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China - Sichuan
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Join us on a trip which has almost everything - Giant Pandas, good birds, spectacular scenery, a Giant Buddha and great food!
Sichuan is one of the most beautiful parts of China. This green and mountainous province is famous for its spicy and tasty food. Sichuan is also one of the best parts of China for wildlife and although we will have missed the main bird activity, we should still some special birds, some of which are restricted to this corner of the world. Sichuan lies at the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau and holds almost two-thirds of the country's endemic birds. The increased affluence and mobility of the Chinese has resulted in a much improved tourist infrastructure during recent years and we will be staying in some very good hotels with typical western comforts. This tour has been designed to give us a good chance of visiting some spectacular mountain areas, coupled with a small introduction to Chinese and Tibetan culture.
The 2008 earthquake had a devastating effect at the time. However, with typical Chinese efficiency, the roads and other infrastructure in this region have now been repaired and there should be no problems with travel and accommodation. We will arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Flight schedules should give us a chance for some afternoon birding after an overnight flight. The following day we shall have a relatively relaxed day familiarising ourselves with a good variety of bird species that will be new for first-time visitors to this region. The following day we will visit the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu to take loads of photos of these endearing animals. These shy animals live in the bamboo forests of Sichuan; however there is little chance of seeing one in the wild. We will then drive south to the high mountain of Wawu Shan. The summit of Wawu is at 3,000m so we will explore the summit and lower slopes by using cable car as our transport. Different altitudes have different birds, so we will try to give ourselves a good chance of seeing as many as possible. From there, we will return to Chengdu via the Giant Buddha of Leshan, another heavy day for the cameras! This huge monument has been carved into the cliff face overlooking a river. Then it is back to more magnificent mountain scenery and birds as we explore the area around Balang Shan. Finally, we visit the splendid forests of Mengbi Shan before returning to Chengdu and our flight the following day. |
© Tang Jun
Fulvous Parrotbill
Price: £ 3,495
The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Chengdu, airport taxes, ground transportation as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
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Accommodation and food is good to excellent throughout, with en suite rooms at the hotels. All hotels will be to Western standards.
Transport is by mini coach with driver. Walks are not strenuous and proceed at a leisurely pace. Walking at high altitude needs to be undertaken with care. Fortunately most of the walks at high altitude are short. Weather: Sichuan can be hot and humid in June. It can also be wet. As we will be at high altitude on some days, the temperatures are correspondingly cool enough for the need of a fleece. Leaders: Barrie Cooper & local guides Numbers: Max. 12 clients
Click here for a full, printable itinerary |
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