TOURS INFORMATION

Local Tours

Situated in northeast of China, Beijing is the China’s political and cultural center and the hub of international communication. Reigning as both an ancient capital of Imperial China and the modern capital of a thriving nation, Beijing retains plenty of evidences of its royal past with aristocratic gardens, temples and palaces. Today, blending classical grace with hi-tech modernity, this ancient city, has taken on a brand-new look as its 3000-year cultural history mingles happily with contemporary vigorous metropolitan prosperity. The local tour arrangement will offer you a good opportunity to appreciate Chinese culture, its ancient civilization, and its people's daily life and traditions. To help with our management, it is recommended that you make reservation in advance for any tours you would like to take.

All tours will be served by China Travel International LTD (CTI). CTI was officially registered in Beijing with the approval of the Chinese government with total registered capital amounting to RMB1.773 billion. In 2008, CTI was ranked 5-A grade travel service by Chinese government—the highest-grade travel service in China. Its parent company is China Travel Service (Holding) Hong Kong Ltd. (CTSHK) which is of >80 years history and now the most honored and experienced travel company in China with a network of over 20 overseas offices worldwide and more than 200 domestic offices in Mainland China.
CTI is a member of PATA, ASTA, USTOA, IATA, CATS and CNTA：

Route 1. Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Date: Sept.5, 2009 (Pre-Meeting One-Day Tour)

The Temple of Heaven was the place where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship heaven and pray for the harvest. The northern part of the outer surrounding wall is semi-circular in shape while the southern part is square, which is the symbol of the ancient belief that the heaven was round and the earth was square. Built in 1420(the 18th year of Emperor Yongle's reign of the Ming Dynasty) and then expanded and reconstructed during the Ming Emperor Jiajing's reign and Qing Emperor Qianlong's reign, the Temple of Heaven is a grand and magnificent masterpiece of architecture with a formal and solemn atmosphere. As the largest architectural group for worshipping heaven in the world, the Temple of Heaven with its long history, deep cultural content and magnificent architectural style mirrors the ancient culture of the Orient.

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750. Renamed two years later as Yihe Yuan, it was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the Summer Palace landscape covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. In this imperial garden, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Kunming Lake on the Dragon Boat.

Route 2. Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong area
Date: Sep.6, 2009 (Pre-Meeting One-Day Tour)
         Sep.7, 2009 (Companion Program One-Day Tour)

The world’s largest city center square, Tian'anmen Square is located in the center of Beijing City, from where you can visit Tian'anmen Tower, Monument of the People’s Heroes, and Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. It is a must-visit place to visit in Beijing city. The age-old witness of the triumphs and turmoil of China's civilization, Tian'anmen with its unrivaled political significance attracts tourists from all over the world.

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, now known as the Imperial Palace Museum. Representing the splendor and lavishness of the Ancient Imperial Court, it houses numerous rare treasures and antiques. Today, it remains as the most complete and best- preserved collection of ancient buildings in China. It has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

Hutong is the Chinese name for the ancient city alleys and narrow lanes originally built in the Yuan Dynasty. The name was gradually adopted by all residents of Beijing, and has been handed down to the present. Dating back about one thousand years, these neighborhoods connected by the narrow, twisting streets represent the “real life” of Beijing. The houses built on each side of Hutong are called Siheyuan (quadrangle), generally rectangular dwelling compounds. High walls surround almost every quadrangle. In fact, Hutong is formed by quadrangles standing side by side along a straight passage. Making a rickshaw tour through the hutongs will give you the opportunity to experience the different aspects of the past and the present of Beijing city as well as the daily life of Beijing residents. It includes a stop to visit the home of a Chinese family and enjoy the traditional tea ceremony.

Route 3. Cooking lesson, Summer Palace
Date: Sep.8, 2009 (Companion Program One-Day Tour)

After visiting the famous Cooking School - Beijing Jinsong Vocational School, you will learn how to cook Fried Pork Slices and Pineapple with Sweat and Sour Taste. Fried Pork Slices and Pineapple with Sweat and Sour Taste is one of the most popular and famous dishes of Canton Cuisine, which is one of the four famous cuisines in China. Each guest will have a Chinese student from the vocational school as his or her assistant. The whole class will be taught and translated in English.

