China| Founders Series
Exploring Ancient and Modern China with Master Chungliang “Al” Huang
Dates: October 27 – November 7, 2017
Cost: $6,995 (Double Occupancy)
This trip is for those who want to understand the ancient cultural traditions from which modern China has emerged. It is for those who want to experience China with a world- renowned teacher with deep knowledge and insights who has for decades become well known throughout the West for his expertise in Chinese culture and who gracefully and knowledgeably embraces both cultures.
Our small group will meet in Shanghai on October the 27th, 2017 and travel on to two of the most beautiful and ancient of all Chinese cities, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Hangzhou is the city where our leader, Chungliang “Al” Huang spent many of his early years. We will be honored to stay there in the Xin Xin Hotel that was once his family’s home. Each morning we will join Al in Tai Chi, the ancient, gentle Chinese exercise, dance, and meditation form. Over the course of the next ten days, we will develop, through Al’s knowledge, insights, and contacts, an understanding of the Chinese people and culture. We will have personal visits to Chinese calligraphers and musicians; learn about China’s rich history, poetry and mythic story telling and how these are all woven into the fabric of modern China today. Al is credited by many with introducing Tai Chi to the West in the 1970s. He is also recognized in China for the role he played in reintroducing Tai Chi back to China in the 1980s, after it had been rejected during the Cultural Revolution. While in China, you will get the impression that everyone does Tai Chi each morning.
This trip will be a gift to those who want to explore China at a deeper level than other trips to the “Middle Kingdom”. We will strive to understand the heritage of this ancient culture through its art and history and explore the impact these traditions are having today and will shape the China of tomorrow.
It will be a unique opportunity for those who have experienced Al during workshops, on television, through his books and the numerous conferences he has opened over the years. It will be a privilege to spend these days with him in his ancestral home and with his friends and professional colleagues. It is an opportunity for business executives to learn what shapes the thinking and actions of the Chinese they interact with. It will also appeal to all those who want to know and experience at a deeper level the ancient traditions of China.
And, for all of us, it will be a trip for anyone who wants to incorporate into their lives more of the energy, (Chi) that Al exudes in his everyday life as well as in his artistry.
Daily Itinerary:
Day 1 | Friday, October 27 | Shanghai/Hangzhou Travelers will meet Al Huang, Wilford and Carole, late the morning of the 27th in Shanghai, and drive by coach through the beautiful countryside to Hangzhou. There we will check into the Xin Xin hotel, one of Al Huang’s family’s homes after the Sino-Japanese war. The hotel borders scenic West Lake. We will have dinner at the hotel and settle in. Xix Xin Hotel (D)
HANGZHOU grew to prominence as the southern most terminus of China’s Grand Canal. It has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities in China for much of the last millennium due in part to its beautiful natural scenery. The city's West Lake is its best-known attraction. In September 2015, Hangzhou was awarded the 2022 Asian Games. In November 2015, China's President Xi Jinping announced that Hangzhou will host the eleventh G-20 Summit in 2016
Day 2 - 6| Saturday, October 28 - Wednesday, November 1 | Hangzhou Every day of the trip will have a similar flow. Before breakfast we will meet outside to get our bodies energized and grounded for the day through Tai Chi, (all levels welcome), followed by a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Al will then share his insights on a specific aspect of Chinese culture that will be the focus of that day. For example, one day we will explore Chinese calligraphy and then go on to visit one of Hangzhou’s famous museums with its calligraphy exhibits. Another day Al will introduce us to various aspects of Chinese philosophy followed by a visit to one of his close friends who is vice chair of the philosophy department at the leading university in Hangzhou. We will learn about Chinese opera and possibly visit an opera rehearsal, meeting the singers. There are numerous historic sites that will also be included in the itinerary, such as the Six Harmonies Pagoda, Lingyin Temple, and the Jade Emperor Temple. Lunch each day will be at a different local restaurant, and we return to the hotel in the late afternoon in time for rest and reflection before dinner on one’s own, or with others in the group, in one of the many extraordinary restaurants in the city. Xix Xin Hotel (B/L)
SUZHOU was founded in 514 BC, on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It has over 2,500 years of history, with abundant displays of relics, and sites of historical interest. Suzhou is also known for its beautiful classic Chinese gardens and canals, with exquisite landscape architecture designed through the eyes, hearts and minds of Chinese Taoist philosophers. It is the hometown of architect I. M. Pei, designer of the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art in Washington, the JFK Library, the glass and steel pyramid entrance to the Louvre in Paris and The Contemporary Arts Museum of Suzhou. Nearby is the Han Shan Temple of the famous Zen (Ch’an Buddhist) poet who wrote such wonderful poems as “Cold Mountain".
