Themed Programs Home > Trip Information | Itinerary | Registration Information

Echoes of Marco Polo and Flying Tigers
At the Linden Centre in Yunnan Province
November 19th - 30th, 2009

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." - Henry Miller

Trip Information

Travel with us to our home - an area of beauty and mystery, where Marco Polo ventured and chronicled, where echoes of the Flying Tigers are still vibrant with the locals, and where the year-round spring weather and snow-capped mountains evoke images of Shangri-la. The Linden Centre is nestled among the culturally-diverse, ethnic villages of Yunnan, literally meaning 'South of the Clouds'. It offers guests an unprecedented immersion in a timeless China while basking in the comforts of a carefully restored national heritage estate.

Throughout history, the Dali region of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, has seduced even the most intrepid travelers. Marco Polo, who was sent to this same place on a diplomatic mission by Kublai Khan, called Dali the ‘Switzerland of the Orient’. Written in the Travels of Marco Polo, he became the first to record the intricacies of the Bai people, calling the region a “fertile land of plenty.” To this day, much energy is spent retracing and reliving his adventure through the Silk Road as the place "where all important roads from mainland Southeast Asia met."

Our Centre was the creation of a merchant on this very same road, and here is where the adventure begins once again. Your experience with us consists of daily interaction with the local communities and many learning opportunities at the Centre via guest lecturers, performances, special visits, and immersing oneself in century old traditions. All guests will have opportunities to visit with local artisans, walk among the fields and mountains, participate in the lives of centuries old villages, interact with local ethnic groups such as the Bai, Yi, and Naxi, and collect beautiful art, antiques, and textiles directly from the sources. And we will revisit stories of the American fighter pilots, the Flying Tigers, who were based in our very own village during the World War II fight against the Japanese. Come see a China that very few Westerners ever experience. Live in dynastic elegance. Step back in time with us and return a different person.

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard

Proposed Itinerary: November 19th - 30, 2009

November 19th: All guests should have arrived in Dali on this day. We will meet you at the airport where you will be chauffeured directly to the Centre passing the Er Hai Lake and “New Dali City”. After checking into our Centre and rooms, we will have lunch in our restaurant and private dining areas, followed by an orientation to the compound and Xizhou itself with a short, walking tour. You can continue to explore the village yourself or return to the Centre and relax in our gardens and café before a traditional dinner, followed by a performance by local Bai village dancers, musicians, and singers.

November 20th: Chinese and American breakfasts will be served daily for guests in the morning. Morning visits to the colorful Xizhou market and a visit to some of Xizhou’s old homes will be followed by an afternoon with locally made drink and a discussion about the Bai ethnic people of the region and the history of the Tea Horse Road, also known as the Silk Road, the Burma Road, and the Flying Tigers. We will also visit an old Xizhou ancestral home which served as one of the only navigation stations for the Flying Tigers.

Throughout your time in Xizhou, guests will have a chance to regularly interact with villagers, children, and other Chinese. While this is the promise of a truly immersive experience, we encourage all of our guests to go further and really meet and understand the people of this amazing culture. We are more than happy to translate facilitate conversation and discussion.

In the evening, historic movies and films will be made available to watch in sessions to encapsulate the day’s lessons. In the gardens and café, local Yunnan wine will be served to facilitate discussion and help us celebrate another beautiful night under the mountains and stars.

November 21st: This day is spent in Zhoucheng village a few kilometers north of Xizhou. Zhoucheng is famous for its weaving and tie-dying traditions. We will work and watch local women in their courtyard homes, tracing the production process from the picking of indigo leaves, drawing of designs, knot tying, to the dying of fabric and the opening of the cloth to reveal an exquisite finished textile. After lunch we will visit a local kindergarten and take horse carts to the Tongue of the Lake, a small peninsula where we will have wine and snacks before dinner.

November 22nd: Today we will visit some of Xizhou’s local Benzhu temples. The Ben Zhu (translated as The Founding Ancestor) is an archetypical result of the collision of religious traditions in the region. Each village, which has seen an increasing and fluid pantheon of Gods throughout its existence, has incorporated its own history and legend in deifying former village leaders, warriors, and heroes. These deities, tied to their immediate surroundings, protect the people against sickness and violence, foster the local crops and livestock, and ensure prosperity. They become a personal and omniscient god, lending solidarity to each village's life. Within a thirty minute walk of The Linden Centre, one can find over ten temples with Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Ben Zhu iconography.

November 23rd: Today we will take a day trip to the historic city of Weishan, 2 hours south of Dali. Weishan was a stop along the Burma Road and is considered a famous national historical and cultural city. Built during the Nanzhao Kingdom in the 8th century, Weishan was an important and thriving city. The city continued to expand during successive dynasties and was built in a shape of a chessboard in which the 2 Gate Towers still stand today. We will be able to visit some of these old buildings that have been preserved and protected. We will have lunch in Weishan and then drive up the mountain to visit Weibaoshan, one of the most famous Taoist Mountains in China. The mountain has at least 10 temples, all ancient and still functioning and set among the pristine and verdant forest. We will have to walk up a steep, yet wide flight of stone steps to get to the paved mountain paths. The mountain is 8200 feet and you should be prepared to walk about 3 miles on this section.

