TAIWAN CULTURAL TREASURES & INSPIRING LANDSCAPES APRIL 15-24, 2018 TOUR LEADER: JUDY TENZING

Overview This 11-day tour offers an insight into one of Asia’s most underrated destinations. Taiwan has been 'off the radar' for tourism since the tumultuous events of 1949, when Chiang Kai Shek and his nationalist compatriots separated themselves from the communists on the mainland. Only now are travellers beginning to re-discover the place which 16th-century Portuguese explorers named 'Ilha Formosa', the beautiful island. Unlike mainland China, where warfare, revolution and an economic boom have transformed the country, not always for the better, large sections of Taiwan retain a traditional atmosphere. Traditional art, architecture and ways of life can still be enjoyed, and the locals are genuinely friendly and welcoming. Our itinerary begins in the South, enjoying the temples, houses and streetscapes of the historic towns of Tainan and Lugang. We then head to the spectacular central mountain ranges, staying on the shores of Sun Moon Lake and visiting a range of fine sites. A day trip takes us over the top of the 3,000-metre-high mountains and into the marble-lined Taroko Gorge where we spend the night. Travelling up the east coast, we spend the last three days of the tour exploring Taipei, the bustling capital and home to a number of excellent institutions, including the world-famous National Palace Museum. The accommodation we have arranged is excellent, with five star hotels throughout, including three nights at Taiwan's best hotel: the Lalu on Sun-Moon Lake in the centre of the island.

Your tour leader Judy Tenzing has a lifelong passion for travel and over 30 years experience as a tour leader on the sub-continent and in Asia. Judy has a degree in South Asian History and has regularly presented courses at Sydney University’s Centre for Continuing Education on the history and culture of this remarkable region. Since 2013. Judy has taught Asian history for over three decades and the story of modern China has been integral to this. From the 1911 Revolution establishing the republic,

through the Mao years and into the modern era, China has been nation of extreme change and powerful characters. After several journeys to China this tour will be an opportunity for her to see and share with you the final piece of the picture – Taiwan. As a teacher and student of eastern religions Judy also brings the spiritual perspectives of the great Buddhist, Zen, Confucian and Daoist traditions of this remarkable country.

TAIWAN CULTURAL TREASURES & MAJESTIC LANDSCAPES

Tour dates: April 15-24, 2018

Tour leader: Judy Tenzing

Tour Price: $6,200 per person, twin share

Single Supplement: $2,100 for sole use of double room

Booking deposit: $500 per person

Recommended airline: Cathay Pacific

Maximum places: 20

Itinerary: Tianan (2 nights), Sun Moon Lake (3 nights), Taroko Gorge (1 night), Taipei (3 nights)

Date published: August 16, 2017

Enquiries and bookings

For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jemma@academytravel.com.au

This tour is run in association with ADFAS Travel

Tour Highlights

NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM, TAIPEI Thanks to the withdrawal of Chiang Kai Shek’s Nationalist government to Taiwan during the 1949 Revolution, Taipei boasts the world’s finest collection of traditional Chinese fine and decorative arts, stretching back over 5,000 years. Enjoy superb Song dynasty landscapes, ancient Han pottery and of course Ming ceramics.

SUN MOON LAKE In the mountains rising above Taipei’s western plains, Sun Moon lake is an enchanting site, with temples and pilgrimage sites sacred to the Taiwanese. Our five-star hotel, designed by Australian Kerry Hill, looks directly over the lake to the mountains and forest beyond.

TAROKO GORGE The Central Mountains in Taiwan rise to over 3,000 metres, rivalling the European Alps. On the remote eastern side of the mountains lies Taroko Gorge, a dramatic marble opening in the mountains. It’s misty atmosphere and steep wooded cliffs make it a kind of living landscape painting. Taroko Gorge is also home to some of Taiwan’s indigenous groups, whom we encounter during our stay.

CHUNG TAI CHAN MONASTERY Buddhism meets post-modernism at this remarkable site, close to the geographic centre of Taiwan. The towering building resembles a sitting Buddha and contains prayer halls and shrines with 10,000 Buddha statues. The adjacent museum of Buddhist art contains remarkable stone and wooden statues, some over 3,000 years old.

TAINAN Taiwan’s southern city is one the site where the first Chinese fisherman landed over 500 years ago. The old city is little changed from these days, with winding alleys, rows of traditional shop houses and dozens of Dao and Buddhist temples, where locals throng to pray and have their fortunes told, lighting incense, throwing dice and offering food to the gods.

