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9-Nights Signature: Southwest China from Shangri-La to Shanghai - National Geographic Signature from $6,899
G Adventures
OFFER ID 1688252
Signature: Southwest China from Shangri-La to Shanghai
Trace the edge of the wild from Chengdu’s bamboo sanctuaries to the Himalayan foothills of Yunnan. Your path winds through Naxi villages and Tibetan highlands before descending to the limestone peaks of the Li River. Guided by experts, discover a China defined by its living heritage and dramatic natural beauty.
Highlights
Panda conservation Go behind the scenes learning about the conservation and care of giant pandas, Naxi long table feast Share a communal banquet, barley wine, and traditional music with Naxi villagers, Sichuan cooking class Shop a spice market and master the heat of Sichuan cuisine in a hands-on class, Tibetan family visit Sip yak butter tea and share stories in the home of a local Tibetan family, Jia Community lunch Enjoy a farm-to-table meal and hear the story of a G Adventures-supported restaurant.
Accomodation
Train travel is often used throughout our China trips as it's an easily accessible and fast way to make the most of the time you have in China. While packing for your trip please note the following restrictions and remember that the local policies in place are for yours and everyone's safety.
Prohibited items on China's trains and metro:
1. Any knives or scissors
2. Items or food that have an unpleasant odour (ex. Durian)
3. Open liquor bottles (new bottles with the seal intact are okay)
4. Pressurized/flammable containers over 120ml in size (ex. sunscreen spray, mosquito repellent spray, hairspray, etc.)
Prohibited items on trains to/from Guangxi Province - Guilin/Yangshuo
1. Floria Water - a mosquito repellent water common in China
2. Self-heating food items (self-heating hot pot, rice, etc.)
3. As well as everything on the previous list above
Group Leader
All National Geographic Signature group trips are accompanied by one of our National Geographic Expedition Leaders throughout. The aim of the Expedition Leaders is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 22
Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Jia Community Restaurant, Yangshuo
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet
Your Expedition Leader and Group, Chengdu
Signature Moment: Dujiangyan Panda Base Visit, Dujiangyan Shi
Your Foodie Moment: Chengdu Hot Pot Dinner, Chengdu
Your Foodie Moment: Sichuan Spice Market & Cooking Class, Chengdu
Your Foodie Moment: Visit and Long Table Dinner at Luna Village, Luna
Your Local Living Moment: Tibetan Family Visit, Shangri-La.
Arrival and departure transfer. Sample Tea at a local Tea House. Yulong Snow Mountain and Impression Lijiang Show. Baisha Village Visit. Songzanlin Monastery. Old Town Shangri-La. Sunset Li River Cruise. Fuli Village Visit. Shanghai Circus World Acrobatics Show. Shanghai French Concession. Yuyuan Garden. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout. Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles. Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader.
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
9 nights from $6,899 per person
G Adventures: Signature: Southwest China from Shangri-La to Shanghai
Day 1: Chengdu
Welcome to China. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Chengdu where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Take a moment to absorb the relaxed rhythm of this city, where tea houses spill onto the sidewalks and the air carries the faint scent of chili oil. Join your National Geographic Expedition Leader for an orientation walk through the neighborhood, navigating the neon-lit streets. In the evening, gather with your fellow travellers and National Geographic Expeditions Expert for a presentation on the expedition ahead followed by a welcome dinner sampling your first taste of the region's famous ma la (numbing and spicy) flavors.
Day 2: Chengdu
Travel into the mist-shrouded Qingcheng Mountains to the Dujiangyan Panda Base for an exclusive meeting with Mr. Zhang, the “Father of Pandas", and gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes areas for a deep dive into conservation. Return to the city to experience local life at a traditional tea house, sipping jasmine tea while watching the dramatic face-changing masks of a Sichuan opera performance. The day concludes with a quintessential hot pot dinner, gathering around a bubbling pot of rich, red broth to cook fresh meats and vegetables in the communal style of the region.
