4 Days Culture Tour in Historical Nanjing
A life changing experience in China
A life changing experience in China
This Culture Expedition program is designed to make students have a chance to explore Nanjing's rich cultural heritage and the exquisite gardens and waterways of Yangzhou. As one of the most attractive major cities in China, Nanjing (historically Nanking) is situated in the lower reach of the Yangtze River. It sports a long historical heritage and has served as the capitals of six dynasties. In Chinese language, Nanjing means "southern capital", Beijing - "northern capital". Most of the Nanjing's attractions are reminders of the city's past glory, especially under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Major attractions in Nanjing include: Confucius Temple, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, The Ming Tomb in Nanjing (Xiao-ling), The Old City Wall of Nanjing. Yangzhou is known for the Slender West Lake and classical gardens and most of which are privately owned.
Note: Visiting time, Transporting time, and Duration of shows and Meals in the itinerary are suggested and will be subject to change particular situations.Slender West Lake;Geyuan Garden;Dongguan Street;
Arrive in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, meet Nanjing guide in train station. Enjoy a late lunch, then take 1.5hrs drive to Yangzhou. Today's tours will be more focused on the natural wonders of the area rather than cultural or historical. Slender West Lake, also known as Shou Xi Hu, is a stunning body of water that is extremely narrow and runs through the north of Yangzhou. The scenes are so picturesque that they remind of old scrolls and paintings that honor the greenery in this city.
Another main reason to visit Yangzhou is to see its classic gardens. Geyuan Garden is a fine example of the gardens that proliferated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In particular, this location has many types of bamboos and a layout based on emphasizing the 4 seasons of the year. Heyuan Garden is another elegant garden to behold in Yangzhou. Its history is not as long as that of Geyuan Garden but it is still impressive. Due to its clever layout, the garden seems much larger than it objectively is. There are even some Western influences exhibited in Heyuan Garden because of its more modern construction.
Before dinner, we will have a leisure time on Dongguan Street. After dinner, transfer to the hotel and check in.
paper-cutting;traditional snacks;old city wall;Xuanwu Lake Park;
This morning, we will learn to make Yangzhou paper-cutting in and traditional snacks (点心：包子&蒸饺). Yangzhou dishes may be one of the reasons why the people of Yangzhou are so infatuated with their city. They have an appealing color, aroma, taste and also appearance. The original color of each ingredient is preserved after cooking, and no oily sauce is added, so as to retain the fresh savor of the food.
After lunch, drive back to Nanjing. Visit the old city wall and Xuanwu Lake Park. With a lot of scenic spots and historical sites, it is reputed as "A bright pearl of Nanjing". On Xuanwu Lake, tourists can appreciate the integrated beauty of mountain, lake, city and forest.
After dinner, drive to the hotel and check in.
School Visiting, Sport Activities; Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; Confucius Temple;
After breakfast, go to visit a local Middle school where students will get to attend classes and collaborate on school projects with local students.
After lunch, transfer to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. He was the first president of united, modern China. It is set in a beautiful and dramatic area, surrounded by verdant trees, and his sarcophagus is a striking image. Learn about the founder of the People's Republic of China for a deeper understanding of the nation's history.
Then you will visit a second burial site, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum dedicated to Emperor Hongwu, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. It is so grand that it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mausoleum's site is elaborate and comprehensive, not to mention a grand example of China's royal tomb construction. Indeed, Emperor Hongwu's final resting place illustrates the power of the country's rule over 5,000 years ago.
A different type of construction to admire is the Confucius Temple known as Fuzimiao. While still a serious place of worship of the philosopher Confucius, there are many shops and commercial areas around the temple that blend a look at both traditional and contemporary China. Fuzimiao is one of the most prominent Confucius Temples in the country to this day.
Yuejiang Tower;
This morning, transfer to visit Yuejiang Tower Scenic Area where we could enjoy a bird view of Yangtze River. The grand structure is probably the best known on the list, but it's not as packed as other famous attractions, and it makes a great backdrop for a pleasant and peaceful hike. On a good day, the seven-story pavilion, perched on the peak of the 78-meter Lion Mountain, delivers a panoramic view over the Yangtze River and downtown.
A fitter lunch in local restaurant, drive to Nanjing South Railway Station, take the high-speed train to Beijing.
- End of Trip -
| Cancellation in advance | Cancellation penalty |
|---|---|
| More than 30 days | No Cancellation Fee |
| 30-10 days | 50% of the full payment |
| 9-0 days or no show | 100% of the full payment |
Enough films and batteries, Sun-cream with the protection index of 40-60, sunglasses with a sun protection factor of 15, the lip creams and balms with SPF rating, towel, toothpaste, electric torch, Snack foods.
Cloth that you bring must be warm enough and can be removed easy enough according to the weather, including Jacket, hat, Cotton underwear, Socks, Long-sleeve Shirts, T-shirts and Pants (Shorts are not appropriate at any time while hiking), comfortable shoes, rain gear (long rain coat is better)
Medicine: In addition to the normal medications for traveling, just like the Aspirin and medicine for diarrhea, siriasis，sunstroke and carsickness.
US$ is acceptable only in a very limited range, e.g. tips. However, for convenience, Chinese currency is the best choice. If you want to change US$ to Chinese currency in the tour, you can change it in the Hotel you stay or in the Bank of China. You could draw cash only from Bank of China in the big city, the ATM there doesn't always work properly and the bank is not easy to find. Please bring some cash at hand to use.
a) Eating is an important part of your China experience. Generally breakfasts are included in the itinerary and offered by hotels. CAT recommends local Chinese restaurants that are popular with local people for lunch. You can order dishes with the help of your guide. We usually leave dinner for your own choice — Western food can be found in most large cities.
b) We have tried to arrange various food in different cities. But you may still think the food is simple and not as delicious as in the big cities especially while trekking in the mountains and villages. If you have any priority of the food (eg. If you are vegetarian or you are allergic to MSG, peanut oil, fish and peanut, etc) please inform us early, we will try to alternate the food accordingly. At the same time please prepare some of your favorite snacks and substitution food in case of need.
c) Meals in the home stays will be different from the cities but clean, which leave you a good chance to experience the ethnic minority culture. We will pack a breakfast for you of cold cereal, milk, toast, fruit, and jam for the home stay.
d) It is very important to drink a lot of water and eat enough fruit in your tour especially while trekking in the mountains and villages. You are advised not to drink tap water.
Hotels in China are bound by Government laws which mean that air conditioning is switched on nationally in May and the central heating in November (this may vary slightly depending on the region).
In some remote areas, sometimes shower maybe not available in the home stay. A married couple is not allowed to share a room in the Miao's home-stay due to the local customs.
It is customary to tip service providers in the travel industry in Asia, depending on the service. Tipping is expected — though not compulsory — and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Recommendations for tipping drivers (5-8 USD per person per day as a guideline) and local guides (8-15 USD per person per day as a guideline) would depend on the quality and length of the service.
We use comfortable sedans or vans with air-conditioning. The comfort and safety of our customers is of utmost importance, so we ensure that all of the vehicles we use are well maintained and always very clean. Our drivers take pride in their vehicles.
In some provinces with many minorities (like Guizhou, Guangxi, Tibet, Xinjiang and etc.), the customs and habits of local people are different from place to place. The local guide will inform you what should care. Respect the local customs and religions. The people are very kind and hospitable. You can feel free to talk with them. But there are some rulers you should go by!
a. Do not photo them without getting the permit, please show the respect to them!
b. Don't talk the sensitive topics like the political and the religion matters!
When you sign up for the trekking tour, you acknowledge that there are risks involved in trekking in high altitude and confirm that you are fully aware of and accept these risks. It is customer's responsibility to determine whether the tour he/she choose is suited to his/her physical condition. Customers are responsible for the cost of any medicines or medical care they may require during the trip for any reason. Please make sure you have adequate personal medical insurance to meet any medical emergency which might arise. In some cases, if you need medical care during the tour, you may be required to pay for it at the time it is rendered and seek reimbursement from your insurer after you return home. Please check with your medical insurer for details. In the event of a medical emergency, we will make every effort to assist you in obtaining necessary care. Also, please tell us in writing if you suffer from any allergies or other physical conditions which might affect you during the tour (if you hasn't tell us in writing before going, you are supposed to be healthy enough to take the tour). Finally, please check with your doctor to find out what inoculation may be recommended for the areas you will be visiting. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary inoculations. We reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to decline to retain any person, if such person's physical condition, mental well-being or behavior interferes with the operation of the tour. There will be no refund in such cases.