China Trip : 30 Oct to 19 Nov 2019 (21 days)
Shanghai, Chengdu, Mount Emei, Tian Tai Mountain,
Huang Guo Shu Waterfall National Park, Mount Wudang, Xian & Beijing
China is an amazing place. It has the most stunning landscapes you have ever seen, from magnificent mountains to dense forests with villages that haven’t changed for centuries and ancient cities that evoke a great sense of awe. Its modern cities are amongst the most advanced in the world and its food is deliciously world famous.
On this trip, we will go beyond the glamour and glitz and delve into the sacred heart of China. Our tours are twofold, one is to give you the best possible experience of modern and traditional Chinese culture. The other is to take you on a journey inwards to see how the philosophy and traditions of the Tao (the Way – finding inner peace and harmony) are still living. This will inspire and help you to get in touch with your own intrinsic nature. For these reasons, we chose to visit the sacred mountains of Wudang, a mecca for Taoists for centuries and Emei, a sacred Buddhist haven. Visiting these places will give you a deep appreciation of the philosophy and culture behind your Tai Chi and Qigong practices. Wudang is the birthplace of Tai Chi and many other internal arts. The great master, Chang Sang Feng, realised the Tao on these mountains. We will visit the cave where he trained and see many other amazing sights. Emei Mountain is the place, where the Emei Qigong healing system that Fontane teaches, was born. Emei Mountain is a truly beautiful environment. It is one of the most diverse ecological sites on the planet and has an array of amazing temples that exude great peace and tranquillity.
Shanghai
The trip begins in the stunning city of Shanghai, the gateway to China. Just imagine how you will feel exploring Shanghai with fellow students and friends. We have visited this exciting city many times and we always find something different to see, do and eat. We’ll stay in a lovely hotel in an attractive area of Shanghai. After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll practise in a park where you’ll see locals meet and play Tai Chi and other health related activities. It will be a refreshing and interesting way to start our first day in China. In the afternoon, we will explore the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund overlooking the Huangpu River. After an enjoyable dinner, we’ll board a river boat to cruise the Huangpu River at night. The incredible modern architecture of Shanghai is lit up in a symphony of blazing neon lights, a very memorable experience. In fact, your camera will be in continuous use on this trip.
Sichuan Face Changing Opera, Chengdu
Our next stop is Chengdu, the city of four rivers. It is in Sichuan province, famous for its spicy dishes, magnificent scenery and of course, those adorable pandas. After seeing some of the city’s charming sights, we’ll be treated to a traditional Chinese medicine banquet. Now don’t start thinking this meal is yucky tasting but good for you. As previous participants on our trips have found, this food is amazing in taste and it is also very good for you. On our last visit, there was not a leftover in sight. After the meal, you will see the famous Sichuan opera which is a show filled with comedy, acrobatics, magical puppetry, illusions and the amazing changing of layers of masks at a lightning speed.
The next morning, you’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the lovable pandas when we visit the largest panda breeding centre in the world. This is a gratifying experience, one that everyone relishes.
Previous Trip Participants Patting a Panda
On the way to the Emei Shan (Mountain), we will say hello to the world’s largest stone Buddha (71 metres tall) as we cruise down the river, the best way to see the entire Leshan Giant Buddha. You’ll have great views of the statue and be in awe of the scale of this monument.
Leshan Giant Buddha
We’ll then journey to Emei Shan, one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, where we’ll stay and explore its natural beauty and amazing array of ancient temples. You will be enthralled by the grand statute of the Bodhisattva Sumantabhadra (Universal Worhty, Puxian in Chinese), 48 metres tall and its unique head with faces in 10 directions. We’ll play Tai Chi on the Golden Summit and at some of the other breathtakingly beautiful temple grounds. To soak up the atmosphere of this sacred place, we’ll stay 2 nights at the foot of the mountain which will give us plenty of time to explore its many wonders and enjoy some of the local dishes.
Emei Shan
Experience the sea of clouds from the Golden Summit, Emei Shan - unforgettable!
A temple at the Golden Summit (3079 metres above sea level), Emei Shan
After our Emei Shan experience, we’ll go back to Chengdu to shop and relax as we visit the old town and enjoy some Sichuan snack food for dinner.
Huang Guo Shu Waterfall
Next morning, we’ll take a train ride to Guiyang on China’s ultra-modern fast train network. The train reaches speed of up to 300km an hour although it feels as though you are only doing 80km. Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou province in southwest China. It is blessed with epic natural beauty and ancient villages. We’ll journey to the one of the largest waterfalls in Asia called Huang Guo Shu (Yellow Fruit Tree). It is 74 metres high and 81 metres wide. As you travel in this breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Guizhou, you’ll also experience the culture of the Miao indigenous people. You’ll explore the traditional villages and towns set in idyllic locations, such as the ancient Tun Bao Castle Village (famous for its stone construction skills) situated in a gorge. Its history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). You’ll be amazed by the seven lofty stone watchtowers which were built around the village. The local people still follow their ancient ways of living. Just seeing the rich banquet of colour in the traditional costumes that they wear will make you feel happy.
