Australia’s leading Asian travel specialist Travel Indochina’s newly released ‘2013-14 Handmade Holidays China’ brochure shares insights into the country’s unique experiences available for independent travellers.

With tailor-made itineraries and a wide range of accommodation and tour options, the 40 page brochure features 12 new products including boutique hotels, day tours and experiences, and overnight tour packages.

According to Travel Indochina Managing Director, Paul Hole, there has been a surge in demand for more innovative experiences beyond the classic tier 1 Chinese cities.

“Travellers are seeking more intimate and specialised tours,” said Paul.

“We’re seeing the need to provide options that delve deeper into the amazing cultural and scenic kaleidoscope that is China, which is our second largest destination in terms of passenger numbers. Our clients are seeking unique and remote experiences beyond traditional itineraries that visit the iconic sites in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Guangzhou. They want to see the colour and back streets of the major cities as well as smaller less visited destinations.”

The company’s Handmade Holidays China brochure addresses travellers’ requirements with the addition of interesting tour options such as:

1. 9-day Lost Horizon Ride tour of Yunnan by side-car, covering Kunming, Lijiang, Shuhe, Shuanglang, Dali, Shaxi. Shangri-La back to Lijiang
2. A Road to Tibet 6 day itinerary to the remote and wild northwest areas in Sichuan province with large Tibetan communities and cultural influence. The tour covers Chengdu – Danba County (Tibetan villages of Suopo and Jiaju) – Mount Siguniang (Qionglai mountain range) – Chengdu
3. A Giant Panda Keeper experience at the Giant Panda Breeding Base in Chengdu. This offers an insight into the important conservation work of the Breeding Base as well as the chance to interact with these magnificent animals and their keepers.
4. New half day ‘local life’ guided Hong Kong Back Streets Walking Tour – visit popular attractions plus local areas (back streets, fishing villages) all conducted on foot and on public transport
5. Hutong cooking class and food tasting walking tour added to Beijing tours
6. Cooking classes added to Shanghai and Sichuan journeys (the latter is in a family home)
7. ‘Xian Sideways – the Warrior Ride’ day tour (to out-of-the-way areas on the outskirts of Xian)

 Accommodation options also provide unusual backdrops, such as those featured on the brochure’s ‘Unique and Remote Experiences’ page for Yunnan highlighting The Linden Centre – a boutique property and cultural/grass-roots activity centre in Xizhou, near Dali. The beautiful Banyan Tree properties in Lijiang and Zhongdian are also featured.