The Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is an Old World monkey in the Colobinae subfamily. It is endemic to a small area in temperate, mountainous forests of central and south-western China. The Chinese name is Sichuan Golden Hair Monkey (´¨½ðË¿ºï). It is also widely referred to as the Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkey. Snow occurs frequently within its range and it can withstand colder average temperatures than any other non-human primates. Its diet varies markedly with the seasons, but it is primarily an herbivore with lichens being its main food source. It is diurnal and largely arboreal, spending some 97% of their time in the canopy. There are three subspecies. Population estimates range from 8,000 to 15,000 and it is threatened by habitat loss.

Please note: We hope to encounter  Golden snub-nosed Monkey on this trip, and there's a big opportunity to see them, however sightings of wild  Golden snub-nosed Monkey cannot be guaranteed. We will not visit any of the captive "sanctuaries" - this is a trip designed to see Monkey in-the-wild.

best time to go

November is the best time to go. when first snow has fallen Golden snub-nosed Monkey  come down from the higher elevations in search of food. The Golden snub-nosed Monkey  are easier to track in fresh snow.

itinerary

Day 1: Your Arrive in Xi An

Day 2: Xi An city tour. Today we have full day to explore the City with a guided tour to the Terra-Cotta Warriors , Shaanxi History Museum, the Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Old City Wall. We plan to build in some free time to explore on your own. Of course we can also change the sequence of visits. Dinner this evening is a dumpling Banquet (as option)

Day 3: Xi An to Foping Reserve Station. After breakfast we will drive to Foping National Nature Reserve, this reserve located on the south side of the Qinling Mountains has the highest density of Golden snub-nosed Monkey and wild Giant Pandas ever recorded. We plan to spend the next few days here, tracking Golden snub-nosed Monkey each day, The path into the station is an easy walk, but everyone should be in good physical condition as some days the tracking may be quite difficult. Indeed, if you wish to join this trip you should be able to walk up and down sometimes slippery terrain, the trails can be quite steep and scrambling up or down snow-covered slopes may be necessary. Overnight at Foping Reserve Station (B,L,D) 

Day 4-6: Foping Nature Reserve / Golden snub-nosed Monkey traking. Each day we plan to go out in the Reserve with our team of trackers and guides in search of wild Golden snub-nosed Monkey and of course some of the other wildlife found in the area, such as Golden Takin, Asiatic Brown Bear, wild panda and a wealth of birdlife, including Crested Ibis, pheasants and tragopans. Indeed the Foping National Nature Reserve has recorded some 68 mammal species, 217 species of birds, 38 species of reptiles, 15 species of fishes and over 1,250 species of insects. We will use porters each day to transport some of our gear and take boxed lunches to allow us maximum time out in the reserve. Overnights at Foping Reserve Station (B,L,D) 

Day 7: Foping Nature Reserve to Xi An. After breakfast today we say farewell to the station and walk back out of the reserve to our waiting vehicle. Then we will drive the several hours back to Xi An and civilization Overnight in Xi'an (B,L,D)