Miao Village
After the Guizhou province, we continue our adventure to Wuhan on route to Wudang Shan. Wuhan is one of the big cities of China. It is the capital of Hubei province and is where Mao Zedong swam across the famous Yangtze River. After checking into our hotel, we will visit a lovely nearby park and do some training before going to dinner. Hopefully, you’ll be feeling hungry because the Farmer’s Banquet is massive and tastes fantastic.
Mount Wudang
Purple Cloud Temple, Mount Wudang
The next day we’ll set off to the sacred Taoist mountains of Wudang (a UNESCO world heritage site). The trip there is very interesting as we pass many small hamlets and mountain farms. From the foot of the mountain, we travel on environmentally friendly gas fuelled buses. The trip up to our accommodation is momentous as we make our way up the winding road through the verdant forests and mountain peaks, passing temples and deep gorges. All of these sights give you a glimpse into an ancient past and an appreciation as to where you are. On the mountain we will stay at the Road to Heaven Hotel. It has great food and views to the San Feng Peaks named after the founder of Tai Chi, Chang San Feng. This hotel is right around the corner from the famous Purple Cloud Temple which was built according to the principles of the ancient art of feng shui. When staying in this hotel, you will feel literally as though you are being embraced by the mountain. Over the next few days, you will experience the ancient Taoist culture of Wudang as you train with Taoist monks and nuns in the rarefied morning air of the mountains. The morning session in the sacred Purple Cloud Temple will be an unforgettable treat.
Nan Yan Palace, Mount Wudang
Wudang Shan is one of my favourite places in China. It is unique in terms of its natural beauty, classical Chinese mountains and lush forests, and a rich Taoist tradition with temples that rival the Forbidden City. Buildings such as the Nan Yan Palace is really something to behold. It stands on the edge of a cliff and most of it is carved into the face of the cliff. How did they manage to build it without cranes and trucks?! Just seeing it is a source of spiritual inspiration. Then there is the Golden Hall, built in 1416 during the Ming Dynasty and of gilded copper (20 tons of copper and 300 kilograms of gold), perched on the highest peak of Wudang Shan. This structure was designed by the same architect who planned the Forbidden City in Beijing. So you can imagine the importance of Wudang to the emperor of the day. While staying on Wudang Shan, you will hear more about the amazing technology used to build and service these structures. The time spent on Wudang Shan is never enough. However, having the opportunity to experience this magical, sacred environment and practise with the Taoists there, who train arduously for years to gain mastery over their minds and bodies, is a rare and precious thing.
Terracotta Warriors, Xian
After a memorable 4 nights on the mountain, it will be hard to leave but on we go to a new adventure. This time, it is the ancient capital of Xian, a city steeped in history and made famous for its terra cotta warriors and prehistoric roots. The bus ride to Xian in itself is quite fascinating as the highway is an engineering feat. About half of the journey is through mountains and downhill at the same gradient for several hours!
Xian is the ancient capital of Shanxi province and considered the birthplace of the Han Chinese culture. It was also the start of the famous Silk Road and was previously called Changan (city of eternal peace). Xian has a rich history and we can see many of its past achievements from its massive city walls to its many magnificent ancient temples. There is a multilevel pagoda in the city’s main Buddhist temple dedicated to the great translator, Buddhist master, Xiang Zhang (the novel, Journey to the West, was based on his life). To celebrate Xian’s rich history of music, art and food, nothing is better than seeing the mind-blowing terracotta warriors in terms of their size and number. We will then be entertained at the colourful Tang Dynasty Show while enjoying a banquet of mouth-watering dumplings for dinner. After saying farewell to Xian, we fly out to Beijing.
Tang Dynasty Show, Chengdu
Beijing is the jewel in the crown in terms of China’s cities. It is massive, with architecture on a scale that has to be seen to be appreciated. This city is home to Vincent, our trusted national tour guide and he loves to show it off. It is hard to know where to start in terms of wonderful experiences. One of them is training with Master Feng Xiu Qian, daughter of my teacher, in the Temple of Heaven and Temple of Earth parks. Master Feng’s father, Grandmaster Feng Zhi Qiang (1928-2012) is the founder of our Hun Yuan Tai Chi system. Of course, walking on the Great Wall and exploring the immensity of the Forbidden City are also great adventures. We cannot leave Beijing without tasting famous Beijing duck, dining in the old Beijing Noodle House and trying the delicious Muslim cuisine. Now you know why previous participants described our tours as the foodies’ paradise. All this adds up to unforgettable holiday.
