China - Highlights 2024 - 09 Apr 2024 - 23 Apr 2024 (15 days)
USD6,200
Spaces Available
Can be linked with: China - Highlights: Qinghai Extension 2024
Tour price (Per person): USD6,200 * GBP5,072 * EUR5,755 * AUD9,284
Overview Tour Facts Top Birds
Our China – Highlights & Qinghai Extension tour targets some of Asia’s rarest species, drawing the attention of even those with already impressive Asia and world lists. Seldom visited by western birders, we shall embark on an action packed adventure covering the major sites of south east China, Sichuan and Qinghai.
We hit the ground running searching for the Critically Endangered Chinese Crested Tern at the Minjiang Estuary and the very skulky White-necklaced Partridge in Fuzhou itself. We move north east to Emei Feng, to find one of the world’s rarest pheasants, Cabot’s Tragopan, as well as Elliott’s Pheasant and Spotted Elachura, now placed in its own family. Moving further north, we make a stop in Wuyuan for Pied Falconet and the recently discovered Blue-crowned (Courtois’s) Laughingthrush, of which perhaps 200 individuals still exist.
We then head to Sichuan Province, showcasing some of China’s finest and most rewarding birding hotspots in the most pristine and remote regions. The scenery on this section of the tour is truly spectacular with amazing panoramic views of forest-clad mountains and snow-capped peaks. Pheasants are of particular interest and we will be on the lookout for White Eared, Golden, Koklass, Blood and Lady Amherst’s Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan, Chinese Monal and Snow Partridge, Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge and Tibetan Snowcock.
The supporting cast includes an astonishing nine species of Parrotbill that includes Short-tailed, Ashy-throated, Golden, Fulvous, Grey-hooded, Great, Brown and Three-toed Parrotbills, as well as Wallcreeper, Snow Pigeon, Darjeeling Woodpecker, range-restricted Emei Shan Liocichla, Pere David’s Tit, the recently described Sichuan Treecreeper, spectacular Firethroat, White-browed and Crested Tit-Warblers, the stunning Grandala and an amazing selection of laughingthrushes, fulvettas, warblers and rosefinches.
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Cabot’s & Temminck’s Tragopans; White Eared, Golden, Elliot's, Koklass, Blood, Silver & Lady Amherst’s Pheasants; White-necklaced & Snow Partridges;
Chinese Monal; Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge; Tibetan Snowcock; Spotted Elachura; Sichuan Bush Warbler; Streaked Barwing; Emei Leaf Warbler; Pied Falconet; Blue-crowned (Courtois’s), Giant, Buffy, Barred, Moustached, White-browed, Red-winged, Elliott’s and Masked Laughingthrushes; Short-tailed, Ashy-throated, Golden, Fulvous, Grey-hooded, Great, Brown & Three-toed Parrotbills; Streaked, Pink-rumped, Common, Dark-breasted, Sharpe's, Three-banded & Chinese White-browed Rosefinches; Wallcreeper; Mandarin Duck; Snow Pigeon; Darjeeling Woodpecker; Emei Shan Liocichla; Pere David’s Tit; Sichuan Treecreeper; Firethroat; White-browed & Crested Tit-Warblers; Grandala; Yellow-bellied & Pere David's Tit; Fujian, Golden-fronted, Chinese, Golden-breasted, Grey-hooded & David's Fulvettas; Chinese Hwamei; Chinese Grosbeak; Collared Finchbill; Chinese Blackbird; Amur Paradise Flycatcher; Speckled Piculet; Tiger Shrike; Brandt’s & Plain Mountain Finches.
Top Mammals Milne-Edward's Macaque; Chinese Serow; Hog Badger; Tufted Deer; Chinese Goral; Blue Sheep (Bharal); Himalayan Marmot; Gansu Pika. Chances for Red & Giant Pandas.
Habitats Covered Temperate coniferous (pine, spruce & fir) and mixed (oak & rhododendron) broad-leaved forest, bamboo forest, alpine grasslands, rivers, mountain valleys, mountains and high-altitude passes, shore line, mud flats, city parks, wetlands (open water & reed beds), scrub, open fields
Expected Climate warm to moderate in the lower lying areas, cold with some snow in the higher lying areas
Max Group Size 10 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
Tour Pace & Walking moderate
Accommodation mostly comfortable with some basic lodgings
Ease of Birding moderate with some tricky and some easy species
Other Attractions fabulous mountain scenery, extensive broad-leaved, coniferous and bamboo forests, fascinating people and culture, rarely visited reserves and wilderness areas
Tour Route Map 
Client Testimonials
Client Testimonials Dates, Leaders and Pricing
2024 DEPARTURES
Trip Reports
Tour Enquiry
Rich Lindie did an outstanding job. He is an excellent birder/guide and did a fantastic job managing all our expectations... Overall a wonderful trip.
As usual, Glen Valentine was fantastic. I have travelled with him before and it never ceases to amaze me how he can hear and spot birds so effectively. And his enthusiasm is contagious. You know that he has seen any given bird on previous trips but it's as though he is seeing it for the first time with you! Daniel Danckwerts was also on the tour "learning the ropes". Very knowledgeable and a good asset to have on the tour. A superb spotter! All in all, this was a fantastic trip. I would recommend it to anyone.
As usual, Glen Valentine was fantastic. I have travelled with him before and it never ceases to amaze me how he can hear and spot birds so effectively. And his enthusiasm is contagious. You know that he has seen any given bird on previous trips but it's as though he is seeing it for the first time with you! Daniel Danckwerts was also on the tour "learning the ropes". Very knowledgeable and a good asset to have on the tour. A superb spotter! All in all, this was a fantastic trip. I would recommend it to anyone.
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.