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230 RMB
Great Wall Hiking 1 day
Drive from Beijing to Jinshanling, 3 hours drive;
Hike from Jinshanlin to Simatai, 7 miles, 30 towers; 3-4 hours hike on old brick-made steps.
This part of the wall has both renovated parts and origional parts of the wall.
For fast hikers, you may keep hiking to the eastern part of the great wall till the 12th tower and head back to Simatai. Simatai Great Wall lies in Miyun County at the northern border of Beijing, about 120 kilometers from the city. Built in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, it is connected to Jinshanling Great Wall.
Built on steep mountain slopes, it rises and falls sharply but has every essential structure a Great Wall ought to have -- walls, watchtowers and parapets. In some extremely steep places, it only has a single wall with firing holes. On a 1,000-meter-high mountain peak a watchtower was built. It is said that on fine days people can see the lights of Beijing City at night and the Dagoba of Beihai Park by day, hence the name the Watching-Beijing Tower. Observant visitors may find a section of the wall with bricks carved with text indicating the makers of the bricks, some military, some civilian.
Itinerary
Day 2 Wed 27-Dec-06
Destination: Beijing to Harbin
--St. Sophia Church : It's the first Orthodox Church in the far east, now serves as the comprehensive museum run by the provincial government.The architecture style is acclaimed as the model of western churches.
--Chinese-Russian Market: In this market, you will be able to find fresh water pearls, mink pelts, fur hats, Russian dolls and imports, Chinese antiques of ivory, jade and coral, fossils, and petrified wood.
Siberia Tiger Park: The new Siberia Tiger Park was opened in 1996 on Sun Island. A large recreational district is currently under development, featuring gardens, swimming lakes, cafes, and a hunting range.You can take a special vehicle into the area where you can closely watch the tigers, what's more exciting , there is a series of animals you can choose to feed tigers.The scene is unique in the world.
--Harbin Ice Lantern: Zhaolin Ice Lantern.Fanciful sculpture are made in the shapes of animals, plants, buildings etc. Some of the larger ones have included a crystalline ice bridge. At night the sculpture are illuminated from the inside with coloured lights, turn the place into a temporary fantast-land.
--Center Street : First built in 1925, Center Street is the most prosperous street in Harbin. It is also an architecture art gallery with the building in many kind of the styles such as Baroque, Eclecticism and so on.
--Ice and Snow Sculpture Gallery : It is the largest Ice and Snow Sculpture Gallery in the world. Drawing the high quality snow material from Songhua River and carved by skillful professors, these Ice Lanterns and other exquisite fine articles are in various shapes and shining colors, displaying the culture and art of Ice Sculpture.
D1 : December 31, 2006
08:00
The cruise ship set sail from Chongqing city. Departs Chongqing in the night about 10pm.
15:30-18:30
In the afternoon, go ashore to visit Snow-Jade Cave. The balance of the day is free to explore the ship's many amenities. Tonight, you are our guests at the captain's coctail party. Shore excursion&emdash;The Ghost City
D2
07:00-07:30
Passing through the first--Qutang gorge - framed by steep mossy cliffs.
08:30-09:30
Passing through the second--Wu gorge - celebrated for its 12 peaks. At Badong, transfer to a small cruiser for an excitng excursion on Shenlong Stream to view its breathtaking small gorges.
11:30-16:30
Shore excursion--shennong stream boat trip
18:00
Passing through the ship-lock of the new three gorges dam
D3
08:00-10:30
Shore excursion&emdash;the new three gorges dam
10:30-11:00
Passing through the third gorge-Xiling gorge - the last and most scenic of all the gorges. Stop at Sandouping to view the historic Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric project in the world.
12:00
Disembakation in Yichang city
The Three Gorges Dam has become a symbol of China's efforts to join the modern world. Dr. Sun Yat Sen first suggested the dam in 1919, but it was not begun until 1994 and will not be completed until 2009. When completed, the Three Gorges Dam will be the world's largest at 7.575 feet long and 594 feet high. The reservoir behind the dam will reach 410 miles (about half the length of California) up the Yangtze to Chongqing. Workers numbering between 20,000 and 30,000 have been working in shifts on a 24-hour schedule since 1994. A rough estimate of the total cost of the projection (including inflation) is as high as $70 billion.
The dam's main purpose is to improve flood control and navigation on the river. In addition, the dam will increase electric power production in China by 20% in central China where it is really needed.
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The dam will yield the same amount of electricity as 20 nuclear power plants! Finally, the dam will boost fisheries, tourism, and recreational activities in the area, and may be able to be used for irrigation for the drought-prone provinces north of the Yangtze. However, the dam has been controversial since its inception because of the 1.5 million people who will need to be resettled from over 1,000 towns and villages and the loss of precious farmland, endangered animal species, and historical sites. Some opponents also fear that the reservoir will quickly become polluted from the waste that will continue to be dumped directly into the river, with no outlet. The Yangtze also carries a large amount of sediment, so the area will have to be constantly dredged.
The river was blocked in June 2003 at the end of phase 2 of the construction project, and the waters have started to rise. Currently it is 443 feet above sea level, but will eventually reach 575 feet above sea level in 2009. There are markers along the cliff faces of the Yangtze showing the current and ultimate depths of the river. Some of the cliffs over the river will be dynamited to prevent causing future problems to navigation.