A bit of history…. Archaeological evidence points to human settlement on Taiwan for about 30,000 years, although the ancestors of the island’s current aborigines, who are genetically related to the Malays, arrived only 4,000 years or so ago. Court records show that Taiwan was known to the Chinese since the 3rd century AD, but the first visit by Chinese does not appear to have been until 1430, during the time of the Ming Dynasty. In 1544 a Portuguese expedition sailed past Taiwan and gave it the name ‘Ilha formosa’. In 1624 the Dutch formed a trading settlement at the southern port of Tainan, our first stop on the tour. The Dutch imported workers from China’s Fujian province, leading to the first substantial numbers of Han Chinese on Taiwan. In 1626 the Spanish arrived, basing themselves around the northern port of Keelung. In 1662 the Chinese admiral and popular folk-hero Koxinga (known as Zheng Chenggong to the Chinese) defeated the Dutch and began a period of 233 years of Chinese rule, during which Taiwan was a prefecture of Fujian Province. Much of the traditional culture you see on the island today was formed in this period. As a result of the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan passed to Japanese rule in 1895, and remained under the Japanese until the end of the Second World War in 1945. At this time Taiwan became part of the Republic of China, governed by Chiang Kai Shek’s Kuomintang nationalists. The Generalissimo Chiang famously resisted the Communist revolution of 1949, leading to decades of diplomatic isolation.

Religions in Taiwan Taiwan, like mainland China, has a pantheon of deities and historical religious figures, some of whom actually lived and some of whom are the stuff of legend. The original religion of the Chinese people of Taiwan is Daoism (also written as Taoism), featuring a pantheon of gods whose areas of responsibility mimic China’s imperial court. The Mahayana school of Buddhism was introduced to China from India in the 2nd or 3rd century AD and there has been much cross-fertilisation of ideas and deities between Daoism and Buddhism, making it sometimes hard to distinguish one from the other. The 5th century BC Chinese scholar Kong Fuzi (Confucius in the west) is also worshipped but not as a god. Confucian temples in Taiwan are noticeably simpler in decoration than their Daoist and Buddhist counterparts.

Caption

Above: statue commemorating the defeat of the Dutch by Koxinga in Tainan in 1662; a Japanese era building in Tainan. From tea ceremonies to the education system, Japanese rule had a profound influence on the formation of modern Taiwan Below: Chiang Kai Shek in a relaxed moment. Most of his life was far from relaxed

Above: Tainan’s 18th century Confucian Temple; Fort Zeelandia in Tainan built over ten years by the Dutch East India Company Below: With access to fresh ingredients and Japanese influences, Taiwan has some fine dining opportunities; looking through to Sun Moom Lake from Syuangang Temple

Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Sunday April 15 Arrive

Flights from Australia to Hong Kong depart during the day. At Hong Kong you can transfer to an onward flight to Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. There is a transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to our Tainan hotel to coincide with the arrival of the Dragon Air flight. Overnight Tainan.

Monday April 16 Old Tainan

After a morning talk we explore some of the historic sites of Tainan, the island's first capital and site of the overthrow of the Dutch colonialists by the folk-hero Koxinga. Tainan preserves a very atmospheric city centre, with narrow laneways, traditional shop-houses and dozens of ancient temples. Our sightseeing includes the Dutch Fort Zeelandia, centuries-old Daoist temples and the city’s splendid 17th-century Confucian temple, the oldest in Taiwan. We also see many good examples of Japanese Meiji architecture. After a lunch at which we sample some of Tainan’s well-regarded delicacies, the afternoon is free. You might like to participate in High Tea at the Shangri-la hotel for your first tasting of Taiwan's highly-regarded Oolong tea. This evening there is the option of heading out to Tainan’s vibrant night markets, where traditional ‘small eats’ abound. Overnight Tainan. (B, L)

Tuesday April 17 Lugang and into the hills

Departing Tainan we head north along the island's seaboard to the town of Lugang. Lugang is Taiwan's most interesting historic town and was the second largest settlement on the island during the 1700s. Highlights of our visit include the vibrant Tianhou temple, a Daoist place of worship and the Koo family mansion, built during the Japanese period and containing interesting displays of furniture, art and design of the 18th and 19th centuries. We have lunch in Lugang before visiting the Longshan Buddhist temple to view the fine wood carvings which decorate its ceilings and roofs. In the late afternoon we head for Sun Moon Lake, our base for the next three nights. We enjoy dinner in one of our hotel's excellent restaurants. Overnight Sun Moon Lake. (B, L, D)

