Amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity available to everyone, thanks to the Chamber

 

The Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce is offering a unique opportunity to both Chamber members and non-members. How does an excursion to China sound to you?  Just imagine spending over a week learning about the rich culture by personally being there to experience it yourself.

The 11-day guided extravaganza will take place October 13 to 23, 2018 and comes with a jam-packed itinerary. Starting off in Beijing, the group will spend six days experiencing Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City), and the Summer Palace. There will also be a trip to see the Great Wall and the Lama Temple.

Adventurers will then fly into Xi’an to see the Terra-Cotta Warriors, Huaqing Temple, and the Banpo Museum which will include getting to see a pre-historical caveman site which is certainly not to be missed. From there, trip goers will fly to Shanghai for several different tours including the National Embroidery Institute where they will get to see silk embroidery, a local art form with history dating back thousands of years.

Another fascinating stop on the trip will be the Pudong Economic Development Zone which will showcase the fast speed that the Chinese economy has grown over the years. Certainly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the trip is being offered for the cost of $2,499 and includes airfare, accommodations, meals, entrance fees for attractions, and fluent English-speaking tour guides which will make the experience that much more enjoyable.

Michelle Jones, Chief Administrative officer for the Chamber, will be taking advantage of the trip and is excited to be able to experience it. “It’s an opportunity for us to share a trip that Chamber’s across Canada have been taking advantage of, so we thought it was a great opportunity to present it to our members and non-members alike. It gives us the chance to see China with a very well researched and recommended tour guide.”

The tour operator, Citslinc International Inc, has been offering the tours since 1999 and has worked with 1,000 Chambers across the United States and 300 across Canada.  “It’s an opportunity for business connections if that’s something that people are interested in, as well, and I think that was a component that the Chamber liked very much as we are a business-driven organization. The opportunity to do this in a closer connected network is great and you’ll be with people from your own community who you can share the experience with,” explained Michelle.

Tour Manager, Peter Liu, spoke during an orientation meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites. He shared information pertinent to would-be goers including a comical but important piece of advice. “Bring toilet paper with you when you are out.” Apparently, not all facilities have toilet paper, and you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle if you are not prepared.

Those who are not currently members of the Whitecourt Chamber have the chance to take part just as members do and will even be given the same price that members are offered. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the culture altogether. I think what’s great about a trip like this is that we only need a minimum of 10 people to go and the tour groups are quite small so it’s very individualized information that you will receive while touring. It’s an intimate opportunity to go and tour China,” said Michelle.

The deadline to register is July 15 but residents are reminded that it is first come, first serve, and seating is limited to 60. A bonus is that if 30 or more people sign up to go, you will be shuttled from Whitecourt to the Calgary airport and back which would be a very helpful benefit to have.

If you would like more information on this amazing opportunity, call Michelle at the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce at 780-778-5363. More information can also be found on its Facebook page.