The International Business Program

 of Gannon University

 is pleased to present the

 

Seventh Annual

Splendid China Study Tour -

Beijing

 

Spring, 2006 Mid-semester Break

Feb 24 – Mar 3, 2006

 

Tour itinerary includes Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Mao Mausoleum, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Peking Opera, Hutong, Giant Panda Exhibit, Lama Temple, Acrobatic Show and more…

 

Escorted by Gary P. Mahan, Ph.D., Gannon University Associate Professor, Economics, and Director, International Business Program (telephone: 814.871.7588; Email: Mahan@gannon.edu)

 

 

Tour Itinerary

Beijing (8 Days)

Feb 24 – Mar 3, 2006

 

[Note:  departure date and customized itinerary are subject to change.  A final itinerary is to be provided prior to departure.]

 

Day 01 

Your exciting journey begins early as you board a Boeing 737 at either Pittsburgh, Buffalo, or Cleveland (departure city is yet to be determined) for a flight to either Newark’s Liberty International Airport or Chicago’ O’Hare Airport where you will transfer directly to a Boeing 777 for a non stop flight to Beijing.

Day 02

After crossing the International Date Line, arrive late afternoon in Beijing, the historic capital of the People’s Republic of China, to begin your visit to one of the most fascinating countries in the world.  Meet your tour guide, who will accompany the group for the entire stay, and transfer to the centrally located Jianguo Hotel (or similar), where after a welcoming dinner you may relax to recover from the jet lag or explore the city on your own.

Day 03

In the morning stroll on Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world, and visit the Mao Mausoleum and Great Hall of the People (if open).  After lunch 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 the tour of the Forbidden City, those who are interested may visit Jingshan Park.  Dinner and a fantastic acrobatic show fill the evening.

Day 04

The highlight today is a full day excursion to the Great Wall.  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.  On the way visit the Beijing Huijia Private College and a jade factory.  After dinner, enjoy the city on your own.

Day 05 

In the morning 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.  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 06

In the morning you 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.  A visit to a school or international business firm may be arranged for the afternoon.   Dinner is on your own.

Day 07

In the morning, visit the US Commercial Service for a briefing on doing business in China or an international business firm and interview managers.  After lunch, 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 then enjoy a free afternoon.  A farewell dinner of Beijing Duck toasts the end of an unforgettable trip.

Day 08

As the return flight does not depart until late afternoon, you have most of the day to enjoy the city on your own.  Your fascinating journey comes to an end as you board a non stop flight to either Newark with connection to Cleveland or Chicago with a connection to Pittsburgh or Buffalo (return city is yet to be determined).  Cross the International Date Line and arrive back in the US the same day. 

 

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 and for others it is based on the order in which deposits are received.  It may be possible to depart from a city other than Cleveland,  Pittsburgh or Buffalo (departure city is yet to be determined).

 

Tour Price

The price of the land portion of the tour is $655 for Gannon students ($200-$350 scholarships are available, see below) and $705 for others, and includes the following:

 

·         6 nights accommodation in the upscale, four-star Jianquo Hotel (or similar).  The Jianquo Hotel is centrally located, and equipped with pool, fitness center, business center, several restaurants, shopping arcade, etc. 

·         All meals (except for one dinner), including Western breakfast, Chinese lunch and Chinese dinner.

·         Hotel tax and service fee.

·         Transportation and admission to all activities included in itinerary

·         English speaking local tour guide who will accompany the group at all times

·         Experienced tour leader who has traveled to China seven times and has led six  highly successful previous tours.

·         Tour information meeting, pre departure briefing and material.

 

The price is based on double occupancy.  Single supplement is an additional $220.  Those participants without a traveling companion who would like 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 assessed the single supplement.

 

Price does not include air transportation, departure taxes and fees, nor transportation to the airport.  Air tickets are to be purchased at the best available fare after the deposit deadline.  The purchase of the air tickets requires a separate payment that is not included in the land portion of the tour price.  On 14 October 2006, the best air fare was on Continental Airline’s Cleveland/Newark/Beijing route.  The air fare was $848 and the taxes and fees were $74.30.  Updates of current air fares are to be posted to the tour Web site (see below).

