ROM Travel's Trip to China in 2020 Brochure
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General Information This is a brochure for a trip offered by ROM Travel. ROM Travel is organized by the Royal Ontario Museum’s Department of Museum Volunteers to provide support for the museum. These trips are available exclusively to members of the Royal Ontario Museum. The trip described in this brochure is to the country of China. This trip will take place from October 10 through 28, 2020. This trip is operated by Tour East Holidays (Canada) Inc. This travel agency operates on behalf of ROM Travel. Background Information about this Destination Feel the aura of mystery and adventure as we follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo along China’s Silk Road. Camels once loaded with exotic goods travelled over the snow-capped mountains and across inhospitable deserts on these vital arteries of trade, culture and religious exchanges between East and West. Our exciting journey starts in Beijing. Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Enjoy a rickshaw ride along old Hutong alleyways. Fly to the ancient capital of Xian, the end of the Silk Road for Western merchants. From here, visit the tomb complex of China’s first Emperor, guarded by its terracotta warriors. Other highlights include the Muslim Quarters, the Wild Goose Pagoda and Han and Tang dynasty tombs. Visit the spectacular Maijishan Buddhist caves filled with over 7,000 statues. Fly to Kashgar, in the region once known as Chinese Turkestan. The Id Kah Mosque and Abakh Hoja Mausoleum are exquisite examples of Islamic culture and architecture. In the Sunday market discover luscious produce and colourful ethnic handicrafts. Near Turpan, an ancient oasis on the Silk Road, view the Flaming Mountains and the amazing Karez underground irrigation system. Walk in a Tuyoq village. Explore the ancient ruins of Jiaohe and sample local wines. In Dunhuang, visit the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves are decorated with delicate frescoes and lifelike, painted clay sculptures. Visit Crescent Moon Spring, the Echoing Sand Dunes and experience a sunset camel ride. At Jiayuguan, the last frontier in China’s west, climb up the “Suspended Wall”. Visit the Wei and Jin underground tombs with their exquisite murals. Take the train to Zhangye to view the Rainbow Park, a geological marvel with sandstone mountains striped with the colours of the rainbow. Our grand finale is in Shanghai, where East meets West. Contrast the fast disappearing alleys and markets in Old Shanghai to the grand colonial buildings on the Bund and the spectacular futuristic architecture of the skyscrapers in Pudong. Some Highlights of Each Day On Day 1 arrive in the city of Beijing Individual arrivals at Beijing Airport. Group transfer to the hotel. On Days 2 and 3 in Beijing Tours of the Forbidden City Palace Museum, the National Museum, the Mutianyu Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Welcome Dinner featuring Peking duck. On Day 4 travel from Beijing to the city of Xian In Beijing, visit the Temple of Heaven, and tour the Hutong and Yandai Byway. Flight to Xian. On Days 5 and 6 in Xian Special access to visit the terracotta warriors site including lunch with the archaeologists at the site. Visit Han and Tang dynasty royal tombs. On Day 7 travel from Xian to the Tianshui area and back to Xian Take a train to see the impressive Buddhist rock carvings in the Maijishan Grottoes. On Day 8 travel from Xian to the city of Kashgar Flight to Kashgar. Visit the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum. On Day 9 in Kashgar Visit the Sunday Bazaar. Take a walking tour of Old New Town and the Id Kah Mosque. Enjoy dinner at a Uyghur home with entertainment. On Day 10 travel from Kashgar to the city of Turpan Flight to Turpan. Visit the Karez Well water supply, the irrigation system and the Emin Minaret. On Day 11 in Turpan View the Flaming Mountains, Tuyoq village and the ruins of Jiaohe. On Day 12 travel from Turpan to the city of Dunhuang Take a train to the city of Liuyuan; then take a bus to Dunhuang. Visit the Shazhou Night Market. On Day 13 in Dunhuang Visit the Mogao Grottoes, the Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Moon Spring. Enjoy dinner overlooking the dunes. On Day 14 travel from Dunhuang to the city of Jiayuguan Visit Dunhuang Museum. Take a bus to Jiayuguan. On Day 15 in Jiayuguan Tour the Jiayuguan Fortress and the Overhanging Great Wall. On Day 16 in the Jiayuguan area Take a train to the Zhangye area to see the Danxia Geopark, also known as Rainbow Park. On Day 17 travel from Jiayuguan to the city of Shanghai In Jiayuguan, visit the Wei and Jin Dynasty Underground Tombs. Flight to Shanghai. On Day 18 in