The Forbidden City, Beijing
Twenty one days will pass in a flash but the memories will be there for a lifetime. Our tours are action packed but they are also well paced. We want you to savour and feel the China experience, not just see it. This is a trip of a lifetime that is outstanding value. We don’t cut corners to save money. We prefer to give you great value for your journey. This is our 11th tour and many of our students have joined us more than once. The tour includes all your meals, except lunch on one day, where you have a chance to do last minute shopping. So, really the only things you pay for once you are in China are the gifts you buy and extra drinks in your free time. Each day where possible, you will do qigong and/or Tai Chi with me or one of my teachers. As well as a holiday, it will be a great learning experience! If you have a friend or a family member who would like to join us, they will be most welcome as most of the training is done in the morning before any of the sightseeing. On previous trips, there have been family members of our students and interested individuals, who although not Tai Chi practitioners, joined us on our travels. They all thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Some were happy to spend a leisurely morning exploring the parks which are amazing or just having a long breakfast. In China, there is always something to see and do, right at your doorstep. Also, if they wish, they are more than welcome to join in the morning training sessions.
Acrobatic Show, Beijing
I am looking forward to this trip just as much as you are. I know I’ll have as much fun as you! That’s why I organised it. What I just mentioned is only an outline of the trip. It is much more than that, especially with a group of great people and our reliable and trusted national tour guide, Vincent. Join us and enjoy the many treasures of China for yourself! I look forward to sharing the experience with you!
Itinerary
Day 1 – Wed 30 Oct
Fly China Eastern (MU 562) from Sydney 12noon to Shanghai 7.30pm.
Day 2 – Thurs 31 Oct Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (B L D)
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Sightseeing: the Bund, Nan Jing Road (Shanghai’s main shopping area) and Huang Pu River Night Cruise.
The Bund, Shanghai
Day 3 – Fri 1 Nov B L D
Fly China Eastern MU 5407 from Shanghai 11am to Chengdu 2.30pm.
Enjoy the traditional Chinese Medicine dinner and the magical Sichuan Face Changing Opera.
Day 4 – Sat 2 Nov B L D
Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre.
Chengdu to Leshan by coach. River cruise to view the Giant Buddha.
Leshan to Emei Mountain by coach.
Day 5 – Sun 3 Nov B L D
Visit the Golden Summit of the Emei Mountain (cable ride), Bao Guo Temple and Fu Hu Temple.
Outdoor Tai Chi practice on the Summit.
Bodhisattva Sumantabhadra, 48 metres tall
Day 6 – Mon 4 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Visit Wan Nian Temple.
Return to Chengdu by coach. Visit the Old Town and enjoy the Sichuan Snack Food dinner.
Wan Nian Temple, Emei Shan
Day 7 – Tues 5 Nov B L D
Chengdu to Gui Yang by fast train, then to Kai Li by coach.
Visit the fascinating and colourful Miao Minority Village.
Miao Village
Day 8 – Wed 6 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Kai Li to Tian Tai Shan by coach.
Sightseeing; Tian Tai Mountain and Tun Bao Castle.
Tian Tai Shan to Zhen Ning in Aushun by coach.
Tian Tai Mountain
Day 9 – Thurs 7 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Sightseeing: Huang Guo Shu National Park - amazing waterfalls.
Huang Guo Shu to Gui Yang by coach.
Performance at the Tun Bao Castle Village
Day 10 – Fri 8 Nov B L D
Fly from Gui Yang to Wuhan.
Outdoor Tai Chi practice in the afternoon.
Enjoy the delicious Farmer’s Banquet dinner.
Day 11 – Sat 9 Nov B L D
To Mount Wudang by coach.
Outdoor Tai Chi practice in the afternoon.
Day 12 – Sun 10 Nov B L D
Morning Qigong session with the Taoists of the Wudang Taoist Martial Arts Institute, Zi Xiao Palace (Purple Cloud Temple, built in 1413), Mount Wudang.
Sightseeing: Nan Yan Palace.
Day 13 – Mon 11 Nov B L D
Morning Qigong session with the Taoists of the Wudang Taoist Martial Arts Institute.
Sightseeing: the famous Golden Hall on the summit (cable ride).
Day 14 – Tues 12 Nov B L D
Morning Qigong session with the Taoists of the Wudang Taoist Martial Arts Institute.
Sightseeing: Purple Cloud Palace and Prince Slope.
Day 15 – Wed 13 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Mount Wudang to Wudang Town by coach. Free time for shopping .
Then to Xian by coach.
Enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dancing Show and Dumpling Banquet.
Day 16 – Thurs 14 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Visit the vault of the terra cotta warriors and chariots.
Fly China Eastern (MU2115) Xian 6pm to Beijing 8pm.
