A WIND OF PROGRESS CHINA
BETWEEN RURALITY AND ULTRAMODERNISM HYPNOTIC CITY

Discovery

A travel in China will make you pass by his Beijing capital and the prohibited city, by the place Tian' Anmen or the memorial of Mao. You will explore Shenyang and its Manchu old workings, Xi' year starting point of the Silk route or Sichuan with its mountains where the collars culminate with more than 4,000 meters. You fill with wonder in front of the rice plantations in terrace or the Wall at China and add Shanghai to your circuit for its cosmopolitanism and its modernity. Your travel in China can also include a trip to Hong Kong, where you will be able to admire gigantic constructions of a megalopolis high-tech and the ancestral decorations of thousand-year-old China, but also of beautiful beaches and a protected nature. We could continue to enumerate you for a long time all that makes the beauty and the originality of this country but nothing will not replace your own experience.

Identity

Among oldest of the world, the Chinese civilisation continues since nearly 5000 years. The various dynasties which alternatively directed the country left behind them innumerable testimonies of their size of which the impressive Forbidden City of Beijing, ground of sensational legends, as well as buildings of defense of great scale like the Great wall, long of 21,196 km, only visible human work of the moon. The town of Xi' year, starting point of the Silk route shelters one of the most astonishing sites of the country: the mausoleum of the Qin emperor and his army of almost eight thousand soldiers and horses out of terra cotta.

This immense country conceals unsuspected wonders in all its provinces; caves dug with cliffside to shelter Buddhas with delicate contours, deep throats in the valley of the third larger river of the world, Yangzi Yang, 1833 turns of watch around Kaiping, the circular dwellings of the Hakka people, the paradisiac beaches or of the villages of another age, far from modern China. Very different, vibrating big cities of Beijing, Shanghai where Hong Kong can constitute a travel alone. You will not fail either to discover true flavours of the kitchen of the Empire of the Medium.

Culture & Traditions

ETHNIC MINORITIES

China is the country more populated world with these 1.2 billion inhabitants. It counts 55 ethnic communities. Each one has its own habits. We know the Uighur ones, the Kazakh ones, Today, the Kyrgyz, the Uzbeks, the Inhabitants of Tajik, Tatars, Naxi, Bai, the Tibetans, Dai, Hani, the Mongols, Oroqen, She, Tuija and Zhuang.

CONFUCIANISM

The Confucianism (rujia sixiang or thought of the well-read men) is a philosophy worked out by Confucius (551-479 av.JC) which preaches the community property and the social harmony. These doctrines emphasize several moral links such as obedience towards the old ones, the family and the friends. The Confucianism has a central place in the life of the Chinese and influence their life.

GASTRONOMY

The Chinese cuisine is famous in the whole world for its range of flavours. This gastronomy has five alternatives of flavours: sourness, the sweet one, the prickly one, the land-mark and salted. However the various specialities are strongly specific to the areas. Among the dishes known in Occident, we find Peking duck, fried rice, the Chinese fondue and much more. However, certain areas of China are followers of more original mets such as the insects or the dog in the province of Guangdong.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Built between the 3rd front century JC and the 17th century to defend the northern border of China, the Great wall is the largest building ever built by the man. Only a few pieces were restored including three important sites around Beijing. The sites of Bada Ling to 60 km or that of Mutianyu to 90 km of Beijing are most accessible with their cable car which will avoid you kilometers of walk in the mountain. You will be able to make kilometers between the turns of watches, and to admire the grandiose landscape formed by the great wall which curves between the hills.

Essential

20°-25° WINTER / 30° SUMMER
THE YUAN
+8 WINTER / +7 SUMMER
MANDARIN
PÉKIN
THE CHINESE FONDUE / DUCK LAQUÉ

Form your trip

The stages

HONG KONG

Returned in China in 1997, the city counts more than seven million inhabitants. True jewels economic of the empire of the medium, Hong Kong is an atypical place where modernity and tradition mix, conferring a single atmosphere to him. You will be able to then benefit from its many temples but also from its famous movie studios. You will be able, if the heart of told to you, to leave the agitation of the city for “the intermediate ground” hongkongaise, true testimony of its past and its traditions. Your travel will be also the occasion to go on a cruise around the islands hongkongaises and to discover the splendid pink dolphin.