Route 4. Peking Opera School, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Confucius Temple
Date: Sep.9, 2009 (Companion Program One-Day Tour)

After visiting the famous Peking Opera School-Beijing Vocational Institute of Local Opera and Arts, you will learn how the students receive the training before they become the super stars,

The Yonghe Lama Temple is one of the key historic sites under national protection. It lies in the southeast corner of north 2nd Ring Road. It is one of the largest lamaseries of Tibetan Buddhism that remain in Beijing. At first it was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng before he was crowned. In the years of Qianlong it was changed into a lamasery, and began to serve as the headquarters of the Qing government's administration of Tibetan Buddhism affairs. The complex covers an area of about 66,440 square meters. It is well-known for its great Buddhist architecture, places for emperors to conduct religious activities, and its special importance for linking the upper class of the Mongolians and the Tibetans. Consists of three beautifully decorated archways and six halls, this lamasery attracts tourists from all over the world with mystery, splendor, and profound culture it embodies. Besides routine rituals performed on the mornings of the 1st, 10th, 15th, and 30th of each lunar month, other major Buddhist ceremonies are performed each year.

The Confucius Temple is located on Guozijian Street and served as a ritual site for worship ceremonies dedicated to Confucius, the great Chinese thinker in the ancient time. The temple is an architectural complex built in a distinctively oriental style. It was around 200 BC that Confucian philosophy became to establish as the orthodox ideology of feudal Chinese culture. The Confucius Temple in Beijing went through a number of major renovations and extensions during the Ming and Qing dynasties. All main buildings at the site are crowned with yellow glazed roofs, a hallmark of the highest architectural standard in feudal China. It is also a mark of royalty's respect for Confucius. Apart from its imposing edifices, the Temple is also renowned for its impressive collection of cultural relics, in particular, for ancient stone tablets. 2,100 stone tablets at the site turn the temple into a museum of traditional Chinese calligraphy and inscription. Of these stone tablets, the best known are the 198 tablets bearing the names, familial origins and ranking of 51,624 distinguished scholars who passed the highest-level imperial examinations of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and were therefore awarded the Jinshi degree.

Route 5. Bird's Nest, Water Cube, National Olympic Park (Conference Subsidy)
Date: Sept.10, 2009 (Afternoon)

This half-day’s Olympic tour will take you to the inside of the famous Bird’s Nest（National Stadium）and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), and the fascinating National Olympic Forest Park.

The Olympic Green, a massive 1,135 hectares along the historic north-south central axis of Beijing, is the heart of the Olympic games and the site of thirteen venues, including the National Stadium, National Aquatics Center, National Indoor Stadium, the Fencing Gymnasium, the Tennis Center, and fields for Hockey and Archery.

As the main stadium of the 2008 Summer Olympiad, the National Stadium has a floor space of 258,000 square meters. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese ceramics, gives the stadium the appearance of a “Bird’s Nest”. After the Olympiad, the stadium will become a large-scale sports and entertainment facility for Beijing residents.

The National Aquatics Center, better known as the Water Cube, was built alongside the Bird’s Nest for the swimming and diving competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympiad. The construction incorporated extensive use of energy-reduction and water-saving methods, as well as application of new construction materials. As the landmark building of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Water Cube was designed so that swimmers feel less disturbance and resistance from the waves. Many people believe the Water Cube to be a magic pool helping atheletes achieving excellent results.

