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Wild & Ancient China

A Far-East Odyssey Featuring a Spectacular Combination of Culture, Wildlife and Scenery

Giant pandas live in only a few mountain ranges in central China. Although they were once found in lowland areas, farming, forest clearing and land development now restrict their habitat. Our visit to the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan Province is the closest encounter one can have today with pandas close to a wild setting.

Our adventure exploring the wild and ancient character of China starts in Beijing. There have been cities in this vicinity since the first millennium B.C. Today Beijing is recognized as the political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China.

After a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, we'll take a "hutong" tour to see Old Beijing. Hutongs are narrow streets or alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences. A number of Beijing’s ancient hutongs have been designated protected areas, offering a glimpse of life in the capital city as it has been for generations.

After a short hike at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, we'll have a picnic lunch right on the wall!

The Great Wall is the world's longest manmade structure, stretching over four thousand miles along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia.

We'll fly to Xian, China's oldest city and former capital on and off for 1,100 years. Xi’an marks the beginning of the Silk Road, the route traveled by merchants, bandits, pilgrims and soldiers. Surrounded by water and hills, the city enjoys the laudatory title of "Natural History Museum."

Called the "most significant archeological excavation of the twentieth century," the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is located in Xi’an. These life-size figures, arranged in battle formation in the museum, are associated with the first Qin emperor (221–206 B.C.).

Upon ascending the throne at the age of thirteen, Qin Shi Huang, later the first emperor of all China, began work for his mausoleum. It took eleven years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects accompanied the emperor in his afterlife.

Xi’an is also full of life in the present! As the most important city in northwest China, Xi’an is replete with shopping centers, supermarkets, Sichuan cuisine and friendly people. Any experience in this ancient city will bring fun and lots of little surprises!

We also fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The older parts of the city have kept their charm, and the narrow streets are lined with trees and old houses – perfect for browsing flower shops and stopping at teahouses.

In Chengdu we visit the Giant Panda Research Breeding Base, which is also home to red pandas. These animals, which resemble raccoons in size and appearance, are good climbers and spend most of their time in trees when not foraging.

A highlight of our trip, of course, is seeing the giant pandas at Bifengxia Panda Base. Although scientists don’t know why these unusual animals are black-and-white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective camouflage in the bears' shade-dappled snowy and rocky surroundings.

The giant panda is currently listed as "endangered." In 2004, there were estimated to be about 1,600 individuals left in the wild. More than 160 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world, mostly in China.

Until recently scientists thought that giant pandas spent most of their lives alone, with males and females meeting only during the breeding season. Recent studies paint a different picture, however, in which small groups of pandas share a large territory. Much remains to be learned about these elusive animals, and every new discovery helps in the battle to save this species.

While at Bifengxia, you may choose to make a donation to the base to earn the privilege of interacting with the young pandas. While these opportunities aren’t always available, those fortunate enough to have done so remember this experience for a lifetime!

A smile like that sums up the experience better than words ever could!

After a final morning with the pandas at Bifengxia, we ride down a 26-story elevator to the bottom of spectacular Bifeng Gorge.

We take a short, leisurely hike at the bottom of the gorge to take in views of the stream, waterfalls and abundant plant life.

Our next destination, Jiuzhaigou National Park, is tucked away in the depths of the mountains in the northern part of Sichuan Province. Jagged peaks comprise a series of diverse forest ecosystems. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

Another distinguishing feature of Jiuzhaigou is its Tibetan settlements. Colorful banners, prayer wheels and chortens dot the region.

This trip truly takes us beyond the typical tourist experience in China. You will surely depart with a great appreciation for all the natural beauty China has to offer.

Natural Habitat Adventures
Box 3065
Boulder, CO, USA 80307
(303) 449-3711
(800) 543-8917

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