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16-day China Fairyland
Sichuan and Henan Tour Itinerary
Chengdu / Shuimuo / Maoxian / Songpan / Huanglong / Jiuzhai Valley / Mt Emei /
Mt Leshan / Zhengzhou / Yuntaishan / Anyang / Kaifeng / Dengfeng / Luoyang
08-23 Oct 2017
Day 0/07 Oct
Canadian Departures
Board your flight to Chengdu from Vancouver International Airport.
Day 1/08 Oct
Arrive Chengdu (main group arrive by KA820, arrival time 12:55pm)
Arrive Chengdu. If you are arriving by flight KA820 at 12:55pm or via another carrier around the same time, you will
be met and transferred to your hotel with the main group
(if your flight arrives at a different time, you will need to arrange your own transfer to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon
free at leisure)
Hotel: St. Regis Hotel Chengdu (5*)
Day 2/09 Oct
Chengdu/Shuimuo Ancient town/ Maoxian County (B/L/D)
Transfer to Shuimo Ancient Town at Yingxiu, by coach – about a two hour drive. Located at the southern extremity
of the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Yingxiu was at the epicentre of the 2008 Wenchuan
Earthquake. The people of the Yingxiu are a mix of Han nationality and ethnic minorities. Shiumo Ancient Town was
referred to as the “town of longevity” since the Shang Dynasty, a reference it retains. The town has been reconstructed
– there are no signs of the devastating earthquake. Transfer to Maoxian County - about 3-1/2 hours – for an overnight
stay in Maoxian City.
Hotel: Jiudingshan International Hotel (best in town)
Day 3/10 Oct
Maoxian/Songpan/Huanglong/Jiuzhaigou (B/L/D)
Today, transfer to Jiuzhai Valley (Jiuzhaigou) by coach. On your way from Maoxian to Jiuzhai Valley there will be two
sightseeing opportunities: Songpan Ancient City and the Huanglong Valley. Songpan Ancient City was originally
built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Songpan was an
important military post and an important economic and trading centre for horses and tea between Sichuan, Gansu,
Qinghai and Tibet. The Huanglong Valley (Huanglong National Scenic Reserve) is located in the northwest of
Sichuan Province. A mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks where China's easternmost glaciers are located,
the valley contains diverse forest ecosystems, spectacular limestone formations, waterfalls and hot springs. The area
also harbours a population of endangered animals, including the giant panda and the Sichuan golden snub-nosed
monkey.
Hotel: InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise (5*) - 3 nights
Day 4/11 Oct
Jiuzhaigou Valley (B/L/D)
Jiuzhaigou Valley means “Valley of Nine Fortified Villages”. It is a nature reserve and national park located in the
north of Sichuan province. The valley is part of the Min Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and occupies
over 72,000 hectares. It is famous for its many multi-level waterfalls, colourful lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Its
elevation ranges from 2,000m to 4,500m. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Jiuzhaigou
is composed of three valleys arranged in a Y shape. During your two days here you will tour these three main Valleys:
Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zezhawa Valley.
Day 5/12 Oct
Touring Jiuzhai Valley (B/L/D)
Continue touring Jiuzhai Valley.
Day 6/13 Oct
Jiuzhai Valley/Chengdu/Dujiangyan (B/L/D) (Domestic flight)
Enjoy a short flight back to Chengdu. On arrival visit the Sichuan Provincial Museum which features a large
collection of relics dating back to the Warring States period - and in particular from the Shu-Han dynasty (221-263AD).
Transfer to Dujiangyan by coach, where you will visit yet another World Cultural Heritage site, the Dujiangyan
Irrigation System on the Min River in Sichuan province. It was constructed around 256 BC by the Kingdom of Qin to
provide irrigation water and to control the Minjiang River. The Minshan mountain range's annual water surge caused
death and destruction. An official in the Kingdom of Qin, Li Bing, decided to build an artificial levee in the river to
control the flooding. Its construction is believed to have been financed by King Zhao of Qin who was seeking to
strengthen his kingdom and to conquer the kingdoms around him. The system's construction required tens of
thousands of labourers. On its completion, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System eliminated the flooding and provided this
Sichuan area in the Kingdom of Qin with abundant harvests, and the area surrounding Chengdu developed into one of
the breadbaskets of China. The irrigation system is still in use today, irrigating over 5,300 sq km in the region. The
Dujiangyan is one of the three great hydraulic engineering projects of the Qin Dynasty, the other two being the
Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi Province and the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi Province.
