October 19 - Nov 4, 2008Enjoy China - Off the Beaten Path
In an extraordinary adventure with kindred spirits and exceptional
tour leaders.
Xian, Mount Hua Shan, Chengdu, Azure
City Mt., Lhasa, Tibet
Experience a part of China’s culture and ancient
spiritual centers set in the quiet beauty of nature that even Chinese
people rarely get to see.
Learn unique
styles of Qigong for Anti-Ageing and Vitality
● Visit legendary Mount HuaShan where we will travel with the Daoist
adepts to ancient temples, caves of hermits and secret power spots
above the “cloud sea.”
● Visit Xian: China’s capitol for 2,000 years with the feel of an
ancient metropolis and world cultural center. It was Marco Polo's
destination on the Silk Road and has a rich history dating back to
Neolithic villages over 500,000 year old.
● Marvel at the
Terra Cotta Army a collection of over 8,000 life-size
figures of warriors and horses buried with the First Qin Emperor.
● Explore Tibet, the “Roof-top of the World”: tour the
Potala
Palace, once home of the Dali Lama; Visit
Jorkang, the most sacred
temple in Tibet and Sera Monastery where we will listen to monks
debate Buddhist teachings.
● Join Buddhist nuns for morning meditation and hear their pure sweet
voices singing sacred Buddhist chants. Visit children at the
Tibetan
Orphanage
we have adopted and exchange language skills as we them
learn English words and they teach us phrases in Tibetan.
● Visit the
Tibetan Traditional Hospital where we will learn about
Tibetan Medicine, receive a pulse diagnosis and herbal formula
recommendations.
● Explore the Barkor a 1,000 year old Bazaar in the heart of
Lhasa with
extraordinary art, handcrafts, jewelry, antiques and much more.
● Visit a Tibetan family as guests in their home. Learn about Tibetan
customs, culture and their daily life as we gather around their
cooking fire and sample Yak butter tea,
or tsampa and other local foods.
● Leave all your worldly cares behind as we relax on
Mount Qingchen
Shan (Azure City Mountain), the most Yin and serene of China’s sacred
mountains. We will stay in a beautiful guest house at a magical 1,000
year old monastery under the protective branches of a sacred Gingko
tree.
● Visit the world’s largest
Giant Panda Research Center, learn about
this incredible endangered species and even hold adorable baby Pandas.
● Benefit from personalized classes in Qigong, and Tai Chi (optional)
● Dine on the best cuisine in China including Xian’s famous
jiaozi
dumplings, a special hot pot dinner, extraordinary Sichuan flavors and
a traditional Daoist banquet.
October 10 to 26, 2008
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Depart from San Francisco International Airport We
will learn Qigong Techniques for Travelers before departure and have
a "recovery from jet lag" session after we arrive. Cross the
International Date Line
Day 2: Arrive in Xian, the ancient walled city and
capitol of China. Situated at the end of the famous Silk Road, Xian
was Marco Polo’s destination and will be our first stop in China. We
will stay in the center of Xian, near the
Bell Tower,
Drum Tower and
famous Muslim Bazaar. Every evening of our journey there will be an
opportunity for our group to gather and discuss the lessons and
activities of the day.
Day 3: Terra Cotta Warriors, Mount Hua Shan: In the early
morning, we will walk to nearby City Gods Temple for (optional) Qigong
with Mark. After a delicious Western and Chinese breakfast buffet we
will take the scenic drive to sacred
Mount Hua Shan, stopping at HuaChing Pool, resort spa and exotic gardens of ancient royalty. After
lunch we will explore the incredible site where over 8,000
Terra Cotta
Warriors from the Qin Dynasty were unearthed. Evening in town at the
base of the mountain.
Day 4: Jade Spring Temple; Mount Hua Shan: After morning
Qigong and a leisurely breakfast we will take a guided tour of Jade
Spring Temple one of the oldest and most beautiful Daoist temples in
China. After lunch we will take a cable car half way up sacred Mount
Hua Shan, one of China’s legendary Daoist mountains. At 7,000 feet,
its majestic white granite peaks rise above the clouds. We will visit
many temples and shrines as we climb the stone steps the rest of the
way to our temple guest house near the top of the mountain. (Those
uncomfortable with heights and primitive conditions may stay at a
hotel in town - additional fee) Evening meditation on top of the
mountain as we watch the sun setting beneath the “cloud sea” will be
followed by a family style meal shared with the Daoist.