Chariot, Xian
Day 17 – Fri 15 Nov B L D
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice at the Temple of Earth Park (Di Tan).
Sightseeing : Tian An Man Square, the Forbidden City (also known as the Imperial Palace, formerly residence of the Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors for a period spanning more than five centuries), Muslim lunch, Acrobatic Show and Peking Duck dinner.
The Forbidden City, Beijing
Day 18 – Sat 16 Nov B L
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice at the Temple of Heaven Park (Tian Tan).
Sightseeing : Temple of Heaven, lunch at the Old Beijing Noodle House (which serves much more than noodle – this eatery is rated one of the favourites by previous trip participants).
Free time for shopping.
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
Day 19 – Sun 17 Nov B L D
Sightseeing: the Great Wall (Ba Da Ling), jade factoy and Ming Tomb.
Ming Tomb, Beijing
Day 20 – Mon 18 Nov B
Morning outdoor Tai Chi practice.
Fly Beijing 3.45pm, via Nanjing to Sydney.
The Great Wall, Beijing
Day 21 – Tues 19 Nov
Arrive in Sydney 9.30am.
Acrobatic Show, Beijing
Included in the cost: economy international airfare from Sydney return, accommodation, meals as specified in the itinerary, admission (sightseeing places, parks and show), Tai Chi and Qigong sessions, coach, fast train, English speaking guides, economy airfares and airport taxes in China.
Accommodation:
- Shanghai – SSAW Boutique Hotel Hongkou or Radisson Blu Hotel Hong Quan or similar (4-star, Chinese & Western buffet breakfast)
- Chengdu – Holiday Inn or similar (4-star, Chinese buffet breakfast)
- Emei Mountain (in the foothills) – Emei Shan Holiday Inn or similar (4-star, Chinese buffet breakfast)
- Kai Li – Teng Long Hotel or similar (3.5-star, Chinese buffet breakfast)
- Zhen Ning – Wan Xaing Hotel or similar (3.5-star, Chinese buffet breakfast)
- Gui Yang – Jia He Tian Hao Hotel or similar (4-star, Chinese buffet breakfast
- Xiao Gan or Wuhan – Qian Kun International Hotel or similar (4-star, Chinese & Western buffet breakfast)
- Mount Wudang – Tian Lu Hotel or similar (3-star, Chinese breakfast)
- Xian – Tang Cheng Hotel or similar (4-star, Chinese & Western buffet breakfast)
- Beijing – Penta Hotel or similar (4-star, Chinese & Western buffet breakfast)
Cost of the China Trip will be:
– AUD$6,800 per person based on twin share
– AUD$7,820 per person based on single room
The cost estimate is based on 12 people. A minimum of 12 people is required in order for the tour to proceed. Less than 12 people may incur a higher cost.
Please pay a deposit of $2,000 by Thursday 20 June 2019 and the balance by Thursday 8 August 2019.
Please note that the entire cost is non-refundable. Appropriate travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Deposit can be made by :
- cash – please pay your instructor or contact Fontane, or
- personal cheque payable to Southlands Travel and Cruise – please pay your instructor or mail cheque to Tai Chi Academy, PO Box 70, Woden ACT 2606.
- If you wish to pay by credit card, there will be a credit card fee (charged by Southlands Travel and Cruise) – 1.2% extra for MasterCard, visa or Amex.
>> Please contact Fontane first before you pay the deposit. <<
Note: The organiser reserves the right to change the travel dates and/or the itinerary if deemed necessary.
Excluded from the Cost – please allow for the following expenses:
- Taxes for the international airfare: approx. $255 – Australia Departure Tax, Airport Taxes, Security Taxes, fuel surcharge and China Departure Tax. All the taxes are subject to exchange rate and introduction of new taxes.
- Tipping for the national and local tour guides: AUD $200- per person.
- Canberra to Sydney coach or airline tickets return.
Please feel free to use your frequent flyer points to book your own airline tickets or arrange other means of transport. However, the travel agent advises that we should wait for the international tickets to be issued first before booking the domestic tickets.
Please allow at least 3 hours before the flight departure time for baggage check in at the Sydney International Airport.
If you need Southlands Travel & Cruise to book your domestic airline tickets, please contact Fontane on 6296 1357 or email the Academy. - Visa application fee for single entry, $109.50 and one passport size photo. Chinese Visa Application Centre, Suite 201, Level 2, Canberra House, 40 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra City – Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. Phone 6279 780. http://au.china-embassy.org/eng/ls/bg/ – click on Visa Application Form.
- Appropriate travel insurance is strongly recommended.
- Travel vaccinations – seek advice from your doctor
- Please be aware that many countries require travellers to have at least six months remaining validity on their passports – phone Australian Passport Information Service on 131 232 or visit www.passports.gov.au
Acrobatic Show, Beijing
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