13-Nights Tailor Made China: Wonders of Yunnan - Luxury Tailor Made Travel — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made China: Wonders of Yunnan

Day 1 BEIJING, CHINA

Upon arrival into Beijing, you are met at your gate by an airport representative, assisted with immigration and customs, and then introduced to your A&K representative. You are then transferred to your accommodations and assisted with check-in, enjoying the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Explore the well-preserved and less-frequented Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China as you stroll remote battlements of this immense fortification commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Begun in 221 BC and expanded during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall remains a powerful symbol of China around the world today. This afternoon, visit the Summer Palace on a guided tour of the largest imperial garden in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a veritable museum of classical Chinese garden architecture. Fronting the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake, the palace’s stately buildings are set among pavilions, temples, pagodas, green pines and fragrant blossoms.

Begin your morning at the Temple of Heaven, a massive complex offering a look back to the life, culture and religion of the Ming Dynasty. Next, hop a pedicab to explore a hutong, a network of traditional neighborhoods with interconnecting lanes. Later this afternoon, explore two icons of China’s past and present. Begin at Tiananmen Square, a grand monument to the nation’s present-day government. Afterwards, explore the Forbidden City, the largest palatial complex in the world. This long-time center of imperial power was once home to 24 emperors. Today, the Forbidden City stands in marked contrast to the bustling, modern city just outside its walls.

Today, you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, discover the Yangling Museum’s archaeological wonders with a brief stop en route to your accommodations. Take in the culmination of nearly 10 years of excavation as you tour objects recently unearthed from an area surrounding the tomb of a Han emperor. While the actual imperial tomb of the emperor and his chief consort has yet to be opened, archaeologists have excavated more than 20 satellite tombs, yielding a treasure trove of exquisite funerary pieces. Continue to the City Wall. Dating to the early Ming period (built between 1374-1378), it is one of the few extant city walls remaining in China. After your visit, settle into your hotel.

Set out on a full-day, guided tour exploring the best of Xian. Begin at the famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses dig site. It is thought this life-sized army of soldier statues was created to safeguard the emperor’s passage to the afterlife. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Great Mosque of Xian. Resembling a Buddhist Temple, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and unusual structures in the city. Next, visit the Wild Goose Pagodas, a pair of towering historic landmarks affording panoramic views of Xian.

Board a high-speed train to Chengdu, stopping to tour People’s Park and Jinli Street before transferring to your accommodations. Immerse yourself in local life and culture at the People’s Park, where area residents play traditional Chinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage in tai chi.

Meet China’s furry ambassadors to the world at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. Take a half-day, guided tour of this facility dedicated to preserving the endangered pandas and get a rare glimpse of these iconic Chinese natives. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure exploring Chengdu.

This morning, you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Lijiang. Upon arrival, you are met by an A&K representative and set out to visit Lashi Lake and Zhiyun Monastery before checking into your hotel with the remainder of the day at your leisure with time to acclimatize.

Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations on a full-day, guided tour. Begin with a visit Longquan Village, a traditional Naxi village surviving here for over 800 years, and Dragon Spring Temple. Afterward, journey to the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to visit Baisha Village, once the capital of the Naxi Kingdom, and visit the Baisha Murals & Embroidary Institute. View its collection of murals depicting cultural and religious themes of this civilization, many created by the master embroiderers working here on site. After lunch, visit Black Dragon Pool Park, a stunning setting widely regarded as the most beautiful in Lijiang. Finally, stop by the Dongba Museum to learn about Naxi culture and view photographs taken from 1921-1949. End the day with a stroll through Lijiang's Old Town and take in the views from Wangulou Pavilion, a beautiful UNESCO-listed pagoda decorated with 2,300 auspicious patterns, representing 23 ethnic groups living in Lijiang.

Enjoy the scenic route from Lijiang to Zhongdian, stopping along the way. Begin by crossing an 8,600-foot pass, taking in the view of the Yangtze's First Bend as the shining river cuts through a patchwork of farm fields and orchards in the valley below. Next, stop in the charming village of Shigu to visit a memorial commemorating a historic military action. After a stop for lunch, continue on to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest chasms. Almost 10 miles long, the gorge passes between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain — the Yangtze River’s rapids cascading far below. Afterward, you are driven on to your accommodations in Zhongdian.

Immerse yourself in the Tibetan culture of Zhongdian with a visit to the 300-year-old Songzangling Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and home to the Living Buddha. Next, sip butter tea with a farming family and experience the traditions of the Khampa people. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Tibetan Culture Museum with its Tangka Exhibition and giant stereoscopic mandala. Then, walk through old town Zongdian and visit the grand prayer wheel.

This morning, visit Napa Lake Marshlands, Napa Village, and Hamugu Village. Next, fly to shanghai via Kunming, where, upon arrival, you are met by an A&K representative and transferred to your luxurious accommodations for an evening at leisure.

Get a taste of small town life on a half-day, guided tour of Zhujiajiao, a water town in the countryside west of Shanghai. Stroll its bridges spanning the bubbling streams flowing from Dianshan Lake and take a peaceful, private boat ride along the winding river, passing beneath the eaves of historic houses. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the Shanghai Museum and its exceptional collection of historically significant art and housewares including bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, jade, furniture and coins. Finally, visit the Shanghai Observation Tower for a birds-eye view of the city.

This morning after breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your international departure.