Beijing

We will arrive in Beijing and after transferring to our centrally located hotel will lunch at a local restaurant. China is renowned for its cooking and the cooking styles and ingredients vary by region. As food is part of the experience of China we will try the specialities of the regions and the specialities of the restaurants we visit. The variety in food is wide and there is something to suit everyone’s taste.

On the first afternoon we will visit the White Cloud Temple and the Lama Temple. The White Cloud Temple, founded in AD 739, is a Taoist temple complex of numerous shrines and courtyards, tended by distinctive Taoist monks. A key Taoist belief is that understanding the Tao ('the Way', or 'Way of Life') comes from a direct observation of nature, rather than scholastic theological studies. Taoism's origins lie in the work of the ancient Chinese philosopher LaoTzu, author of the Tao Te Ching. Over time Taoism became a religion with a belief in striving for immortality. Lao Tzu came to be regarded as a deity. From the beginning religious Taoism had an interest in alchemy and the search for the elixir of life. It is distinct from Taoist philosophy and provided a sense of spirituality that Confucianism lacked. Pantheons of deities, including manifestations of philosopher LaoTzu are worshipped.

White Cloud Temple                                 Lama Temple

The Lama Temple was originally the home of Qing dynasty Prince Yong before he became the Emperor Yongzheng. This explains the golden roof tiles of an imperial residence. After his elevation in 1723 a portion of the grounds were made into a lamasery for Tibetan Monks. It is Beijing’s largest and most spectacular temple with statutes, frescos, tapestries and carved wood ornamentation. The lamasery has three worked archways and five main halls, each taller than the preceding one. Styles are mixed with (Mongolian, Tibetan, Han) with courtyard enclosures and galleries. After dinner, we will attend the evening performance of a spectacular acrobatics show.

The following day in Beijing we will make a full-day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, north east of Beijing, after which we will continue through typical Chinese countryside to the Ming Tombs. As this is the last evening in Beijing a banquet of Peking Duck will be prepared for the group.

On the third day in Beijing, there will be early morning tai chi practice in the grounds of the Temple of Heaven. a spot where many local people practice tai chi. After practice we will be able to visit the temple, shaped round to represent heaven and the most perfect example of Ming architecture.

 

Temple of Heaven                               Tai chi Beijing

Another masterpiece of Ming architecture is the Forbidden City which we will visit after the Temple of Heaven. Bordering on the immense Tiananmen Square and previously the residence of the emperors, it is the largest and best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. The high walls surrounding its grandiose courtyards and ceremonial halls are imposing. At the northern end, where the imperial family lived and relaxed, the grandeur melts into intimate private palaces and gardens. This end of the Forbidden City borders on the old hutong district (the traditional alleys where local people live) Here we will pause for lunch at the home of a local family. It is an opportunity to encounter everyday Beijing and take photographs. After lunch and a transfer to the train station to catch the 16.30 train to the Wudangshan, we will arrive at 12.49 the next day. Reservations have been made for the soft sleeper.

Wudang Mountains (Wudangshan)

After lunch at the base of the mountains a cable car will take the group to the mountain top where we will check into the hotel on Crow’s Ridge. Later in the afternoon there will be a visit to the Purple Cloud Palace.

 
Gateway of Purple Cloud Palace                   Purple Cloud Temple

Here we will take part in a blessing ceremony by the Taoists followed by a vegetarian dinner and informative talk with our tai chi teacher.

 
Sunrise in Wudangshan

The following day there will be morning tai chi theory and practice in the scenic mountains (8.30 – 11.00)*. The afternoon excursion is a visit to the Golden Palace Hall (Jindian) at the top of Tianzhu Peak. After more than 500 years standing, the hall is still glittering under the sun. On route to Jindian we will visit a temple specialising in Wudang herbal medicine and Taoist palm reading. Members of the group can have their health diagnosed and/or their palm read if they so wish.

 
Golden Palace Hall (Jindian)                                             Nanyan Temple

The third day in this sacred environment begins the same as the previous day with morning tai chi theory and practice from 8.30 – 11.00. The Nanyan Temple will be visited after lunch. Embedded in cliffs, it is considered the most spectacular of three famous Wudangshan temples. The whole structure - hall-pillars, beams, arches, gates and windows - is created out of rock. From here the views are spectacular and we will pause to sample some of the many herbal teas grown locally on Wudangshan. During the evenings the group has the chance to exchange experiences and socialise in the mountain-top hotel.

The fourth and final day in the majestic natural beauty of the Wudangshan we have one last opportunity to practice tai chi – the programme is as the previous three mornings. This will be followed by lunch and some free time before we hike down to the foot of the mountain (a 3½ hour walk). Our hotel is at the foot of the mountain where we will be able to relax after dinner.

Small Wudangshan

On the following day a 5-hour bus ride takes us from the Wudangshan to Yichang. After lunching in Yichang, an afternoon flight will take us on to Shanghai. After dinner is free time to relax in Shanghai.

Shanghai

In this modern metropolis we will visit the Yu Garden in the old part of town. The many rockeries, peep holes, ponds, and bridges are a model example of a classic Chinese garden. This garden dates from the Ming Dynasty (1577) and is adjacent to the traditional Wuxingting Teahouse, a pleasant place to relax after the garden visit. The area around the teahouse has been restored in old style. Later in the day a visit will be made to the new, impressive Shanghai Museum which houses a unique collection of Chinese art and artefacts. This museum lives up to the outstanding reviews it has received since opening.

 
Yu Garden                                                  Pudong skyline 2008