Wednesday April 18 Exploring Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is some 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by steep mountains. Strict planning laws have preserved the natural environment of the lake. This morning we journey around the lake, visiting the Syanzuang and Syuangang temples, occupying a picturesque location on the lake shore. The temples preserve the relics of one of China's most famous Buddhists, the monk Xuan Zang. In the early 7th century Xuan

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Zang made pilgrimages throughout China and as far as India, collecting some 657 Sanskrit texts of Buddhism (sutras). He had an enormous influence on Chinese Buddhism. Beyond the temple is a pagoda built by Chiang Kai Shek as a symbol of filial devotion to his mother. There are good views of the lake from the top of the pagoda. After a lunch break in a local village we visit an Assam tea farm and experience frist-hand the art of Taiwanese tea making. The afternoon is free for you to wander the well-maintained lakeside walks near the hotel, enjoying the lush vegetation, bird life and architecture of the lake. Overnight Sun Moon Lake. (B)

Thursday April 19 Puli and the Chung Tai Chan Monastery

Today we visit one of Asia's most extraordinary sites. Costing $US110 million dollars, the Chung Tai Chan monastery is located near the town of Puli, about 40 minutes’ drive from Sun Moon Lake. The monastery, headquarters of a popular Zen Buddhist order, was opened in 2001, and the sheer extravagance of the structure is an indicator of the popularity of the religious order. The architecture of the 37-storey structure combines traditional Buddhist subject matter with post-modernism, and is truly memorable. This morning we explore many of the levels of the monastery building and the landscaped gardens of the complex. After lunch on site we take a guided visit of the Chung Tai Chan museum. The museum opened only in October 2009. It contains an outstanding collection of Buddhist art in stone, gilded bronze and wood, beautifully displayed with comprehensive explanations in English. It easily ranks as one of the world's greatest collections of Buddhist art, and it is simply a matter of time before it enjoys an international reputation. We return to Sun Moon Lake in the afternoon. (B, L)

Friday April 20 Across the mountains

This morning we head inland to the highest peaks of the Central Range. We travel along sections of the Central Cross-Island Highway, opened in 1960. The winding two-lane road has views to Taiwan's highest peaks and is considered Taiwan's most scenic road. In the morning we stop at Wushe to view the memorial to aboriginal resistance against the Japanese before travelling through to Cingling Farm, one of several veterans settlements established by Chiang Kai Shek after the civil war in China. Over the next few hours we pass the most spectacular part of the road, stopping for a picnic lunch, brief walks and panoramic views before descending towards the east coast and Taroko Gorge, where we stop for the night. This evening the hotel offers a highly entertaining display of Taiwanese Aboriginal dance. Overnight Taroko Gorge. (B, PL, D)

Saturday April 21 Taroko Gorge and the East Coast

Taroko Gorge is a narrow marble valley, 19 kilometres long, and Taiwan's most popular national park. The rugged countryside,

Above: beautiful views across Sun Moon Lake Below: stone statue of standing Buddha Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577) in the Chung Tai Chan Museum

dotted with temples and pagodas, is rather like a Chinese landscape painting come to life, and not to be missed. Leaving early this morning to avoid the many coach groups which visit, we explore some of the sites of the valley through short walks and stops. We emerge from the gorge on Taiwan's rugged east coast. We travel north along the Chingshui cliffs, where the corniche road hugs the cliff-face high above the sea for a number of kilometres. We continue to Taipei, arriving in the late afternoon. Tonight we enjoy dinner in a private room at the hotel’s Teppanyaki restaurant. Taipei. (B, PL, D)

Sunday April 22 Exploring Taipei

This morning we view some of Taipei's traditional and monumental spaces. We first visit the Longshan Temple, where there is sure to be chanting and incense-burning in abundance. We then visit the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, whose monumental forecourt consciously mimics Beijing's Tiananmen Square. This gives us the opportunity to consider Taiwan’s dramatic 20th century history. Our last stop is the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper, the world’s tallest building until very recently. Inspired by Chinese pagodas, Taipei 101’s architect was C.Y. Lee, who also designed the Chung Tai Chan monastery. This afternoon is free for shopping or relaxing. Tonight there is the option of attending a performance at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial hall, which has a regular program of international quality classical music concerts. (B)

