Scenic China: Mountains, Villages, and Classical Gardens

The Trip

Join us in exploring some of China’s most spectacular national parks and historic regions, where our time will be spent in the mountains and in two historic, culturally rich cities. This unique itinerary explores places both sacred and popular to the Chinese, concentrating on areas unexplored by most Westerners.

We will enjoy a stay at the top of Huang Shan, China’s most sacred mountain; explore the Ming and Qing Dynasty village of Hongcun, seemingly untouched by time (and featured in the famous Chinese movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"); and hike in Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan, World Heritage sites known for their hundreds of tall sandstone pillars, peaks, and valleys. (The Hallelujah Mountains in the movie “Avatar” were inspired by the scenery in the Zhangjiajie area.) Weather permitting, a highlight of the trip will be the 999-step climb to Heaven’s Gate, the world’s highest natural cave and one of the most spectacular natural attractions in China.

Unfortunately, the government has ceased to adequately fund protection for many of these places and instead has turned them into money-making ventures with the building of commercial businesses (resorts, hotels, stores, etc.) to generate income. As a result, there has been some ecological degradation, including air pollution, to several areas that the government had originally set out to protect.

Toward the end of the trip, we will also visit two of China’s most picturesque cities, Hangzhou and Suzhou, known for their scenic lakes and ancient classical gardens, some dating back to the 6th century BCE. Both cities are World Heritage sites and much beloved by the Chinese, who like to quote the adage, “Heaven is above and Hangzhou and Suzhou are below.” 

The trip dates, which are from early to mid-October, were chosen because many Chinese people will have returned to school or work, thus lessening the numbers to be found visiting the park areas. However, in a country of 1.4 billion people, someone is always vacationing, and as prosperity has increased, the Chinese love touring the sights of their country. We do our best to avoid visiting the most popular places on “high peak” days.

This trip will begin and end in the city of Shanghai.

Day 1: Our trip begins after lunch at 1:00 p.m. at our designated hotel in Shanghai. We will visit the Shanghai Museum -- the second largest in China, after Beijing -- and return to the hotel at 4:00 for introductions and an orientation meeting, followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant. Overnight Shanghai.

Considering the delays that can occur with long-distance travel, please consider arriving at least a day or two before the trip begins. Also, except for the brief visit to the museum, our itinerary does not include any sightseeing in Shanghai, which is a fascinating city. There are many popular guidebooks that can provide sightseeing ideas, and the trip leader will also offer suggestions and recommendations. Overnight Shanghai.

Day 2: An early afternoon flight will take us to the historical city of Tunxi in Anhui Province. After checking into our hotel, we will stroll the Old Antique Street, which has one of China’s best antique markets. The area was originally built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and is lined with antique shops, teahouses, medicine shops, and galleries, all of which exude the sense of “old China.” Overnight Huangshan City.

Day 3: After breakfast, our busy day begins with a visit to the 7 Tangyue Memorial Archways, built during the Qing Dynasty. The stone archway is considered a unique architectural form in China, erected at the entrance to a town or street to honor important persons, and the Tangyue Archways are the largest and best preserved in Anhui Province.

We will then drive to the 900-year-old village of Hongcun, which is a World Heritage site built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and today is considered a living museum. Used as a backdrop in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” Honcun’s ancient buildings and narrow winding lanes reveal outstanding examples of traditional local culture, building techniques, and landscape design. 

“Shan” means mountain, and in the afternoon, we will take a short drive to the base of Huang Shan, China’s most sacred mountain. A cable car will take us up through spectacular scenery. Once we disembark, an uphill 30- to 45-minute walk will bring us to our hotel for a two-night stay. (There is also the option of hiring porters, who will carry you in a sedan chair in the traditional manner.) Overnight Huang Shan.

Day 4: We will spend the day enjoying the spectacular natural landscapes of Huang Shan. If weather permits, there are breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, gnarled and wind-swept pine trees, mountain peaks appearing through seas of clouds (aptly described as “sky mountains,”) and fantastical rock formations. (Photographers love Huang Shan!) We will take organized hikes with a guide and also have free time to walk around on our own. Since this is a mountain area, there is always the possibility of rain or mist, and the hiking opportunities will be dependent on the weather. Overnight Mount Huang Shan.