SHANGAÏ

Also called the pearl of the East, Shanghai is one of the largest megalopoles of the world. Populated by more twenty-three million of inhabitants, the city became the financial center of the Asia-Pacific. From its history, the city abounds in European, religious vestiges for the majority like the cathedral Saint-Ignace. Concurrently to these monuments, one finds many testimonies of the Chinese traditions like the temple of Buddha, and that of Jade, or Jiangyin Lu, celebrates gone alive where mix animal in any kind and local legends. The museum of the history of Shanghai, its opera and its scrape-sky recall the travellers dreamers to which time we live.

PÉKIN

Beijing, more known in Occident under the name of Pékin, is the capital of China but also its cultural epicentre. Rich person of several thousands of years of History, two major styles of architecture are opposed today to Beijing, expressing the duality of all the modern metropolises: the traditional architecture of Chine Impériale, initially, with in particular the Forbidden City, the Place Tian' anmen, or the Temple of the Sky and a contemporary architecture whose technicality is put ahead since the Olympic Games of 2008 and the World Fair of 2010: the egg of Beijing (its new Opera) or the new National stadium (the Bird's nest), in particular.

XI'AN

Xi' An, with its 8 million inhabitants, is today part of the 10 plus Chinese big cities and became the capital of the province of Shaanxi. Old capital of China during the dynasty Zhou, it was at the end of the famous Silk route. Old woman of more than 3,000 years, Xi' an still has traces of her old fortifications and many are still the buildings which testify to its importance (pagodas, ramparts…). In the neighbourhoods of the city, the fabulous mausoleum of the Qin emperor is. Famous for its army of 6,000 soldiers out of terra cotta and its horses of real size, it constitutes a place impossible to circumvent.

HUANG SHAN

With its steep peaks covered by the fog, on which umbrella pines cling miraculously, the yellow mountain is the subject of predilection of the Chinese painters since centuries. Classified with the world heritage of UNESCO, Huang Shan is regarded as the most beautiful mountain of China. A sinuous and narrow staircase joined its principal top which culminates with 1900 meters, from where the sight on the rocks is unreal. It takes approximately three hours to join the top by the way while crossing exceptional landscapes, unless you wish to travel by the cable car.

KUNMING La ville du printemps éternel

Also called city of spring eternal, Kunming is located at the center of the province of Yunnan. Built at an altitude of 1,800 meters, Kunming remains an interesting stage (by which you will be obliged to pass to return to you in the province of Yunnan) with sites as the forest of Pierre which attracts many visitors with the daily newspaper. The temple of the Bamboos makes it possible to the travellers to contemplate the lake Dian Chi, as well as the town of Kunming. Because of its altitude, the city profits from one of the purest airs of China, by making a pleasant place to rest a few days.

SHANGRI-LA

Starting point of the excursions in the vast ones extended from the high plateaus of Yunnan, the mythical area of Shangri it, Zhongdian preserves some beautiful houses Tibetans and shelters the Songzalin lamasery; the largest monastery Tibetan of South-west with more than 600 monks. The area is primarily inhabited by Tibetans, called in China Zhuang, considered as a Chinese ethnic minority. One also finds there of Naxi, Yi, Lisu, the Muslims, Pumi and Bai. At the time of your excursions, you will be able to make a halt in a firm Tibetan and to taste with the specialities: meat of yak roasted or dried, cheese of fresh yak or in volume, and dry-cured ham with salt, without forgetting the wines of Yunnan worked out starting from type of vines imported by the French missionaries at the beginning of last century.

LIJIANG

Incontestably one of the oldest provinces of Yunnan and classified with the world heritage of UNESCO, Liijang is a city described like exceptional in more than one way. Meaning “beautiful river”, Liijang is located in the middle of a landscape to cut the breath. The old city of Liijang presents a very interesting architecture, within an authentic heritage. You will appreciate the care taken to the completions of the buildings, equipped with carefully carved wood decorations. Starting point towards many activities like splendid hikings or equestrian, Liijang allows the travellers a complete relaxation in his centre.

