The Classic China Tour

The U.S.-China Educational Exchange is organizing an escorted classic tour to China at the end of June, 2003, as we do every summer.

The tour departs on June 30, 2003. We will fly via All Nippon Airways (ANA) to Hong Kong to begin a two-week visit to six cities in the following order: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Guilin, Xi'an, Beijing and Shanghai. These are exactly the six cities that President Clinton went to on his visit to China in 1998. Highlights of the trip are attached at the end of this announcement. The package tour price includes:

· International airfare to and from China (U.S. departure)

· Domestic airfare from Guangzhou to Guilin, Guilin to Xi'an, Xi'an to Beijing and Beijing to Shanghai

· Jetfoil fare from Hong Kong to Guangzhou

· Deluxe or superior first-class hotel accommodations in each location

· Three meals every day for most days

· Acrobatic show in Shanghai

· Special Beijing Duck Dinner in Beijing

· Transfers and sightseeing by air-conditioned motor coach/bus

· Admission and fees to temples, shrines, museums, etc.

· Services of English speaking guides for sightseeing and transfers

The tour price is based on double occupancy and departure from JFK. If you prefer to have a single room or if we can't find a roommate for you, you will pay a single supplement. If you depart from another city in the U.S., there may or may not be a surcharge depending where you depart.

If you are interested in participating in one of the tours, please let us know as soon as possible. To register you name, you need to leave a deposit of $150. The deposit, which is non-refundable, will be applied to your total payment to be made in three installments due 90 days (March 28), 60 days (April 28) and 45 days (May 15) prior to departure. The deposit and subsequent payments should be made out to The U.S.-China Educational Exchange and sent to:

U.S.-China Educational Exchange
15 Locust Street
Jersey City, NJ 07305

You are welcome to bring your family and friends. It is also possible for you to join us if you do not depart from JFK in New York, but leave via another gateway as long as you arrive at the first stop as the group.

A recent issue of National Geography listed 10 places in the world that one must visit in his or her lifetime and two of them are in China: Hong Kong and the Great Wall in Beijing. These two places are prominently on our itinerary.

Highlights of the tour:

Hong Kong - Victoria Peak for a 360 degree view of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and surrounding harbors and outer island, scenic drive past Repulse Bay to the colorful floating community of Aberdeen, and Stanley Market, a favorite bargain shopping area.

Guilin - Li River Cruise and Reed Flute Cave

Xi'an - Burial site of at ancient army of 8000 terra cotta soldiers and horses (one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries), Neolithic Bampo Village Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Drum Tower.

Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, and a special Peking Duck Dinner.

Shanghai - bustling shopping district on Nanjing Road, the Bund, the new Shanghai Museum, Children's Palace, Mongolian barbecue and acrobatic show

CLASSIC TOUR PRICE (per person in USD based on twin-sharing)

Air & Land (from JFK*) $2550

US/Tokyo airport tax $95

Land-only $1895

Optional

Single supplement $435

Trip insurance $149

Visa handling fee $40

Extended stopover in Japan $75

*If you depart from an airport other than JFK, there may or may not be an add-on price. Please visit /ANA.htm for details. If you depart from LAX or SFO, your price will be $45 less.

TOUR COST INCLUDES
International airfare for the specified gateway
China domestic air, train & boat fares
Hotel accommodations as specified
Hotel tax and service fee
Meals as specified
Sightseeing & transfer as specified
Local English speaking guides
Airport and hotel portage fees; 
Land-only price: all above except TransPacific air 

TOUR COST EXCLUDES
Visa handling fee

Domestic airport tax within China (approx. $35)
Items of personal nature such as hotel phone bill, laundry services, etc.
Tips to guides, drivers and hotel porters

AIR FARES
Round-trip economy class airfare via All Nippon Airways. Air space is subject to confirmation by the airlines.

DEPOSIT/PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Non-refundable deposit of $50/person is required upon registering
90 days before departure (March 30) – half of the balance
60 days before departure (April 30) – the remaining balance
All payment may be in the form of a personal check or money order. This is a net tour fare program. We do not accept credit card payments.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Full refund, less $50 administrative fee for any cancellation received in writing up to 90 days prior to departure. After which the following cancellation fees will apply:

· 89 days to 60 days - $50 per person

· 59 days to 30 days - $200 per person

· 29 days to 14 days - $400 per person plus any nonrefundable airfare & intra-Asia air/train/boat fare

· 13 days to 8 days - 50% of the full tour price per person plus any nonrefundable airfare & intra-Asia air/train/boat fare

· 7 days to 1 day - 75% of the full tour price per person plus any nonrefundable airfare & intra-Asia air/train/boat fare

· On or after tour departure will be subject to forfeiture of the full tour price

· Trip cancellation insurance premium is nonrefundable

· Air ticket is nonrefundable once ticket is issued (in early June)

LATE ADDITION FEE
1. A late booking fee of $50 per person will apply to booking received within 30 days prior to arrival date.
2. Once the ticket is issued, a ticket change fee of $150 per ticket is required. Name change is not allowed.

TOUR ITINERARY
6/30 Monday
Depart JFK or any other city in the U.S. via ANA (economy class).

7/1 Tuesday
Hong Kong. Arrival transfer to Regal Kowloon Hotel (deluxe class)

7/2 Wednesday
Hong Kong. Half day island tour in the morning. Leisure in the afternoon. Meals: breakfast.

7/3 Thursday
Hong Kong/Guangzhou (via jetfoil)/Guilin (via Air China). Short city tour in Guangzhou if time permits. Arrival transfer to Guishan Hotel in Guilin (superior first class). Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7/4 Friday
Guilin. Full day Li River Cruise with lunch (air-conditioned boat). Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7/5 Saturday
Guilin/Xi'an via Air China. Morning tour of Reed Flute Cave in Guilin. Departure and arrival transfer in Xi'an in the afternoon/evening to ANA Grand Castle Hotel (superior first class). Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/6 Sunday

Xi'an. Full day tour. Terra cotta, New Provincial Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and City Hall. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/7 Monday
Xi'an/Beijing via Air China. Leisure in Xi'an in the morning. Departure and arrival transfer in Beijing in the afternoon/evening to New Otani Hotel (deluxe class). Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/8 Tuesday
Beijing. Full-day Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square & Temple of Heave tour. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/9 Wednesday
Beijing. Full-day Great Wall & Ming Tomb tour. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/10 Thursday
Beijing. Full-day tour of Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo and Lama Temple. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and special Peking Duck Dinner.

7/11 Friday
Beijing/Shanghai via Air China. Departure and arrival transfer in Shanghai to Hua Ting Hotel & Tower (deluxe class). Afternoon tour of Shanghai Museum and evening acrobatic show. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/12 Saturday
Shanghai. Morning tour of the Yu Garden and the Bund. Afternoon free. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7/13 Sunday 
Shanghai/Tokyo via ANA. Overnight at airport hotel provided by the airlines with shuttle bus transfers. Meals: breakfast.

7/14 Monday

Tokyo/JFK via ANA (economy class).

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