Day 5: Mount Hua Shan: Morning meditation on top of West
Peak and viewing the sunrise for early risers. Free time to explore
the many mountain trails, ancient temples and caves of Daoist hermits.
Afternoon seminar on Qigong and Daoist practices with our friend
Master Yu, Daoist priest from Jade Spring Temple. Evening family style
meal shared with the Daoist.
Day 6: Hua Shan – Xian: Morning will provide free time
to explore the mountain or view the sunrise above the cloud sea. After
breakfast, we will take the scenic cable car down and drive to Xian
where we will visit the Eight Immortals Temple and adjacent outdoor
bazaar where farmers sell collectibles and even Han Dynasty antiques.
Our dinner will be a banquet of the local specialty, Jiaozi
dumplings, in dozens of shapes and flavors.
Day 7: Chengdu: Morning Qigong at City Gods Temple
followed by free time to explore Xian. Afternoon flight to Chengdu.
After settling into our comfortable accommodations at Wen Jun Mansion
we will enjoy a Banquet of famous Sichuan cuisine followed by evening
discourse and sharing.
Day 8: Panda Research Center, Green Ram Temple, Sichuan
Opera: Morning Qigong at beautiful Bai Huatan Park where local
people meet to practice Tai Chi. Locals often join in our group to
share in Mark’s teachings. Breakfast at our hotel in an open
courtyard. Then we tour the Giant Panda Research Center, see new born
baby Pandas, photograph them and their adorable babies in their
natural habitat. (make a donation to hold baby pandas). In the
afternoon we will visit Green Ram Daoist Temple, with its elegant
Bagua Pavilion and printing shop where 10,000 hand carved wood blocks
are still used to print the Daoist Canon. Available for sale in the
temple gift shop, they have amazing energy. Hot Pot dinner is
followed by the famous Sichuan Opera with its exotic costumes,
incredible fire breathing and mask changing shows and if you want; get
a foot massage during the performance.
Day 9: Mount Qingcheng Shan: Morning Qigong at
beautiful Bai Huatan Park. After breakfast we take a scenic tour
through back roads and rural villages on our way to Qingcheng
Mountain. We will ride the Ferry on Yuecheng Lake, take a scenic Cable
Car ride to the top of Qingchen Shan and walk down to our guest house
at serene and beautiful Tianshidong Temple nestled under the
protective branches of a sacred 1,000 year old ginkgo tree. In the
evening we will enjoy a special Daoist Banquet.
Day 10: Mount Qingcheng Shan: Morning Qigong in our
favorite “energy” spot overlooking the treetops followed by breakfast
and free time to explore the mountain trails and temples. Special
afternoon Chinese Calligraphy class by Mark is always a highlight of
our trips. Even the local Chinese are fascinated by the evolution of
their writing and join in our class. Daoist Banquet Dinner followed by
evening discourse and sharing under the stars.
Day 11: Mount Qingcheng Shan; Chengdu: Morning Qigong
in our favorite spot then Chinese breakfast including famous foods of
QingChen. Then we are on our way to leisurely journey through verdant
forested trails to the foot of the mountain. Return to Chengdu.
Day 12:
Lhasa, Tibet: In the morning we will fly to Lhasa, the capital
city of Tibet, one of the most spectacular places on earth. At an
altitude of over 12,000 feet above sea level with beautiful mountains
that stretch to the horizon on one side and the blue water of the
Lhasa River with picturesque Yak-skin boats navigating in it on the
other. Our lodging is in a beautiful Tibetan style hotel near Jorkang
Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibet. After acclimating to the
climate, we will take a leisurely tour of
famous Barkhor
Street Market, a commercial hub of the Himalayas for 1,000 years, and
an opportunity for some extraordinary international shopping and
amazing bargains on handcrafts from Tibet, China, India and Nepal.
After dinner, our evening discussion group will continue.
