Gardens of CHINA & NATIONAL PEONY FESTIVAL April 3-22, 2015
Dear PHS Members and Friends, From Shanghai, to Xi an and the capital city of Beijing, this 18-day tour of China s Golden Triangle will encompass the country s most famous gardens, as well as historic and cultural sites. The Chinese garden is a landscape garden style that has evolved over 3,000 years. We ll visit the vast gardens of the Chinese emperors and members of the Imperial Family, built for pleasure and to impress, and the more intimate gardens created by scholars, poets, and former government officials, made for reflection and escape from the outside world. Included with this trip is a day at the spectacular Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival. The peony is the national flower of China, and each April more than 400 species of elegant and delicate peonies are in full-bloom and are the main attraction of this annual event. Other tour highlights will include the Longmen Grottos and Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City and one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. Along the way we ll enjoy first-class accommodations and outstanding Chinese cuisine. If you have any questions, please email me at sbetts@pennhort.org or call 215-988-8819. I look forward to traveling with you! Sincerely, Suzanne W. Betts Membership Director
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DAY 1 Friday, April 3, 2015 Depart Philadelphia for Shanghai. DAY 2 Saturday, April 4, 2015 (Dinner) On arrival, transfer to our hotel. The Shanghai Westin, our hotel for the next four nights, is located in downtown Shanghai, two blocks from the Bund waterfront, and conveniently situated in a neighborhood of luxury-branded shops and celebrated restaurants. Tonight we ll enjoy a welcome dinner in our hotel. Hotel Shanghai Westin on the Bund (4 nights) www.westinshanghai.com PAGE FOUR
DAY THREE 3 Sunday, April 5, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast we ll travel into the ancient center of the city, through red lantern-lined streets, street stalls and tea houses to the green jewel of Shanghai, Yu Yuan Gardens. Enter via the Zig Zag Teahouse Bridge, built to keep out evil spirits and cross the threshold into 16th-century Ming Dynasty surrounded by dragon-topped walls, lakes, plants and cloud-like rocks. Later we ll visit the prestigious Shanghai Museum with its collection of priceless antiques and relics of ancient Chinese dynasties. We ll end the evening with a performance at the Shanghai Acrobats Show. DAY FOUR 4 Monday, April 6, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) Shanghai Botanical Gardens with its world-class orchid exhibits, and bonsai collection will be our first stop of the day. This 202-acre garden was built by the late director, Wang Dajun, after the original was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Afterwards we ll get a bird s-eye view of Shanghai from the 420m high Jin Mao Tower, the city s 88-story landmark skyscraper. Tonight, dinner is on your own. PAGE FIVE
DAY 5 Tuesday, April 7, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) This morning we ll visit Jade Buddha Temple (Yo Fu Si), an active Buddhist community and one of the few in China. The main attraction of the Jade Buddha Temple are two figures brought to Shanghai by a Burmese monk in the 19th century, each carved from white jade. Later we ll tour the old French Concessions quarter to sample the European influence on Shanghai. DAY SIX6 Wednesday, April 8, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) We ll travel by coach this morning to the Venice of the East, Suzhou. This ancient city is sited in a network of stone canals, bridges and meticulous gardens. We ll visit the picturesque 1,000 year-old ancient water village of Tongli. The Garden of Seclusion and Meditation and the UNESCO Heritage-listed Tuisiyuan Garden are also part of our morning s exploration. After lunch at a local restaurant we ll check into our hotel, our home for two nights. You ll have plenty of time to enjoy its five-star luxury and to find out why it s ranked as one of the best resorts near Shanghai. Hotel Pan Pacific Hotel (2 nights) www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-resorts/china/suzhou.html PAGE SIX
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DAY SEVEN 7 Thursday, April 9, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Today we ll see three excellent examples of ancient Chinese garden design from different dynasties. The small masterpiece called Master of Nets Garden dates from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and features gardens within gardens and harmonious architecture. The arrangement of pavilions and gardens gives the illusion that this space is much larger than it is. The wisteria and bamboo-filled Lingering Garden from the 16th century Ming Period is considered one of the four classic gardens in Suzhou for its artful representation of nature in miniature scale. Wander over the wisteria-covered stone bridge to enjoy the views of the mountain, lake and cloud-shaped rocks. In the afternoon we ll visit Tiger Hill, crowned with the seven-storied Yanyansai Pagoda first built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and later re-built in the Song Dynasty (961). An ancient bonsai collection with be our final stop of the day. PAGE EIGHT
