Description

Day 1 Hangzhou
Upon arrival in Hangzhou, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for your leisure.

Day 2 Hangzhou (B/L) 
It was Hangzhou whose wealth and splendor flabbergasted Marco Polo. Your visit begins exactly as he recommends, with a tour by gondola of the West Lake’s elegant causeways and landscaped islands. Visit the idyllic Guozhuang Garden which offers the best views. Continue to the fascinating Huqingyutang Ancient Pharmacy, where traditional Chinese medicines are still dispensed today.

Day 3 Hangzhou – Yellow Mountain (B/L/D) 
In the morning an enjoyable drive brings us to the foot of the Yellow Mountain where we tour the ancient, picturesque villages for its stunning architectural beauty. White wall, black tile, horse-head gable and exquisite carvings on the brick, wood and stone, all reflect distinguished features of traditional Chinese architecture. Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun are UNESCO’s world heritage.

Check in at the Huashan hotel.

Day 4 Yellow Mountain (B/L/D)  
Huangshan, known as ‘the loveliest mountain of China’, was acclaimed through art and literature during a good part of Chinese history. Ride a cable car up to the summit and we check in at the North Sea or West Sea Hotel. Relax amidst this most romantic and poetic mountain of China and enjoy stunning views. A poet in the Ming Dynasty said “No one will care to see other mountains after touring the Yellow Mountain”. Enjoy a hike around the peaks appreciating its dramatic views.

Day 5 Yellow Mountain – Chengdu (B/L) 
Watch a magnificent sunrise if weather permits. Afterwards, we descend Yellow Mountain and take a leisurely walk through the historical street flanked by black brick houses and paved with rock slabs. This afternoon, fly to Chengdu, a city that has never lost its small town charm.

Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for your leisure.

Day 6 Chengdu (B/L)
This morning visit the Panda Research & Breeding Centre which conducts captive breeding programmes, educational tourism and scientific research into the endangered and much-loved icon of China. This afternoon visit the Sanxingdui Museum housing ancient Shu cultural relics unearthed from the Sanxingdui archaeological site. This evening is a traditional Sichuan operatic performance (B,L).

Day 7 Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou (B/L)
Fly north to Jiuzhaigou in the morning. This afternoon explore the scenic delights of Huanglong valley, made up of snow-capped peaks and glaciers. In addition to its mountain landscape, diverse forest ecosystems can be found, as well as spectacular limestone formations, waterfalls and hot springs. The area was declared a World Heritage Site in 1992 and is also home to many endangered species including the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snubnosed Monkey.

This afternoon visit local Amdo Tibetan Villages with time for a stroll to admire the well-preserved homes and quaint winding lanes. You’ll meet a family who resides there.

InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise (Club Intercontinental Room)

Day 8 Jiuzhaigou (B/L)
Head into the jagged Jiuzhaigou valley, the national park comprises a series of great scenic beauty with blue lakes, waterfalls, dramatic snow-capped peaks and nine Tibetan villages. Its superb landscapes are particularly interesting for their series of narrow conic karst land forms and spectacular waterfalls. Some 140 bird species also inhabit the valley, as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the giant panda and the Sichuan takin.

InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise (Club Intercontinental Room)

Day 9 Jiuzhaigou – Chengdu (B/D)
Transfer for flight back to Chengdu.
This afternoon, Wander through the bustling “broad and narrow” alleys, a refurbished historical area. Explore Chengdu People’s Park, where you can catch titbits of everyday life. Visit Jinsha Archeological Museum, home to the relics of an ancient kingdom predating Chinese settlement, or Landing Art District, a center of contemporary art.

Enjoy a Sichuanese dinner, famous for its spiciness and numbing peppercorns.

Day 10 Chengdu (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

DEPARTURE DATES 2019