TRIP TO CHINA: SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 4, 2010
Don't miss this amazing opportunity to visit China in October, offered by the Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Western New York Chamber Alliance. This 9-day tour costs only $1,999 from Buffalo!
Having taken this trip, I can say without hesitation that it was all it claimed to be and more!
Tour guides met us at the airports in Beijing and Shanghai, eliminating the confusion that comes with traveling abroad. Throughout the trip, they did an excellent job removing language barriers and educating us on the ways of the Chinese.
This was not designed to be a relaxing vacation. Wake up calls came at 6 a.m. and an hour later, we were enjoying a delicious breakfast buffet. At 8 a.m., we boarded our buses and began a busy day that rarely ended before 8 p.m. Our itinerary was jammed with attractions, and comfortable shoes were a necessity, as there was a great deal of walking and climbing involved.
We walked through Tian’Anmen Square in Beijing, the largest city square in the world; the Summer Palace, highlighted by Kumming Lake; the Ming Tombs (one fully excavated); and climbed the Great Wall, a 4000 mile long structure that is more than 2000 years old.
I opted to visit Hutong, a traditional living area for Beijing citizens. There, we traversed the narrow, zigzagging streets on a rickshaw, and had lunch with a local family in their home.
Following a flight from Beijing to Shanghai (included in the cost), we boarded a bus for Suzhou, a scenic city that is 10% cultivated fields, 30% hills and 60% covered with water. We visited Tiger Hill, site of a 1000-year old Buddhist pagoda and Lingering Garden, one of four classical gardens in China with picturesque, elegant and intriguing sites. Later, a cruise down the ancient Grand Canal offered a glimpse into the life of the locals.
We then traveled to Hangzhou, where we visited Lingyin Temple, a 1500-year old Buddhist temple and enjoyed a boat cruise on scenic West Lake. After a short bus ride, we arrived in Shanghai, the largest commercial city and most booming trading port in China. There, the traditional was replaced by the modern. We went to the Bund, a famous waterfront park along the Yangtze River and home to the “Wall Street of the East.” As darkness fell, the modern buildings and bridges were illuminated with lights in all the colors of the rainbow. We ended our stay with a visit to the Pudong economic development zone, a shopping area like none I have ever seen.
This trip involved much more than sightseeing. We saw how fibers were extracted from the cocoons of silk worms and woven into threads for silk garments. We learned how green tea leaves were harvested and made into the finished product. We saw freshwater oysters opened that contained over 30 pearls, and learned how to choose quality jade. We visited the National Embroidery Institute and saw the amazing work of the masters, and watched as superior quality Oriental rugs were made, a process that can take more than one year to complete.
The hotels, rated four and five stars, were excellent, with spacious guest rooms and western-style marble bathrooms. We were able to take a nighttime stroll through the area surrounding our hotels without concern for our safety, unless we failed to watch for the motorized bicyclists, who seem to always have the right-of-way!
The Orchard Park Chamber plans to offer the trip again with a departure date of September 26. The cost is $1,999 per person, based on double occupancy. That includes roundtrip bus from Buffalo to JFK; roundtrip airfare from JFK to Beijing; 5-star or 4-star accommodations; deluxe tour bus; a knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide in each city; three full meals every day; fees for all attractions; and any applicatable taxes. There will be a one time fee ($25/person) collected on day one of your visit to cover all gratuities throughout the trip.
“This was a trip of a lifetime,” said John & Jan Bos of Orchard Park. “What a wonderfully organized trip. Everyone who has not gone should sign up for it the next time it is available.” Having experienced it myself, I certainly agree with them. If you would like more information, don’t hesitate to contact me at 662-3366 or opcc@orchardparkchamber.com
Check the links below for further details. We hope you will join us on this once-in-a-lifetime trip! Contact the Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce (662-3366) for more information.
...Nancy L. Conley, Executive Director
Itinerary
Welcome Letter
A to Z
Optional Tours
Optional Trips
World Expo
Shopping Opportunities
FAQ
China Trip Application
Passenger Release
Visa Instructions
Visa Application
Business Questionnaire
