The International Business Program
of Gannon University
is pleased to present a very special
Sixth Annual
Splendid China Highlights Tour
-
Hong Kong, Guilin, Xian and Beijing (11 –
13 days)
Tentative departure date: 09 May 2005
Escorted by Gary P. Mahan, Ph.D., Gannon University Associate Professor, Economics,
and Director, International Business Program (Email: Mahan@gannon.edu; telephone: 814.871.7588)
Tour Itinerary
Hong Kong, Guilin,
Xian and Beijing (11 – 13 days)
[Note: departure date and customized itinerary are subject to change. Updated
itineraries are to be posted to the China Tour Web site (see below). With respect
to meals, AB refers to American breakfast, L lunch, D dinner and SD special dinner]
Day 01 (no meals included other than those served on plane)
Your
exciting journey begins as you board a flight that is to connect to a flight to Hong Kong. Departure city is yet to be determined but is expected to be to be Pittsburgh,
Cleveland or Buffalo.
Day 02 (no meals included
other than those served on plane)
After
crossing the International Date Line, arrive in
Hong Kong to begin your visit to one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Meet local English
speaking tour guide and transfer to the Metropark Hotel (or similar).
Day 03 (AB & L included,
D free)
Following
breakfast enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Hong Kong Island,
including Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen
Fishing Village, and Stanley
Market. After a dimsum lunch, enjoy a free afternoon.
Day 04 (AB & D included,
L free)
Enjoy
a free day until you board a late afternoon flight to Guilin. Upon arrival meet local guide and transfer to Guilin Park Hotel (or similar).
Day 05 (AB, L, & D included)
Today’s
excursion is a cruise along the beautiful Li River. Experience the magical beauty
of limestone rock formations and farmland commonly seen in Chinese landscape paintings.
Disembark at the charming village of Yangshuo. Browse at the market, then board a return coach to Guilin. In the evening watch the cormorants
fishing.
Day 06 (AB & L included;
D is assumed to be served on flight; if not, free)
After
breakfast enjoy a city tour, including Reed Flute
Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill.
In the afternoon, board a flight to Xian, one of the greatest cities in the history of civilization and one
of the most important tourist destinations in the world. Meet local guide and transfer to the Xian Jianquo Hotel (or similar).
Day 07 (AB, L, & SD
included)
Today’s
highlight is a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Archaeological Museum, home to more than 6,000 life size warriors and horses
excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. They are considered
to be one of the most important archeological discoveries of the 20th century.
On the way to the museum stop at the Huaqing Hot Springs and afterwards visit the Tang Dynasty Palace. In the evening attend a Tang Dynasty dinner and show.
Day 08 (AB & L included;
D is assumed to be served on flight, if not, free)
After
breakfast tour Xian’s ancient city walls, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque. In the afternoon board a flight to Beijing, the historic
capital of the People’s Republic of China. Upon arrival meet local guide and transfer to the centrally located Jianquo Garden Hotel (or similar).
Day 09 (AB, L, &
D included)
In the
morning stroll on Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world, and visit the Forbidden City, the huge complex of imperial
palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens that were home to the emperors for over 500 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. After lunch visit the Temple
of Heaven, an exquisite example of Ming architecture where emperors performed
the annual rites believed to be essential to the well being of the nation. Dinner
and a fantastic acrobatic show fill the evening. (Those who have been to Beijing
before may enjoy a free day).
Day 10 (AB, L & SD included)
The highlight
today is a full day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. This landmark of
China is one of the most amazing feats
of human labor and the only man-made structure that can be seen from the moon. A
walk along a portion of the enormous undulating towered and turreted 3,700-mile long wall is spectacular. Upon return to the city enjoy free time before toasting the end of an unforgettable trip with a farewell
dinner of Beijing Duck.
Day 11 (AB included)
Your
fascinating journey comes to an end as you board a flight back to the US. Cross the International Date Line and arrive back in the US the same day. Return city is yet
to be determined.
