Ancient history, breathtaking sites highlight UW-S tour to China

China, the land of ancient history, is regarded as the oldest continuous civilization. Experience a land of art, culture and history and travel to historic sites with the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan on its Study Abroad tour in 2012.

The “Highlights of Beijing City, China” tour, set for May 23-31, 2012, will take travelers into some of the most famous historical sites in China, including The Great Wall, Ming Tombs, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, as well as a performance at the Peking Opera, a Rickshaw Tour, the Beijing Zoo (home of the famous pandas) and so much more.

An optional one-day tour is also available to Xi’an, the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China with more than 3,100 years of history, Xi’an was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty. Travelers who choose to engage in the tour to Xi’an will explore the Terracotta Warriors, a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.

Co-tour leaders will include Professor Donald Beane, who has expertise in Asian history, culture and political systems and UW-Sheboygan Chinese Instructor Jinny Lourigan, a native of China.

Lourigan knows firsthand about living in China. “I am a native-born Chinese, and have lived in China my whole life,” Lourigan said. “I graduated from the China University of Geosciences for higher education and had worked in the largest petroleum and oil enterprise in China for 10 years.”

According to Lourigan, she has traveled back to China several times since her immigration to America in 2003 and visited many diverse cities and places in her homeland.

“Beijing, being the capital of China, is the center of politics, but is also the center of economics, history and culture,” Lourigan added. “Through this tour, people will understand more about Chinese culture and see China’s most famous historical spots and sites. They will feel the hospitality of the Chinese people and will understand more of China’s growing place in the world economy.”

Lourigan is looking forward to sharing the history of China and her culture with travelers. “Beijing is a fantastic site to see, not only because of the historical landscape, but also the life of the people, their culture, their material and spiritual life, and their beliefs,” said Lourigan. “We will have lots of things to see. My American friends and students, when they first travel to Beijing, will immediately love the city.”

There is much for Lourigan to share personally with travelers that she hopes will enhance their experience.

“I will help my fellow travels truly understand more about Chinese culture, help them with interpreting the language, seeing the sites, shopping, dining, and guiding them through their personal exploration of all aspects of their experience in Beijing.”

The tour fee of $3,398 per person is based on double occupancy, which includes round-trip coach bus to and from Milwaukee, Mitchell Field Airport, airfare to and from China, all land transportation in China on designated travel days, lodging for eight nights, 15 meals, tips to drivers and English-speaking guides, VISA, all admission fees into designated tour sites, medical insurance, post-trip get together, one credit at no additional charge, if course work is completed, and lectures by UW-Sheboygan faculty. An initial $850 deposit is required to hold your place on this tour.

The cost for the optional one day Xi’an Tour is an additional $449 and includes airfare, motor coach transportation, and entrances fee.

For more information on other upcoming Center for Engagement Learning tours in 2012 or to register for the trip to Beijing, contact the UW-Sheboygan CEL Office at (920) 459-6617 or e-mail jane.donlon@uwc.edu or download the itinerary and registration application forms at http://www.sheboygan.uwc.edu/academics/study-abroad/China2012.html.