CHINA  TIBET  NEPAL 217 CHINA& FAREAST Beijing to Kathmandu Imaginative Facts Tour code: AABK • Activities: Optional hikes on the Great Wall, in Chengyang and around Kaili, optional visit to the Shanghai Acrobats, optional bike and boat rides in Dali, Tiger Leaping Gorge trek • Accommodation: 25 nights simple hotels and guesthouses, 2 nights hard sleeper train • Transport: Plane, private coach, public bus, sleeper train ( hard sleeper), taxi • Flights: Xi'an to Shanghai, Shanghai to Guilin, Zhongdian to Lhasa, Lhasa to Kathmandu • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, and services of local guide in Xian and Tibet, services of local representative in Kathmandu DAY 1: BEIJING- Arrival day. DAY 2: BEIJING - GREAT WALL- Hike along one of the less visited sections. DAY 3: BEIJING- Visit atmospheric Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City. Overnight train to Xi'an. DAY 4: XI'AN- Guided tour of the amazing Terracotta Warriors. DAY 5: XI'AN - SHANGHAI- Fly to Shanghai. DAY 6: SHANGHAI- Take a river cruise or visit the tallest building in China, the Jinmao Tower. In the evening you can visit the spectacular Shanghai Acrobats. DAYS 7 & 8: GUILIN - CHENGYANG- Fly to Guilin and travel to Chengyang where we can hike to other villages in the valley. DAY 9: CONGJIANG- Catch a local bus to Congjiang following a series of river valleys, with views that few travellers get to see. DAY 10: KAILI- Travel to Kaili. The afternoon is free to explore the lively markets. DAY 11: KAILI ( Miao Village Stay)- A full day's exploration of the surrounding countryside. Overnight in a Miao village. DAY 12: KAILI - Transfer back to Kaili and on to Guiyang for an overnight train to Kunming. DAY 13: KUNMING- Arrive in Kunming, the ' City of Eternal Spring'. DAYS 14 & 15: DALI- Bus to Dali, home of the Bai people. Dali is an ideal place to explore by bike or take a cruise on Lake Erhai. DAYS 16 & 17: DALI - TIGER LEAPING GORGE TREK- A bus journey takes us to Qiaotou, the start of our trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge. Hike through this impressive gorge with superb views of Jade Dragon Mountain and the Yangtse River. DAY 18: TIGER LEAPING GORGE - LIJIANG- Travel to the lovely old town of Lijiang with its UNESCO Naxi Old City. DAY 19: LIJIANG- Full free day to explore Lijiang, home of the Naxi minority group. DAY 20: LIJIANG - ZHONGDIAN- Travel by bus to Zhongdian, one of the claimants to the title ' Shangri- La', and the doorway to Tibet. DAY 21: ZHONGDIAN- A day to relax and get acclimatised to the altitude. DAY 22: LHASA- A spectacular morning flight to Lhasa. One of the highest cities in the world at 3,650m, Lhasa is synonymous with Tibetan Buddhist culture. DAYS 23- 24: LHASA- Guided excursions including the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. DAY 25: GYANTSE- Drive across the Tibetan plateau to Gyantse. The old Fort and Pelkhor Monastery ' the 100,000 image pagoda' with its Kumbum Chorten are ' must- sees'. DAY 26: GYANTSE - LHASA- We return to Lhasa stopping for a picnic lunch overlooking the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Tso, Tibet's most sacred lake. DAY 27: KATHMANDU- Take the spectacular flight across the Himalayas to Kathmandu, exotic capital of Nepal. DAY 28: KATHMANDU- Tour ends. The definitive tour of China. Just look at the itinerary! • Explore the main sites of Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai • Trek the impressive Tiger Leaping Gorgewith views of the Yangtse River • Enjoy the less visited but stunning attractionsof Kunming, Kaili, Dali and Lijiang • Get off the beaten track in remote regionsaround Chengyang and Congjiang • Explore Lhasa and Gyantse then fly over the Himalayas to Kathmandu China Tibet Nepal • Seasonal Supplement £ 50 Single Supplement £ 315 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 18.10 * Price includes tour price of £ 1849and local payment of US$ 440All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 2080pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 28 days Starts MonEnds Sun BeijingKathmandu 2009 02- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 30- Mar- 0926- Apr- 09 • 27- Apr- 0924- May- 09 25- May- 0921- Jun- 09 22- Jun- 0919- Jul- 09 20- Jul- 0916- Aug- 09 17- Aug- 0913- Sep- 09 31- Aug- 0927- Sep- 09 14- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 Starts MonEnds Sun BeijingKathmandu 2010 01- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 29- Mar- 1025- Apr- 10 • 26- Apr- 1023- May- 10 24- May- 1020- Jun- 10 21- Jun- 1018- Jul- 10 19- Jul- 1015- Aug- 10 16- Aug- 1012- Sep- 10 30- Aug- 1026- Sep- 10 13- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 • Seasonal supplement applies Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