Optional Tour Extension
Especially
for those who have not been to Beijing before, there is an optional two day extension in Beijing, in which case the itinerary would be as follows:
Day
11 (AB, L, & D included)
In
the morning go on a special pedicab tour of the Hutong, the “old city” neighborhood of narrow alleyways and authentic
courtyard houses where locals have lived for centuries. Visit the Drum or Bell Tower, the home of a Beijing family, Prince Gong’s Palace, and a tea house.
After the hutong tour visit Jingshan Park. After lunch stop at the Beijing Zoo to visit the Giant Panda Exhibit and then on to
the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager Ci Xi would go to escape the heat of the city, and where you can walk the famous
Long Corridor. Following dinner at a local Chinese restaurant, attend a performance
of the fascinating and colorful Peking Opera, which features acrobatics as well as singing, with English subtitles.
Day
12 (AB, L, & D included)
After
breakfast visit the Lama Temple, the finest
Tibetan temple in China, and view
an 85 foot tall Tathagageta Buddha made from a single sandalwood trunk, and stop at the Yuxiu Market (which is similar to
the Xiushui Market, i.e., Silk Alley, but is indoors). After lunch, enjoy
a free afternoon.
Day
13 (AB included)
Your
fascinating journey comes to an end as you board a flight back to the US.
Cross
the International Date Line and arrive back in the US
the same day. Return city is yet to be determined.
Open to All
A limited number of spaces are available to non student members of the Gannon
community. On past tours, faculty, local business people, relatives of students,
students from other schools, and members of the local community have participated. Priority
is provided for traveling companions of students; for others, it is based on the order in which deposits are received. It may be possible to depart from a city other than the departure city which is yet
to be determined.
Tour Price
The all inclusive price per person, based on double occupancy, for the 11 day
base tour is approximately $2,490 for Gannon students and $2,550 for others (note that there was an error in this price in
some early Emails that were sent out). The final exact price depends on the air
fare which is yet to be determined. Updated price information is to be provided
on the tour Web site (see below). The additional cost of the land portion of
the tour for the optional two day extension in Beijing is
$180/person based on double occupancy and six or more participants. There may
also be a difference in the air fare which is as yet to be determined. $200 to
at least $350 scholarships are available for students (see below). Tour price
includes the following:
· Round trip transportation
from departure city, which is yet to be determined. Those participants departing
from a city other than the departure city are subject to a deviation fee. Participants
are to provide their own transportation to/from the departure city.
· All meals, including
Western breakfast, Chinese lunch and Chinese dinner, except one lunch and one-three dinners.
· 9 nights (with base
tour) accommodation in four-star hotels. Most are centrally located, and equipped
with pool, fitness center, business center, restaurants, shopping arcade, etc.
· Transportation and
admission to all activities included in itinerary
· English speaking
local tour guide who will accompany the group at all times in each city. A national
tour guide will accompany the group from Guilin to Beijing.
· Hotel tax and service
fee.
· Experienced and
knowledgeable tour leader who has traveled to China
six times and has organized and led five highly successful previous tours.
· Earn over 14,000 frequent flyer miles,
with a value of at least $285.
· Tour information
meeting, pre departure briefing and material.
The price is based on double occupancy. Single supplement is an additional $380/person for the base tour and $90/person for
the optional extension. Single students, as well as others, requesting a roommate
will be matched with another of the same sex in making room assignments. In the event of an odd number of participants
of the same sex, the last one to deposit is to be accessed one half of the single supplement if a Gannon student (for base
tour only) and the full amount for others.
Price is based on a minimum of 15 tour participants, current airfares and rate
of currency exchange, etc. Airport departure taxes (currently US –$61.40,
China - $11), passport, if needed (see
below), and Chinese visa (see below), gratuities ($5/day), and items of a personal nature are not included.
China Study Grant Fund
A China Study Grant Fund has been established to provide grants to Gannon students
to assist them in participating in the tour. All Gannon undergraduate and graduate
students are encouraged to apply for the up to ten grants available that range in amount from $200 to at least $350. When the exact amounts available and criteria are determined, a description of the
fund and an application form are to be made available on the tour Web site (see below), as well as from Dr. Mahan.
