5 Days Crested Ibis and Terracotta Warriors  Photography Tour

Tour Code: XAP-30

Departure: everyday    

Tour Type: Private, wildlife viewing

Attraction: , crested ibis \Terracotta  Warriorsand Horses Museum\ Banpo Neolithic Village

Highlight:Changqing National Nature Reserve is located in Central China in the Shaanxi Province, 300 km south of Xi'An. The Reserve reaches elevations of 3071m, and is one of the most important ecological areas in China, providing one of the best and last remaining places where giant panda, golden takin, golden monkey and crested ibis can be found in the wild. It is also home to 39 other threatened animals and 31 threatened plants. Changqing has 154 species of birds living within its boundaries, 17 of which are endangered. A further 176 species, 13 endangered, are found in the rural area just outside the Reserve. This includes the highly-endangered Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon)

                                                              

Day by day itinerary

Day 1  From xi'an to Yangxian County

Place & Transport: xi'an to Yangxian County （340 KM)

Today's Activities: then drive to visiting captivity breeding center of crested ibis in family zhou,

Take bus from xian, across highway  of xian and Hanzhong, then climb qinling mountain, arrive at yangxian county, yangxian is located in south of qinling, have flat field, beautiful ramp, overlapping undulating hills, many huge mountains and kind-hearted people, about lunch is local feature snacks, then drive to visiting captivity breeding center of crested ibis in family zhou, ibis is very voluble animals in the world, the zoologist Liu Yinzeng and his accompanies search for long times, in 1981, discover ibis in Yao jia, at that time, this is the biggest surprise in the world. Ibis is treat as geely bird in Yangxian County. The ibis is feeding in the cage of you watching in center, they c

The birds will pair up and build nests in January, and depart to the loafing area in June. The night-time roost at Caoba (14 ha)  is  less  than 1 km from  the Crested Ibis captive-breeding centre,and is the only known night-time roost of the species. The autumn population can be up to 51birds. The captive-breeding centre will attract wild Crested Ibis from time to time, which is a possible  reason of  the  location of  the night  time  roost. A pair bred  in  this area  in 1996 and 1997, raised three and two birds respectively. The loafing area of Crested Ibis (about 40,000 ha) extends 25 km from east to west, and 20 km from north to south., and there are intensive agricultural activities within the area; Crested Ibis frequent this area in summer and autumn,and subadult birds remain there in winter and spring.

THREATENED SPECIES: Nipponia nippon (EN), Syrmaticus reevesii (VU)

BIOMES: AS08: Sino-Himalayan subtropical forest

CONGREGATORY WATERBIRDS:  Nipponia  nippon  (almost  the  entire wild  population  of  the species)

Lunch      Dinner    live in Yangxian county

Day 2 travel around Yangxian county

Today's Activities: garden reserve station to watching the ibis

Drive to the garden reserve station to watching the ibis, there are thick forests to feed crested ibis, streams and hills, still is beginning farming in order to convenient for crested ibis. This is the special environment about ibis, between March and April every year, is spawning breeding season of ibis, also is the best time to watching crested ibis, please take out your telegraph to look for them, they are finding food, protecting their home, they show a state that you can really understanding ever, the whole body of both female and male are in white and the feather's base is in pink. there is a crest formed like a willow leaf on the back of its neck; the exposed forehead and cheek are in red. Wandering is elegant, fly is elegant, across fields and hills, then falling the branches, also watching is beautiful.Other species in this area include the elusive Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Cinnamon Bittern, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Collared Finchbill, Swinhoe’s Minivet and Red-billed Starling.

  Breakfast   lunch  dinner   live in garden reserve station

Day3  Visit crested ibis in HanJiang sur ,then back to xi'an

Today's Activities:  drive along the village's road to Hanjiang beach,

After breakfast, drive along the village's road to Hanjiang beach, visit crested ibis looking for food there, then finish the bird watching trip, transfer to xi'an.

The best time of bird watching in yangxian county ibis reserve center:

Between July and October is the best time of bird watching, at this time, you can look not only the biggest crested ibis group but also thousands of dark species in Hanjiang sur.

  Lunch   Dinner     live in xi'an

Day 4  travel   Terracotta  Warriorsand Horses Museum  （Xian tour）

Today's Activities: travel  Terracotta  Warriorsand Horses Museum 



Full day excursion to Qin Emperor's Tomb, where 8,000 life-sized Terracotta  Warriorsand Horses Museum(Pit No.1,No.2,No.3,Bronze  Chariots  and watch tht Circle Movie) .After lunch visit the imperial Garden of Tang Dynasty You'll also visit the site of Banpo Neolithic Villagewhich dated back 5,000 B.C. and saw the dawn of China's painted pottery tradition. Enjoy Tang Dynasty dinner Showin the evening.



   Lunch  Dinner       live in xi'an

Day 5   Xian tour   Leave  xi'an

Today's Activities: The Bell Tower  The Muslim  Street,

Have your free time in the Bell&Drum Tower Square of the and the Islamic street, then send off  to the  train  station.

The Bell Tower is the geographical center of Xi'an. The four main streets of the city are Dong Dajie(east street), Xi Dajie(west street), Nan Dajie(south street), and Bei Dajie(north street) which are also the main commercial streets.Then have your free time in Muslim Street.

The Muslim  Street,  is a fantastic place to wander. All shops and restaurants in the street are operated by Muslims. The stalls lines the narrow alleys sell almost everything you can expect.See off 



This trip price includes:

1. Hotel accommodations with breakfast as specified (but hotels are subject to change to the same category before finally confirmed).

2. All meals as specified in the itinerary.

3.  Transfers among airports & hotels as specified in the itinerary by private car or coach with driver & English-

4.  Entrance fees for sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with English speaking guide.

5. Domestic flights, trains or buses as specified in the itinerary.

6. Domestic airports departure taxes have been charged with the flight tickets.

7. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.

Arrangements for the planning, handling, operational and communication charges. 旅

8. 1 bottle of mineral water/p/d

9. Xi'an Map

10. permit to Crested Ibis Reserve and Foping Nature Reserve,

11.  Natural Reserve environment protection fee, one local assistant fee (one local assistant for your group), tour body insurance.

The trip price does not include:

1. Any meals which are not included in the "The trip price includes."

Single Room Supplements (as the above quotation for accommodation is based on twin sharing room).

2. International air and train tickets for coming to & leaving mainland China. Air tickets or train tickets not specified in the itinerary on the first arrival day and last departure day.

3. Excess Baggage Charges.

4. Personal expenses: Items of a purely personal nature such as drinks, laundry, tips to guides or drivers, FAX, telephone, excess baggage charges, or sightseeing or meals which are not included in the day-to-day itinerary.

Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness or damages incurred during your trip.

5. Gratuities, Tips to Guides and Drivers.

6. Visa fees