WOMEN'S TOUR
Pearls, jade, cloisonne, gardens, silk, fabrics, food. Yes, unashamedly female and loving it. This a tour for the girls. Celebrate International Women's Day 2011 in Beijing at a village within the city, visit beautiful Suzhou for gardens and silk, see sexy Shanghai, and historic Xi'an. If you are on your own, you will meet new friends. Divorced, single or having a holiday from the family- women travelling alone are catered for by CHINA BIRDS.
Day One 26/02/2011- Saturday. Melbourne
Arrive at Melbourne Airport at 22:00. Meet at the Singapore Airlines check in counter.
Day Two 27/02/2011- Sunday. Melbourne/Singapore/Shanghai
Leave Melbourne 01:05 by SQ218 ( dep. time may may change slightly, will be confirmed on ticket), arrive Singapore 05;45. Transit in Singapore SQ828. Leave 07:35, arrive Shanghai 12:45 in the afternoon. Met by local tour guide and after the luggage is loaded into the coach, try the famous Magnetic train which is the fastest train in the world (speed 460 kmph). Get off at Long Yang station, the terminal of the magnetic train. Coach will meet group there. Transfer to hotel and have a rest. See the Bund before dinner. (D)
Day Three 28/02/2011 Monday, Shanghai
Just added to the Shanghai itinerary- visit to a textile warehouse and a visit to Monalisa Stitch for crosstitch materials and beautiful finished work ! monalisastitch.com
Visit the famous Yu Yuan Garden, an exquisite small garden in the old part of the city. Close by is a fascinating market area - the buildings are new but they have been done in the old Chinese style.
In the afternoon- Shanghai Museum, which has jade, paintings, costumes, sculpture and furniture. Wonderful. Xin Tian Di follows, an old area of Shanghai which has been re-vamped without losing it's charm. Here we will look at the Shikumen House, a house set-up to look as it did in the 1930s, with all the domestic paraphernalia, clothes, photos from that era. Three stories of treasures. We will also visit a pearl factory. (B,L,D)
Day Four 01/03/2011 Tuesday Shanghai/Suzhou
Depart for Suzhou by coach after breakfast.Suzhou is known for gardens, silk and beautiful women! Today, we are the latter group and enjoy the world famous Humble Administrator's garden, and Tiger Hill, which is a public park with beautiful gardens and an ancient pagoda. At the Silk Factory, we will learn about silk production from silk worms to the finished product. There is a large showroom and shop attached. Lunch will be in a restaurant at the factory complex (Western-style buffet). We then will experience Shantong Street, an old Suzhou Street, very quaint, and enjoy a cruise along the canal (Suzhou is a little like Venice - many canals). (B,L,D)
Day Five 02/03/11 Wednesday Suzhou
After breakfast, leave by coach for Shanghai. Free for the rest of the day to enjoy the hotel and its facilities. Try some shopping or take a taxi to The Bund and Nanjing Road. Some ladies may want use this day for appointments relating to their businesses. (B)
Day Six 03/03/11 Thursday Suzhou/Shanghai
Transfer to Shanghai Pudong airport after breakfast. Fly to Xi'an by MU292 at 11:50, arrive at 15:30. Visit Bell Tower and City Wall. Transfer to hotel after dinner. Enjoy Dumpling Dinner and beautiful Tang Dynasty show. (B,L,D)
Day Seven 04/03/11 Friday Shanghai/Xi'an
Visit Terracotta Warriors in morning. In afternoon, learn about the life of a woman in the Tang Dynasty - the Lady Yang, concubine to the Emperor. We visit Huaqing Pool, a spa complex from those ancient times, where Emperor and concubine would bathe. Beautiful gardens and mountains as a backdrop. In the afternoon, we go to a rural area and met local farmers and learn about their lives ( particularly women). (B,L,D)
Day Eight 05/03/11 Saturday Xi'an
In the morning, see Big Wild Goose pagoda, with it's marvellous art and sculpture and gardens. Close by is the Artists' Street with art supplies, market stall, galleries and interesting things to see. Visit the Banpo Museum which was built on the site of a Neolithic village. Enjoy seeing relics and artifacts and learning about the matriarchal culture. (B,L,D)
Day Nine 06/03/11 Sunday Xi'an
Fly to Beijing by MU2109 at 09:00, arrive at 10;40. See the sights at the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square and walk Beijing's most famous shopping Street - Wan Fu Jin. We find out about Chinese traditional medicine at Tong Ren Tang. (B,L,D note breakfast may be a packed box from the hotel, as we are leaving so early.)