DAY EIGHT 8 Friday, April 10, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) We step back to the 16th century with our morning visit to the Humble Administrator s Garden, built by Imperial Inspector Wang Xianchen during the Ming Dynasty, designed with connected pools and islands, exquisite pavilions and enchanting views at every turn. This afternoon, relax and enjoy the scenery on the drive to one of the most beautiful cities in east China, Hangzhou, situated at the southern end of the Grand Canal in the Yangtze Delta. There is an old Chinese saying: In heaven there is Paradise, on earth there is Suzhou and Hangzhou. Our hotel the next two nights is a short distance from the famed West Lake which has inspired famous poets, scholars and artists since the 9th century. It comprises numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens and ornamental trees, as well as causeways and artificial islands. Hotel Grand Metro Park Hotel, Hangzhou (2 nights) www.metroparkhotels.com/hotel/eng/index.php?hotel=hangzhou PAGE NINE
DAY NINE 9 Saturday, April 11, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Today we will appreciate what makes up the Chinese garden aesthetic: a harmonious blending of architecture, bridges and walkways with pools, rocks and gardens. Guo Zhuang (also Guo s Villa) is the private garden of a wealthy silk merchant dating to 1861 that opened to the public in 1991. With a mountain in the back and the West Lake in the front, the garden is known as Number One Garden of the West Lake thanks to its tranquil environment, well-preserved buildings, and tasteful landscaping layout. The key feature, or spirit, is water. Cleverly juxtaposing shade and light, curved and straight, yin and yang, the garden of Guo Zhuang is a wonderful embodiment of the Chinese wisdom of Taoism and the Way of Nature. Later we ll visit Lingyin Monastery; constructed in 326 this is one of the most beautiful and significant Buddhist monasteries in China. DAY TEN 10 Sunday, April 12, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) Our floral fun begins with a flight to Zhengzhou, then a coach to Luoyang in the Henan Province for the annual Peony Festival. The peony, or huawand, is the floral symbol of China, the flower of riches and honor. Throughout Chinese history the peonies of Luoyang are said to be the finest in the country. Hotel Yaxiang Jinling Hotel, Luoyang (2 nights) PAGE TEN
DAY ELEV- 11 EN Monday, April 13, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) Today we celebrate the exquisite beauty of the peony. The ancient city of Luoyang has a reputation as a cultivation center for peonies. The national Peony Festival is a popular annual event showcasing the city s floral emblem at the peak of bloom time. Later we ll visit the comprehensive Sui & Tang Cultural garden that is based on the mountains, water, plants and city of the Sui and Tang Dynasties relics. It contains 17 specialized gardens, including a peony garden, bamboo garden, osmanthus garden, plum garden, willow garden, rock garden, crabapple garden and fragrance garden. PAGE ELEVEN
ELVE DAY Tuesday, April 14, 2015 12 (Breakfast/Lunch) This morning we ll visit the Longmen Grottoes, one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. Thousands of perfectly preserved stone Buddhas were carved into the mountain between 316 and 907 and they represent the pinnacle in Chinese stone carving. This afternoon an express train will take us to the ancient city of Xi an. This walled city at the eastern end of the Silk Road is home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Our hotel for the next three nights is the Golden Flower Shangri-la Hotel, a modern bookend to the day s ancient wonders. Hotel - Golden Flower Shangri-la Hotel, Xi an (3 nights) www.shangri-la.com/xian/goldenflower PAGE TWELVE
DAY 13 Wednesday, April 15, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Today we ll visit the famous tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang where the Terracotta Warriors and Horses have symbolically guarded his burial place for 2,000 years. Tonight we ll enjoy The Tang Dynasty Song & Dance Troupe as they perform Chang an music and dances that originated in the Tang Dynasty of Chinese history more than a thousand years ago. DAY 14 Thursday, April 16, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) Today we explore the history of Central China at the Shanxi Provincial Museum and the Drum Tower. Shanxi was the seat of Imperial China for many dynasties. The museum houses over 300,000 items, including murals, paintings, pottery, coins, as well as bronze, gold and silver objects and is built in the style of architecture from the Tang Dynasty. The Drum Tower was erected in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty; it stands towering above the city center and offers incredible view of Xi an. PAGE THIRTEEN
DAY Fifteen 15 Friday, April 17, 2015 (Breakfast) We take a morning flight to Beijing, China s cultural and political capital. This afternoon we ll visit the old part of town, the hutong. Here, the residences center around interior courtyards and house multiple generations of one family. Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history. Our hotel for the next five nights is one of China s top 10 hotels, the elegant, five-star Regent Hotel. Hotel Regent Hotel, Beijing (5 nights) http://www.regenthotels.com/en/beijing DAY Sixteen 16 Saturday, April 18, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Wake up in a vibrant city that is home to 20 million people. After a late breakfast, we delve into the heart of Beijing and explore The Forbidden City. This was the residence of the Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors. We ll visit some of the 9,999 rooms, magnificently decorated halls and finally, the secluded garden of the Last Emperor, Pu Yi. He was taken at the age of two years and 10 months into the Forbidden City to become the country s twelfth, and final, emperor. Under Chairman Mao, Pu Yi was permitted to live out his last days in Beijing, working in the Beijing Botanical Gardens. PAGE FOURTEEN
