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Programme
Beijing
On arriving in Beijing and after transferring to our centrally located hotel we will lunch at a local restaurant. China is renowned for its cooking and the cooking styles and ingredients vary by region. Food is part of the experience of China and the specialities of the regions are not to be missed. After lunch on the first afternoon, we will visit the immense Tiananmen Square, the heart of the city where Mao lies in his mausoleum and the locals fly their kites. Bordering on the Square is the Forbidden City, our next destination. Previously the residence of the emperors, it is the largest and best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China, a masterpiece of Ming architecture. 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. In the evening after dinner there will be an informative talk about the eclipse by the accompanying astronomer, Dave Lommen, from Leiden University Observatory. As it is one of the longest eclipses in our lifetime, he will be collecting information for a potential book on the subject and during the tour, he will gladly answer any questions.
Chengdu
After a morning flight from Beijing we will have lunch on arrival in Chengdu. Sampling the famous Sichuan cuisine is a must on a trip to Chengdu; ranking high in the hot-and-spicy cuisines of the world. In the afternoon a trip has been organised to the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre. Here the natural habitat of the pandas has been created in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. They are found only in Sichuan (80%), Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. They live in the wild in the Woolong Nature Park but the chance of seeing them is extremely small even for professionals who may spend weeks trying to get a glimpse. At the Centre, the Giant Panda Museum, opened in 1993, gives interesting information about these wild creatures and their environment.
Teahouse in Renmin Park, Chengdu
Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre
Leshan and Emeishan
From Chengdu we will travel by bus to Leshan, famous for its Buddas and the Wuyou Monastry. The Buddas of Leshan and Emeishan are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. (Shan is Chinese for mountain). The first Buddhist temple in China was built here in Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. in the beautiful nature surrounding Emeishan. The addition of other temples turned the site into one of Buddhism's holiest sites. Over the centuries, the cultural treasures grew in number. The most remarkable is the Giant Buddha of Leshan, carved out of a hillside in the 8th century and looking down on the confluence of three rivers. At 71 m high, it is the largest Buddha in the world.
Giant Budda of Leshan
Above the clouds, Emeishan
The following day, after staying overnight at the foot of Emeishan, we will make a trip to the top of the mountain by bus and chairlift. The slopes of Emeishan have been inhabited for about 10,000 years. Originally a Taoist retreat, it had become a sacred Buddhist mountain by the 3rd century AD. The slopes incorporate several different climates and diverse vegetation ranging from subtropical to subalpine pine forests, and are inhabited by a variety of wildlife, especially birds. Monkeys abound and may snatch food and other attractions out of tourists’ hands. Some of the trees there are more than 1,000 years old. Of the many temples, natural wonders and breathtaking scenery on Emeishan, we will visit the Golden Summit, Wannian Monastry, monkey mountain and Baoguo Monastry. There is the possibility of seeing the light phenomenon “Buddha’s Aureole”. The supernatural Buddha's Aureole occurs when sunlight diffracts onto the sea of clouds floating lower down the mountain. After a shower of rain, you may find your shadow covered with a colourful aureole moving with you. On the following day, the day of the eclipse, we will drive to the viewing spot north of Leshan. Here the eclipse will start at 07:37, finishing at 09:56 with the total eclipse lasting from 08:39 to 08:44 – over five minutes of total darkness, silence and dropping temperatures.After the eclipse, we will continue northwards to Chengdu to lunch on local specialities and relax in a teahouse to talk, talk and talk about the eclipse. A teahouse is the appropriate place to do just this. As the saying goes, “Tea houses of Sichuan rank first in the world, while those of Chengdu rank first in Sichuan.” Distributed throughout the city, tea houses are far more than places for drinking tea. They are places for relaxation and social activities and, even more, a reflection of local life. We will take tea at the teahouse in Renmin Park under shady trees at the edge of a large lake. Our astronomer will have the opportunity to comment on the eclipse, exchange experiences and answer any questions. The return flight to Beijing will be on the following morning.