Faculty Grants
Grants for Gannon CHBE faculty have
been provided in the past and may again be available. Contact Dr. Mahan for details.
Courses Offered in
Conjunction with the Tour
For those students interested in learning more about the culture, history,
political system, economic system, business environment, legal system and religion of what may be the most important country
of this century; the following courses are offered in conjunction with the tour:
· One-credit China
Study Tour course (IBUS 299) which is open to students of all majors.
· Regular three credit
China Studies course, which is cross listed as an undergraduate (IBUS382) and MBA (GMBA791) course, and is also offered to
students of all majors. It is to meet 10 times during the Spring semester on
Saturday from 9:30 AM – 12:20 PM.
· Students enrolled
at other universities are invited to register for the three-credit independent study course.
Tuition is not included in the tour price.
Information on these courses, including syllabi, is available on the tour Web site (see below), as well as from Dr.
Mahan.
Terms and Conditions
Deposits/payments: A deposit of $200 per person is required by 03 December
2004. A deposit is fully refundable until at least 03 December 2004. The payment schedule is yet to be determined. When determined
it is to be posted to the China Tour Web site (see below). Credit cards may not
be used for any payment; only checks and money orders.
Cancellations: The tour operator reserves the right to cancel the tour
prior to its departure for any reason. In the event of cancellation, the tour operator will refund any deposits and/or payments
prior to such cancellation. The policy regarding refunds for cancellation by
a participant after the first payment is forthcoming and is to be posted to the tour Web site (see below). Gannon University reserves
the right to cancel the tour in the event that the US State Dept. issues a travel warning on travel to China and/or as the result of any event that may affect the safety of traveling
abroad.
Travel documents: Both a valid passport and a Chinese visa are required
for travel to China. If a new US passport is needed, it may require up to one month to obtain and costs $85. A Chinese visa requires a valid passport with at least six months left until its expiration and costs $50. New regulations require that the
visa be applied for in person, but there are travel agencies and others that can arrange for this so this is not actually
necessary.
Baggage: Two pieces of average size luggage not exceeding 44 lbs.
Additional Information
Additional information on the tour, including updated information (on the price, itinerary, and terms and conditions), China
Study Tour grants, courses offered in conjunction with the tour, photos of previous tours, and testimonials from previous tour participants, are available on the Splendid China Tour Web site, which is
located at: https://chinastudytour.tripod.com/ as well as from Dr. Mahan (Email: Mahan@gannon.edu; telephone: 814.871.7588).
Other
All information regarding the tour, other than that provided at the meetings,
is to be provided to participants via the China Study Tour Web site and Email. Thus, all participants must have an Email address
that is regularly checked. Since many of the documents provided are in Portable
Document Format (PDF), a computer equipped with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
Due to the length of the flights heavy smokers may not be comfortable.
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Reservation Coupon
Those interested are encouraged to inform Dr. Mahan and to deposit soon as
this tour has generated much interest.
Date___________________
Enclosed find $200 as nonrefundable (which is refundable until at least 03 Dec 2004) deposit (only checks or money
orders acceptable) for one reservation in accordance with the terms/conditions contained herein, and those terms and conditions
of purveyors of services expressly contained herein.
Name [to be the same as appears on passport (no nicknames); print clearly]
____________________________________________________
First
Middle (full)
Last
Address (local mailing) _______________________________
______________________________________
City __________________________________
State _____________ Zip Code ____________
Tel: Home (local) _____________________________
Tel: Work ______________________________
Tel: Mobile ______________________________
E-mail [print clearly]: ________________________________
I am interested in the: ____ 11 day base tour or ___ 13 day extended tour
Signature _______________________________
All deposits are to be received on or before 03 December 2004. Please make check/money order payable to:
Comfort Travel (USA), Inc.
And mail to:
Gary
P. Mahan, Ph.D.
Box 3188
Gannon University
109 University Square
Erie, PA 16541
(last modified 10/24/04)