CHINA& FAREASTCHINA 218 " We have travelled extensively but felt that China presented a different challenge. This was our first group tour and we particularly enjoyed the freedom within the itinerary." Miles McEwing china & far east Woks & Chopsticks Imaginative Facts Tour code: ASWC • Activities: Cooking demonstrations and lessons, optional cycling in Yangshuo, optional hike along the Great Wall, extensive walking at sites • Accommodation: 10 tourist class hotels, 1 night family guesthouse, 3 nights sleeper train • Transport: Plane, public and private bus, train and taxi • Flights: Xi'an to Chengdu, Chengdu to Guilin • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Chengdu, services of local chefs for cooking demonstrations and lessons DAY 1: BEIJING - Arrival day. DAY 2: BEIJING - GREAT WALL- We take a day trip out to the Great Wall, and hike on one of the less visited sections. In the evening, there is the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner, consisting of delicious slices of roast duck wrapped in thin pancakes with sliced cucumber, shallots and a sauce made of soy. ( BD) DAY 3: BEIJING - SHANGHAI- Morning excursion to atmospheric Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon we have a demonstration of the various different ways of making Shanxi style noodles. Later, we board our overnight train to Shanghai. ( BL) DAY 4: SHANGHAI- Today is free to explore this dynamic city. This evening, after a typical Shanghai seafood dinner we watch a thrilling performance by the city's famous acrobats. ( D) DAY 5: SHANGHAI - XI'AN- A day tour of the Bund, the Yuyuan gardens and some of the many other famous sites of Shanghai. Later, we take the overnight train to Xi'an. ( BL) DAY 6: XI'AN- This morning, we have a guided tour of the incredible Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon we watch a demonstration of the art of making dumplings ( jiaozi), for which Xi'an is famous. There is a chance to join in, before enjoying a dumpling banquet for dinner. ( BD) DAY 7: XI'AN- A full free day to explore Xi'an, visit the Great Mosque and markets in the Muslim quarter and sample some lamb kebabs or other local favourites. ( B) DAY 8: XI'AN - CHENGDU- We fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. In the evening we enjoy a traditional hotpot dinner which is typical of this region, before watching a Sichuan variety performance. ( BD) DAY 9: CHENGDU- A visit to the Giant Panda Research Centre to see the beautiful but endangered Giant Pandas. After a vegetarian lunch at Wenshu Temple the afternoon is free to explore. ( BL) DAY 10: CHENGDU - LONGSHENG- Fly to Guilin and drive into the mountains to see the spectacular scenery of the ' Dragon's Backbone' rice terraces. ( B) DAY 11: LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO- In the morning, there is time to wander amongst the rice terraces. Later we transfer to Yangshuo, located in the midst of some of China's most spectacular scenery. Early in the evening there is the chance to take part in a short Chinese tea ceremony. ( B) DAY 12: YANGSHUO- We tour the local market before our cooking class, where we learn how to prepare some local specialities. ( BL) DAY 13: YANGSHUO - GUANGZHOU-Today those who wish to further improve their culinary skills can take an optional second cooking class. Later we transfer to Guilin for the overnight train to Guangzhou. ( B) DAY 14: GUANGZHOU- The chance to tour a fascinating local market before enjoying a dim sum banquet for lunch. ( L) DAY 15: GUANGZHOU- Tour ends. ( B) Quench your taste buds and your thirst for travel in one trip! A taste extravaganza! China is a vast area and this is fully reflected in its cuisine and cultures. The country can be divided into four different regions and on this trip we visit them all - savour Peking Duck in Beijing, noodles in Shanghai, a dumpling dinner in Xi'an, hotpot in Chengdu and a dim sum banquet in Guangzhou. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by professional chefs, shop in markets for local produce and prepare your own delicacies! Along the way you will also explore all the famous cultural sites. China Shanghai Woks & Chopsticks Colours of China Beijing Hong Kong Xi'an Chengdu Guilin Yangshuo Longsheng Zhongdian Kunming Lijiang Guangzhou Great Wall Single Supplement £ 210 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 20.89 * Price includes tour price of £ 1249and local payment of US$ 250All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1380pp Land Only * special interest Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sun BeijingGuangzhou 2009 08- Mar- 0922- Mar- 09 03- May- 0917- May- 09 07- Jun- 0921- Jun- 09 26- Jul- 0909- Aug- 09 06- Sep- 0920- Sep- 09 11- Oct- 0925- Oct- 09 Starts SunEnds Sun BeijingGuangzhou 2010 07- Mar- 1021- Mar- 10 02- May- 1016- May- 10 06- Jun- 1020- Jun- 10 25- Jul- 1008- Aug- 10 05- Sep- 1019- Sep- 10 10- Oct- 1024- Oct- 10 The Mandarin word for China is ' Zhongguo' which means middle country, implying China is the centre of the world. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243