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South & West Minorities Tour 18 days
The following itinerary and quotation is still available in 2009. Destinations:Hong Kong - Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi - Beijing
Itinerary
Day 1: Hong Kong Arrival
Welcome to China. Upon arrival, our local guide will take you to your downtown hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.
Day 2: Hong Kong (B)
Sightseeing: Victoria Peak / Aberdeen / Repulse Bay
You will spend half day touring around the city, including visits to Victoria Peak, Aberdeen and Repulse Bay. For lunch time, you will be transferred back to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.
Day 3: Hong Kong – Kunming by air (B)
The morning is at your leisure before boarding your flight to Kunming and transfer to the downtown hotel.
Day 4: Kunming (B+L)
Sightseeing: Stone Forest / Golden Temple
Get up early in the morning and drive about 120km to visit Stone Forest. Magnificent stone masterpieces, various strange and steep intricate formations, and countless labyrinthine vistas can be found here and there. After lunch, transfer back to Kunming city. On the way, visit Golden Temple, the largest copper temple in China.
Day 5: Kunming – Dali by air (B+L)
Sightseeing: Erhai Lake Park / Three Pagodas / Dali Ancient City
In the morning, you will take morning flight to Dali and transfer to the downtown hotel.
You will begin the day with a visit to Erhai Lake Park, which is renowned as 'a pearl on the plateau'. Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. Afterwards, you will visit Three Pagodas. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. After visiting Three Pagodas, you will also pay a visit Dali Ancient City. Its grand city wall, traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses and marvelous scenery attract many visitors from home and aboard.
Day 6: Dali – Lijiang by Private van (B+L)
Sightseeing: Black Dragon Pool / Dongba Cultural Museum / Old Town of Lijiang
In the morning, you spend 3.5 hours on private van driving to Lijiang and check in at the hotel. Then you will visit Black Dragon Pool. With an area of 40 hectares (over 430,000 sqft), and it provides a haven for bird and water-life, with spectacular plants. Afterwards, you will pay a visit to Dongba Cultural Museum, the best place to get a close look at Dongba culture. In the mid-afternoon, visit Old Town of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture.
Day 7: Lijiang (B+L)
Sightseeing: Yuhu Village / Dr. Joseph Rock / Baisha Mural / Yufeng Temple
You spend today on the site of the Yuhu Village, a simple village of Naxi minority with the former residence of Dr. Joseph Rock, an Austro-American botanist and explorer who lived here off and on from 1922-1949. Your next stop is Baisha Village to visit Baisha Mural. Baisha Mural displayed the different religious cultures and arts forms from Buddhism, Lamaism, Daoism and the Naxi Dongba religion. Afterwards, you will visit Yufeng Temple, one of the Scarlet Sect lamaseries of Lijiang.
Day 8: Lijiang – Xian by air (B+L)
You will depart for a flight to Xian and transfer to the downtown hotel. The rest time is free at disposal.
Day 9: Xian (B+L)
Sightseeing: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum / Big Wild Goose Pagoda / Bell Tower
Today you will visit what has been called the 8th Wonder of the World the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. It is one of the most important archaeological excavations and culture findings in the 20th century. After lunch, you will drive back to downtown city to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of symbols in Xian and a remarkable milestone of the Chinese architecture. Afterward, you will head to visit Bell Tower. Originally built in 1348, the Bell Tower in Xian is situated in the very heart of the city and is the most well-preserved and best-known one in China.
Day 10: Xian - Dunhuang by air (B+L)
Sightseeing: Provincial History Museum
You will begin your journey to Provincial History Museum, which houses a large collection of historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi Province. Afterwards, you will take flight to Dunhuang and transfer to the downtown hotel.
Day 11: Dunhuang – Turpan by Evening train (B+L)
Sightseeing: Echoing-Sand Dune / Crescent Lake / Mogao Caves
You will start the day with a visit to Echoing-Sand Dune and the Crescent Lake. Each time the wind blows, there is a sound from the mountain and when there is a breeze, the sound is like musical instruments, hence the name Echoing-Sand Mountain. Crescent lake is located in the arms of Echoing-Sand Mountain, appearing clear and beautiful. You then proceed to Mogao Caves, which is located 25 kilometers (about 15.5 miles) southeast of Dunhuang City. It is regarded as the premier Buddhist spot in China. After dinner, take SOFT SLEEPER train to Turpan. Your home stay tonight is on the train.