Day Ten 07/03/11 Monday Xi'an/Beijing
The Great Wall in the morning, followed by the Ming Tombs and the Spirit Way. A Hu Tong Tour - the old laneways of Beijing by rickshaw - may include a visit to a kindergarten if possible, or a home. Close by is the home of one of the most significant women in China's recent history - Madame Sun Yat Sen. We will visit and learn about her amazing life. (B,L,D)
International Women's Day. 1910, Suggested at the first International Women's Conference held in Copenhagen by important German socialist Clara Zetkin. No date suggested. Then March 8th chosen as it was the date of protests by women textile workers in America in 1857 and of the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, in New York which killed over 140 women workers in 1911.
Day Eleven 08/03/11 Tuesday Beijing- International Women's Day.
Special Women's Day events. Spend a day at Gaobeidian Village, which is a village within Beijing. Enjoy a visit to a middle school or kindergarten. Learn how to cook dumplings and sample them as part of lunch. Learn how to do Chinese craft work- chiffon flowers, padded embroidery or paper cuts. Try ribbon dancing and drumming in the park. An extra special Peking Duck Banquet will complete the Women's Day celebrations- and several Chinese ladies will join our group for that dinner. Each member of our group will receive 2 sets of Women's Day ribbons to wear and to give away to a new friend. Purple, white and green. See Note below about Gaobeidian Village. (B.L.D)
Day Twelve 09/03/11 Wednesday Beijing
Visit Summer Palace, where the royal family went to escape the summer heat. Marvel at the lake, the long corridor and the marble boat. The Temple of Heaven is another link with the imperial family, a place of worship and sacrifice. The cobalt blue tiled roofs with gold knobs are reminiscent of emperor's hats. Hopefully we can see the locals ballroom dancing and performing opera and playing shuttlecock in the gardens around the Temple of Heaven. Lastly, the 798 art area where we can wander around studios and galleries, enjoying the many large outdoor sculptures, trying to picture this area as it once was- the munitions factory precinct. The art is traditional or avant garde- and quirky. Back to hetel around 16;30 and free for the rest of the day. Shopping ? Foot massage? Dinner ? Sleep? Your choice! ( B,L)
Day Thirteen 10/03/11 Thursday Free day in Beijing
Check out after breakfast and leave the luggage in the hotel- we will have one room with late check-out. Enjoy Yashou where you can eat, have a massage and manicure and shop for bargains. Or, Silk Street or Hongqiao Market which are similar. Or, take a taxi to the zoo to see the pandas. You may wish to return to Tiananmen Square. There are lots of possibilities- this is your day! Enjoy! Picked up by guide at 19:00. Taken to airport. Check in at Singapore counter. (B)
Day Fourteen 11/03/11 Friday Melbourne
Depart for Melbourne at 00:15 by Singapore SQ801, arrive Singapore at 07:00. Connect SQ237. Leave at 09:55, arrive Melbourne at 19:15 in evening.
Cost : $3,694.00 per person twin share, $800.00 per person single supplement.
Includes:
- International air ticket by Singapore Airlines (Economy class)
- Accommodation in China ( 5 star in Beijing and Shanghai, 4 star in Suzhou and Xi'an)
- Meals and sightseeing as per itinerary
- English-speaking guide
- Visa fee and transportation for the group as per the itinerary including domestic flights.
Does not include:
- Departure tax and all related surcharge (around $490.00)
- Tipping ($10.00 per day)
- Travel insurance.
China Birds with Premier Towns Travel ( Licensed 31514)
Please note:
- Itinerary and arrangements may change due to situations beyond the organiser's control.
- * Men are welcome of course, but this itinerary is designed with women in mind!
- Deposits of $500.00 can be made by cheque made out to Premier Towns Travel, sent via China Birds Pty Ltd, Box 210, Port Fairy 3284
- Direct transfer can be made. Call 55681343 for those details
- Di Clanchy will travel with the group.
- At least one pre-tour meeting will be held.
Gaobeidian Village
Gaobeidian, a one thousand-year-old village is only 20 minutes drive from the heart of Beijing. The village is also situated next to the Tonghui River- part of the man-made canal connecting Tongzhou to Chengwen men. In days gone by, Gaobeidian was a port and docklans area, where food and supplies were unloaded and transferred to the capital. Nowadays, it is a place with quite modern buildings, looking much like the rest of Beijing. But it is still a village at heart, with a community hall and park, and schools and other facilities. It is also very famous for traditional Chinese furniture making and repairing. It covers an area of 2.7 kilometres and supports 180,000 people.