Day 7 - 11| Thursday, November 2 - Monday, November 6 | Suzhou Each of our days in Suzhou will follow the flow established during our days and evenings in Hangzhou. The last night (Monday, November 6th), we will all enjoy a special farewell banquet hosted by Cross Cultural Journeys. Hovie Mansion Club and Hotel (B/L)
Day 12| Tuesday, November 7| Suzhou This morning our very informative and enjoyable journey will come to a close. Independent arrangements to Shanghai on the bullet train for flights home. Others will join the Cross Cultural Journeys extension trip described below to see more of China. (B)
Journey Details:
NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change to take advantage of the serendipity of the moment when we are in China... to meet someone special, to engage in an activity that might occur unexpectedly, or to accommodate circumstances beyond our control. Restaurants or hotels may change to others of the same or higher quality.
INCLUDED: All accommodations (double occupancy); All breakfasts 10 lunches and 2 dinners (Indicated in this itinerary as B/L/D); Our leader Chungliang Huang, CCJ Founder Carole Angermeir and Wilford Welch; Our local Chinese guide; Guest speakers; All tips to Master Chungliang Huang, our local guide, our coach driver and all hotel bellmen; All entrance fees; preparation materials; bottled water on the bus.
NOT INCLUDED: International air travel from USA to Shanghai, Chinese tourist visa, alcoholic drinks; meals not on itinerary and Travel Protection Plan (we recommend travel protection and information will be sent upon registration)
TRAVEL PROTECTION: For more information on the recommended travel protection plans or to enroll, contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 47-0272.Please advise Travelex that Cross Cultural Journeys is the travel company for this trip. For a summary of plan details on benefits, coverages, limitations and exclusions, please refer to the applicable Description of Coverage. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio; NAIC #10952. 1308294
Dates: October 27 – November 7, 2017
Cost: $6,995 (Double Occupancy)
Add: $1,090 (Single Supplement)
If this Cross Cultural Journey intrigues you, please call the office at (800) 353-2276. Space is limited to twenty participants!
Guest Leader
CHUNGLIANG AL HUANG Wikipedia stated: Chungliang “Al” Huang (Chinese: 黃忠良) is a notable philosopher, dancer, performing artist and internationally acclaimed Tai Chi master and educator, having received the Republic of China’s most prestigious award in the field of education, the Gold Medal Award, from its Ministry of Education. As the Keynote speaker at Major World Gatherings in India, Switzerland, Germany, and Bali, Chungliang "Al" Huang has appeared with many notable world leader's of religion and spiritual philosophy. Huang is the founder-president of the Living Tao Foundation based on the Oregon Coast of the United States, and the International Lan Ting Institute, located in the sacred mountains of China. Huang was featured in the inaugural segment of Bill Moyers’ renowned PBS series "A World of Ideas” (1988, 1990). Throughout his career, Huang established many close alliances with highly regarded philosophers and scholars of our time, including his colleague and collaborator, the late philosopher scholar Alan Watts, mythologist Joseph Campbell, and his mentor John Blofeld.
Anthropologist Jane Goodall wrote: Al Huang’s work is the perfect blending of East/West cultural synthesis. He uses ancient Chinese Tao wisdom in creative Western ways as a world philosopher, and communicates his teaching and his artistry through his expertise in Tai Chi and in compassionate healing of the human soul.
Al was born in Shanghai in 1937, His parents were of Manchu royalty, and Chinese revolutionaries. The Sino-Japan War had just begun, which included the infamous “Rape of Nanjing” just to the North. He was twelve days old when his family boarded a refugee boat to Hong Kong. The boat was hit by a typhoon and shipwrecked. They were rescued and hid in small Chinese villages along the coast for the next eight years until the Japanese surrendered. Al then lived in both the cities where we will stay, Hangzou and Suzhou, and studied the Confucian and Taoist classics before moving to the United States. For more information about Al and his work, please go to www.LivingTao.org.
Founders Series Leaders
CAROLE ANGERMEIR is the founder of Cross Cultural Journeys and was its CEO from 1991 to 2014. This trip reflects what Carole said in a 2014 American Airlines video: “CCJ does not go to a country just to look at the people. We go to be with and learn from the people about their cultures in ways that will enrich our lives”.
WILFORD WELCH is a former U. S. diplomat. He was involved in the early stages of the Nixon administration’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with China. He taught for two years in a Chinese refugee college in Hong Kong, then studied Chinese law at Berkeley before entering the diplomatic service. Wilford was the publisher of a foreign affairs newspaper that appeared in 26 countries and 6 language editions, and is the author of The Tactics of Hope. He is currently working on a new initiative entitled Co-Creating Prosperity.