Day 3: Chengdu/Lijiang
Dive into a fragrant Chengdu spice market. Walk past sacks overflowing with bright red chilies and numbing Sichuan peppercorns, learning to identify the ingredients that define this UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Take your finds to a traditional courtyard kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. Under the guidance of a local chef, learn to balance heat and flavor before savoring your creations for lunch. In the afternoon, fly west to Lijiang, watching the landscape shift from the fertile basin to the rugged foothills of the Himalayas. Touch down in this UNESCO World Heritage town and transfer to your resort, breathing in the crisp, thin air of the Yunnan highlands.
Day 4: Lijiang
Ascend the slopes of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car, rising through the clouds to 3,600 meters (11,800 ft). Stand before the glacier-capped peak, watching the snow glint against the blue sky, and witness the Impression Lijiang show, a massive outdoor performance set against the mountain backdrop. After lunch, travel to the ancient villages of Baisha and Luna to meet community leaders. The day culminates with an exclusive long table dinner at Luna Village. Join Naxi locals for a communal banquet of seemingly endless dishes, accompanied by the rhythm of traditional drums, folk dances, and toasts of homemade barley wine — a true immersion into the hospitality of the highlands.
Day 5: Lijiang
Board a high-speed bullet train that climbs higher into the mountains, arriving in the mythical region of Shangri-La. Visit the magnificent Songzanlin Monastery, the "Little Potala Palace," where golden roofs shine against the stark landscape. You are welcomed by a resident monk for an exclusive tour. Walk the sacred kora circuit, smelling the juniper incense and hearing the low chant of prayers. Later, step into the warm, timber-framed home of a local Tibetan family. Sip rich, salty yak butter tea and taste traditional momos as they share stories of life on the plateau. Stroll the cobblestones of the Old Town before returning to Lijiang for dinner.
Day 6: Lijiang/Yangshuo
Fly south to Guilin and transfer to the subtropical paradise of Yangshuo, where limestone karsts rise like dragon's teeth from the rice paddies. In the late afternoon, board a private boat for a relaxing cruise along the Li River. Drift past water buffalo cooling in the shallows and fishermen on bamboo rafts. As the sun sets, sip a glass of wine and watch the dramatic peaks turn silhouette-black against a purple sky — a landscape immortalized in Chinese painting for centuries. Disembark to walk through the lively riverside energy near New West Street before settling in for a local dinner.
Day 7: Yangshuo
Step back in time at Fuli Village, wandering ancient stone streets to see artisans hand-painting traditional fans and fermenting rice wine. Cross the river to the Jia Community Restaurant, a G Adventures-supported organization. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch of Guilin noodles and hear the owner’s inspiring story of community support. In the afternoon, ascend to the Qixianfeng Tea Plantation, a sea of green terraces shrouded in mist. Learn the delicate art of picking tea leaves and processing them by hand. Conclude the day with dinner in a hilltop pavilion, looking out over the endless layers of limestone mountains fading into the distance.
Day 8: Yangshuo/Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai, the futuristic pulse of modern China. Once you have freshened up, head out for a tasty dinner of typical Shanghai dishes before taking your VIP seat for the spectacular ERA 2 Acrobatics Show. Hold your breath as performers execute gravity-defying stunts and motorcycle feats, a dazzling display of precision and artistry that mirrors the energy of Shanghai itself.
Day 9: Shanghai
Walk the plane-tree-lined avenues of the Former French Concession, admiring the Art Deco villas and hearing stories of the city’s colonial past. Wander the classical rockeries and koi ponds of Yuyuan Gardens then have a light lunch at the bazaar. Take some free time to refresh then conclude your expedition with a group dinner and discussion reflecting on the dynasties, landscapes, and cultures you have traversed.
Day 10: Shanghai
Your expedition concludes today. Transfers are provided to the airport at any time during the day.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Moderate facilities have modest enhancements to amenities and décor. These hotels or resorts are dependable, comfortable and some may offer standard features, such as select business services, Continental breakfast or coffee service and may have a swimming pool or small fitness center on-site. Guestrooms are comfortable, moderately spacious, in-room telephones, televisions and limited amenities. Moderate establishments provide suitable accommodations and service for budget-minded travelers.
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.
Swain's Travel, Inc.
35 Old South Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
USA
(508) 228-3201