Friday, July 2, 2010

Itinerary for China In Depth May 2010


China In Depth
May 14-28, 2010

May 14
12:38 pm Depart Greenville on Delta 4116

May 15
Cross the international dateline and arrive in Shanghai at 6:30 pm. Board our luxury coach for the 2.5 hour transfer to Suzhou.
Soffitel Hotel


May 16
Discuss Suzhou City’s history and current developments with Suzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Vice Director, Chen Gao.
Explore Suzhou and enjoy a home cooked meal with your Chinese “host family.”

Tonight, enjoy an optional evening cruise along the Grand Canal.
Soffitel Hotel

May 17
Begin our two-day seminar on “Engaging China: What We Need to Know Now” with Kate and SuDa faculty.

This afternoon engage in a discussion on traditional Chinese medicine and contemporary health reform issues, before joining Furman alumni and friends for a banquet of Suzhou specialty cuisine.
Soffitel Hotel

May 18
This morning continue our discussion of “Engaging China” before we join SuDa friends for the University’s 110th Anniversary Celebration.
Soffitel Hotel

May 19
Early Departure for Shanghai
This afternoon visit the gorgeous Yuyuan Gardens and Shanghai Museum before visiting the ultramodern Shanghai Urban Planning Museum.
This evening enjoy a Shanghai Acrobats performance.
Jinjiang Tower‎
Shanghai, China


May 20
Depart early for the 7:50 am flight to Lhasa via Xian.
After an afternoon rest, explore Barkhor Street and the Jokhang Monestary.
Four Points by Sheraton
Lhasa, Tibet

May 21
Explore the majesty of the Potala Palace and the Summer Palace of the Norbulinka. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery.
Four Points by Sheraton

May 22
Cross the gorgeous Yalungtzangpo river to Samye Monastery and return to Lhasa for an evening Tibetan dance Performance.
Four Points by Sheraton

May 23
Visit Drepung Monastery before our afternoon flight to Xian.
Sheraton Xian

May 24
Visit Emperor Qin Shihuang’s tomb and see the spectacular Terracotta Warriors. Gain further insight into the period at the Shaanxi History Museum.

Explore the Islamic Great Mosque and neighboring art district before indulging on a twenty-course dumpling feast at Defachang.
Sheraton Xian

May 25
Depart early this morning for Beijing.
After lunch visit the Temple of Heaven.
Experience the Beijing Opera tonight.
Jianguo Garden Hotel
Beijing, China

May 26
This morning visit the site of so much of China’s modern political history, Tiananmen Square followed by a visit to the Forbidden City. Feast on a Manchu style lunch in Beihai Park.

This afternoon visit the new American Embassy for a private briefing. We are joined this evening by Virginia Palmer, DCM in Vietnam and former foreign service officer in Beijing & Hong Kong.
Jianguo Garden Hotel

May 27
Enjoy the splendor of the Great Wall at Badaling.
Enjoy some free time this afternoon before our farewell Beijing Duck Dinner at Quanjude.
Jianguo Garden Hotel

May 28
Depart early this morning for our return flight to Greenville.

"Until the Next Adventure....The Final Entry" - Tom Triplett


We have been back from China for about a month now. I am still basking in the glow of that amazing experience. I am almost embarrassed to admit that the trip to China was my first trip across either the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. I don't think I could have scripted a more amazing adventure for my first trip so far from the comforts of Upstate South Carolina. People always tell you that travel abroad is such an enriching experience and I have always agreed, even based on my limited foreign travel experience to South America, but my China experience has changed me forever. We were only in China for two weeks, much too short a time for a country that is massive in so many ways, and I want to return to continue my education. I am amazed at how differently I read articles about China now and how my attitude toward stories on the news about China has changed. As I wrote earlier, Furman students who take advantage of our Asian Studies departments are very fortunate to study and travel with such bright and passionate faculty members. I have always considered myself one of the luckiest people I know and the way this trip turned out continued that trend. Our group was compatible, adventurous, diverse, fun and passionate. The conversations we had on various topics about China could not have been scripted. I learned so much that sometimes my head hurt. We bid farewell to Kate and our national guide early in the morning on May 29th and had three close connections all the way our final connection in Atlanta 18 hours later, but all of us made it safely to our destinations all richer because of our individual and shared experiences. I am looking forward to my next adventure with Furman travel.