The New Zealand China Friendship Society offers a further educational tour in the “Explore China” series. The tour will visit the two SW provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan for an in-depth experience of this area. Starting and ending in the two provincial capitals Chengdu and Kunming, the traveller will experience aspects of the social and physical geography this area has to offer.
Tour Highlights
The Capitals
Chengdu – Shows, old streets, parks, pandas.
Kunming – With a total of 26 minorities in Yunnan, the Ethnic Minorities Museum is a must see.
The landscape
From the plains of Sichuan, the travel will take us south and west across the grasslands and mountain folds – high passes and deep river systems – to the NW corner of Yunnan before heading south. We will cross the upper reaches of the Yangtze, and Lancang (later the Mekong). Views of mountain ranges over 6000 metres above sea level (masl) will depend on the weather, but the timing is hopefully for clear early autumn views.
The people
In the remote areas, the predominant minority people will be Tibetan and Lisu people. We will stay in small communities where they are in the majority.
Sichuan Province
Sacred mountain Emei Shan, Leshan – Big Buddha, Kanding, Litang and other Tibetan towns.
Yunnan Province
The old towns of Shangrila, Lijiang, Dali, Jianshui.
Terraced fields of Yuanyang.
Stone Forest.
This is a diverse tour that will take us through a range of experiences, with some real back-block travel and small communities. A reasonable level of fitness is needed to accommodate the travel, going over 4000 masl on occasions.
Fully escorted, 3 to 4 – star, twin – share accommodation. All inclusive price $7950 (estimated, subject to currency exchange), includes domestic flights in NZ, all meals, etc, (excludes Chinese visa and insurances).
Tour Name: NZCFS Explore China, the South-West Tour
Dates: October 11 to November 2, 2016
Tour Duration: 23 days
Tour Type: Fully escorted
Cost: $7,950 per person (estimated, subject to currency exchange rates)
Itinerary: Explore China, the South-West
Tour Map: Tour Map
To register your interest and for more information: please complete the form below, or contact Ann White by phone (03 614 8944) or email [email protected]