Shanghai Take a tour of the city. Visit the Jewish Refugee Museum and the Shanghai Museum. Take a sunset cruise along the Huangpu River. Farewell Dinner. On Day 19 depart from the city of Shanghai Group transfer to Shanghai Airport for individual departures. Hotels Included with this Trip In Beijing at the Hilton Wangfujing hotel for 3 nights In Xian at the Sheraton North City hotel for 4 nights In Kashgar at the Radisson Blu hotel for 2 nights In Turpan at the Houzhou hotel for 2 nights In Dunhuang at the DH International hotel for 2 nights In Jiayuguan at the Nuo Jin International hotel for 3 nights In Shanghai at the Fairmont Peace hotel for 2 nights An Expert Resource Person will Join this Trip Sara Irwin has accompanied fourteen ROMTravel trips to East Asia, including the last ROMTravel trip to Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. She was the manager of the Asian collections at the ROM, and is now a departmental associate and working on a research project related to the history of the Asian collections in the ROM. Sara's extensive knowledge and passion for the arts and culture of the area will enhance your enjoyment of this trip. A ROM Travel Coordinator will Join this Trip Marion Ho is a long-time ROM volunteer, a past Co- Chair of ROMTravel, a past Chair of Hospitality, ROM Docents, DMV Programs and Events, and has led previous trips to China; Southeast Asia; Maya sites in Mexico and Guatemala; and Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. Trip Cost Per Person All quoted costs are in $ CAD. Double Occupancy Accommodation is $10,930 per person. Single Supplement is $2,630. Be Aware That This trip begins at Beijing Airport. Its international airport code is P E K. This trip ends at Shanghai Airport. Its international airport code is P V G. International flight costs are not included. Terms and Conditions The trip cost does NOT include international flight costs between your home and China. Tour East Holidays can assist with booking flights. The trip cost includes Group coach transfer from Beijing Airport to the hotel on Day 1 for those arriving at the arrival time of the ROM Travel Coordinator. Group coach transfer from the hotel to Shanghai Airport on Day 19 for those departing at the departure time of the ROM Travel Coordinator. Porterage of one standard sized suitcase per person at the hotels. Regional flights as follows Flight from Beijing to Xian Flight from Xian to Kashgar Flight from Kashgar to Turpan Flight from Jiayuguan to Shanghai Ground transport in private air-conditioned coach for transfers and excursions as per itinerary. Trains and boats as per itinerary. Shared accommodation in double occupancy room with private facilities and free WiFi access. Note that in China, there is no access to Google, YouTube or Yahoo. Meals included are buffet breakfast daily, 15 lunches and 9 dinners, including choice of water, coffee, tea, soft drinks or local beer. Bottled water is provided daily on the bus. Welcome and Farewell dinners include wine. All visits, entrance fees, speakers’ fees and events as per itinerary. All taxes and tips for all goods and services, drivers, hotel, restaurant and guiding staff related to the basic trip. All hotel and local taxes. Services of a Resource Person, a ROM Travel Coordinator, a National Travel Agency Escort, English-speaking local guides and Tour East Holidays. Pre-trip orientation meetings. A post-trip reunion. A travel handbook. The trip cost does not include International flight costs. Fuel surcharges. Internet access outside the hotels. Items of a personal nature, such as laundry and telephone calls. Airline baggage or video camera fees, if any. China visa fees, if any. Meals, snacks, beverages, and other services unless specified. Additional meals and accommodations due to delays. Emergency evacuation costs. Trip cancellation and out-of-province health insurance. With respect to the costs All costs quoted herein are based on rates, fees and taxes as of May 23, 2019. Costs are subject to change without notice. Should trip costs increase, Tour East Holidays, as per TICO regulations, reserves the right to increase the cost accordingly up to a maximum of 7%. Tour East Holidays reserves the right to substitute itineraries, hotels, airlines or vessels due to conditions beyond their control. Any change to itinerary will not result in eligibility for a refund. Participants must be members of the Royal Ontario Museum For a full list of membership levels and benefits, visit rom.on.ca/membership. Only one person per room must be a member. Deposits and a Final Payment are required An initial non-refundable deposit of $1,550 per person is required at the time of booking. A second non-refundable deposit of $3,000 is due on April 10, 2020.