Optional Tour To Shanxi Province
Walk the cobblestones in ancient Pingyao, stay in a traditional inn ( all modern conveniences) and sleep in a kang bed. Marvel at the 1,500 year old Buddhist Grottoes near Datong, and the Hanging Monastery on the way to Pingyao. Then there's the courtyard house and the temples and the cuisine. You'll love Shanxi.
Day 14 10/03/2011 Thursday Beijing/Datong
Take the morning flight from Beijing at 07:25 arrive at 08:25. Met by local tour guide, upon arrival. Transfer to hotel. Leave your luggage and check in. Day tour in Datong :
Yungang Grottoes: a World Heritage site. Large and small Buddhas carved into the cliffs and some carved inside grottoes and caves. Smallest is 2 centimetres, the largest is around 17 metres high. This is one of three Large Buddhist grottoes in China with building commencing 1,500 years ago.
Nine Dragon Screen : Ming Dynasty Screen, the largest Nine Dragon Screen in China.
The upper and lower Huayuan temple: the Buddhist sect known as Huayan was established during the Tang Dynasty and monasteries were named after it. The temple was built in Liao dynasty and a representative temple in Liao and Jin dynasty. ( L,D)
Our modern hotel is furnished with furniture and fittings done in the Chinese style. Beds are western with beautiful carved headheads.
Day 15 11/03/2011 Fri: Datong/Hanging Temple/ Qiao Courtyard House/Ping Yao Ancient Town
Leave the hotel after breakfast and drive for 1.5 hours to Hanging Temple or Monastery which is a temple with 1,400 years of history, a unique building which seems to hang in mid-air, although attached to the cliffs. Shrine rooms house finely decorated statues, some rooms combining images of deities from 3 major philosophies. The approach is easy with a safe path.
After visiting the templewe take a 4 hour drive through the countryside to The House of the Qiaos. This courtyard-style house was owned by the Qiao family, one of the richest families in China.
Pingyao Ancient City is our last stop. The hotel is a traditional inn- with all modern conveniences. Rosewood furniture, antiques. A highlight is the kang bed, a large bed with comfortable mattress, and plenty of quilts. In the cold weather, in past times, coals were added through a special little door under the framework. You will sleep like a princess. ( B,L,D)
Day 16 12/03/2011 Sat. Pingyao
Whole day in Pingyao Ancient City. Go back in time as you stroll around Pingyao, on your city tour. The city has a complete city wall built around 1370. The cobblestoned streets, the houses, and shops have been well preserved. The Ming and Qing Street, the city walls, and gate, the ancient County Hall built in the Ming Dynasty, the first bank in China, are all places which we will visit. Note the exquisite decorations, horse stakes and stones for dismounting. Great shops sell all kinds of clothes, jewellery and many other items. Think grey, mostly single-storied buildings and grey-tiled roofs. ( B,L,D)
Day 17 13/03/2010 Sun Pingyao/Taiyuan
Leave for Taiyuan, provincial capital after breakfast . On way, visit Jinci Temple, surrounded by water, mountains, ancient timber pavilions and clean springs. Arrive Taiyuan for lunch. Free at your leisure after city tour. Enjoy some free time before leaving for home.Enjoy the special Shanxi Noodle dinner with vinegar. Delicious. ( B,L,D).
Day 18 14/03/2011 Mon Taiyuan/Beijing/Melbourne
Transfer to airport after breakfast and leave for Beijing by CA146 at 09:50, arrive Beijing at 10: 55. Take a break at airport and check in at Singapore Airlines counter. Leave Beijing by SQ805 at 16:00 arrive Singapore at 21:15 connect SQ237 leave at 23:35 (B).
Day 19 15/03/2011 Tues Melbourne
Arrive Melbourne 08:19. Travel home.
Cost of tour: $ 1,090.00 per person twin share. $ 250.00 pp sing. sup.
Including : 1) Air ticket Beijing/Datong/Taiyuan/Beijing
2) Transportation Shanxi
3) English-speaking guide
4) Meals and sightseeing as per the itinerary
5) Hotel accomodation
Not including: 1) Personal expenses
2) Tipping - $10.00 per day
3) Insurance
Note tour based on 10 persons, may cost more if less than 10. Available ONLY to those doing the Women's Tour 2011. Please see notes relating to Women's Tour above.
Di Clanchy, Box 210, Port Fairy, 3284
61 3 5568 1343, 0408361552
