Medicine and Society in China

This tour takes you on an awe-inspiring journey through China’s history, culture and medicine.

From imperial Beijing journey onto the Silk Road city of Xi’an. Travel by high-speed train into Sichuan and the city of Chengdu, known for its arts, cuisine, teahouses and pandas. Take a train to Chongqing and embark on a three-night cruise along the great Yangtze River, past some of China’s most stunning scenery. The tour ends in the dynamic city of Shanghai.

The tour examines health care in China and the challenges posed due to its rapid economic development and the legacy of the One Child Policy, as well as how Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are integrated in practice in China.

There is the also the opportunity to take the post-tour extension to charming Yangshuo in spectacular Guangxi Province.

Price (sharing a room)

per person

Price (room to yourself)

per person

Reference:

CHN0425-1

At a glance

What you need to know

Type of tour

Professional

Profession

Medicine

Nights

Countries

Tour grade

Moderate

Remaining places

Dates and places

Itinerary at a glance

Beijing

Saturday

April

Arrive Beijing, China’s mighty imperial city, where the ancient and the modern collide on the most magnificent scale, and transfer to the hotel. Walk to see the Temple of Heaven before dinner.

Beijing

Sunday

April

A day of visiting iconic sites - visit the beautiful Summer Palace and a teahouse before driving out to the incredible Great Wall. Enjoy traditional Peking Roast Duck dinner in the evening.

Beijing

Monday

April

Visit the historic Tong Ren Pharmacy, founded in 1699 that prescribes both Western and traditional Chinese Medicine. Continue to vast Tiananmen Square and the once-barred Forbidden City. Walking tour of the hutongs, the traditional districts of old Beijing and the oldest areas of the city. Option to see the Beijing Acrobats in the evening.

Beijing

Tuesday

April

Visit a community clinic and see western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in practice. Visit Hai Dian Teaching General Hospital for departmental visits. Partner programme visits Art District 798, established in a site of abandoned factories and now boasting an eclectic mix of galleries, art studios, design companies, restaurants and bars.

Beijing / Xi’an

Wednesday

April

Fly from Beijing to Xi’an, an ancient Silk Road hub and probably the first truly multicultural city in the world. Transfer to the hotel. Walk along the huge medieval city walls and visit the Calligraphy Museum. Option to see graceful, traditional Tang Dynasty Theatre in the evening.

Xi’an

Thursday

April

Early start to visit the necropolis of the Terracotta Warriors, where you will have ample time from mid-morning to mid-afternoon to explore this exceptional site. Visit the evening market in the old Muslim quarter of Xi’an, when it comes to vibrant life as the locals throng its many restaurants and food stalls.

Xi’an / Chengdu

Friday

April

Early risers have the option to watch – or join locals practising tai chi in the park. Return for breakfast before boarding the high-speed train to Chengdu to travel across the Shaanxi Plan and through the Qinling Mountains into the Sichuan Basin. Arrive in Chengdu and transfer to the hotel. Take a walking tour of the old town before a mouthwatering Sichuan dinner.

Chengdu

Saturday

April

Visit the Sichuan University TCM training centre. Meet and discuss with the professor and visit the departments of herbal medicine, massage and acupuncture. Visit the Academy of Chinese Medicine. Visit the largest herbal medicine market in Chengdu and the local spice market. Enjoy traditional Sichuan hot pot dinner in the evening.

Chengdu

Sunday

April

Visit the Chengdu Panda Research Base – the lovable pandas make this a favourite visit for many! Visit Wenshu Monastery and further explore the old city of Chengdu, before taking tea in one of Chengdu’s famous traditional teahouses.

Chengdu / Three Gorges Cruise

Monday

April

Take the train to the port city of Chongqing and visit the Three Gorges Museum. The museum’s collection encompasses the history, art and archaeology of the Yangtze River and recent developments, including the dam, providing context to your river cruise. Take a city tour of Chongqing. Board the 5-star Victoria Cruise Lines river boat in the evening.

Three Gorges Cruise

Tuesday

April

Option to visit the extraordinary ’ghost city’ of Fengdu, which has its own unique culture surrounding ghosts and the afterlife going back almost 2000 years, and is known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill. Afternoon at leisure.

Three Gorges Cruise

Wednesday

April

Enter the Three Gorges, where the Yangtze River carves a green ribbon through enormous rock walls. Cruise into the peaceful Lesser Gorges and pass through Qutang Gorge – the narrowest and possibly most impressive of the Lesser Gorges - and Wu Gorge, one of the most beautiful sections of the Yangtze River, Excursion through the attractive gorges of the Goddess Stream.

Three Gorges Cruise / Shanghai

Thursday

April

Disembark and take a specially-designed sightseeing boat through the recently-completed unique ship lock with a ship lift, the world’s largest. Visit the Three Gorges Dam, a remarkable if highly contentious piece of engineering. Drive to Yichang high speed train station and take the train to Shanghai.

Shanghai

Friday

April

Explore Shanghai with its spectacular skyline and fabulous Art Deco heart. Visit the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Visit the French Concession and the Bund. Enjoy a farewell dinner on the Bund.

Shanghai

Saturday

April

Depart Shanghai or take the extension to breathtaking Guanxi Province.

What to expect

Tour highlights

Herbs at a traditional medicine market

China

Learn firsthand about traditional Chinese herbs, acupuncture and moxibustion in clinics and at the herbal market.

The Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an

Experience the culture and ancient history of China in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai, spending a day exploring the amazing Terracotta Warriors.