Hiddenchina.net Newsletter June 2009

Below you can find the update for our trips in summer and autumn 2009. As always, please feel free to contact us with your questions or if you want us to create a customized travel itinerary for you! Or simply use our online support system:

Hiddenchina.net News

Tibet has been reopened for foreign tourists after it had been closed for more than a month due to some sensitive anniversaries and the fear of lack of security for foreign visitors in spring. The situation in Tibet is now very calm and peaceful and the Tibetans are looking forward to this travel season, especially since the tourism revenue last year dropped by 57%. As usual, we offer tailor-made tours to Tibet, but in fall we also have a group tour to the Kailash Kora pilgrim route on offer.

Have you ever dreamt of an adventure to Mongolia? Hiddenchina.net now also offers travel itineraries in Mongolia. Explore Mongolia by jeep, on horse back and on camel: a unique travel experience in an extraordinary country!

The Merian-Verlag recently published a German travel book named "Einmal im Leben"(once in a lifetime) describing 100 special adventure tours all over the world. We are of course very proud that our Panda Keeper of the Day itineraries are included among these 100 exclusive travel gems. The book - a mix of adventure stories and travel description - can be purchased for EUR 24.95 at Merian.

Furthermore, Swiss Minister Moritz Leuenberger mentioned Hiddenchina.net in his blog post after his trip to China in April 2009. You can find the article on Mr. Leuenberger's personal blog (only available in German and French).

The ultimate travel experience: Hiddenchina.net offers self-drive motorbike and 4x4 tours in China. Drive a jeep from Lhasa to Chengdu, discover the province of Qinghai on a 13-day motorbike trip or even ride a Chang Jiang 750 sidecar from Xinjiang to Shaanxi! You can find more details about these tours further below in this newsletter or in our motorbike and 4x4 section on our website.

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Schedule Group Tours Summer 2009

There are still seats available in the following upcoming Hiddenchina.net group tours this summer. Please book as early as possible as seats are limited (first come, first serve). You can find more details about these tours further down in this newsletter.

13th July - 23rd July 2009:
Total Solar Eclipse Tour: book now, very limited seats left!

Tour Highlights: full solar eclipse in Shanghai on July 22 2009, UNESCO World Heritage Site Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, bike riding to explore Naxi Minority villages around Lijiang, trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La and Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Songzanlin

17th July - 30th July and 28th July - 10th August 2009:
Mongolia Adventure by Jeep, on Horseback and Camel

Tour Highlights: tour start and tour end in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, Oegij Nuur Lake Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments, horseback ride through Orchon Valley (UNESCO) to the Charbalgas ruins, former Mongolian capital Karakorum and Erdenne Zuu Monastery, Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfalls Red Cliffs Bayanzag and Singing Dune Hongoryn Else, camel back ride to Cormorant Valley, stay overnight in yurts

21st July - 1st August 2009:
Yushu Horse Racing Festival

Tour Highlights: join the extraordinary Tibetan horse racing festival in Yushu, get an inside view into the culture and tradition of a Tibetan festival, explore the traditional Tibetan provinces Kham and Amdo, travel across vast grasslands, through spectacular valleys and visit influential monasteries

26th July - 14th August and 23rd August - 8th September 2009:
Trekking Northern Yunnan

Tour Highlights: discover Northern Yunnan - one of China's most famous travel destinations, trek along the famous Tibetan Pilgrim Paths around Kawakarpo (6'740m) - one of the most sacred mountains in Buddhism, visit must-sees such as Kunming, Shangri-La and Lijiang, learn more about the matrilineal Naxi Society and its Dongba Shamans, enjoy a fauna and flora of one of the world's most diversified ecological areas, which boasts half of China's animal and plants species and get access to very remote areas only few Western travelers discover

16th August - 2nd September 2009:
Trekking Tour at Holy Mount Genyen, Yunnan and Sichuan

Tour Highlights: adventure trip to Tibetan areas of Yunnan and Sichuan, travel through the wild Kham region with 8 days trekking off the beaten tracks, close encounter with local Tibetan people and pilgrims, trekking at high altitude (around 4'000 meters) with breathtaking views

29th September - 19th October 2009:
Tibet Tour with Circumnavigation of Mount Kailash

Tour Highlights: Giant Pandas and Chengdu Metropolis in Sichuan Province, breathtaking train trip to Tibet: the roof of the world, three-day circumnavigation of Holy Mount Kailash, forgotten West-Tibetan Kingdom Guge



Individual China Trips

Please feel free to contact us at any time if you want us to create a tailor-made China travel itinerary for you. If you are a planning a first time visit to China, we are happy to offer you a tour to China's most important touristic destinations with high quality services at very competitive rates, tailored to you or your groups individual needs.