DAY 17 Sunday, April 19, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) We begin the day with a tour of the 800-year old Summer Palace, known as the Qingyi Garden, the largest and best preserved of all the Imperial Chinese gardens. This palace and temple is built around a beautiful lake lined with willows, peach trees and crabapples. Kunming Lake occupies two-thirds of the total space of the Summer Palace and we ll take a cruise across to view the Palace from the water. In the afternoon we ll visit the Beijing Botanical Garden with its 6,000 species of plants. DAY 18 Monday, April 20, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch) This morning we ll visit The Sacred Way with its giant stone sculptured animals and the Ming Tombs, the mausoleums of the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. In the afternoon we ll experience one of the great wonders of the world, The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. With its origins in the 7th century BC, but mostly dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, this section of the Mutianyu Great Wall winds 1.4 miles through lofty mountains and high ridges, many sections of which are made of granite. The unique structure makes the wall almost indestructible. It measures 23 to 26 feet high and four to five yards wide, with 22 watch towers. We ll discover the ongoing restoration process of this UNESCO World Heritage site and take a cable car up to the Wall. PAGE FIFTEEN
DAY 19 Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) The day begins at the ethereal Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park), a postcard moment, with its distinctive architecture and unique lapis lazuli tiled roof. This is one of China s finest masterpieces, classified a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in 1420 with a total area of 270 acres, this is the largest building for religious worship in China, and was originally used by the Ming and Qing emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of rich harvest. Tonight we ll celebrate our trip with a Peking Duck farewell dinner. DAY 20 Wednesday, April 22, 2015 (Breakfast) Transfer to the airport for our flight home. PAGE SIXTEEN
FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS Flight Details April 3 2015: United #86 (Newark Liberty International to Shanghai Pudong International) April 22, 2015: United #88 (Beijing Capital International to Newark Liberty International) Please contact Kathy Reed at Travel Answers for flight arrangements. Kathy Reed Travel Answers 828 Lancaster Ave Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2801 kathyreed@travelans.com PAGE SEVENTEEN
RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Ross Garden Tours International act only as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotels, and all matters of reservations and tour operation. We and our agents accept no responsibility for loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularity, expense, or liability caused by the defect of any vehicle or negligence or default of any independent contractors, their employees, agents, or representatives. Nor do we accept responsibility for losses or delays arising from sickness, pilferage, labor disputes, machinery breakdown, quarantine, government restraints, war, acts of terrorism, weather conditions, or acts of God. All such losses or expenses shall be borne by the tour participant, as tour rates provided for arrangements only for the time stated and as described in this brochure. We reserve the right to substitute services, features, and hotels of similar quality without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. We likewise reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any tour participant at any time without being under any obligation to assign any reason therefore. In the event of the exercise of this right, we shall be under no liability to such person(s) except to refund such amount as our absolute discretion deems reasonable to attribute to the uncompleted portion of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. It is understand that air, ship, or train tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and carrier concerned. The airlines and all other transportation companies involved in this tour are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time that the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. All services are subject to the laws of the country in which they are rendered. The tour participant agrees, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, to abide by the above conditions and to release and hold harmless the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Ross Garden Tours International, and any of their representatives from any and all liability for any delays, damage, loss, injury, or death occurring in relation to this tour. Any payment constitutes agreement by the individual tour participant with the terms and conditions contained in this brochure. I have read the Tour Conditions and Responsibility Clause and agree to all the conditions therein. Signature Date Please mail this form and a $750 per person deposit check payable to PHS to: Suzanne Betts, PHS, 100 N 20th St, 5th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 PAGE EIGHTEEN