Day 12: Turpan (B+L)
Sightseeing: Gaochang Ruins / Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave / Flaming Hill
Upon your arrival in the morning, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. After checking in at the hotel, you will visit Gaochang Ruins, the largest set of ancient city ruins ever found in the Western Regions. Afterwards, you will visit Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave, one of the most important Buddha grotto relics in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Then you proceed to visit Flaming Hill - the hottest place in China.
Day 13: Turpan – Urumqi private van (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: Jiaohe Ruins / Karez Well / Emin Minaret
Get up early in the morning and drive about 380km to Turpan. After checking in at the hotel, you will visit Jiaohe Ruins, which has a long history of about 2,300 years. Jiaohe Ruins is the largest and best preserved ancient city built from compressed earth anywhere in the world.
After lunch, you will visit Karez Well, which is a delicate irrigation system devised by the smart Xinjiang people 2,000 years ago. Then you will head to Emin Minaret, the largest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang.
Day 14: Urumqi (B+L)
Sightseeing: Heavenly Lake / Southern Pasture / West White Poplar Gully
Get up early in the morning and drive about 110km to visit Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi). Surrounding the Heavenly Lake are snow mountains, glacier forests and grassland alpine lakes, featuring a vertical natural landscape belt. It is a beautiful place to take a stroll around. Then you will also visit Southern Pasture. One of the most spectacular spots here is the West White Poplar Gully. Traveling through this narrow verdant gully is a unique experience for sightseers who love snowcapped peaks, waterfalls, dragon-spruce trees and wild flowers.
Day 15: Urumqi – Beijing by air (B)
Sightseeing: Summer Palace
You will depart for a flight to Beijing and transfer to the downtown hotel. Afterward, you will start the day with a trip to the Summer Palace, which has a history of over 800 years. All the man-made hills, halls, pavilions and temples, including Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, blend together harmoniously in spite of their individual styles.
Day 16: Beijing (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square / Forbidden City / Temple of Heaven
Today you will visit the Tiananmen Square which is considered as the largest square of the world. Subsequently, you visit the Forbidden City, the most complete imperial palace in China. And later you will also pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Temple of Heaven was built in the year 1420 and symbolized the meaning that the emperor can contact with the sky through it.
Tonight, enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner in a famous restaurant.
Day 17: Beijing (B+L)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall / Spirit Way / Ming Tomb
After breakfast, you will visit the Badaling Great Wall where you will experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. For lunch you'll sample some delicious fare in a local restaurant. Afterwards, take a short drive to visit the Spirit Way and one of Ming Tombs. Spirit Way is an impressive marble archway as well as the entrance to the Ming Tombs equipped with many animals and people statues on the left and on the right of the avenue.
Ming Tombs are the representative royal tombs of the Ming Dynasty tombs. 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty from 1368 to 1644 were buried there.
Day 18: Beijing – Next Destination (B)
The morning is at your leisure before boarding your flight back home.
Price
| Person | 1 | 2-5 | 6-9 | |
| Price per person( USD $ ) | 5 Star | 5766 | 3739 | 3249 |
| 4 Star | 5070 | 3388 | 2899 | |
| 3 Star | 4799 | 2368 | 2779 | |
Price list
Price Includes:
a. Entrance fees to all the scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary
b. Hotel accommodations with breakfast as specified (If there is no Western breakfast available, we have to arrange Chinese one instead)
c. All meals as specified in the itinerary. B=Western or Chinese breakfast, L=Chinese lunch in a local restaurant, D=Chinese dinner in a local restaurant
d. Internal flights including taxes and fuel fee or train/bus tickets as listed in the itinerary
e. Professional local guides and drivers in each destination city
f. Private Transfers between airports, docks, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in each destination city by the private air conditioned car or van
g. Luggage Transfers between airports/docks and hotels
h. Arrangements for the planning, handling, operational and communication charges
i. Government taxes.
Price excludes:
a. International air and train tickets for coming to and leaving from mainland China
b. Visa fee
c. Excess Baggage Charges
d. Meals which are not specified with "B", "L" or "D".
e. Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, tips to guides or drivers, FAX, telephone, excess baggage charges
f. Gratuities, tips to guides and drivers
g. Personal loss, illness or damages incurred during your trip
Remark : Quotations listed are valid excluding the periods of Chinese holidays and special events.