Cruising the Three Gorges
The Three Gorges stretch upriver from the dam 118 miles towards Chongqing. Qutang Gorge is closest to Chongqing and at 5 miles is the shortest and most dramatic with 500 foot cliffs that have Mesozoic limestone peaks topping out at over 4,000 feet. The Wu Gorge is also noted for its sheer cliffs and 12 cloud-covered mountains. The third gorge and the one closest to the dam is the Xiling Gorge. It stretches over 41 miles and its cliffs looks much like an elegant Chinese painted scroll. Passengers on cruise ships usually leave their ships behind and board small sampans to tour the Lesser Three Gorges in one of the Yangtze's tributaries. The rising waters have made this area more accessible.
Yangtze River cruise ships such as the Viking River Cruises' Century Star leaving Chongqing usually stop in Fuling to allow passengers to ride a hydrofoil up the Wu River to see the beautiful Lotus Cave limestone rock formations. The river cruise ships also stop at Shibaozhai (the Stone Treasure Stockade) on the northern bank of the Yangtze. This stone temple is a 12-story wooden structure built on a huge rock bluff. The Stone Treasure Stockade was built during the Qing dynasty (1662-1722). Fortunately, the temple is high enough that it will survive the rising waters, although its bluff will become an island in the new lake.
Passengers cruising the Yangtze get to stop at the construction site to see the thousands of workers toiling away. The project has an information center with photos and graphics demonstrating the status of the construction and explaining what you are seeing. After cruising the Yangtze for a week, passengers disembark at Wuhan for the flight to Shanghai. Note that cruises also run from Wuhan upstream to Chongqing.
Sailing the Yangtze at any time has to be a memorable trip. However, with the ongoing construction, visitors today can return in the next decade to see how the scenery has changed!
Day 1 Tue 26-Dec-06
Service Provided: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing).
Day 2 Wed 27-Dec-06 / Beijing to Harbin
Take a morning flight to Harbin on Air China CA1603 Dep 7:35AM - Arr 9:15AM, visit to Harbin Ice Lantern, Center Street, Ice and Snow
Sculpture Gallery, Siberia Tiger Park. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, stay in Harbin Fushun Tiantian hotel *****
Day 3 Thu 28-Dec-06 / Harbin to Changchun
Take a train to Changchun, visit to Chinese-Russian Market, River Cruise Songhuajiang, St.
Sophia Church. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, stay in Shangri-la Changchun *****
Note: River Cruise (not included the ice ski in winter)
Day 4 Fri 29-Dec-06 / Changchun to Beijing
Visit to Puppet State's Imperial Palace, then take a flight to Beijing on CA1650 1220-1410, drive to Xiushui street.Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, stay in Courtyard(R) by Marriott(R) Beijing.
Day 5 Sat 30-Dec-06 / Beijing to Chongqing to Yangtze(No stop in Chengdu)
Transfer to airport and flight to Chongqing on Air China CA1409 Dep 3:20PM - Arr 5:45PM , on board for Century star.
Day 6 Sun 31-Dec-06 / Yangtze
Accommodation: Century Star
Service Provided: Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City or New Wanxian
County; Enjoy Captain's welcome party and Welcome Crew Show in the
evening. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Day 7 Mon 01-Jan-07 / Yangtze
Accommodation: Century Star
Service Provided: Shore excursion to Shennong Stream; Pass through the
five-step ship locks. Enjoy Farewell Party in the evening.(B,L,D)
Day 8 Tue 02-Jan-07 / Yangtze to Yichang to Chengdu
Take a flight to Chongqing on 3U8722 1200-1300, then transfer CA4419 1555-1640 from Chongqing - Chengdu.
Note: 3U8718 is closed, so you will have to go up to the airport in advance.stay in Century holiday hotel *****
Day 9 Wed 03-Jan-07 / Chengdu to Lhasa
Take a flight to Lhasa on Air China CA4401 Dep 8:00AM - Arr 9:55AM, visit to The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street. Chinese Lunch, stay in Lhasa Brahmaputra Grand Hotel***** (2nights)
Day 10 Thu 04-Jan-07 / Lhasa
Accommodation: Lhasa Brahmaputra Grand Hotel*****
Visit to The Potala Palace, The Tibetan Family, Sera Monastery,
Norbulingka. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Day 11 Fri 05-Jan-07 / Lhasa to Shigatse
Visit to Tashilunpo Kloster, The Palgor Chorten, Yomdrok Lake.Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, stay in Shigatse Hotel ***
Day 12 Sat 06-Jan-07 / Shigatse to Tsetang/Zedang
Visit to Samye Monastery, Yumbulagang Palace. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, stay in Tsetang Hotel ***
Day 13 Sun 07-Jan-07 / Tsetang/Zedang to Beijing
Visit to Changzhu Monastery and Tombs of the Tubo Kings, Take a flight to Beijing on CA4111 1605-2130. Breakfast, Chinese Lunch.
Stay in Courtyard(R) by Marriott(R) Beijing
Day 14 Mon 08-Jan-07 / Beijing to Departure City
Transfer to airport for departure. Breakfast