| 12 Days Hakka Houses and Guizhou No Shopping Tour (Tour code: PMFGG12) | |
| Themes:Nature, minorities | |
| Destinations: Shanghai - Yunshuiyao - Guilin - Ping'an - Zhaoxing - Leishan - Guiyang | |
| From: $2910 |  |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | Upon arrival in China your private Engish-speaking guide and transportation will meet you at the airport and bring you to downtown Shanghai. First sightseeing stop is famous The Bund, Shanghais waterfront, with classic art deco buildings on one side of the Huangpu River and the towering skyline of Pudong on the other. From here you stroll into Chinatown just south of The Bund to experience this vibrant part of the city. Later it is time to check in at your central hotel and rest. |
| Attractions | The Bund, Chinatown |
| Meals | Lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai - Yunshuiyao |
| Activities | The beautiful and very atmospheric Hakka Houses of Fujian Province are waiting down south. You take a morning flight to Xiamen, and drive up into the mountains of southern Fujian to reach Yunshuiyao, a tiny village in the area that has the best of the Hakka Houses. On the way here you stop at the Hegui House and Huanyuan House to get introduced to the Hakka way of life. Once arrived in Yunshuiyao you check in at your charming hotel, and can then spend the rest of the day enjoying the tranquil village life. |
| Attractions | Hegui House, Huanyuan House, Yunshuiyao Village |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Yunshuiyao |
| Activities | You have a full day excursion ahead of you. First stop is the beautiful Changyu House, before you continue to the Hekeng Houses Cluster. Many of the thousands of Hakka houses have been built in clusters, and this one if quite famous. You can also climb the nearby hill for the view before we return to the hotel. |
| Attractions | Changyu House, Hekeng Houses Cluster |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Yunshuiyao - Guilin |
| Activities | It is time to leave Fujian Province and travel west to Guilin in Guangxi Province. Before taking a late afternoon or evening flight there are some beautiful spots to visit. First stop is the 'Four dishes, one soup'-cluster of houses not far from Yunshuiyao, before you continue to the laid-back village of Taxia. After lunch up here in the mountains you head for Xiamen Airport to catch your flight to Guilin. Once arrived your new local guide will escort you to your central hotel for check in and rest. |
| Attractions | Four dishes, one soup-cluster, Taxia Village |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Guilin - Ping'an |
| Activities | Guilin is famous for its scenery of limestone hills and rivers. The day begins at Elephant Trunk Hill, one of the citys premier places to enjoy the scenery and then you continue to Reed Flute Cave to see the almost outerworldly scenery in here. After lunch you begin your journey into the little-visited parts of China north of Guilin, first stop being the mountain village of Ping'an, home to the Yao minority group and the famous Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces. From the parking lot below the village you have to walk for about 30 minutes to reach the village and your hotel, while porters will assist with the luggage. Once arrived the rest of the day is free to relax in the village and enjoy the stunning scenery. |
| Attractions | Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | Non-graded Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Ping'an |
| Activities | You have the whole day free to explore on your own. Ping'an is nestled in the middle of the rice terraces, and there are a couple of good hiking options. The viewing platform on the mountain top behind the village offers great views of the terraces, and if you feel like it there are several hiking options of one hour or more. |
| Attractions | Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | Non-graded Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Ping'an - Zhaoxing |
| Activities | After breakfast you leave Ping'an and head down the mountain. Soon you will leave Guangxi Province and enter Guizhou Province, one of the most colorful provinces of China, with endless rice fields, low mountains and a wealth of minorities. A five hour drive will bring you to the Dong Minority village of Zhaoxing, a charming village of wooden houses and drum towers. After arrival you check in at your Dong-style hotel, and can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the small walkways, little shops or maybe one of the five drum towers that the village is famous for. |
| Attractions | Zhaoxing Village, Guizhou Province's charming countryside |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Zhaoxing |
| Activities | You have all day to explore Zhaoxing on your own, or, if you feel like it, you guide can lead you on a hike up through the low mountains that surround Zhaoxing. Up here the even smaller village of Tang'an offers more Dong Minority sights as well as excellent views of the valley below. |
| Attractions | Zhaoxing Village, Tang'an Village |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Zhaoxing - Leishan |
| Activities | Guizhou has more to offer. After having spent a few days seeing the Dong way of life it is time to experience how the Miao people live. The Miao are divided into a number of subgroups, one of which you will visit today. You drive from Zhaoxing to Leishan Town in the central part of the province. The trip takes about five hours through stunningly beautiful scenery. Close to Leishan you stop at the Miao village of Xinqiao, a village that it known for the short skirts the women traditionally wears. After visiting Xinqiao you drive to Leishan and check in at your hotel. |
| Attractions | Xinqiao Short-skirt Miao Village |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Leishan |