 

Price is based on a minimum of 15 tour participants.  Passport, if needed (see below), and Chinese visa (see below), gratuities ($4/day), and items of a personal nature are not included.

 

China Study Tour Grants

Two funds have been established to provide grants to Gannon students to assist them in participating in the tour.  All Gannon undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for the up to ten grants that range in amount from $200 to $350 that are available from the China Study Grant Fund.  A separate Mandarin Fund provides $500 scholarships to up to two students who are enrolled in a Chinese language course this academic year.  The deadline for applying for the grants is 28 October 2005.  Complete descriptions of the funds and application forms are 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 Gary Mahan, Ph.D., for details.

 

China Study Tour Courses

For those students interested in learning more about the culture, history, political system, economic system, business environment, legal system and religions 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.  There are no prerequisites.  It is to meet 10-11 times during the Spring semester tentatively on Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:50 PM, but may be changed to Saturday, 9:30 AM – 12:20 PM if there are conflicts with other classes on Tuesday night. 

·         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 from previous semesters, is available on the tour Web site (see below), as well as from Gary Mahan, Ph.D. 

 

Additional Information

Additional information on the tour, China Study Tour grants, and courses offered in conjunction with the tour, as well as photos of previous tours, and testimonials from previous tour participants, is available on the Splendid China Tour Web site, which is located at:  https://chinastudytour.tripod.com/  Also, contact Gary Mahan, Ph.D.  (telephone: 814.871.7588; Email: Mahan@gannon.edu) for information.

 

Terms and Conditions

 

Deposits/payments: A deposit of $200 per person is required by 31 Oct, 2005.  The deposit is non refundable and non transferable after the date when the airline tickets are purchased.  After the deposit deadline, air tickets are to be purchased at the best fare that is available at that time.  This is not included in the tour price and a separate payment is required.  On 14 October 2006, the best air fare was on Continental Airline’s Cleveland/Newark/Beijing route.  The air fare was $848 and the taxes and fees were $74.30.  The final payment of $455 for students and $505 for others is tentatively due Jan 11, 2006.  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 air tickets are purchased is to be determined after the choice of air carrier is made.

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 a $50 money order.  New regulations require that the visa be applied for in person, but there are travel agencies and others that can arrange for this so it is not actually necessary.  In the past, arrangements have been made with an agent in NYC to submit the visa applications to the Chinese consulate for a fee of $10.

Baggage: Two pieces of average size luggage not exceeding 44 lbs. if traveling on United Airlines and 50 lbs. if traveling on Continental Airlines.

Accident and trip insurance: is recommended and is available from the tour company as well as elsewhere.

 

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.

Due to the importance of obtaining information on travel to China, attendance at both the Information Meeting, tentatively scheduled for 5 PM on 14 November 2005, and the Pre Departure Briefing, tentatively scheduled for Noon on either  4 Feb or 11 Feb, 2006, is mandatory.

 

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Reservation Coupon

Those interested are encouraged to deposit soon as five previous tours were sell outs.

 

                                                                                                Date___________________

 

Enclosed find $200 as nonrefundable 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 [this is extremely important; to be exactly the same as appears on passport (no nicknames) or for those without passport, birth certificate; for married women, middle name is not maiden name, but middle name as appears on birth certificate; print clearly;]

____________________________________________________

                                         First                              Middle (full)                         Last

Address (local mailing) _______________________________

______________________________________

City __________________________________

State _____________ Zip Code ____________

Tel: Residence (local) _____________________________

Tel: Work ______________________________

Tel: Mobile  ______________________________

E-mail [print clearly]:  ________________________________

Traveling companion/roommate (if any) ____________________________

Aircraft seating preference: _____window; ______aisle; ______don’t care

Signature _______________________________

 

All deposits are to be received on or before 31 Oct, 2005.  Please make check/money order payable to:

Gary P. Mahan

And mail to:

Gary P. Mahan, Ph.D.

Box 3188

Gannon University

109 University Square

Erie, PA 16541

 

(last modified 14 Oct 05)