DATONG

To 16 km of Datong and dating from the 5th century, the 252 caves of Yungang dug in sandstone cliffs, shelter more than 51,000 statues whose style testifies to the Persian influences, Indian, of Central Asia or even Hellenic which crossed China. This Buddhist site was created to expiate persecutions against the Buddhists. Among the immense Buddhas represented in the caves, largest measures 17 meters and represents sitted Sakyamuni. All the caves contain low reliefs coloured as well as thousands of statues placed in niches.

PINGYAO

 

The strengthened city of Pingyao is a treasure of traditional Chinese architecture with its enlightened streets of red lanterns and its courses square of which that of Qiao Jia Dayuan which was used as decoration with the film of Zhang Yimou, Wives and concubines. Going back to 1370, crenelated fortifications the 12 meters height, marked out of 72 turns of watch, are dominated by the Kuixing tower whose octagonal form is unusual. In the pretty shops out of wooden, you will find a choice of astonishing crafts of which very beautiful objects in lacquer.

THE GREAT WALL AND TOMBS MING

 

Built between the 3rd front century JC and the 17th century to defend the northern border of China, the Great wall is the largest building ever built by the man. The sites of Bada Ling to 60 km or that of Mutianyu to 90 km of Beijing are most accessible. Classified with the world heritage of UNESCO, the last residence of thirteen of the sixteen Emperors Ming is more the good example of necropolis imperial Chinese. Surrounded by green hills which protect the late ones from the bad spirits carried by the wind of north, the site extends on 40 km2 by complying with the rules from alignment from Feng Shui. In the Palace, you will be able to go down in the underground vault from the Wanli emperor and to discover the treasures of Dingling.

FENGDU

 

Fengdu, called “the city of the phantoms” will enable you to discover a relocated village and to realize at which point the stopping transformed the landscape: the town of Fengdu was indeed in the beginning on other bank. You will be able to take the cable car to discover the whole of temple of Ming Shan. You will not fail either to visit the brisk market.

THE THREE THROATS The Three Throats : Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Shennong Stream et Xilin Gorge

At the time of a cruising in the throats of Qutang, between high steep cliffs then in the throats Wu, more the sublimes of the country, you will give up the ship for a boat more adapted for the exploration of the “minis three throats”. Do not fail to observe the groups of monkeys which populate cliff of Longmen Xia.

STOPPING OF THE THREE THROATS

The gigantic stopping of the Three Throats, one of the most ambitious structures of the world emerges in front of the boat. You will be able to go up on the platform of observation to see this 180 height meters spectacular building on 2 km broad and intended to cover part of the energy resources of the country. Its construction involved the displacement of thousands of people and especially the swallowing up of major historic sites not counting the ecological consequences with more or less long run.

DALI

Dali is a typical small town inhabited by Bai, one of the rare minorities not to be itself exiled towards other provinces. Located between the Cangshan Mounts and the lake Erhai, the old city of Dali releases a completely particular atmosphere between animated quietude and lanes. You will be able to trott yourselves in the middle of the old city on foot while penetrating by the fortifications of the 14th century which delimit the latter and its many lanes and commercial gravers, which propose the local arts and crafts of the Bai minority.

SHAXI

Located on the old road of the caravans of the tea and the horses, Shaxi was one of the most important crossroads between Yunnan, Tibet and Burma. Classified recently by UNESCO on the list of the 100 sites more in danger of the world, Shaxi sees its heritage finally preserved. It is around Shaxi that you will be able to discover the Buddhist caves of Baoshan. In this mountainous area moved away, four temples and caves were saved destruction. The 17 caves of Shizhongshan shelter more than 100 sculptures among oldest of the country.

THROATS OF THE JUMP OF THE TIGER

This 16 km length canyon is one of deepest in the world. Indeed, a few 3900 meters separate water from Jinsha of the snow-covered summits of the Haba mount. The excursion crosses landscapes to cut the breath but request very a physical good condition. It is not recommended for the people prone to the giddiness.

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