If you are an experienced China traveler, we can help you discover areas off the beaten tracks, organize trips to China's numerous minorities or create exclusive self-drive 4WD and motorbike tours. You might also be interested in our high quality trekking adventures and our new itineraries in Mongolia.

For business travelers, we can provide services such as hotel bookings, translation, day trips and guiding.

Hiddenchina.net Exclusive Signature Trips

Do you want to do something really special and exclusive in China? Join one of our short programs, which are only bookable through us:

Perform Panda Keeper Duties for a day, Chengdu Panda Research Base

Because of our own passion for informative, high-quality trips, and commitment to this species, we aim to give you an understanding of the pandas' life, the problems they face, and to provide you with scientific information. What better way than to get in direct contact with panda scientists on the scene? This is why Hidden China entered into a close partnership with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the province of Sichuan. Together we develop innovative tourist products to promote informational and unforgettable experiences with this amazing species. We provide the opportunity to get to know the pandas under the guidance of an experienced keeper, feed the animals, and help perform a keeper's daily tasks. This kind of sustainable interaction will bring you into a much closer proximity and relationship with the pandas.



Trek and Sleep on the Great Wall of China

Hike, Camp and Barbecue on the most adventurous Part of the Great Wall

The Jiankou section of the Great Wall is not only a photographer's paradise; it is also one of the wildest and most adventurous parts of the Wall. Away from the hustle and bustle of mass tourism, you will find an idyllic oasis of peace and wild romance. We will walk four hours on the Great Wall amidst breath-taking scenery, where you will meet few other travelers. Many great spots for taking pictures will reward you for the strenuous hike. Either on a short overnight trip or a 2-day hike, we can organize you the most authentic and unique Great Wall experience. In the evening we will camp on the Great Wall and you will enjoy a simple but hearty meal, cold soft drinks and ... beer! After breakfast the next morning, we will hike about 1.5 hours on the Wall towards the renovated and famous Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. After another half an hour on the new section, a delicious roast trout lunch awaits you.



Visit the "Kingdom of Women": matriarchal Mosuo Minority, Lugu Lake, Yunnan

Tour Highlights: visit real Mosuo villages away from the tourist traps, come into contact with one of the few remaining matriarchal cultures on the planet, experience this unique culture first-hand, by living with the Mosuo in their homes, hike around Lugu Lake with its breathtaking scenery and visit other minorities, visit some of the local projects being done to preserve the Mosuo culture, combine this trip with a trek through Tibetan Sichuan and Yunnan, trips to other Chinese ethnic minorities or a classic China trip



Total Solar Eclipse Tour July 2009

Tour Date: 13th July - 23rd July 2009

On Wednesday, July 22nd 2009, a solar eclipse will be visible in a small corridor through India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Central China. Among other Chinese cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan and Hangzhou, totality will be visible in Shanghai and will last for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds. Thus this will be the longest total solar eclipse in the 21st century and will only be surpassed in duration on 13th June 2132.



Mongolia Adventure Tour

Tour Dates: 17th July - 30th July 2009 and 28th July - 10th August 2009

Mongolia's sturdy steppe horses have been used as means of transportation for centuries. In rural parts of the country, they are still intensively employed as beasts of burden. Therefore on this trip you will not just travel by jeep but will cover some distance on the back of a Mongolian horse, gaining a different perspective on this country. Our horseback ride will take us through the breath-taking Orchon Valley (also known as Orkhon Valley) to the Orchon Waterfalls. Then we will travel on to Gobi Desert. Again, we will use the typical “vehicle” of Gobi Desert: the camel. This trip's purpose is not to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. We would rather like to give you the opportunity to gain an insight into the life of the Mongolian nomads. Throughout the trip you will be accompanied by experienced nomadic guides to prevent problems with the riding animals. Should the pain from riding somehow get too bad, you can still continue the trip by jeep as a last resort.



