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In Search of OLD
CHINA
with Dennis
Cox
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In Search of OLD
CHINA
with Dennis
Cox
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Visitors to contemporary China, overwhelmed by the rapid development of its dynamic modern facade, may wax nostalgic for the legendary, hidden China: the China of historical tradition, religious sentiments, and refined artistic fulfillment. This new Photo Explorer Tours itinerary will circle around the country to seek out a selection of China's best examples from its storied past, jewels from its fabulous history, to ponder and photograph. From the Yangtze delta region around Shanghai, to deep into the interior of southwest Yunnan ("South of the Clouds"), through the cradle of Chinese civilization along the Yellow River and its ancient capital of Xi'an, to the capital of it's last imperial dynasties at Beijing, places and objects both ancient and merely old will provide ample photographic opportunities.
Featured subjects in this tour will include:
* Shanghai's historic Bund and its restored Old Town.
* Suzhou's artistic gardens and famous Grand Canal.
* The enchanting ancient water town of Xitang as seen recently in the film Mission Impossible III.
* Yunnan's Dali, with its historic three pagodas, and the old town of Lijiang, painstakingly rebuilt in the last decade after a devastating earthquake in 1996.
* Stone Drum Village at the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge.
* Xi'an, former Chinese capital and largest city in the world, site of the Qin Shihuangdi Museum with its famous Terra Cotta Army, restored city wall and moat, Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, and Tang dynasty music and dance.
* The Iron Ox and Hu Kou waterfall on the Yellow River, Zhangdian village's unique underground kiln houses, Wang Family Courtyard, and the Shuanglin, Yong Le and Guang Sheng Temples.
* The 2,700-year-old walled city of Pingyao, home to some of the best-preserved traditional architecture in China.
* Qiao Family Courtyard, as seen in the Zhang Yimou film Raise the Red Lantern.
* The historical attractions of the imperial capital of Beijing and the Great Wall at remote Jinshanling.
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The land price for this tour, $3795* based on double occupancy,
includes all transportation in China, most meals, three to five star
hotels (best available), full sightseeing, transfers, tips for local
guides and drivers, and English-speaking local guides. The single
room supplement is $785*. Not included are the visa for China,
personal expenses, and individual tips, including to the national
guide. Optional pre-tour or post-tour extensions in China, such as
more time in Shanghai and/or Beijing for first time visitors, can be
arranged through Photo Explorer Tours. Please call for
information.
Tour is limited to sixteen
participants.
....................................................(*prices
may be subject to adjustment in case of significant currency
fluctuations or rate increases by providers)
..In
Search of Old China Itinerary Tuesday, April 10 Monday
departures from North America arrive on Tuesday, April 10,
(a day is lost crossing the international dateline) at
Pudong International airport. Tour members arriving this day
will be met and transferred to the Sofitel Hotel on
downtown's Nanjing Road, for the first night of a two night
stay in Shanghai. Wednesday, April 11 Day trip to Suzhou to
photograph the arch bridges on the Grand Canal including at
Pan Men Gate, the Fisherman's Net Garden and Lingering
Garden, plus Silk Embroidery Institute (if time permits).
Return to Shanghai to photograph Old Town at dusk and have
dinner at local restaurant. Thursday, April 12 After morning shoot on the Bund
and breakfast, transfer to Xitang for lunch and photography
in afternoon, evening photography and dinner. Overnight at
local Xitang hotel. Friday, April 13 Fly to Kuming to connect with
flight to Dali. First night of two night stay at the Ya Xing
(Asia Star) Hotel. Standing against the
Cangshan Mountains in the west and adjoining the Erhai Lake
in the east, embraced by undulating hills around, Dali was
the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom as early as
1,300 years ago. It is home to the Bai minority. The format
of Dali's old town is like a chess board with four gates
guarding the four directions, a design that was adopted by
most towns in ancient China. Saturday, April 14 Standing
like a tripod on the outskirts of old town, the Three
Pagodas were constructed in about 850 and 1050 following the
model of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an. For
centuries, they are the landmarks of the region.
After photography of the Three Pagoda Temple, depart
after lunch for a boat trip on Er Hai lake (named
for its ear-like shape, it lies in a geological fault
between parallel mountain ranges) and a visit to
Shelter Island. Dinner is not included this evening so that
one of the town's popular and inexpensive
privately owned restaurants in Old Town, such as the Cafe de
Jack, (great pizza baked in real pizza ovens), Yunnan Cafe,
the Salvador Dali, or Jim's Tibetan Cafe (featuring great
conversations with Jim) can be experienced. Sunday, April 15 Drive 180 kilometers to Lijiang,
a small mountain town of stone and tile,
laced with swift canals, listed as an UNESCO world
monument, with stop on the way for the Mao Ping
Sunday Market. First of three nights at the Jian Nan Chun
Hotel located conveniently in the heart
of the old town. Dinner for all
evenings in Lijiang is at leisure on your own account.