| Activities | The area around Leishan is home to many different Miao villages. Your first stop today is Wudong, home to around 500 people and still a very traditional place. After lunch you drive to the most famous of all the Miao villages, Xijiang Village, also knows as 'the village of a thousand families'. Xijiang lies on a hillside with rice paddies and rivers all around. You spend the afternoon here exploring, and also take in the impressive sight of the night-lit village and a performance of traditional Miao song and dance, before returning to Leishan. |
| Attractions | Wudong Miao Village, Xijiang Village, Miao Minority Show |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Leishan - Shanghai |
| Activities | Your time in the minority regions of China is drawing to an end. After breakfast you head for the provincial capital of Guizhou, a few hours' drive from Leishan, from where you take a flight back to Shanghai. Well arrived your guide will take you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own. |
| Attractions | Guizhou's countryside |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai - home |
| Activities | After breakfast you have free time until it is time to check out and transfer to the airport. Your minority trip in China is almost over, and with many fantastic memories you begin your journey home. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | Not incl. |
| Price information | |
| 2-3 person group: $3290/person
4-6 person group: $2910/person Luxury upgrade: not available
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| Price including |
| Domestic flights as in itinerary
Private English-speaking guide Private ground transportation as per itinerary Accommodation as listed Entrances as listed Meals as listed Chinese travel accident insurance Guaranteed no shopping stops |
| Price not including |
| Flights to/from China
Personal expenses Tips for guides and drivers Anything not listed in itinerary |
| Important tour information |
Luxury Upgrade Policy: A luxury upgrade option is available with many of our tours. In accordance with our quality benchmark, upgrade options are divided into four categories: 1. Available - upgrade possible at all destinations in tour itinerary. 2. Partially available - upgrade not possible at one or more destnations in tour itinerary. 3. Not recommended - available or partially available, but not recommended (see Hotel Policy). 4. Not available - luxury upgrades are not possible on many of our trademark specialty tours to remote or developing regions. These tours are deeply genuine and authentic.
Keeping our guests' comfort in mind, we prefer to stay in a 2* or 3* hotel in or close to the attraction, rather than a 4* or 5* hotel much further away. Genuine China Tours' all-encompassing hotel policy is that we will never pick a hotel only because of its price. All our partner hotels must live up to a strict quality test that includes: 1. Geographical location - the location of our chosen hotel is of great importantce, both in large cities, where traffic congestion can play a vital role in the handling of the tour, and also on tours to remote villages, where the right choice of village or hotel can mean a world of difference to the tour. 2. Quality of hotel - including room size and cleanliness, quality of breakfast, ease of getting in/out and more. 3. Local environment - local environment should include local sights (when possible), be in the vicinity of local markets/night markets (if any) and have access to shops and convenience stores (if any). 4. Design and layout of hotel - we prefer hotels with history and atmosphere, especially if these have relevance with the sight(s) at the destination. 5. Value for money - any hotel must pass requirements 1-3 and 5. If a hotel passes all five requirements it becomes a Priority Hotel.
Also important: 1. Please perform a thorough health check before traveling. If your health is not good enough please refrain from traveling. Most major tourist destinations in China have good health care services, but on tours to remote or high altitude destinations you should make sure your health allows you to travel to these destinations. Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility in case of any accident, relapse or discomfort. 2. Disabled persons should be accompanied by by their own aid instruments or an accompanying person. Genuine China Tours can not provide aid instruments. 3. While traveling please adhere to instructions from your guide and stay clear of any dangers and/or annoyances. 4. Genuine China Tours reserves the right to refuse participation on a tour if the traveler is deemed unfit to participate or will be a nuisance to other travelers. 5. On tours to remote areas or high altitude areas accommodation and restaurants may not be up to standart. You should be prepared for this if choosing a tour to these areas. 6. Please make sure to bring items that may be necessary, like windproof jacket, umbrella, sun screen (sun lotion), health related articles, items of personal nature etc. 7. On speciality tours to remote regions, Tibetan areas and mountainous regions Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility if tour itinerary is changed due to government policies, weather or any other influencing factors outside GCTs control. |
| Genuine China Tours is an officially registered travel agency operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. Guests are required to follow rules and regulations set forth by existing laws of the country, including behavior respectful of local customs and manners. Tour designs and quotations may not be used in connection with other travel agencies. Genuine China Tours cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused by weather, traffic, government policies or other situations outside GCTs control. |