Beijing
On returning to Beijing, and after lunch, there is an afternoon visit to the Summer Palace, the archetypal Chinese garden, ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world and listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998. Using rocks, plants, pavilions, ponds, cobbled paths and other garden styles to create an ever-changing vista, it served as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi. She diverted 30 million taels of silver, originally designated for the seriously obsolete Chinese navy, into the reconstruction and enlargement of the Summer Palace and the addition of the marble boat. In 1894, the Japanese Navy decimated the Chinese navy and Japan's command of the sea was assured. After the success of the 1911 Revolution, the Summer Palace was opened to the public. After dinner, we will attend the evening performance of a spectacular acrobatics show.
One of Verbiest's instruments at the Ancient Observatory, Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
The following day in Beijing we will make a morning visit to the Ancient Observatory and the Temple of Heaven. The ancient observatory was initially built circa 1442, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by Kublai Khan. Initially known as the 'Platform of Star-Watching', its history of more than five hundred years makes it one of the most historically interesting observatories in the world. It is divided into two parts, the platform and the affiliated building. Eight well-preserved bronze astronomical instruments stand on this platform, all of which are ornately carved. The design of the instruments reflects both the influence of Oriental craftsmanship and European Renaissance understanding of measurements and physics.Later in the morning we will go to the Temple of Heaven, built to offer sacrifices in 1420 AD in the south of Beijing. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, every year the emperors would make sacrifices to Heaven on the Circular Altar on the day of the Winter Solstice. This ceremony was to thank Heaven and to pray for good fortune. The complex is much larger than the Forbidden City. As Chinese emperors were considered to be 'The Son of Heaven', they dared not to build their own dwelling, their 'Forbidden City', larger than a dwelling for Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was originally established as the Temple of Heaven and Earth. Enclosed by a long wall, the northern part of the complex is semicircular symbolising the heavens and the southern part is square symbolising the earth. It became known as the Temple of Heaven during the reign of Ming Emperor JiaJing (1522-1567), who built separate temple complexes for the earth, the sun and the moon. The Temple of Earth can be found in north Beijing. The temples of the sun and moon are in the east and west of Beijing.
After lunch we will make an afternoon visit to the Temple of Earth and the Lama Temple. The Temple of Earth in Ditan Park complements the Temple of Heaven. The altar here is square, which represents Earth, while at the Temple of Heaven the altar is round to represent Heaven. The emperor would offer sacrifices to Heaven at the winter solstice and to Earth at the summer solstice. While popular with locals, one will rarely see foreign tourists in Ditan Park. The local population use the park for tai chi exercise, kite flying, music-making, singing, dancing and playing games from badminton to chinese chess.
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 (Mongolian, Tibetan, Han) with courtyard enclosures and galleries.
Square altar at the Temple of Earth, Beijing
Lama Temple, Beijing
In the evening after dinner, we will go to a performance of Beijing opera.On the following day, there will be a full-day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, north east of Beijing. This part of the wall is quieter and affords spectacular photography. After walking along a section of the wall we will continue through typical Chinese farming countryside to the Ming Tombs.
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Countryside work
The next day will take us on a walking tour of the hutongs. The hutongs border on the end of the Forbidden City and are the traditional alleys where local people live. Many have already been knocked down, the idea being to provide better housing facilities outside the centre but sufficient remain to give the atmosphere of old central Beijing. The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, two traditional buildings central to any Chinese town will be visited before we pause for lunch at the home of a local family. It is an opportunity to encounter everyday Beijing and take non-tourist themed photographs of everyday life. After lunch there is a free afternoon giving an opportunity to relax, shop for souvenirs, visit a market, enjoy a foot massage – in other words, an afternoon to fill in as you so wish. In the evening we will meet up for a farewell banquet of Beijing Duck.
The following day, Monday 27th July, will be the return flight to Amsterdam.
Kite market on the way to Mutianyu
Beijing hutongs
Bell Tower and
Drum Tower
Reflexology
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