Popular restaurants here include Sakura, MaMa Fu's, and the
Blue Papaya Italian. Monday, April 16 Morning photography of the Black
Dragon Pool Park with its Moon Embracing Pavilion and Jade
Dragon Snow Peak. In the afternoon,
visit Baisha village with its frescos dating back to theMing
and Qing dynasties. (Mr. Joseph Rock, an Austro-American
botanist and explorer who lived here off and on from
1922-1949, is best remembered for introducing innumerable
plant species to the West and his rigorous works on Naxi
ethnology. Likely, Dr. Ho, Dr. Rock's apprentice who has
gained an international reputation will be on hand to offer
some lively tales about the area.) In the evenings, attend a
performance of the Naxi Orchestra, a Taoist ceremonial
instrumental music accompanied with chanting that was
introduced to Yunnan from mainland China during the Tang
dynasty some 1200 years ago. Tuesday, April 17 American
breakfast at hotel. All day excursion to visit the Stone
Drum village, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, and the
Tiger Leaping Gorge. The village of Stone Drum stands at the
First Bend of the Yangtze River, some 70 kilometers west of
Lijiang. Approaching Stone Drum offers a dramatic view of
the Yangtze's near-180-degree turn, where the wide, swift
waters perform a miraculous about-face. For nearly 20
kilometers the river, first flowing south, then north, runs
parallel to itself. Locals say if it were not for their
village standing guard at the bend, China would lose the
water of the Yangtze to Southeast Asia, like that of the
adjacent Mekong and Salween Rivers. The Tiger Leaping Gorge,
or Hutiaoxia in Chinese, is the Yangtze's best-known gorge
after the Three Gorges in Sichuan and Hubei. Wedged tightly
between titanic cliffs, the river is so narrow here, as
legend tells us, that a hunted tiger made his escape to the
other side in a single bound. Lunch en tour at local Chinese
restaurant. Dinner at leisure is again on your own account
in Lijiang. Wednesday, April 18 Morning free to individually
explore the old town of Lijiang. Lunch is again on own
today. Afternoon fly to Kunming to connect for flight to
Xi'an. First of two nights at the Bell Tower Hotel in the
center of the old walled city. Thursday, April 19 Xi'an's photographic subjects
will include the Qin Shihuangdi Museum with the world famous
Terra Cotta Army, Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas,
Chinese-style mosque, and city wall and moat. Tang Dynasty
Song and Dance performance with dumpling dinner in the
evening. Friday, April 20 Drive to Yuncheng. On the way
visit Zhangdian village for its underground old kiln houses,
which is the only place in China for this type of house.
Also visit the Iron Ox of the Yellow River and the Yong Le
Temple. Stay overnight at the 3 star Yuncheng Tongbao
Hotel. Saturday, April 21 Continue to Lin Fen with a
visit to the old theatre stage at Lin Fen, and then to the
Yellow River and its raging Hu Kou Waterfall. Stay at Lin
Fen Red House Hotel overnight. Sunday, April 22 Continue drive to Pingyao with
visit enroute to the 17th century Wang Family Courtyard,
consisting of 1,118 houses in many classic styles mostly
from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and Guang Sheng Temple.
First of two nights at Pingyao Yun Jin Cheng Folklore
Guesthouse (modern rooms with traditional kang beds). Monday, April 23 Full day exploring and
photographing in the Pingyao old town including a
performance of the old court and visits to the gray-brick
courtyard homes, extravagant family mansions, Daoist and
Buddhist temples, and China's earliest commercial banks.
Entrance fee to the ancient drum tower in city center and
rammed earth Ming city wall surrounding the city will be
included. However lunch and dinner will be on own with many
convenient inexpensive restaurants catering to both Chinese
and Western tastes from which to choose. Tuesday, April 24 Drive to Shanxi province capital
of Taiyuan with stops along the way at the sixth century
Buddhist Shuanglin Temple, famous for its 2000-plus painted
statues in ten halls, and the Qiao Family Courtyard, best
known of Shanxi's merchant-family mansions. Fly to Beijing.
First of three nights at the Jianguo Hotel. Wednesday, April 25 Early
morning in Beijing at Jingshan Park photographing the
exercise activities of the locals and panoramic views
overlooking the city and Forbidden City from Coal Hill
followed by walk through the Forbidden City.
After early lunch depart for three hour
bus ride to the remote Jinshanling section of the Great Wall
for shooting until sunset. Dinner at restaurant near the
wall before driving back to the city. Thursday, April 26 Morning in the Summer Palace
followed by an "Awards Banquet" luncheon
at the imperial restaurant, Fangshan, with distinguished
guests from the national Chinese Photographers Association.
Following lunch visit the Temple of Heaven. Dinner
will then precede an evening Peking Opera. Friday, April 27 The photo tour
ends with transfers to the Beijing airport for flights home.
(Flights to North America arrive same day.)
.
All photos above
© Dennis
Cox/ChinaStock
The 2007 In Search of Old China Tour
was accompanied by Photo Explorer Tours Director Dennis Cox.
CLICK HERE for photos of China from previous tours by Dennis Cox.
2007
Wall Calendar by Dennis Cox
Photo Explorer
Tours DENNIS
COX LLC
2506 Country Village, Ann Arbor MI 48103-6500 USA
Phone: 800-315-4462 or 734-996-1440 Fax: call for number
Email: DECoxPhoto@aol.com
Direct Link to Reservation
Form.
May all your journeys be care free,
And may all your days be filled with wonder.
NOTICE: The photographs on this website
are legally protected by United States and international copyright
laws and may NOT be used for reproduction in any manner without the
explicit authorization of Dennis Cox LLC.
