China Tour - Spring 2012

Photos: Wuzhen, Kunming Stone Forest, Shangrila

About the Tour

This tour has time at the beginning and end to explore big cities (Shanghai and Hong Kong), but focuses on some of the most interesting and scenic places in China. The tour starts with a visit to Wuzhen, an ancient water village and continue to Hangzhou for a visit to famous West Lake and Meijiawu Tea Plantation Village. We will then fly to Kunming and visit the world renowned Kunming Botanical Garden and the Stone Forest. From Kunming we will travel north in Yunnan Province and visit three distinct and fascinating towns, Dali with a cruise on nearby ErHai (Ear lake), Lijiang with the ancient Naxi Minority and Shangrila with its beautiful Songzalin Tibetan Monastery. After Shangrila we will travel to Guilin and take a boat cruise on the Li River, with an opportunity to photograph the incredible mountain and water scenes made famous in Chinese painting. From Yangshou we will conclude the trip with a two day stopover in Hong Kong before flying back home. The trip will cover the gamut from quaint river side villages to the dramatic vista of Tiger Leaping Gorge and the beginning of the ethereal Tibetan plateau. Truly a trip to remember.

About the Tour Leader

The tour is led by David Bleyle, NWCC Board member and retired Foreign Service officer. David has served many years in China, most recently as the U.S. Consul General in
Chengdu, Sichuan Province.