Monday April 23 The National Palace Museum

In the late morning we visit the National Palace Museum, Taiwan's most famous cultural institution. When retreating from the communists in 1949 Chiang Kai Shek made a careful selection of over 500,000 artefacts and artworks from China's imperial collection, representing the very finest in Chinese art. After a long and sometimes dramatic journey to Taipei the pieces in the collection were stored in the hills near Taipei, awaiting their inevitable return to Beijing along with a triumphant Kuomintang government. This never happened, of course, and the Taipei museum was born. Highlights of the collection include ancient bronzes and jade pieces, exquisite Ming porcelain and fine paintings from the Song Dynasty. This evening there is the option of visiting the Taipei Eye arts centre, where there are regular performances of traditional Chinese music and singing. (B)

Tuesday April 24 Departure

The morning is free to relax and prepare for your homeward journey. We share a farewell lunch at a Hot Springs Resort south of Taipei, not far from the airport. We then head to Taipei's international airport for afternoon flights to Hong Kong. At Hong Kong you can connect to onward overnight flights to Australia. (B, L)

Above: the dramatic Chingshui cliffs; colourful detail on Taipei’s Longshan Temple Below: painted earthenware vase with dragons in the National Palace Museum

Hotels Tainan, Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (2 nights)

This five-star hotel opened in early 2009. It is housed in a 38 storey tower with views over the city. Rooms are on average 50 square metres and the hotel has a swimming pool, gym and restaurants. www.shangrila.com

Sun Moon Lake, The Lalu (3 nights)

Frequently described as Taiwan’s best hotel, the Lalu is far more than a place to sleep the night. Designed by Australian architect Kerry Hill, the hotel opened in 2002. It is situated on the site of Chiang Kai Shek’s summer residence, and you can still visit the General’s modest retreat on the hotel grounds. The Lalu’s stylish timber and stone interiors have fine views across the lake, which can be enjoyed from the hotel’s infinity pool, tea house and spa, as well as from all rooms. www.thelalu.com.tw

Taroko Gorge, Silks Place (1 night)

Located in the heart of the scenic Taroko Gorge National Park, this five-star hotel was refurbished in 2009. taroko.silksplace.com.tw

Taipei, Grand Formosa Regent (3 nights)

The Grand Formosa Regent, a five-star hotel, is located in north-west Taipei, close to the historic sites of Datong, Wanhua and the National Palace Museum. Average room size 40 square metres. www.grandformosa.com.tw

Why take a journey to Taiwan? Because the island is not well known, many Australians will not have considered travelling to Taiwan. There are many good reasons to undertake the journey however! It's an emerging travel destination that has not yet been

debased by mass tourism The culture of the indigenous inhabitants of the island

before the arrival of the Chinese in the 17th century, mainly to be seen in the small towns of the interior

Thanks to the absence of a “cultural revolution”, there is well-preserved traditional Chinese culture, architecture and streetscapes in small towns and cities

The Japanese ruled the island from 1895-1945, leaving an interesting legacy of architecture and cultural practices, such as elaborate tea ceremonies

The island lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” offering outstanding mountain scenery, with sharp peaks rising to 4,000 metres

Two-world class museums – the famed National Palace Museum in Taipei and the newly opened Chung Tai Chan museum in the town of Puli

Above: Standard rooms at the Shangri-La, Tainan

Below: the timber interiors of the Lalu, Sun-Moon Lake and the hotel’s infinity pool; the dramatic position of the Silks Palace Hotel, Taroko Gorge

Tour Price The tour price is $6,200 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for a single room is $2,100 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour.

Tour Inclusions Included in the tour price

All accommodation in selected three and four star hotels All breakfasts Selected lunches and dinners as specified in the

itinerary Land travel by air-conditioned coach Extensive background notes Background talks Services of Australian tour leader throughout tour All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary Qualified local guides

Not included

International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Travel insurance Visa (if required) Meals not mentioned in itinerary Expenses of a personal nature

Air travel OPTIONS The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour we recommend Cathay Pacific, and partner Dragon Air, which offer flights into Kaoshiung and out of Taipei via Hong Kong. Please contact us for further information on competitive Economy, Business and First Class airfares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers.

Enquiries & bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jemma@academytravel.com.au

Weather on Tour Most of Taiwan has a beautiful warm climate all year round. The northern part is a sub-tropical zone while the south belongs to the tropical climate zone. This tour takes place in spring, when daily maximum temperatures in Tainan average 28C - 30C degrees, rarely dropping below 17C degrees at night. While Taipei enjoys average highs of 28C and lows of 17C degrees with a small chance of rain.

Fitness Requirements of THIS tour

GRADE TWO

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

Participation criteria for this tour

This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including longer walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only

short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and

museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold,

humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites,

which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or

boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers

If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition.