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Band & Pagentry Concert Tour and Cultural Exchange
China Summer 2008
| When: Summer 2008 |
| Where: Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Shaolin Temple |
| What: Three Performances AT: Great Wall, High School, and public performing hall in Luoyang or Zhengzhou |
| Cost: $2,995 (US) per Student |
| Tentative Itinerary: |
Day 1 |
International Flight from US to Beijing.
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Day 2 |
Arrive in Beijing. Check-in at Hotel, and enjoy the Welcome Banquet (Beijing Duck Dinner) hosted by CACBC China Office, and the China Travel Service
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Day 3 |
A Full-day excursion: Explore and PERFORM ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. You'll never forget your performance on the only man-made object that can be seen from the moon! In the afternoon, visit the 2008 OLYMPIC VILLAGE if open to the public. Or, see the New Unique Olympic Birds Nest, here the whole Olympic and Olympic Opening ceremony will take place. In the evening, attend an exciting Chinese Acrobatic Show.
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Day 4 |
In the morning, visit Temple of Heaven, where the Ming Emperor prays for a good harvest. In the afternoon, visit the Beihai Park, the beautiful park with a rich history. You also can see common Beijing people practice Taichi, and other Chinese games. Visit a Tea House to test different famous tea.
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Day 5 |
A city tour of Beijing starts at the center of the city (Tianan Men Square) the largest open plaza in the world, accommodating half a million people at one time. Explore the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the formal Imperial Palace for the 24 Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beijing's Forbidden City is known as the largest Imperial palace in the world, and its ancient walls now werve as an enormous entrance for visitors, leading to one of the most fascinating displays of Chinese cultural history, and the best-preserved Chinese classical architecture. This once-forbidden palace houses 9,999 rooms filled with millions of priceless relics. The number 9 in Chinese is homonym of the character jiu, meaning eternity; this was meant to indicate the imperial reign would be as eternal as heaven and earth. Evening Bullet Train to Zhengzhou.
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Day 6 |
Zhengzhou, the capital of the Henan Province, is a prime example of the changing face of China. Here you will see modern buildings and shopping malls contrasted against a background of ancient civilization.
The Henan National Museum, whose modern architecture resembles a Mayan Pyramid, is the repository for 160,000 historic and prehistoric national treasures, including the world's earliest musical instrument, a 8,000 year-old, perfectly tuned bone flute. Wander through the fascinating exhibits and then relax and listen to a musical performance on ancient Chinese instruments dating back over a 1,000 years. Salute to Olympics Concert in ZhengZhou Art Center.
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Day 7 |
Excursion to Kaifeng, the ancient capital of seven dynasties. During the Song Dynasty one 1,000 years ago, Kaifeng was the richest and most culturally diverse city in the world.
You will be transported back to that time when you visit the historical recreation of a Song Dynasty city at Riverside Park. You'll experience daily Song life as you board an ancient boat, explore the narrow streets, cross the rainbow bridge, try your hand at traditional crafts, participate in ceremonies, and meet "officials" and "residents" in period costumes.
At noon, you can enjoy the traditional dishes of the Baozi Banquet. This banquet features many different flavors of the local cuisine.
Kaifeng has a wealth of historical sites. The Buddha of A Thousand Hands and A Thousand Eyes stands in the 1,000 year old Xiang Guo Monastery. The famous Dragon Pavilion was built on the ruins of the Song Palace - also called the Small Forbidden City. You'll visit the thirteen story high Iron Pagoda, made entirely of wood with a brick exterior. It is called "iron" because this pagoda has miraculously survived many earthquakes and floods for almost one thousand years.
Travel back to Zhengzhou.
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Day 8 |
Travel to the 1,500 year-old Shaolin Monasteries, the birthplace of Kung-Fu - the original form of all martial arts. This temple is situated at the western edge of the Songshan Mountains. In the Thousand Buddhas Hall, you can still see the footprints of the monks stamped into the floor, a reminder of the intensity of their practice. Be amazed by a live Kung-Fu demonstration!
Bus to Luoyang. At night, relax and enjoy the delicious delicacies of the Water Feast, a banquet handed down by the Tang Dynasty empress. Be delighted by the sights and sounds of ancient Chinese instruments, played for you as you end your feast.
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Day 9 |
Experience historic Louyang, the capital of thirteen dynasties. The most spectacular site in Louyang is the Longmen Grotto. Carved from a solid rock mountain over 1,500 years ago, this site has over 2,345 caves and more than 100,000 statues of Buddha. Chinese noblemen sponsored the creation of most of these statues, raning in height from miniature (1 inch high) to giant-size (57 feet).
In the afternoon, visit a high school, cultural exchange, make friends, and play together with Chinese students. Performance or joint performance at the Louyang High School.
Board the Night Sleeper train to Beijing.
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Day 10 |
In the morning, visit the 800 year-old Summer Palace boasting of the largest garden in China. Here the royal family of the Qing Dynasty came to spend relaxing summers and handle government affairs. In the afternoon, visit Wangfu Jing Street, the busiest downtown street in Beijing, for free shopping and relaxing.
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Day 11 |
Say good-bye to new friends in China, and board your International Flight back to Home Sweet Home.
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Chaperones & Tagalongs:
Chaperones will have duties including room check in the evening, chaperoning small groups while away from the large group, attendance taking and helping with music instruments when needed. Their estimated price will be $200 less than the student price.
Tagalongs will not be responsible for anyone but themselves and their price will be $400 more than the student price. |
Included in Tour Price:
1. Round trip airfare to China and China Departure tax
2. English speaking escorts and local guides
3. Three and Four star hotel accommodations
4. Ground transportation within China
5. All meals in China: American or Chinese breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner.
6. Chinese Acrobatic Show
7. All entrance fees for museums, parks and historical sites
8. 3-Performance arrangements, venues and promotion
9. Special dinners as indicated
10. Instruments shipping that are not through cargo
11. Legal performance permission in China and translations |
Not Included in Tour Price:
1. Passport and Visa fees
2. Excess baggage fees and instrument rental fees
3. Telephone call charges and tips for hotel personnel, bus drivers, escorts, and local tour-guides
4. U.S. Departure tax, airline fuel surcharges
5. Personal spending money and miscellaneous items not specifically included above. |
Payment Schedule:
The following is a schedule for all payments.
Initial Deposit per Participant due June 15, 2007
Additional Payments due on the first of every month (July-April) $250 x 10 months
Last payment: May 1st 2008: $80 Departure tax + $180 Airline fuel charge
Total Tour Cost: $2,995 |
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