With Leadership by Dr. Chris Carpenter!
HERITAGE OF SOUTHERN CHINA
A Journey through Wind-Rain Bridges to the Backbone of the Dragon. Including Hong Kong!
March 8-21, 2010

Join us on a thrilling journey of discovery through China's scenic south. On this expedition, we will venture off the beaten track in the mountain enclaves of Guangxi and Guizhou for extraordinary cultural sites. Then we will visit the amazing Buddhist caves at Dazu. Our adventure will culminate in the festivity of Hong Kong.

Our journey begins in a landscape of steep limestone hills and meandering rivers, the iconic landscape of southern China, whose misty silhouettes beckon travelers from across the world. Here in Guilin and nearby Yangshuo, farmhouses are set amidst overhanging crags and cormorants catch fish along the Li River. We'll enjoy the classic river journey on the Li River, as we admire this profound landscape.

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From Guilin, we'll follow back roads into a remote mountain landscape where several of China's distinctive ethnic minority groups, including the Yao, Dong, and Miao (Hmong), retain traditional lifestyles. Many of these people live in picturesque wooden villages that cling to steep hillsides. Their architecture - drum towers and Wind and Rain bridges - is unique in China. Although they gained minority status with the incursion of the Han Chinese into this area hundreds of years ago, each group today retains a strong sense of ethnic identity.

In this mountainous realm there is little opportunity for conventional farming so the local people, working by hand over centuries, have terraced the slopes extensively. In some places, the terraced rice fields are compared to the backbone of a dragon, or perhaps a life-sized topographic map. A complex system of pipes and canals transfers water to each terrace. Nearer the river, wooden paddlewheels harness the power of the river to lift water for irrigation. Tea plantations also thrive in this area.

Over the course of several days, we'll traverse this remote area, passing through numerous villages and staying overnight in larger towns far from the Western tourist circuit. Cultural highlights include wooden villages, old stone bridges, sacred banyan groves and lots of colorful, gracious people. Handicrafts particular to this area include beautifully-wrought silver ornamentation and hand-stitched textiles of the Miao, and the pounded indigo fabric of the Dong.

Our overland journey will terminate in the city of Guiyang. From here we'll fly to Chongqing on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, China's greatest waterway. After visiting the Buddhist grottoes at Dazu, we'll fly to Hong Kong for two memorable days and nights in this magic city!

We invite you to join us for an amazing journey to explore the rich heritage of Southern China and Hong Kong!

Trip Fee: $2,995 per person twin share + air $995 + tax from San Francisco to China RT, including in-tour flights Hong Kong-Guilin, Guiyang-Chongqing & Chongqing-Hong Kong.

Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)