Extension: Shanghai / Xian / Beijing
November 7 - 13
Day 1 | Tuesday, November 7 | Suzhou-Shanghai We start our extension with breakfast at the hotel before a relaxing morning on your own. After lunch on your own we will check out of the hotel and head to Shanghai, a journey of around 2 hours. Our hotel is located near the beautiful waterfront called the Bund, in the center of the city. We will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the Bund, which is a living symbol of Shanghai. There is an in-depth tour of the architecture as we explore this epitome of Shanghai’s modern history. Dinner is on your own. Seagul Hotel (B)
Day 2 | Wednesday, November 8 | Shanghai After breakfast at the hotel we will start with a morning visit to the Shanghai Museum, known as a comprehensive museum of art, and one of the major museums of the country. It has a collection of 12,300 pieces in over 21 categories of valuable cultural relevance. Next we explore the People’s Square located right next to the museum. We will then head to the Xin Tian Di Area - a neighborhood that features old Shikumen (a type of tenement found only in Shanghai) which have been restored by turning the old stone buildings into boutiques, clubs and restaurants. There will be time for lunch on your own is this fashionable pedestrian only district. After lunch we visit the Old Town Bazaar, where shops sell an amazing variety handicraft articles, paintings, calligraphies and jewelry. Dinner is on your own. Seagul Hotel (B)
Day 3 | Thursday, November 9 | Shanghai In the early morning we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for a flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival, we will meet our local guide and transfer to a city center restaurant. Following lunch, we visit the Shaanxi Province History Museum. The entire building complex emulates the architecture of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Here we learn about the cultural history of Xi’an's province and its development. Proceed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which is located in Ci’en temple in the southern part of Xian city. The more than 200 feet high storied pagoda is a spectacular architectural marvel. It was built in 652 with layers of bricks without any cement. The bracket style used in traditional Chinese architecture was also used in the construction of the pagoda. It is a decorated with specially designed spiraling stairs and arch doors on four sides. The whole area has been turned into a theme plaza with sculptures, greens, lights, etc. You can climb up to the top of the pagoda for a small fee. Afterwards, transfer to hotel and check in. Dinner is on your own Grand Metro Park Hotel (B/L)
Day 4| Friday, November 10 | Xi’an-Beijing After breakfast at the hotel we head out to visit the well-known Terra cotta Warriors Museum. One of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century, work is still ongoing at this site. It is a site not to be missed by any visitor to China. The museum covers an area of more than 4 acres, divided into three pit sections. Over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits. Most of them have been restored to their former grandeur. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After lunch, we transfer to the local airport for a flight to Beijing. Upon arrival, we will head to the hotel and check in. Dinner is on your own. Kapok Hotel (B/L)
Day 5 | Saturday, November 11 | BeijingBreakfast is at the hotel. We start today’s exploration with Tiananmen Square. This is the heart of Beijing, a vast expanse of pavement and photo-booths. It is place for people to relax in the evening and for children to fly decorated kites and balloons. Surrounding the square is a strange mishmash of monuments past and present. We continue to the Forbidden City’s “Imperial Palace Museum” for a visit. Built between the 15th and early 20th centuries, this magnificent complex, containing 210 acres of pavilions, gardens and courtyards, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Considered one of the greatest feats in human history, it remains one of the largest and best-preserved complexes in the world. After lunch at a local restaurant, we explore the Old Quarter of Beijing, the Hutong Area. Lined with traditional buildings called siheyuan, or courtyard residences, the houses are constructed along hutongs, or narrow alleys, and have been the prime victim of Beijing’s hugely ambitious and controversial campaign of development and modernization generated by the Olympic Games. Swathes of historic property have been demolished to make way for new hotels and offices and apartment blocks. Tour the Hutong area, first walking and then riding in a traditional rickshaw. Dinner is on own Kapok Hotel (B/L)
Day 6 | Sunday, November 12 | Beijing Start early in the morning heading north of Beijing to visit the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs & The Sacred Way. In front of the imperial necropolis, lies the Sacred Way, or Divine Road, the road leading to heaven. The Emperor, traditionally known as the Son of Heaven, descended to earth along the Sacred Way. He would hopefully return to heaven on the same path. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Great Wall, specifically the Ju Yong Guan section. First built in the mid-6th during the Northern Qin Dynasty, this part of the Wall is older than the Badaling Great Wall. In the Ming dynasty, under the supervision of General Xu Da, construction of the present wall began on the foundation of the wall of Northern Qi. In 1404, a pass was built in the wall. This afternoon we return to the city for a final farewell dinner on your own. Kapok Hotel (B/L)
Day 7 | Monday, November 13 | Beijing/Home Breakfast at hotel before a morning (or afternoon) transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. (B)
NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change to take advantage of the serendipity of the moment when we are in China... to meet someone special, to engage in an activity that might occur unexpectedly, or to accommodate circumstances beyond our control. Restaurants or hotels may change in similar category.
INCLUDED: Domestic airfare, in country transportation per itinerary; trip leader CCJ Co-Founder Wilford Welch; our local Chinese guide; hotels; full breakfast buffet daily at the hotel plus 4 lunches (B/L/D per itinerary); all entrance fees as listed per itinerary; preparation materials.
NOT INCLUDED: Meals not on itinerary, lunches and dinners not listed (B/L/D per itinerary); alcoholic drinks; excursions not on the itinerary; tips for local guide and driver (optional, yet customary); travel cancellation and evacuation insurance (strongly recommended, info will be sent upon registration).
Extension Price: $2,695
Single Supplement $440
Extension Price is Based on 8 Travelers
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Call: (800) 353-2276
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