Hotel: Howard Johnson Conference Resort (5*)
Day 7/14 Oct
Dujiangyan/Mount Emei (B/L/D)
This morning you will visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, a Giant Panda breeding and research centre located at
the foot of Mount Qingcheng. Funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government, the base is committed to
preserving this endangered species and its natural habitat. We will continue on to Emei City, about a 3-1/2
hour drive, for an overnight stay. Your resort hotel is located in a beautiful mountain forest setting and features 36
indoor and outdoor hot-springs. After hotel check-in, you can enjoy the hot springs on your own at your own
expense.
Hotel: Hongzhu Shan Hotel (5*) - 2 nights
Day 8/15 Oct
Mount Emei (B/L/D)
To spare you from a very long hike, ascend to Mount Emei's 3,079m Golden Summit by cable car. Mount Emei is
one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. Its rich Buddhist cultural heritage dates back over 2,000 years and it
is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China in the first century AD. The site has 76 Buddhist monasteries
of the Ming and Qing period, most of them located near the summit. The monasteries reveal a more fluid architectural
style that adapts to the landscape - the standard plans of Buddhist monasteries of earlier periods were modified or
ignored to accommodate the magnificent natural setting. Some, such as the halls of Baoguosi, are built on terraces of
varying levels, while others, including the structures of Leiyinsi, are built on stilts. The venue consists of
archaeological sites, tombs, ritual spaces, and collections of cultural artifacts which include sculpture, stone
inscriptions, calligraphy, painting, and music, and other traditional arts.
Day 9/16 Oct
Mount Emei/Mount Leshan/Chengdu (B/L/D)
Today we will take about a 45 minute drive to Leshan City, renowned for its massive seated image of the
Bodhisattva Maitreya. (A bodhisattva is an enlightened person who compassionately refrains from
entering nirvana in order to save others.) Carved into a cliff face dominating the confluence of the Dadu
and Min rivers, it has a height of 71 metres which makes it among the largest Buddhas in the world.
Begun in 713 AD and taking 90 years to build, it was hoped that Buddha’s presence would bring safety to
that section of the river. Then we will take about a three hour drive back to Chengdu. On arrival you can enjoy
some evening leisure time at Kuan & Zhai Alley. Once a traditional old Chengdu neighbourhood, Kuan & Zhai Alley is
now a revitalized and bustling pedestrian street. Restaurants, shops, tea houses and cafes occupy ancient buildings,
creating a modern twist on an ancient town.
Hotel: St. Regis Hotel Chengdu (5*)
Day 10/17 Oct
Chengdu/Zhengzhou (B/L/D) (Domestic flight)
Morning flight to Zhengzhou. Lunch on arrival. Visit a scenic Yellow River spot before hotel check-in.
Hotel: JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou (5*)
Day 11/18 Oct
Zhengzhou/Mount Yuntai (B/L/D)
Full day tour of Yuntaishan Global Geopark. The Yuntai Landform represents the typical geological heritage of the
neotectonic movement that occurred some 23 million years ago. The Geopark is divided into five parts: Yuntaishan,
Shennongshan, Qinglongxia, Fenglinxia, and Qingtianhe scenic areas. The Geopark's special features include the
hanging springs and waterfalls of the Yuntaishan area, the gorges and mountain streams of the Qinglongxia area, the
towering rock walls of the Fenglinxia area, the crystal clear waters of the Qingtianhe River, and the Dragon Crest
Ridge of the Shennong Mountain. Overnight at Mount Yuntai.
Hotel: Yuntaishan Tianjie International Hotel (4* best in town)
Day 12/19 Oct
Mount Yuntai/Anyang (B/L/D)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. A three hour drive will take you to one of the
ancient capitals of China, Anyang. First you'll visit Youli Castle in Tangyin County. This is where the first Zhou
dynasty emperor Zhou Wen-Wang was imprisoned and humiliated by the last Shang king Di Xin - making it effectively
the place where the first historical dynastic takeover of China was instigated. An ancient Daoist enclave, this is where
the I-Ching (Book of Changes) originated and is thus the origin of trigram divination - a significant part of Daoist
mysticism and fundamental to Feng Shui. Explore temples, statues, and imperial steles and learn about Bagua and
the emperor Wen-Wang. Later, head to Museum of Chinese Characters to view more than 4,000 character relics
which includes inscriptions on bones, tortoise shells, ancient bronze, bamboo, silk, etc. Continue on to the UNESCO
World Heritage Site - Yinxu - the ruins of Yin, capital of the Shang Dynasty (1350–1046 BC).
