wolong

chengdu

red panda

forbidden city

great wall

great wall of china

huaqing lake

huaqing

up close

ming tombs

eating bamboo

terracotta soldiers

terracotta army

tiananman square

ming tombs

GIANT PANDA & CHINA HIGHLIGHTS TOUR

Ultimate Wildlife Photography Experience

Photographers On Safari have designed this cultural and wildlife photographic holiday to give you the ultimate panda experience. Wildlife photography is usually encompassed in our holidays, and we are constantly striving to get you closer to your subjects than is the norm.

Pet, Stroke and Cuddle a Giant Panda

This photographic tour will (subject to the current state of the health of the pandas) guarantee you the opportunity to “pet a panda”. For two days of our holiday, we will be volunteering our services to assist with the daily routine of looking after the pandas. (You do not have to take part in this activity if you so wish). This will undoubtedly include cleaning out their night-time enclosures. It will also mean, however, that we get to feed these amazing animals by hand, carry bamboo into the more remote enclosures, and to pet, stroke and cuddle a panda as well.

Photograph Giant & Red Pandas

Two and a half days have also been earmarked with the sole intention of getting photographs of the pandas in natural surroundings and uncluttered backgrounds. A certain amount of patience is required to do this, but the opportunities will definitely present themselves, both with the Giant Panda and the smaller Red Panda.

Visit China's Most Famous Monuments - Terracotta Army, Great Wall, Ming Tombs

We will also visit the most famous of China’s Monuments. Accompanied by English speaking guides, we will visit The Great Wall of China, the Ming Tombs, Tian’an Man Square, The Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven, The Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Qinshihuang Mausoleum, and The Wildgoose Pagoda.

Photographic Advice

Experienced photographer, John Wright will accompany you at all times, offering tuition and advice, whenever required. Top quality accommodation has been used throughout our China tours and virtually all meals (see itinerary) are included.

Ancient Qiang Villages

In addition to the monuments mentioned we will also visit the Huaqing Hot Springs Park, and two ancient Qiang Villages, one of which is in excess of 2000 years old. This holiday of a lifetime will provide you with a whole new experience, and fond memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Itinerary -

Four and Five Star Accommodation Throughout

Day 01

Depart London + arrive in Beijing. Pickup at airport and transfer to Xinhai Jinjang Hotel (5*) in Beijing for two nights. Dinner.

Day 02

Start our China tours by visiting the Badaling Great Wall of China and The Ming Tombs. Badaling is at the highest point of north end of the Guan’gou gorge. The function of Badaling was to protect the Juyongguan. It is a rare ancient military defence project with an elevation of about 1,000 metres. The wall of Badaling is approximately 3,741 metres long. The top of the wall can permit five horses to be ridden abreast. The Ming Tombs are the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and have been perfectly preserved. The Changling and Dingling tombs are open to the public. They contain coffins of Emperor Zhu Yijun and his two empresses. Precious items displayed with these coffins, amongst which is the gold imperial crown, one of the world's most rare treasures. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 03

Visit the Tian’an Men Square, Temple of Heaven & Forbidden City. Fly to Xi’an. Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the centre of Beijing. Many ceremonies and demonstrations have been held here for over a hundred years. Tiananmen Gate (Heavenly Peace Gate) has become a national symbol. The Forbidden City, called Gu Gong, in Chinese, was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now it is known as the Palace Museum, and is open to tourists. Two nights at the Sheraton Hotel (5*). Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 04

Visit the Qinshihuang Mausoleum, the Terracotta Warriors & Horses and Huaqing Hot Spring. The Terracotta Soldiers and Horses are the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. In 1974 local peasants uncovered pottery whilst digging for a well nearby the royal tomb. Archeologists established beyond doubt that these artefacts were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211 --206 BC). Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star feature in this museum. In excess of 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons have been unearthed from these pits, and majority have been restored to their former grandeur. The mausoleum is regarded as "the eighth wonder of the world" and was listed as a world heritage site by the UNESCO in December 1987. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 05

Our China tours continue with a visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda & City Wall. Fly to Chengdu. Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Da Ci’en Temple are holy places for Buddhists. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Xian City Wall was built initially during the old Tang dynasty (618 -907). It is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, and is regarded as one of largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Jinjiangtel Hotel (5*). Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 06

Drive to Wolong and visit the Panda Museum at the Hetaoping Research Centre. The Giant Panda Museum comprehensively and graphically illustrates all aspects of both panda and natural resources of flora and fauna in this area. The Wolong Research Centre has around 60 pandas living in captivity, enabling the researchers to study breeding and living habits of the panda. Wolong Hotel (4*) for four nights. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 07

Whole day volunteering in the Giant Panda Research Centre.

The volunteering part of this trip is completely optional, but it affords a totally unique and privileged experience enjoyed by very few people in the world. We will be volunteering to assist the keepers in their normal daily chores looking after the pandas. This will allow you into all restricted areas and will give you close contact with the bears. The chores will undoubtedly include sweeping out the pandas` quarters and other mundane tasks. Other duties can include body measurement, weighing, recording data etc. You will get to take bamboo to the hillsides and feed the pandas by hand. You will also have the opportunity both to pet a panda and to have your picture taken while holding a panda in your arms. They are extremely gentle creatures and will take a slice of apple from your hand without actually touching you. It is an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 08

Whole day volunteering in the Giant Panda Research Centre. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 09

Morning photographing pandas from outside the enclosures. Afternoon visit to local Qiang village. Visit a Qiang People Village near Wolong. Native Qiang People are an ancient minority nation in China,and migrated here from Northwest of China around 770AD. The village is kept fully in its primitive style. Stone fort-like houses are built along the mountain with brooks flowing through the bottom of houses. Walking in the village is like walking in past times. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 10

Morning photographing pandas from outside the enclosures. Visit Taoping Qiang Village and drive back to Chengdu. Taoping Qiang village in the Li County was founded 111B.C. and is more than 2000 old. There are secret holes everywhere for shooting. These were constructed for resisting enemies. Two stone watchtowers remain in the village and are over 30 meters high. UNESCO are in the process of declaring this a world heritage site. Jinjiangtel Hotel (5*) for two nights. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 11

Whole day in Chengdu Panda Base photographing pandas from outside the enclosures. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 12

Morning in Chengdu Panda Base photographing pandas from outside the enclosures. Drive 2 hours plus to airport for flight to Beijing. Return flight from Beijing. Breakfast & lunch. Dinner not included.