November 24th: Today we will take a boat ride on the pristine Er Hai Lake where fish are still caught with the help of pet cormorants. After lunch we will drive to the hot Springs in Er Yuan where we will bask in pools of naturally warm spring water (and rest your aching muscles)! There is an elegant hot springs resort along the source of the Red River, one of Asia’s more romantic rivers that flow down to Hanoi, Vietnam where we will spend the afternoon. In the evening, join us at the community centre where the Centre hosts an English corner. Come and talk English with the local kids in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

November 25th: In the morning we will visit the Monday markets in Shaping, just north of Xizhou. This is one of the region’s most vibrant markets: colorful displays of flowers and local produce, textiles, small crafts and antiques. After lunch, we will take guests to the old walled in city of Dali. The afternoon is free to wander the streets and visit the shops. Dinner is on your own in the restaurants that line the foreign quarter in Old Town Dali. November 26th: We will pack up our bags for a 2 night stay up north. After breakfast we will drive 3 hours to Lijiang, stopping at the famous Buddhist region of Shibaoshan to see the 1200 year old stone carvings. Lunch will be picnic style at the park. We will have to walk about 1 hour up and down stone stairs to get to the grottoes. This area is unusual, for the carvings exhibit a Hindu sensibility which demonstrates the cosmopolitan nature of old Yunnan where Chinese and Indian culture collided. Continuing on our adventure north on a scenic two hour trip to Lijiang, we will stay in Lijiang for 2 nights. Dinner will be in the old town of Lijiang.

November 27th: We will spend the day in Lijiang, a city recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the morning, we will take anyone interested to the Dongba Cultural Museum. You are also free to explore the streets, visit the many shops, cafés and museums on your own. In the afternoon, we will go see a beautifully choreographed show directed by the Beijing Olympic Opening/Closing and China’s most renowned movie director, Zhang Yimou. The show’s backdrop is the towering Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with a cast of 500 actors and 300 horses. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Almost all restaurants in the old part of Lijiang have Western food and English menus.

November 28th: We head back south on a different road stopping to visit antique shops in the old village Heqin, a scenic and old trading stop along the Silk Road. We will visit the famous silver shops nearby where they make all kinds of jewelry. Lunch will be in Heqin before we head back to Xizhou and the Linden Centre.

November 29th: Today we will see where the famous Dali marble vases are made. The factories are family run and every place specializes in their own products. We will visit one of these families where they will show us how they make these amazing pieces. Lunch will be in the old town and then we will visit the Cangshan Mountain. We will take a 30 minute ride up the mountain in a cable car so you may conserve energy to walk the path and admire the beautiful views from 8000 feet high. There is a temple on the mountain which is open for visiting and enjoying the view and a paved hiking trail which offers a panoramic view of the picturesque Dali valley. Be prepared to walk for 1-3 miles depending on your endurance. We will accent the night back at thebai1.jpg Centrbai1.jpge with a traditional ethnic dinner along with dessert and Bai style ceremonial tea in the evening, accompanied by a small troupe of local musicians to close out another sunset over the mountains.

November 30th: On this day our program ends. All guests should have scheduled flights to leave Dali to return to the U.S. or other destinations. There will be one last breakfast for those who wish it to convene and share. We will send you to the airport according to your departure time.

Details:

November 19-30, 2009 - 12 Days, $4100.

Fare includes international flight from LAX to Dali and all domestic travel, all accommodations, most meals, medical travel insurance, and all activities and cultural services. Optional or extra-itinerary activities will be offered at basic costs to those who choose to participate. The Centre hosts 14 double occupancy rooms.

Maximum Group Size: 24

While the Linden Centre can comfortably accommodate 30 people, this group is limited to 24 to ensure that all guests can receive personal attention from the Centre's teachers and the Lindens. Many workshops will be hands-on, thus the lower number of guests will ensure ample participation.

To ensure that all can stay within the Centre, we highly encourage double occupancy with a loved one, friend, or colleague, but can assist in finding you an appropriate roommate. While single supplements are possible, space is limited due to lack of availability within the Centre. All rooms are non-smoking.

Summary:

What — 12 day cultural excursion in Yunnan, China.

When — November 19th - November 30th, 2009

Who — Anyone who wishes to experience the romanticism and spirituality of the true China. The traveler who hopes to experience many different facets, customs and culture of China.

Cost — $4100 Includes all domestic travel after arrival in Dali, all accommodations, most meals unless specified, and all activities and cultural services. Round-trip, international airfare to Kunming from LAX is included. The Centre hosts 14 double occupancy rooms. Single supplement is an extra $500. Medical travel insurance is provided in the price via AIG TravelGuard.

Additional costs — Guests are also responsible for their own Chinese visa, costs related to alcohol, beverages not included in regular meals, laundry, personal items, souvenirs, and long distance telephone calls. Airfare to and from Los Angeles is not included. Trip interruption and cancellation insurance. For this insurance, refer to tour contract.

Group Size: Our tour groups are limited to fewer than 28 people due to the size of the Centre and to ensure that all participants receive more personal attention from the staff. Our minimum group size is 5 people; we will cancel any tour if the minimum size is not met. All rooms are non-smoking.

Reservations — Call 920-388-4391 or email info@barnsitegallery.com. Non-refundable $500 deposit. Pay your deposit online here.

The Lindens have been living in China since 1984. Their twenty-plus years of contacts will ensure that all participants see and experience aspects of China unknown to other visitors. For most of their previous guests, the experiences throughout these regions of China have been among the most memorable in their lives. Please come and enjoy an indigenous travel experience to one of the world's most storied cultures.

How to reserve space for the tour:

Call 920-388-4391 or email info@barnsitegallery.com for more details on how to reserve space while there are still spots available.

Download your registration packet.

Pay your deposit online.