Don's Home Places China Scenic China Sierra Club Trip 2017
 
Scenic China: Valleys, Vistas, and Villages Sept 11-23, 2017
Itinerary:
The Bund Riverside Hotel Shanghai (Sep. 11-12 & Sep. 21-23, 3 nights)
Huangshan International Hotel, Tunxi District, Huangshan (Sep. 12-13, 1 night)
Beihai Hotel, Beihai Scenic Area, Huangshan (Sep. 13-15, 2 nights)
Grand Trustel Mandarin Garden Nanjing (Sep. 15-16, 1 night)
Zhangjiajie Bluebay Hotel, Yongding District, 
   Zhangjiajie (Sep. 16-17 & Sep. 20-21, 2 nights)
Zhangjiajie Santa Daminga International Hotel, Wulingyuan District,
   Zhangjiejie (Sep. 17-19, 2 nights)
Fengtian International Hotel, Hunan Province (Sep. 19-20, 1 night)
Bluebay Hotel, Zhangjiajie (Sep 20-21)
Bund Riverside Hotel, Shanghai (Sep 21-23)
Mon. September 11 All Sierra Club trip participants meet at the hotel lobby at 4:00 pm and begin with introductions and a trip orientation followed by a welcome dinner, the first official group meal of the trip. Overnight at the Bund Riverside Hotel.

Tues. September 12 Visit the Shanghai Museum in the morning. Fly from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Huangshan via FM9267 (12:40-13:55). We will stroll the Old Antique Street. Overnight at the Huangshan International Hotel.

Wed. September 13 We will visit the old world villages of Xidi and Hongcun to view their unique architecture with its old dwellings built in the Ming and Qing dynasty style, and then drive to Mount Huangshan. Take a cable car ride up to the mountain. Enjoy the incomparable natural beauty while taking a walk to the Beihai Hotel. 2 nights at the Beihai Hotel.

Thurs. September 14 Enjoy the grotesque pines and the odd-shape rocks of Mount Huangshan.

Fri. September 15 Descend from Mount Huangshan by cable car to Taiping Lake, and drive to Nanjing. Afternoon visit the magnificent City Wall and the Confucius Temple area (also called Qinhuai Scenic Spot area). Overnight at the Grand Trustel Mandarin Garden Nanjing.

Sat. September 16 Morning visit the Former Residence of Gan Xi which is known as the grand courtyard of the Gan Clan now serves as the Nanjing Folk Museum. Then late afternoon 3U8763 (17:20-18:55) to Zhangjiajie. Overnight at the Bluebay Hotel.

Sun. September 17 Visit Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (Huangshi Zhai and Golden Whip Stream). 2 nights at the Santa Daminga International Hotel.

Mon. September 18 Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. We will take the Bailong Lift up to Yuanjiajie. Bailong Lift looks like a giant dragon soaring up to sky. It was placed on the list of Guinness World Records for it is the highest and fastest elevator with the maximum loading capacity. Yuanjiajie becomes more popular as the Southern Sky Pillar inspired the floating mountains in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar.

Tue. September 19 Drive from Zhangjiajie to Feng Huang Cheng (Phoenix Ancient Town). En route, visit a Miao minority village. Visit the old town in the late afternoon, and enjoy the beautiful night view of the old town. Overnight at the Fengtian International Hotel.

Wed. September 20 This morning we will continue our exploration of the old town before driving back to Zhangjiajie City. Overnight at the Bluebay Hotel.

Thur. September 21 Visit Tianmen (Heaven Door) Mountain Scenic Area by Tianmen Mountain cableway which is the longest and one of the most spectacular rides in the world. We will also have an adventure to walk on the glass plank road (optional). After our farewell dinner in Zhangjiajie, we will take an evening flight FM9344 (21:25-23:30) to Shanghai. 2 nights at the Bund Riverside Hotel.

Fri. September 22 Day excursion to Zhouzhuang - one of the most famous water towns in China. Evening acrobatic show.

Sat. September 23 The trip ends after breakfast, and trip participants leave Shanghai on their own for their international flights home.


Links:
Trip notes
Shanghai
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last updated 20 May 2017