Day 13: Potala Palace, Carpet Factory, Ani
Tsankhung Nunnery, Tibetan Orphanage: After morning Qigong and
breakfast at our hotel, we will be off to visit Ani Tsankhung
Nunnery where we will tour the grounds including a secluded
meditation cave once used by Songtsen Gampo in the 7th
century. Those who wish may join Buddhist nuns for morning meditation
and enjoy hearing their pure sweet voices singing sacred Buddhist
chants. After lunch we will tour the Potala Palace,
former home of the Dalai Lama and one of the architectural wonders of
the world. Dating from the 17th century, it is 363 feet high, and its
1000 rooms cover 102 acres. In the late afternoon we will visit the
Tibetan Orphanage we have adopted. In the evening we will enjoy the
Traditional Tibetan Ethnic Heritage Show.
Day 14: Tibetan Traditional Hospital, Jorkang Temple, Sera
Monastery: After morning Qigong and breakfast at our hotel we will
visit the famous Tibetan Traditional Hospital to learn and explore the
unique Tibetan way of keeping healthy. Tibetan medical science is an
arcane field whose theories are influenced by Indian and Chinese
medicine and are backed up by Tantric texts. Each trip member will
receive a free pulse reading, diagnosis and herbal recommendations.
Next we will walk across the Barkor to visit 1,300 year old Jorkang
Temple, considered the holiest temple in Tibet. It is notable for its
roof of solid gold and interior labyrinth of shrines, halls and
galleries, and the many pilgrims who continually visit this holiest
sight of Tibetan Buddhism. In the afternoon we will visit Sera
monastery; if we are fortunate we will observe the monks debating
Buddhism in the open courtyard. Dinner in the Barkor followed by
(optional) sitting with the monks at Jokhang Temple for evening
chanting.
Day 15: Day trip to visit a Tibetan
family in their home: Early morning Qigong on the roof top. Then
we make a day trip to visit a Tibetan family as guests in their home
and share in their daily life. Learn about Tibetan customs, culture
and their daily life as we gather around their cooking fire and sample
Yak butter tea, tsampa and other local foods. Farewell Banquet of
Traditional Tibetan Foods.
Day 16: Depart for Chengdu: Free time to explore
Chengdu, do a bit of shopping and prepare for our departure to the
US in the morning. Farewell Banquet followed by our last evening of
discussion and sharing.
Day 17: In the morning we will have our last Qigong class. We
will depart for the USA and arrive the same day after crossing the
International Dateline.
Daily Classes in Qigong, Tai Chi, Meditation (optional)
REGISTRATION:
Trip fee: US$3,545.00
Trip Fee with cash
discount: US$3446.00
Checks, Money order, Credit cards (Visa and MC )
accepted.
Trip Fees
Includes: all Qigong and Tai Chi instruction, all air and land
transportation (private A/C buses, cable cars, boats), costs in China,
calligraphy class, most meals, all banquets, translators and guide
fees, entrance fee to Terra Cotta Warrior exhibit & museum, entrance
fee to Giant Panda Research Facility, Sichuan Opera tickets, entrance
donations to all temples and monasteries, all lodging (double
occupancy), single room where available is US$450.00 extra.
What's not included: International airfare, Yak rides,
and donation for snuggling with baby Pandas, China Visa, travel insurance
(required), Chinese
International or domestic airport taxes; taxi or rickshaw
fees for extra excursions during free time, some lunches; gratuities
to guides, drivers and porters; trip cancellation; excess baggage
charges on airplane, laundry, or personal purchases.
RESERVE
YOUR PLACE NOW with an US$800 deposit.
Register by phone - call 218-365-6330 or
on line
or by snail mail to:
Rebecca Kali
Beyond the Ordinary Tours -
Qigong China Trips
P.O. Box 750
Ely, MN 55731
At time
of registration you will receive a detailed list of what to bring,
what to wear etc.
A
suggested reading list will also be provided.
_______________________
Cancellation and refunds: If the tour participant cancels the program,
cancellation fees will be adjusted according to the following
schedule: refund will be given 90 or more days before departure, less
$400; 89-75 days, less 25% of total trip fee; 74-35 days, less 50% of
total trip fee, no refunds within 34
days of departure. We require that all trip participants purchase
travel insurance such as TravelEx, which covers trip cancellation
fees.