Day 5: A cable car will bring us down from Huang Shan to Taiping Lake. From there we will drive by private bus to the vibrant, historical city of Nanjing, which was once the capital of the Republic of China and the seat of six dynasties. We will walk along Nanjing’s massive City Wall, built in the 13th century, and visit the bustling Confucius Temple area, still a renowned center of learning despite being next door to a modern shopping mall. Overnight in Nanjing.

Day 6: A morning visit will take us to the former residence of Gan Xi, a famous writer in the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820). This residence has over 300 rooms and now serves as the Nanjing Folk Museum.

In the afternoon a commercial flight will take us to the city of Zhangjiajie (pronounced Jong Ja Gee) in Hunan Province. It's the gateway to the spectacular Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, famous for its towering sandstone pillars and peaks, quiet streams, dense forests, and wildlife, which includes giant salamanders, rhesus monkeys, and a wide variety of birds. Overnight Zhangjiajie.

Day 7: We will spend two days visiting the spectacular landscapes of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Area. Wulingyuan forms part of the Wuling mountain range in Hunan Province and includes several national parks, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. These are large and spectacular scenic areas with over 3,000 sandstone pillars (many over 600 feet in height); areas covered in clouds and mists; ravines and gorges, waterfalls and pools. We will hike among these mountains and take a peaceful, scenic walk along the Golden Whip Stream. Overnight Wulingyuan.

Day 8: Within Zhangjiajie National Forest we will explore Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve in the Yunjiajie area, which requires taking the Bailong Elevator (the highest and fastest in the world!) to the top of the mountain. At the top, we will see the massive “Southern Sky Pillars” which inspired the floating mountains in the Hollywood blockbuster, “Avatar.” Overnight Wulingyuan.

Day 9: Our next visit will be to the scenic area of Tianmen Mountain (translated as Heaven’s Door or Heavenly Gate), inside Zhangjiajie National Park. A drive up the mountain that includes 99 switchbacks, followed by the longest cable car ride in the world (30 minutes), will get us to the base of Tianmen Mountain (4,980 feet). There we can explore the area and enjoy an optional stroll on the glass walkway, cantilevered out from the mountain and suspended hundreds of feet in the air. Weather permitting, we will also climb the spectacular 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate.

After dinner in Zhangjiajie City, we will take an evening flight to Hangzhou. Overnight Hangzhou.

Day 10: In the 13th century, Marco Polo described Hangzhou as “the finest, most splendid city in the world.” Today it is one of China’s most acclaimed destinations, especially the fabled West Lake, which has attracted artists, scholars, and poets for hundreds of years. We begin the day with a boat ride on the lake, and afterward visit Huagang Park, Lingyin temple, and the Longjing tea plantation. Overnight Hangzhou.

Day 11: A short train ride brings us to the ancient water town of Suzhou, often called “The Venice of the Orient.” We will tour two of the magnificent classical gardens for which the city is famous: the Garden of the Master of the Nets and Panman Water Gate (from which the celebrated architect, I.M. Pei, drew much inspiration). A stroll down Pingjiang Ancient Street will complete our day. Overnight Suzhou.

Day 12: Today we tour the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the I.M. Pei-designed Suzhou Museum. After taking an early afternoon train back to Shanghai, our last official meal together will be the farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant. Overnight Shanghai.

Day 13: The trip ends after breakfast and we bid goodbye to our fellow travelers with whom we have shared an exciting and memorable adventure!

Getting There

International airfare is not included in the trip price. Trip members are free to make their own flight arrangements to Shanghai and back to the U.S. Transportation to and from the Shanghai airport is not included in the trip price, although the leader can arrange to have you picked up upon your arrival and dropped off for your departure. There is also a taxi queue at the airport, with an official who speaks English and can assist you. In addition, carry the name and address of your hotel or other destination, written in Chinese and English, whenever you take a taxi in China. Most taxi drivers do not speak English. You will need to pay for the cab fare with Chinese money.

The trip leader will send you a Chinese translation of your Shanghai hotel name and address prior to your flight to China. Hotel name and address cards are available at most Shanghai hotel front desks.

It is advisable to change some American currency into Chinese money prior to leaving for the trip. You may do this through many banks or currency exchanges. You may also change some money at the Shanghai airport.

