General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Sichuan, China. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING CHINA: United States citizens will need a passport valid for at least six months from date of departure and a tourist visa to enter China. You can reach the website of the People’s Republic of China here.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of China in the University of Texas series here. You can adjust the size of the map by clicking in the lower right corner. You can review the U.S. State Department background notes on China here.
HEALTH: the current time no health certificates are required to enter either China. The CDC warns that there is some risk of malaria in the southernmost areas we will visit. Travelers to rural areas of the Hainan and Yunnan provinces of China should take one of the following antimalarial drugs (listed alphabetically): atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or primaquine (in special circumstances). Please check with your physician to determine which anti-malarial drug is best for you.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently recommending the following vaccines (see your doctor at least 4—6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect): Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region; and, as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. You can view current CDC traveler’s advisories here.
Biting insects are not numerous although mosquitoes are present in small numbers at a number of sites.
CLIMATE: In Chengdu it will be hot and fairly humid. On the lower slopes of Emei Shan it will be similarly hot but significantly more humid. Temperatures at both of these areas will typically reach up to 25-34°C (77-90°F) at midday. It will be cooler and less humid higher in the mountains where some of the early mornings can be especially cool. This will be especially true when we are near the summit of Emei Shan, besides the Ba Lang Shan pass above Wolong and up on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau around Ruoergai. We anticipate making several very early starts in these areas and the temperatures at that time might be below freezing (perhaps dropping as low as minus 4°C (25°F) if the skies are clear, and there will probably still be some snow on the highest peaks. Rain is common in Sichuan throughout the year and is perhaps most likely on Emei Shan. It is perhaps least likely around Ruoergai up on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau but cannot be discounted anywhere.
ALTITUDE: Chengdu city is at low elevation but the rest of the tour is operated at quite high altitude and we’ll spend considerable amounts of time above 3,500 metres or 11,000 feet, often sleeping at elevations of 5000-7000 feet (and once at 11,000 feet). Our highest elevation will be Ba Lang Shan pass at 15,000 feet.
When at high altitudes we will attempt to limit our activities, to avoid excessively walking up hill and move at a slow pace so as to avoid altitudinal headaches and breathlessness. Most altitudinal problems can be overcome by sitting quietly in or near the vehicle and drinking plenty of fluids, and the vehicle will have supplemental oxygen. Participants should note, however, that this is a more strenuous tour than most of our offerings.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This is not an easy, relaxing tour. There is a reasonable amount of traveling and many of the days are long and tiring. Most of the places that we will visit — Emei Shan, Wolong, Ruoergai and Jiuzhaigou as well as several places in between — are in the mountains and are strenuous places to visit. Many of the trails that we will walk on are steep and while we will walk slowly we are still at altitude and it is easy to become tired. A reasonable degree of fitness is essential. Due to early morning bird activity we will want to be out in the field early each day. This will often mean being out for 5:00 AM and having a picnic breakfast in the field.
We’ll compile a checklist of the birds we’ve seen just before or just after dinner every day and aim to retire early to bed (especially when we are making an early start next day).
We try to make as many of our birding excursions as possible optional, so that if you find the pace too tiring it is possible to take some time off and relax. We will also spend a fair amount of time driving from one of the main sites (Chengdu, Emei Shan, Wolong, Ruoergai and Jiuzhaigou) to another and there is often little to do on these long journeys other than admire the often spectacular scenery.
Essentially we intend to provide dawn to dusk birding for those who want it and as many opportunities as possible to opt out for those who wish to pursue other interests or simply relax.
ACCOMMODATION: The hotels in Chengdu, at the foot of Emei Shan, at Wolong, at Jiuzhaigou and in Beijing at the end of the tour are of a good, international standard with private bathrooms, proper restaurants and other facilities that you would normally expect.
Elsewhere on the tour we’ll stay in a variety of other hotels and guesthouses. All accommodation is the best that is available and acceptable — the rooms are clean, spacious and reasonably well maintained. Each has a private bathroom with washbasin, western toilet and shower. In some cases, the plumbing isn’t up to western standards — the showers and toilets occasionally don’t work properly and we may be restricted to washing with cold water or using hot water from the thermos flasks that are provided.
FOOD: Chinese cuisine is well-known and widely appreciated. The Chinese way of eating differs from that in the west in that a selection of different dishes are shared by those sitting at the table. Food is almost always plentiful. Few of the restaurants we will visit provide knives and forks. Instead chopsticks, often disposable wooden ones, are used. If you are not used to eating with chopsticks, we suggest you start practising right away or bring your own cutlery.
DRESS: Dress will be informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is by bus, four-wheel drive and we will have two internal flights with (probably) China Airlines which operates a large fleet of modern, western aircraft and has good safety and punctuality records.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions here. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Sichuan, China will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: October 2007