General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to China: The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Beidaihe. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that 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.
CLIMATE: In Beijing it is likely to be fairly warm (75-90°F) during the days, but the early mornings may be chilly. In Qinghai and particularly around Qinghai Hu (Koko Nor), it is likely to be considerably colder, especially in the mornings when temperatures can drop to around freezing, and there will probably already be some snow on the highest peaks. Rain, though possible, should be infrequent; it is perhaps most likely on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and at Huzu Beishan. In late September/early October, the weather at Beidaihe is essentially similar to that in the northeastern U.S. at the same time of year; however, the days will probably be slightly warmer.
The weather on the Hebei coast is perhaps slightly more variable than in the U.S. Cold weather is less likely but certainly possible. However, temperatures are unlikely to fall below 8°C (46°F) on the coast. Rain is also less likely here than elsewhere on the tour, but should be anticipated.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently recommending the following for travelers to China (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), and typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region. Also recommended are, as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles, and a one-time dose of polio for adults. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
Biting insects are not numerous, although mosquitoes are occasionally locally fairly common in the marshlands around Beidaihe. Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water and soft drinks are readily available, and hot, boiled water (for coffee or tea) is available on trains and in hotels.
Please note that any health/medical information contained herein is gleaned by WINGS from websites that are dedicated to traveler’s health issues. Advisories and recommendations by agencies such as the CDC can and do change frequently. We urge you to consult with your physician, local health department, or the CDC for the most up-to-date health advisories for travel to China. For more information and updates, visit the CDC website.
ALTITUDE: Both Beijing and Beidaihe are at low elevation, but near the start of the tour we’ll fly from Beijing to Xining in Qinghai Province. Xining is at 7,480 feet, certainly high enough for us to experience mild altitudinal problems such as breathlessness and mild headaches. On our first afternoon we’ll drive directly to near the summit of the mountain (9,480 feet) and spend much of the remainder of that afternoon walking slowly back down the upper part of the mountain. On the following day we’ll drive up onto the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau at about 10,400 feet. We’ll spend four nights on the plateau, three near Qinghai Hu (Koko Nor) and another near Chaka. On one day we’ll venture into the South Koko Nor mountain range, driving over a pass that reaches almost 11,900 feet. Chaka, where we spend one night, is also above 10,170 feet. Our guest house at Huzhu Beishan is at a slightly lower elevation (7,628 feet). Particularly when we are on the Plateau, we will limit our activities, try to avoid excessively walking up hill, and will move at a slow pace so as to avoid altitudinal headaches and breathlessness, etc. Most altitudinal problems can be overcome by sitting quietly in or near the vehicle and drinking plenty of fluids.
PACE OF TOUR: This is not an easy, relaxing tour. There is a reasonable amount of traveling and many of the days are long and tiring. Moreover, Huzhu Beishan and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are both strenuous places to visit. Several of the trails we’ll explore here are fairly steep, and while we’ll walk slowly, we are at moderate to high altitudes and it is easy to become tired. A modest degree of fitness is recommended.
Due to the early morning bird activity in the areas that we visit, we’ll want to be out in the field early each day. This will often mean being out for 6:00 am and having a picnic breakfast in the field consisting of instant noodles, biscuits, bread with jam or possibly honey, peanuts, sausages, and boiled eggs, plus tea and coffee and supplemented, where possible, by fruit and chocolate.
During our time around Beidaihe, we will do things slightly differently, and there will be full-day excursions every day we are there. With our bus, we will visit most of the sites immediately around Beidaihe, many of them repeatedly, and we will also visit several other sites such as the Yanghe and possibly even the Dapuhe estuaries and Qilihai (literally “Seven Mile Sea,” an extensive tidal lagoon with a neighboring woodland belt) to the south.
ACCOMMODATION: The hotels in Beijing, Xining and Beidaihe are of a good standard with private bathrooms, proper restaurants, and other facilities that you would normally expect, such as gift shops in the lobby and facilities for making international phone calls, etc.
The recently built hotel at Niao Dao (literally Bird Island) beside Qinghai Hu (Koko Nor) is still only occasionally visited by foreigners. It has recently been refurbished and is now of a three-star standard. All the rooms are clean, and each has a private bathroom with a western toilet and a shower. We will spend a total of three nights here—two at the start of our time up on the Plateau and one again when we return from Chaka two days later.
Moving on from Niao Dao we will spend one night at a relatively modern one-star guest house at Chaka. It is clean, warm, and fairly well-maintained, though the showers often don’t work particularly well.
Please note that at both of these hotels/guest houses hot water is NOT available until after 8:00pm, and it is quite likely that we will have dinner and do our daily bird list before having showers.
Our next overnight stop will be back at the Niao Dao hotel described above.
We will spend two nights at Huzhu Beishan. This is another region rarely visited by foreigners, and as a consequence the accommodation, although recently significantly improved, is still quite simple. We will spend two nights in the guest house, the simplest of any of the accommodations where we will stay. The rooms have private, western toilets, but they do NOT have showers. Instead we will be restricted to washing from bowls, using hot water from the thermos bottles provided in every room.
In Beidaihe we will use the excellent Jin Shan Hotel in southeastern Beidaihe, right next to the seafront and only 400 yards from Lighthouse Point, an excellent birdwatching site at any time of day. The Jin Shan is Beidaihe’s best hotel. All the clean and spacious rooms have two beds, television, and private bathrooms with a sink, shower, bath, and western toilet.
FOOD: Chinese cuisine is well known and widely appreciated. Beer, soft drinks, and green tea will be served with the food. The Chinese often also drink hard liquor, bai-jiu, with the food. Western brands of alcohol are not always easily obtainable (and where they are available, they are usually expensive), so you may wish to consider bringing your own supply.
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; chopsticks, often disposable wooden ones, are used instead.
DRINKS: Bottled water and/or a soft drink or a beer is provided at lunch and dinner, as is coffee or tea. All other drinks or “personal’ drinking water for use in your room, etc., are the responsibility of the individual.
DRESS: Will be informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is by small bus, and we have a couple of internal flights. Some of the minibus rides may last for up to five hours, but we will, of course, make regular stops along the way to stretch and to birdwatch.
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.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. 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 Northern 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. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: June 2008