August 29 – September 10, 2007

As our ties grow increasingly closer to this quickly changing country, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of the people and places of China.  Your journey through China begins with Beijing where you will stay in the deluxe Hilton Beijing.  Here you’ll visit the ornate Forbidden City palace complex, the Temple of Heaven, the royal Summer Palace, the narrow streets of Hutongs, and, of course, the massive Tiananmen Square.   You will be awed when you visit the Great Wall of China and see the countryside that surrounds it.  You will also have the chance to stroll along the Sacred Way, the road to the tombs used only by the emperors’ funeral processions, where, along the way, you’ll be able to pause to view the sculptures of the Avenue of the Animals and finally the Ming Tombs.  From Beijing, you’ll travel to Xi’an, home to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the famous Terra Cotta Warriors that guard Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb.  In Xi’an, you will stay in the Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel known for its spacious guests room and delicious international cuisine.

After Xi-an, you’ll switch from travel on land to travel by water, as you cruise the Yangtze River to Wuhan from Chongqing.  One of the first stops on your watery passage will be Fengdu, with its temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld.  From there you’ll sail through the magnificent Three Gorges region before disembarking in Yichang to explore Sanyou Cave, the most impressive cavern in the Three Gorges region.  In this area, you’ll also learn about the New Dam through a fascinating tour that provides insight into the world’s largest construction project.  Upon arrival in Chongqing, you’ll fly to Shanghai for the final days of your tour.  Here you’ll reside at Hilton Shanghai, located in the heart of the city between two main shopping districts. In Shanghai, you’ll experience the Bund, Shanghai’s “Wall Street,” the prestigious Shanghai Museum and the serene Yuyuan Gardens.  After such a fabulous trip, you’ll find it difficult to leave and an optional extension to Hong Kong is available for those who have not gotten enough of this land of treasure and tradition.

Faculty host: Dr. J. Gill Holland, Professor Emeritus of English

Cost:  From approximately $2495 per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy

For more information, contact Nikki Sawyer, '03, Assistant Alumni Director, 704-894-2399.  Tour Operator: Alumni Holidays International.