Yushu Horse Racing Festival

Tour Date: 21st July 2009 - 1st August 2009

The traditional Tibetan Horse-Racing Festival has a long history, and it is the greatest festival among annual traditional festivals of the Tibetans. The difference between horse racing festivals and other religious or folk events is that they encourage whole-family participation amidst breath-taking scenery and include distinct customs and traditions.

This tour will lead you to the world-renowned horse festival in Yushu and is specially designed for people, who want to explore Tibet's traditional provinces Kham and Amdo and want to gain an insight into Tibetan culture, festivals and traditions.



Trekking Northern Yunnan

Tour Dates: 26th July - 14th August and 23rd August - 8th September 2009

This trip is ideal for people who would like to combine a China experience focused on the Tibetan minority in Northern Yunnan with some fantastic trekking along the Tibetan pilgrim routes around Mt. Kawakarpo. Kawakarpo is at an altitude of 6'740 meters not only the highest peak in the region; it is also one of the most beautiful massifs in China. In addition it is one of the most sacred mountains for Buddhists. Yunnan is famous for being one of the richest ecological systems world-wide, it also boasts many of China's minorities, such as Tibetans, Yi, Naxi and Mosuo.



Trekking at Holy Mount Genyen

Tour Date: 16th August - 2nd September 2009

This tour takes you from Kunming to the north of Yunnan province. After visiting Lijiang and Shangri-La we take you deep into the heart of Tibetan Kham. This trip is especially designed for trekking enthusiasts, who are looking for an unforgettable experience and would like to gain an in-depth view of the Tibetan culture in this region. On an 8-day trekking tour off the beaten tracks, you have the chance to interact with local nomads and pilgrims and learn more about the area of holy Mt. Genyen - an important destination of pilgrimage.



Tibet Tour with Circumnavigation of Mount Kailash

Tour Date: 29th September 2009 - 19th October 2009

This Tibet tour starts in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province. We will explore the city of Chengdu, taste the specialties of Sichuan province, visit the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the north of the city as well as Wenshu Temple - the biggest and very well preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu - before we take the train to Tibet: the roof of the world



Self-Drive Motorbike and 4x4 Trips

We find that one of the best ways to get to know a country is by driving a car or riding a motorbike on your own. On our self-drive tours, we provide you with reliable cars and experienced guides. Please be aware of the fact that international driving permits are not valid in China. We will apply for a temporary Chinese driving permit if you do not already have a valid permit for China.

4WD Overland Tour from Tibet to Chengdu

Tour Highlights: drive a land cruiser to discover the beauty of nature in Tibet, Kham and Sichuan, get in touch with the local Menba, Luoba and Den minorities, explore the world's largest canyon Yarlung Zangbo, visit remote and unspoiled areas only accessible with a special permit, stay overnight at a local family's house and gain a deep insight into the culture, religion and folk customs of the various tribes and minorities along the Tibet - Sichuan Highway



Sidecar Motorbike Tour from Xinjiang to Shaanxi

This tour will lead you from the westernmost province of China to the world-famous town of Xi'An and is specially designed for people, who want to have a unique experience in China. Ride your own motorbike to visit ancient towns along the Silk Road and Great Wall and observe the different minorities' ways of life amidst impressive scenery. Explore hidden spots off the beaten tracks on this unusual, exciting adventure.

Qinghai Motorbike Tour

Explore the province of Qinghai and the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo on this extraordinary self-drive motorbike trip! From Xining - the capital of Qinghai province - ride your motorcycle to Qinghai Lake, along the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau through majestic scenery, across high mountain passes and over the Tibetan grasslands. Accommodation will be basic but this unique experience and the scenery will more than make up for it!

Your Hiddenchina.net Team

Christoph Mueller
Roman Lange