NZCFS China Tours

With the end of the pandemic, we are now confident that we can undertake this adventure!

Starting in the North of Vietnam, this tour takes us from Hanoi, the exotic and bustling second city of Vietnam, to the unique karst structures in Halong Bay and up to the hill town of Sapa, and the Hmong people, related to the Miao of SW China.

Crossing the nearby border into China’s Yunnan Province, we pass through the Yuanyang rice terraces and old town of Jianshui to Kunming.

Then begins the epic journey on to Lhasa. By bullet train to Lijiang, the UNESCO Heritage town that is always an exciting place to visit with its diverse attractions, and on by coach to Shangrila (Zhongdian).

From here, with road conditions unstable, and uncertain whether they will be passable, we will opt for the certainty of flying from Shangrila to Lhasa, and take a road trip back to the South-east of Tibet before circling back to Lhasa. This will take in the beauty of SE Tibet in some comfort.

After experiencing the unique attractions and delights of the magical Lhasa, there is an optional extra to carry on for four days return journey to the Rongbuk Monastery, within view of the North Face of Everest. Passing through Gyantse with its ancient fortress protecting the city, and Shigatse, the second city of Tibet, this journey will truly present the vastness of the high Tibetan plateau, with the road crossing passes over 5000masl, small villages, and grazing yaks.

The timing and order of the itinerary is to start at sea level and head upwards, to allow plenty of time to acclimatise to altitude. We can also expect to skip the onset of monsoonin North Vietnam and southern Yunnan (although with the impact of climate change nothing can be guaranteed).

For all enquiry and expressions of interest, please email tours@nzcfs.com are sought, No commitment is required at this stage. Please indicate if you are interested in the extension to Everest.

2021 is the 125th anniversary of Kathleen Hall’s birth. 2022 is Rewi Alley’s 125th. An overview of the itinerary is to travel from Beijing to Shandan, ending in Shanghai. The focus is to visit heritage sites of both Kathleen Hall and Rewi Alley and organise some official/semi-official meetings with partners of their heritage in China. The plan includes activity like English corner with students in Gansu, Youxie support for forums on RA and KH, meet Kathleen Hall scholars, all to be confirmed. Along the way there will be a number of historical, cultural and scenic sites of interest. Underlying all, of course, will be a diverse and authentic food experience of the regions!

A commemorative exploration of the significance of the Long March and other aspects in twentieth century history that had significant impact on the path to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.The itinerary focuses on significant sites along the Long March in four provinces, looking at the route taken, the conferences, and battles. It provides an understanding of the massive undertaking and the challenges - logistical, military, societal and political - faced on the way, and the achievements made. We also explore some other historical elements of Chinese society of that time. On the way we enjoy fantastic scenery, enjoy old villages, cultural performances and experiences, and food typical of the regions.Enquiry and expressions of interest are sought. Due to travel restrictions, with no commitment from either party at this stage.

This tour takes us to the farthest north NZCFS has ever delivered a tour in China, to 49 degrees north in Heilongjiang province. But do not worry, we will start there in early September to dodge the onset of the extreme winter! Here, the Unesco Global Geopark of Wudalianchi is a volcanic wonderland, with five lakes formed in the lava rock, set in an area of very northern forest and Russian influences.

Travelling south through Jilin and Liaoning, the tour also includes a 4 day excursion into North Korea, and ends with visits to Tianjin and Beijing.