Day 1: United States/Beijing
Today, fly from the United States to Beijing. Day 2: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing this evening and transfer to the hotel. Day 3: Beijing/Ming Tomb/Great Wall
This morning, visit the 300-year-old Ming Tomb, an underground palace rivaling that of a pharaoh. After lunch, drive to the Great Wall. Twisting over hills, mountains and valleys, the serpent-like monolith uncurls as far as the eye can see, defying the ages in a grand balancing act of sand, stone and brick. Day 4: Beijing/Forbidden City
Today, explore Beijing, the capital of China, with a visit to the Forbidden City. Built in 1406 by Emperor Yong Le, this grand palace is now a vast museum of painted and carved wood, metal and stone sculptures, buildings and dramatic courtyards. In the afternoon, fly to the multi-ethnic Chinese City of Xining. Day 5: Xining/Tibetan Plateau
Boarding jeeps, drive up onto the Tibetan plateau. Driving through vast grassy plains, you begin to see Tibetan herdsmen, their yaks and yurts dotting the green landscape. Carrying their homes on their yaks, these nomadic people endure by following the greening grass from season to season. Spend the evening in a primitive guest house. Day 6: Tibetan Plateau/Yangtze River
This morning, begin driving and arrive at the river put in at midday. Spend the afternoon rigging the boats and camp. Days 7-15: Yangtze River
Dramatically changing from day to day and bend to bend, the "River of Golden Sand" takes adventurers through wild canyons with eagles soaring overhead, past windswept dunes and vast sand beaches. Drift silently past ancient stone towns tucked into rolling green hills or carved from sheer canyon walls. Then, leaving all signs of man behind, enter narrow gorges, passing roaring tributaries and running wonderful Class 3 and 4 rapids. This is Tibet as few people have seen it, where the indigenous culture and wildlife (white deer, sheep and eagles) have had virtually no influence from the outside world. There is ample time to hike up to remote villages and visit working monasteries surrounded by colorful, wind-tattered silk prayer flags fluttering over walls of carved prayer stones. Inside the monasteries find exotically painted walls and carvings and possibly monk chanting. Women wear wonderful turquoise and silver jewelry and colorful dresses. You also have the opportunity to visit rarely explored ancient stone ruins ad spend an evening with a Tibetan family in their home. Day 16: Yangtze River/Yushu/Tibetan Plateau
This morning, reach the takeout. A short drive takes you to the small frontier city of Yushu. Nestled on a hill a thousand feet above the city is the Dunka Monastery, one of the few remaining active Buddhist temples in Tibet. Passing through the massive sculptured doors, you are rewarded with fantastically painted walls, ceilings, eaves, arches, beams, pillars, drums and altars, Each and every stroke has subtle brilliance. You then begin the overland journey back to Xining. |
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