Route 6. the Great Wall (Badaling Section), Sacred Road, Ming Tombs
Date: Sept.11, 2009 (Post-Meeting One-Day Tour)

The world–renowned Great Wall, the very symbol of ancient Chinese civilization and the ingenuity of ancient Chinese engineering, was originally built to protect China from the barbarians and has stood grandly in the land of China for more than 2,000 years. It is said to be one of the only two human engineering projects visible by astronauts from space with the naked eyes. Built of huge granite slabs and special-sized bricks, the Badaling Section is the most typical part of this colossal structure. During this trip, you will have the opportunity to climb up the Wall and take in the panoramic views at the top. Resounded in the whole world,, The Badaling Section is the soul of the whole Great Wall, and it is welcoming the tourist come from the whole world. The man who has visited The Great Wall is always acclaimed as reaching the peak of perfection.

The Ming Tombs is the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) which have been perfectly preserved. The tombs lie at the foot of Tianshou Mountain, in Changping District, about 50 kilometers from the urban area. They cover an area of about 120 square kilometers. Magnificent cemetery is built with red walls and yellow tiles. The general layout conveys a solemn, harmonious order of importance, which is accentuated by the mountains and rivers. Among the mausoleums, the largest one is the Chang Mausoleum while the smallest is the Si Mausoleum, but all of them were built in roughly the same way. They form a group, yet each of them stands alone as an independent unit. The Ming Tombs are characterized by its large size, complete system, and intact preservation. As the representative of ancient Chinese imperial mausoleums, they reflect the richness of traditional Chinese culture.

Notes:
1. The Essential Olympic Tour (Afternoon, Sept.10, 2009) is part of the conference and is assisted by the Organization Committee.
2. If you’d like to take any tours, please make the reservation in advance through our on-line registration.
3. Tour programs and time may be modified due to last minute logistics issues.
4. The cost includes:
    Services of professional English-speaking guide;
    Chinese - style lunch as specified on itinerary (route 5. excluded);
    Escorted sightseeing;
    Attractions admissions as specified on itinerary;
    Luxurious tourist car/bus with professional driver;
5. Up-to-date information will be posted on this website.

Outreach Excursion

Two-Day Excursion: Beijing-Xi’an-Beijing
Date: Sept.11-12, 2009 (Post- Meeting)

Xi’an in Shaanxi province, was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC. It was the capital city for 11 dynasties over a period of more than 2000 years. It was from here that Silk Road started and extended all the way to Europe playing a vital role in bridging the gap between east and west. Its position as the cultural center of the country in the history has left the city with a great heritage which still dominates the ancient city. Today, the new Xianyang international airport and convenient travel facilities add comfort and convenience for tourists who wish to explore this legendary city.

The two-day excursion includes classical scenic spots that can best represent the style and features of this ancient city such as Terracotta Warriors & Horses, City Wall, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In addition, Tang Dynasty Cultural Show and Chinese Dumpling Banquet are also arranged for you to highlight this Chinese traditional culture tour.

Terracotta Warriors & Horses is an absolutely incredible sight which is considered as the Eighth World Wonder and a world cultural heritage site. This mighty army of terracotta warriors and horses, found accidentally by a number of peasants is perhaps the most popular tourist attraction of Shaanxi. An on-site museum has been built over these pits, covering a floor space of 20,000 square meters and displaying 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors, 100 or so chariots, and 30,000 weapons.

Xi’an is one of the few old cities in China where old city walls are still visible. The walls form a rectangle: on each side of the wall there is a gateway and over the wall stands three towers. The wall is 12 meters high, with a width at the top of 12 to 14 meters and at the base of 15-18 meters.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the southern part of Xi'an. It is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. It attracts numerous visitors for its fame in the Buddhist religion.

The Tang Dynasty Cultural Show is a performance of anicient Chang'an city’s music and dance in the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago. It has been recreated in accordance with various historical records as well as ancient art and relics discovered in Xi'an, the capital of the empire during the Tang Dynasty. This type of performance has been treasured as a national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.

Xi’an is regarded as the home of the great dumpling tradition and no visit to the city is complete unless you take part in a Dumpling Banquet. The Chinese dumpling has a long history and is an essential part of celebratory meals such as those prepared for the Chinese lunar Spring Festival. The Dumpling has various fillings and can be steamed, boiled or fried. The diversification of making the dumpling provides the chefs with sufficient freedom to use their imagination.