Explore China, Tibet, May 1-16, 2009

Pandas at Chendu Breeding Center &nbsp: &nbsp: PHOTO BY FRED DONG

Six panda bears trotted towards the wall where we were watching them. These were playful adolescents full of energy having fun in their enclosure. Many of us stayed a long time to watch this youthful display of panda magic. This was one of the experiences at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center where we saw a few dozen pandas including a couple of baby pandas. For a modest donation, you could get your picture taken with one of the many pandas there.

Chengdu is one of the many places that will be visited on this year's Southern China Tibet trip led by Fred Dong and Bruce Hale. This is a unique trip where you will see some of the great natural beauty, wildlife, culture, and many historic areas of China and Tibet. Some are UNESCO world heritage sites.

We offer the only Sierra Club trip where you will be able to see Tibet. We will see such sights as Potola Palace, a massive, awe-inspiring structure, once the center of the Tibetan government and the winter home of the Delai Lama, Tibet's holiest shrines,-Jokhang Temple, Barkhor-Lhasa's most Interesting pilgrimage circuit, replete with shops and stalls and hawkers of Tibetan artifacts, jewelry, prayer flags, Drepung Monastery, once the world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks, and Sera Monastery. You will have time to explore Lhasa on your own too. You will see the Tibetan Plateau, the 'Roof of the World', home to some of the tallest mountain ranges in the world from the route of the new Lhasa-Bejing train. The rail line is one of the engineering marvels of the world.

Tibetans outside the Dalai Lama's summer palace &nbsp: PHOTO: FRED DONG

We will also stop at Xining, one of China's Silk Road cities where we will visit Taer Si Lamasery of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and other city sights.

Our tour includes Zhangjiajie Forest Park, an UNESCO world heritage site. This includes Tianzi Mount Scenery Area in which every rock, crag and gully has been given an elaborate name, and the Ten Miles Gallery, the Yellow Dragon Cave, Asia's largest cave, the Forest Park and boat tour of Bao Feng Lake. We will also briefly visit the nearby Chinese city Guangzhou.

Our price includes all accommodations in four star hotels, most meals, all bus, ship, and plane transportation within China, and roundtrip airfare to China. Sign-up early, our first trip filled quickly, disappointing many.

May 1-16, 2009 'O' Rated Angeles Chapter Sponsored Trip. Price: $3,595 plus taxes and visa fees until December 31, 2008 (January 1st and after $3,695 if still available) Non-members add $100. Sign-up, send 2 SASE, H & W Phones, SC#, e-mail address, deposit check of $400 (Sierra Club) to Bruce Hale, 3025 Alabama St., La Crescenta, CA 91214 phone 818-957-1936. Fred Dong 818-545-3878.

top of page