Accommodations and Food

The trip price is based on two persons sharing a room with twin beds. The majority of our accommodations will be in three- to four-star hotels. In some towns we will stay in authentic boutique hotels; in others the hotels will be comfortable, but may be less modern in decor. Public toilets along our route and in the parks will be Asian squat toilets (so keep those leg muscles strong!). Our hotel rooms will have regular Western toilets.

Meals will be Chinese and served family style. Please do not expect to order American food at our group meals or at most places on the itinerary. Chopsticks are the utensils that are commonly used but you may request a fork if necessary. Breakfasts in Shanghai and Nanjing will be your choice of American or Chinese food. Chinese breakfasts will probably be the order of the day in other places and often consist of a rice gruel (very good when peanuts are added), noodles, various vegetables, steamed buns, dumplings, tea or coffee.

Vegetarians can be accommodated but are encouraged to bring some favorite snacks from home. Please consult with the trip leader regarding other dietary requirements and food-related health issues. Our guide takes great pride in introducing his country’s cuisine to us, and you will find our meals to be tasty, well cooked, and plentiful. LOCAL WATER FROM FAUCETS MAY NOT BE USED FOR DRINKING WATER AT ANY TIME. To save on the use of plastic water bottles, it is strongly recommended that you boil water in your hotel room and fill your own water bottles. The leader will also provide water purification tablets, as well as an allotted number of purchased bottles.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated easy in terms of physical exertion. However, when we are on Huang Shan, there are optional hikes of varying difficulty. Cement stairs are common rather than trails, and the most strenuous hiking involves stairs as steep as 60 to 70 degrees. However, rain and poor visibility makes these conditions too slick to climb safely, and there are a multitude of trails to explore on more moderate terrain.

From days 1 to 13, we will be very active, traveling by van, bus, or commercial plane to a new location every one to two days. Once we arrive at our destination we will visit sights for the remainder of the day. Terrain surfaces will be both flat and hilly, and sometimes steep. Depending on the weather, there are opportunities for two beautiful hikes of approximately 6-8 miles each. One can always take time off from planned activities and rest on the days when we stay at the same place. 

There will be three commercial flights on this trip: Shanghai to Huangshan City (day 2); Nanjing to Zhangjiajie City (day 6); Zhangjiajie City to Hangzhou (day 9). The weight limit for each of these flights is a maximum of 11 pounds for carry-on luggage and 44 pounds for checked luggage. Luggage exceeding the stated number of pieces or weight is subject to weight charges. 

Equipment and Clothing

Bring lightweight clothing to wear in layers so that you can be comfortably dressed in warm to chilly weather. Our trip dates are in early to mid-October, so weather may be getting cooler, especially in the mountainous areas and in the evening and early morning hours. Sturdy, closed toe walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots are a necessity. Weather on Huangshan can be wet with rain or heavy mist, so an umbrella and rain jacket are recommended.

References

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Out outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

Since we will be visiting a number of national parks and scenic areas, one focus of our conservation talks will be China’s national park system and the pros and cons of the administration of these parks and scenic areas. The development of China’s national parks has been rapid over the last two decades: the area of all parks in China now covers 16.9% of its total land area; 7.9% above the world’s average. Many people in China now have more income and are wanting more parks and recreational areas.

However, this does not mean that in China’s park areas wildlife or biodiversity is adequately protected. Ostensibly, the goal of national parks is to protect natural beauty, biodiversity and ecosystems and to promote scientific research, education, and recreation. However, pressure from the public for recreational facilities and the attraction of tourist dollars for the park means that many national parks in China are focusing on economic benefits rather than the conservation of ecosystems. Frequently there appears to be much park development, but little planning to prevent the ecological consequences of development. In some instances, development includes the building of resorts, hotels, and shopping malls within protected areas. In conjunction with this demand for larger recreational areas comes air pollution, which unfortunately is present in some of the national parks.

Water use has increased greatly with the influx of tourists and the development of infrastructure such as hotels and restaurants. These conflict with the local peoples’ agricultural and domestic requirements. Therefore, water shortages and pollution are major concerns. Unfortunately, there are many more issues to be addressed such as soil erosion, building of dams, needs of local residents vs. tourists, and more. 

On the positive side, China has made a beginning in protecting its important ecological areas, but it is still in its infancy and needs to learn a great deal about managing its parks and finding a balance between making money and saving precious resources.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.