PAYMENT DETAILS This trip has been organized by Ross Garden Tours International for members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Please read this information carefully, as payment of a deposit represents your acceptance of the following terms and conditions. Tour Price Per-Person The maximum number of participants for this tour is 16. Double occupancy: ($6,700 per person) Single Room supplement: ($2,150 additional) Reservation and Payment A deposit of $750 per person confirms your reservation. The balance is due January 9, 2015. You will receive confirmation of your reservation by mail within 30 days of receipt of your deposit. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended and may be purchased through Travel Safe or another carrier. Please note that to ensure coverage due to any pre-existing medical conditions you must purchase insurance within 15 days of your initial deposit. Cancellations and Refunds All cancellations must be made in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office. Cancellations received 120 days prior to departure will incur loss of deposit. Cancellation after payment and more than 35 days prior to the start date will result in a 75% cancellation fee. Cancellation within 35 days of the tour start date will result in a 100% cancellation fee. PAGE NINETEEN
PAYMENT DETAILS (continued) Tour Price Includes: Hotel accommodations based on two people sharing a room with private bath, hotel service charges, tips and gratuities, taxes and porterage per itinerary; ground transportation by private motor coach; domestic flights Hangzhou to Zhengzhou and Xi an to Beijing; Soft seat train travel Luoyang to Xi an; meals per itinerary; airport transfers in China; English speaking local and national guides; entrance fees; services of horticultural tour leader from Ross Garden Tours International; $300 tax-deductible donation to PHS. Tour Price Does Not Include: International flights; visa/passport processing costs; immunizations and prescription medication required for travel; beverages with meals; travel insurance; personal items; gratuities for any additional services; meals, tours and entrance fees not specifically mentioned in the itinerary. Passport It is the traveler s responsibility to ensure he/she has a valid passport and a Chinese visa. http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84246.htm Note that passports must be valid at least 6 months beyond your travel date to be accepted. PAGE TWENTY
TOUR EXPECTATIONS Please be aware there may be different living standards, practices, conditions and style with respect to utilities, services, accommodations and facilities while traveling abroad. Please remember that one of the joys of visiting other places is the opportunity to discover the pleasures of life in rural locales, villages, towns and cities. Client is responsible for advising PHS of any restrictions regarding diet, mobility issues or disabilities so we may plan accordingly, when possible. This tour is designed for reasonably active people. Tours can involve quite a lot of walking. Note terrain may include steep inclines, cobblestones, grass, dirt paths, uneven surfaces, in areas with restricted vehicle access and up/down stairs. Each participant must be able to navigate themselves in/out of the tour vehicle. It is strongly suggested that all tour participants be in good health. PAGE TWENTY ONE
RESERVATION FORM Gardens of China & the National Peony Festival 2015 Participant Information Please record information exactly as it appears on your passport and send a copy of your passport photo page with the reservation form. Name as it appears on Passport Passport # Exp. Date Date of birth Name for Name badge Address City State Zip Phone (home/cell) Email Emergency contact Name Phone Relationship Roommate s name Willing to Share Single supplement Special Medical or Dietary Needs Payment Information (deposit $750 per person) If paying by check, please make payable to PHS Amount $ Check # If paying by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) Credit Card # Expiration Date Amount to be charged Signature PAGE TWENTY TWO
WAIVER FORM I/we, the undersigned member(s)/guests(s) of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, do desire and intend to participate in one or more trips and/or events as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society may, from time to time, arrange for members and/or guests. I/we hereby authorize the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and such officers, employees and agents thereof as my be appropriate, (a) to enter into and execute such arrangements, applications and contacts for the charter of buses, vans, automobiles, boats and other means of transportation as may, in their opinion, be required in connection with such trips and/or events, and (b) to make such arrangements or decisions as may be required to deemed appropriate by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society or any of them in connection with such charters and such trips and/or events. In consideration of my/our agreement to participate in such trips and/ or events and undertaking of such arrangements on my behalf, I/we hereby release and discharge the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents from all suits, causes, claims of any kind that might arise as a result of or in the course of or in connection with any such trip and/or events, such as charters or arrangements. I/we understand, of course, that this agreement will in no way effect any liability that may arise on the part of any third party. This release and discharge shall remain in effect until revoked by me/us in writing. Please sign and date this Waiver and Release Form and return with deposit. Signature Date Name (print) Signature Date Name (print) PAGE TWENTY THREE
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 N. 20th Street 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 215.988.8800 PHSonline.org