai Lama, a figure who once ruled Tibet. During the visit we can see the tombs of previous Dalais on golden Buddhas, countless gold statues, with engravings, thongs, mandalas and many treasures looked after by the monks who live inside the palace. You are not allowed to take pictures inside and respect and silen eand coexist with the kindness and humility of its inhabitants.
Day 17: Breakfast in Lhasa. Go to the airport where we fly back to the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu. We arrive around 14.00 pm, return to the hostel “Dragon Town Guest House” where we already stayed. Have an afternoon visit to the centre for research and breeding of giant pandas. This is the only place where you can easily observe the panda, because it is so threatened and so difficult to see in its own habitat.
Day 18: We will fly to Guilin, a city in Guangxi province. We stay in the city briefly and we then take a bus to the town of Yangshuo; this city is home to one of the most famous images of China: it is a representation of the many limestone mountains – these rocks surround Yangshuo and go up the Li River to Guilin. This is a unique landscape of great interest.
In the afternoon, we will hire bicycles to visit,between the gardens lanes, cliffs which have sprouted like mushrooms in the fertile territory of Yangshuo; we will also see fishing with ringed cormorants, traditional to the area.
Day 19: We will relax in the peaceful city and we can enjoy a boat trip along the River Li Jiang, we can see the reflection of mountains in the water and bathing buffaloes. In the afternoon, those who want to may climb one of these boulders, with ropes and harnesses and you will have the opportunity to do some sport climbing.
Day 20: Morning visit to the city of Yangshuo and at noon we will take a bus which takes us to the city of Guilin, where we return with Chinese railways via the overnight train to Guangzhou, south bound. Once more we interact with Chinese travellers, whose avid curiosity about foreigners is difficult to escape from.
Day 21: Arrival in Guangzhou, on the Chinese Sea. Here we will have completed a big part of the trip through theChinese pseudo-continent, through inland China, from north to south. But the journey is not yet over; our next stop is the island of Macao. This former Portuguese colony has a special mix of Cantonese and Portuguese colonial architecture. The main industry, the driving force of its economy, is gambling in casinos, where lavish amounts of money are spent and people are drawn from throughout China. Another peculiarity is the cuisine of Macao where they can as easily prepare a stew in a pot as in a wok.
Macao consists of three islands connected by extremely long bridges, we stay in the furthest: Coloane Island, in an aparthotel located in the Checo Van Bay, opposite a beautiful beach.
Day 22: At midday after a morning swim at the beach, we take the ferry which in only a few hours will take us to the city of the future… Hong Kong. This former British colony, record holder for the number of skyscrapers per square metre, also has a unique mixed parentage, technology invades the streets right by a place where you can eat snake. Ideal for last minute shopping, although the rest of China is cheaper. In this city we can find real bargains or complete rip offs, depending on the luckt of travellers compared to savvy Hong Kong traders.
We will visit the island, but we will stay in Kowloon which has more nightlife.
Day 23: Farewell China! The most emerging economy in the world, with its ancient civilizations, where two systems coexist in the same country.
Return flight, Hong Kong – Frankfurt – Madrid
Note:
This trip has special characteristics because it is includes one of the hardest places to visit in the world (Tibet). We will traverse the most populated country on earth, from north to south, and one of the largest in size. The complexity of Chinese culture, a priori difficult to understand for a Westerner, makes communication difficult, both in language as in writing or customs, but a smile, the universal language, will open all doors. Living with the rest of the group should be just as tolerant (on these trips it is essential). We are accustomed to working with groups, but the willingness of the people is paramount.
People who come on the trip must be aware that adventure travel is one in which unforeseen conditions may produce changes to the itinerary described, but the goal is to follow the marked route. The adventure is guaranteed
Antonio Robledo “Zapa”
What to bring:
- Valid passport for at least 6 months from the date of departure
- Personal first aid kit
- Warm clothing: long sleeve shirt, long underwear and socks Rain coat
- Warm light clothing
- Large backpack 60 to 90 litres
- Small backpack (for excursions)
- Document case
- Towel or a sarong (which is lighter and dries quicker)
- Hiking boots or appropriate footwear for hiking
- Winter sleeping bag with a compression sleeve
- A change of summer clothes
- The most sensitive photographic film 400 ASA.
- “Vaccines – visit Sanidad Exterior/Health Authorities.”
Includes:
- Flights:
- Madrid- Peking
- Hong Kong-Madrid
- Chendug-Lasa
- Lasa-Chendug
- Chendug-Guilin
- Trains:
- Peking-xiam
- Xiam-Chendug
- Guilin- Macao
- Macao-Hong Kong Boat
- Songpang Tour
- Travel insurance
- Various kinds of accommodation
- Airport Transfer
- Accompanying guide
Not included:
- Entry visa to China
- Entrance tickets to museums, palaces, temples, etc..
- Food
- Taxes at Chinese airports
- Taxis and shuttle buses within the cities.
Recommendations:
Try to eat with chopsticks, drink tea without sugar.
Read guidebooks before visiting the country, though this can reduce the sense of discovery and surprise, so we recommend reading books about the country rather than guidebooks.
For this trip you do not need to be specifically in physical form, it should enough to do some sport a few weeks before, bearing in mind you will be going up to 15000 feet.
Price per person: 2.340€
(This price is for the 2005 trip, there would be an increase for future expeditions)
Contact: 96 377 44 44 / kalahari@kalahariaventuras.com
