The Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA) is pleased to announce that it will be leading an all-inclusive trip to China from March 22-30, 2015 in partnership with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. "Experience China" made its first journey in 2010, when around one hundred travelers left a cold and dreary Vermont March for the allures of China. The trip, an "affordable, stress-free way of seeing China and all it has to offer," was such a success that VCWA has decided to organize the tripagain.
The nine-day trip begins in Beijing, where visitors will explore the 2008 Summer Olympic Games venues. A tour of the Ming Tombs introduces ancient Chinese history, while the Tian An Men Square is a reminder of the more recent 1989 conflict. Travelers will discover landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven where emperors prayed for a fruitful harvest. The Suzhou segment introduces visitors to China's renowned needlecraft through tours of the Suzhou Silk Factory and the National Embroidery Institute. A day in Hangzhou includes a morning boat ride on West Lake in Hangzhou and an afternoon at the Longjing Green Tea Plantation and Lingyin Temple, where a 64ft.-high camphor-wood carved Buddha resides. As the trip draws to a close, the group visits the Yu Garden as well as the Bund, a waterfront park historically known as the symbol of Shanghai.
In the words of 2010 participants: "Our trip to China was incredible!The accommodations and food were spectacular and we thoroughly enjoyed our two travel guides.The camaraderie of the group was a bonus we didn't expect, and we felt a guided tour of a place as different as China was the only way to see the country. You get a lot of value for the money."
The all-inclusive trip includes all excursions, round-trip airfare, stays at 4- and 5-star hotels, three meals a day and English-speaking tour guides for only $2,499 (double occupancy). Additional side trips are available for $25-45 per person and business briefings may be included depending on interest. Pay by December 15, 2014, to guarantee your spot.
Source: Burlington, VT October 27, 2014 -- TVermont Council on World Affairs.To learn more, see the VCWA website (www.vermont.org/vcwa/china). For more information, contact VCWA Executive Director Gail Stevenson at [email protected] or 861-2343 x. 3.