Hotel: Wanda Realm Anyang (5*)
Day 13/20 Oct
Anyang/Kaifeng (B/L/D)
This morning you will be driven to Kaifeng - about a 3-1/2 hour drive. Visit the Grand Xiangguo Monastery, a
famous Buddhist monastery built during the Northern Qi Dynasty. Damaged by war and fire, it was re-built in 711
during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After lunch, you will visit Millennium City Park on the west shore of Longting
Lake. This theme park is a proportionately scaled rendition of the panoramic scene on the 15m silk scroll Riverside
Scenes at the Qingming Festival painted by Zhang Zeduan, a famous Northern Song Dynasty artist. Later, you will go
to view the Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng, a Buddhist pagoda built in 1049 and a Song Dynasty architectural masterpiece.
This 13-storey pagoda is made of brick, but is so-named because its brick resembles the colour of iron.
Hotel: Pullman Kaifeng Jianye Hotel (5*)
Day 14/21 Oct
Kaifeng/Dengfeng/Luoyang (B/L/D)
In the morning, visit Dragon Pavilion (Longting), an imperial palace relic of the Song and Jin dynasties. It
has been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout its long history, most recently in 1994 having
collapsed during a heavy rainstorm. Next, drive about one hour to Dengfeng for a Shaolin Kung Fu
experience. You’ll first visit Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Kung Fu and the birthplace of Zen (Chan)
Buddhism. You'll continue on to the Pagoda Forest – so-named because the site is filled with hundreds of
tightly grouped stone pagodas, memorials to past monks. Your Kung Fu experience completes with a
magnificent half hour Kung Fu Show in the Shaolin Wushu Hall during which Shaolin Boxing, Shaolin Stick
Fighting, and Tongzigong, among others, are demonstrated. A 1-1/2 hour drive will take you to Luoyang.
Hotel: Christian Hotel (5*)
Day 15/22 Oct
Luoyang/Zhengzhou (B/L/D)
Visit Luoyang Museum to view its vast collection of Luoyang cultural relics. In the afternoon visit another
UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Longmen Grottoes. Densely scattered along the cliffs on both banks of
the Yi River, the grottoes consist of the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late
Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). You’ll tour the major caves, including the grotto Fengxian
Temple, Guyang Cave, and Three Bingyang Caves - all contain significant displays of Buddhist sculptures
and calligraphic inscriptions. Then visit White Horse Temple, built during the Western Han Dynasty (206
BC–220 AD) and regarded as the “No.1 Ancient Temple under Heaven”. Back to Zhengzhou – about a two
hour drive - for your overnight accommodation.
Hotel: JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou (5*)
Day 16/23 Oct
Zhengzhou/Hong Kong or homebound flight (B) (KA741 1620/1855)
Transfer to Zhengzhou Airport for your flight to Hong Kong or to your home city.
(If your flight is earlier than 4:20pm, you have to arrange your own transfer to Zhengzhou Airport)
Bon Voyage!
China land cost
For a minimum party of 10-15 pax
Twin/Double sharing: CAD4220 per person
Single supplement: CAD1995
For minimum party of 16 pax or more
Twin/Double sharing: CAD3990 per person
Single supplement: CAD1995
Extras:
Transpacific airfare
Prepaid tipping: CAD220 per person
China visa if applicable: CAD175 per person (I can help to apply in Vancouver for Canadian
passport holders, others has to apply visa in their own country)
Person incidentals
3 nights Hong Kong Extension (23-26 Oct 2017)
If stay at 4* Prudential Hotel: CAD650 per person based on twin sharing
5* Royal Garden Hotel: CAD880 per person based on twin sharing
Includes:3 nights hotel accommodate with daily breakfast
Hong Kong Airport – Hotel – Hong Kong Airport transfer by airport shuttle bus (join in
program)
Half day Hong Kong Island city tour (join in program)
Exclude:Airfare from Zhengzhou to Hong Kong
Tipping to guide and driver
Personal incidentals