China Unchanged

Additional Information

China is a developing country whose infrastructure, values, customs and standards differ from what you are used to at home. Please bear this in mind as you are traveling in this exciting country and respect the fact that you should not impose your standards and expectations on the culture there. Trains are not of the same standard that you find in the West. However, with a sense of adventure, they can be a fun and unique experience. Occasionally it may be necessary to amend this itinerary for reasons beyond our control, such as bad weather and poor road conditions. Changes to flight and train schedules can sometimes occur, which may also lead to changes to this itinerary. This is an "adventure" trip and we hope to expose you to all aspects of the local culture. Please be open-minded.


Optional Extension to Yangshuo:

Days 15-16 Guilin/Yangshuo
Yangshuo is nestled among the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. This small town offers a relaxed and intimate alternative from the major cities of China. This is also an excellent place to explore by bicycle, if you desire. You may join one of the locals and spend a few hours exploring the wonderful scenery in the surrounding countryside, including Moon Hill. You may also meet some of the inhabitants of the nearby villages. After finishing your bike ride, enjoy a home-cooked lunch at the home of a local family. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding market town of Fuli is an option to consider in your free time. This is also one of the better places for souvenir shopping. Overnights will be at a local 3 star hotel. (B,L,D)


Day 17 Yangshuo/Guilin/Hong Kong/Onward
Return to Guilin for your onward flight to Hong Kong. (B)

THE DONG PEOPLE:
The Dong usually live in villages of 20-30 households located near streams, though occasionally they are in large villages. Their houses, built of fir wood, are usually two or three stories high. Those located on steep slopes or riverbanks, stand on stilts; people live on the upper floors, and the ground floor is reserved for domestic animals and firewood. In the old days, landlords and rich peasants dwelled in big houses with engraved beams and painted columns. Paths inside a village are paved with gravel, and there are fishponds in most villages. Of great interest is the architecture that goes into the construction of bridges. Wood, stone arches, stone slabs and bamboo are all used. The best know of these bridges are the ones dubbed "wind and rain". The Chengyang "Wind and Rain" Bridge in Sanjiang is 550 feet long, 30 feet across and 30-60 feet above the water. Roofed with tiles engraved with flowers, it has on its sides five large pagoda-like, multi-tier pavilions beautifully decorated with carvings. It is a covered walkway with railings and benches for people to sit on and enjoy the scenes around. Home-woven cloth is used to make traditional Dong clothing; finer cloth and silks are used for decoration or for making festival costumes. Machine-woven cloth printed black and purple or blue is becoming more popular. Men usually wear short jackets with front buttons. In the mountainous localities in the south, they wear collarless skirts and turbans. The females are dressed in skirts or trousers with beautifully embroidered hems. Women wrap their legs and heads in scarves, and wear their hair in a coil.

THE MIAO PEOPLE:
Despite comprising several dialects, the Miao peoples' language as a whole belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family. They had no written script until 1957, when a Romanization system was created. Because of the lack of a written language, oral history and tradition was passed on by songs and dances.
The friendly Miao are well known for their hospitality. Living in mountainous communities, they generally depend on farming and animal husbandry. Close-knit, they often work together on farms and construction. Besides song and dance, Miao also excel at embroidery. Women's headdresses take special importance in Miao culture. When a girl is born, her parents will start saving money to make fancy silver head ornaments that can weigh up to 5 pounds. Without written script, Miao people have used their costumes to record their history. Different patterns and designs on the clothes retain rich meaning and refer to legendary stories about such things as their origins, wars and religious beliefs. Because hand-made Miao costumes are sewn individually by Miao women in their homes, there are hardly two costumes with the same style or pattern. Silver ornaments make up an important part of Miao dress. Silver is believed by Miao people to be the symbol of light which can dispel evil spirits. When bathing a newborn baby, parents often put a piece of silver into the water to act as a blessing for the baby’s future. Miao families also dress up their daughters with silver ornaments. During some occasions, silver worn by young women in their best clothes weighs more than 20 pounds.
Miao girls begin to learn weaving, embroidery and cross stitching from the early age of six or seven. A girl often pours great energy into making an embroidered dress. When she finishes the dress for herself, she shows she is ready to marry. The dress reveals the girl’s talent and ingenuity. In some Miao areas, a tradition of secret embroidery has been handed down to current generations. When girls reach the age of 15 they begin to make their secret embroidery behind closed doors. These secret works include small caps, shoes and "infant packs," which are prepared for the future when a woman gets married and has babies. This embroidery will be exhibited to the public at the girl’s wedding ceremony. Usually there are around 100 items to display.

Detailed Trip Information

Dates	Privately Anytime
Duration	15 days
Land Cost	$3,495 flights within China approx. $425
Single Supplement	$450 per person
Lodging	- Guesthouses in villages to 3 star hotels
Grade	II Several long driving days & light walking
Group Size	2-12

Trip Terms & Conditions

Included in costs: Meals as noted, each night in double occupancy accommodations, land transfers between components, English speaking guides, park or site entry fees, surface transport, equipment other than personal gear, government tax, airport transfer assistance, in-country ticket reconfirmation & check-in assistance (where permitted), complete pre-departure packet, toll-free pre-departure phone assistance.

Not included in costs: Meals not noted as included, gratuities, beverages (except tea or coffee at meals), international or domestic airfare unless specified, airport departure taxes not included with air tickets, visas, itinerary changes after confirmation, any services not included in itinerary, any costs incurred due to canceled or delayed flights, acts of nature or other happenings beyond our control, or other costs as are more fully described in JOURNEYS Terms & Conditions.

Deposit and payment schedule: $500 per person per trip or the applicable amount based on the trip and the proximity of the departure date. A second deposit of $800 per person is due four months prior to departure, and final payment for land arrangements is due 60 days prior to departure. Airlines require full payment when tickets are issued. The deposit may be made by Visa, Master Card or check, and the Reservation Form may be submitted by fax, mail or via our website. Full payment schedule and cancellation penalties are described in our Terms and Conditions as noted in our Global Expedition Catalog, on our website and elsewhere. Please request these if you do not have them before advancing a deposit.

Insurance: When you make your application, we strongly recommend the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance in case of emergency situations. Please contact us for a recommended policy.

Air fares: JOURNEYS can make complete air arrangements applicable to your trip as noted in this itinerary. If you wish to redeem frequent flyer mileage or arrange flights directly with the airline, you may do so on your own at no penalty. If you do, please consult with us on exact arrival and departure dates and times before having your tickets issued to avoid errors.

Itinerary Change Fee: There will be a $40 fee for changes once an itinerary has been confirmed and approved. Additional cancellation penalties or change fees may apply as per our terms and conditions. The passenger is responsible for such fees.

JOURNEYS Resources

• China Photo Gallery
• China Unchanged Photo Gallery
• Great Wall of China

Browse More Tours

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Internet Resources

• China & the Yangtzee Reading List
• Yunnan Reading List
• Detailed Facts About China
• Consular Information Sheet
• Center for Disease Control
• Google News - China