Cumberland Presbyterian Japan/China Tour  2008
Tour Directors:  Lawrence Fung and Bob Watkins

Participate in the historic meeting of General Assembly in Tokyo, visit ancient sites in Tokyo, catch a glimpse of Fuji, worship in Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Japan and Hong Kong, visit the enchanting cities of Beijing, Xian, and Kunming in China, walk on the Great Wall, gaze on the great Stone Forest of Southern China, experience a personal exposure to the mission advance of the CPC in the Pacific Rim, and marvel at the magnificent Terracotta Warriors.

Code for Meals Provided:  B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Jun 5   San Francisco to Tokyo

Jun 6  Arrive Tokyo– Free time at hotel rest

Jun 7  Tokyo (B) – Free time in a.m.   GA’s Opening Worship

Jun 8 Tokyo (B) – Worship in Cumberland Presbyterian Churches of Japan Presbytery/Free Evening

Jun 9 Tokyo (B)  – Free Day for Specialized One-Day tours desired/booked by tour members

Jun 10 Tokyo (B)  – General Assembly or Convention programs and evening worship

Jun 11 Tokyo (B)  – Day City tour planned by Japan Presbytery

Jun 12 Tokyo (B)  – Celebration Day with Japan Presbytery/Closing Worship

Jun 13 Tokyo to Beijing - Welcome to Beijing For the last seven centuries, this city has been the capital of China. Today, it has roughly eleven million residents. Accommodation at 5* Prime Hotel or similar.
 
Jun 14 Beijing (B/L/D) - The day's sightseeing begins with a visit to the historical Ming Tombs. After lunch, journey to the Great Wall and stroll along this incredible site!  A delicious Peking Duck dinner awaits us at the end of the day.
 
Jun 15 Beijing/Xi'an (B/L/D) - After worship at an English speaking church in Beijing, continue touring Beijing with a visit to the heart of Beijing Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Explore its Chambers and view the priceless treasures of China's past. From the bustling energy of the city we move on to the tranquil retreat of the Summer Palace with its shimmering lakes. Fly to Xian in the evening. Meet and transfer to 5* Qujiang Paradise Resort Hotel or similar for rest. 
 
Jun 16 Xian (B/L/D) - Experience the thrill and awe of seeing the individually sculpted faces of thousands of life-sized terra cotta warriors. This ancient army, including numerous horses and chariots, was accidentally discovered by farmers. Visit the Shaanxi Provincial Historic Museum, where actual artifacts from the eleven ancient Chinese Dynasties are on display.
 
Jun 17 Xi'an/Kunming (B/L/D) – Half-day tour to Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda and The Ancient City Wall. After lunch, transfer to the aiport for the flight to Kunming. Meet and transfer to 5* Kai Wah Plaza Hotel or similar. 
 
Jun 18 Kunming (B/L/D) - Full day tour to Stone Forest and Flowers & Birds Market with lunch and dinner at local restaurant.
 
Jun 19 Kunming (B/L/D) - Full day visit to Minority Groups Village, West Hills, Dragon Gate, Golden Hall and Grand View Tower in/nearby Kunming with Chinese lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
 
Jun 20 Kunming/Hong Kong (B) - Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hong Kong.  Upon arrival in Hong Kong, meet and transfer to Prudential Hotel or similar for rest.

Jun 21 Hong Kong (L) – Day tour of Hong Kong Island with lunch in Jumbo Restaurant.

Jun 22  Hong Kong - Worship in Churches of Hong Kong Presbytery and free time for shopping.

Jun 23 Hong Kong to San Francisco

Cost of the tour:   $3,900    Includes all hotels outside the USA during the tour.  All airfare is provided from the departure city of San Francisco.  Package includes all meals in mainland China and all breakfasts in Japan.  One meal is included in Hong Kong.  Included are one-day city tours in Tokyo and Hong Kong. The cost includes transfers to and from the airport in Japan and China.

Items not included will be additional one-day tours in Japan booked privately rather than attending assembly and convention on Monday. All expenses from the traveler’s departure city to and from SF are not included.  If a hotel is required in San Francisco, it is not included.  Airport taxes and tips are not included, nor are tips for guides or drivers. China visa is not included.

Single Supplement:  $945  (The single supplement for Japan is $470, plus China is $475.)

Details are available from Bob Watkins 319-431-0990 or watkr@mac.com    

A deposit check to the Board of Missions for $500 per person is due immediately.  Please put Japan/China Tour on the memo line.  It should be mailed to BOM, c/o Margie Shannon, 1978 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.   The remainder of the cost will be due upon call in early 2008.  Interested people are being accepted on a first come, first served basis.

 

Many commissioners to GA and delegates to CPWM are interested in participating in the China tour. Tour planners have made the correct adjustments to allow this to happen.  

Here is how it will work. People interested in fulfilling convention or assembly responsibilities for their presbyteries and also join the China tour following the GA will need to follow these guidelines.

1. All airfare from SF to Japan to China to SF will have to be booked through the office of Bob Watkins. All people will have to arrive in SF by their own arrangements in order to catch the flight scheduled for this group. The date of departure from San Francisco will be Thursday, June 5th. We will notify all people joining this group of the specific time of departure when the tickets can be secured. We will take people on a first come, first serve basis until the number of people we can take to China is met. That number is not yet firm.

2. All delegates to CPWM and all commissioners to GA will be required to book their hotel package through the GA Stated Clerk Robert Rush. CPWM delegates and GA commissioners will be staying at a hotel very close to the site of most of the GA and CPWM activities. The people booking the Japan/China tour that are not delegates or commissioners will be staying at a hotel off site, about 40 minutes from the GA activities due to a lack of hotel rooms at the GA site. This group will be bused to the GA activities that the tour will participate in.

3. All delegates to CPWM and all commissioners to the GA joining the Japan/China Tour will pay the full price of the tour minus the cost of the hotel package purchased from the GA office, as mentioned above. Exact figures will be quoted later. GA commissioners and CPWM delegates will be responsible for their own meals in Japan. Robert Rush estimates the cost for the food for the entire time to be approximately $300-$400.

4. Assembly is scheduled to end on Thursday, June12. A bus will pick up all people scheduled for the tour to China at their hotels on June 13 at which time we will become one group for the remainder of the tour until we return to SF on June 23. Orientation for Japan and China will be at a time yet to be decided by Dr. Watkins and Dr. Fung. This may occur in San Francisco and/or Tokyo. Exact times of all departures from and returns to San Francisco will be announced as soon as possible in order for participants to secure your state-side airline tickets. So, please do not get in a rush to purchase any of those tickets until you get connecting information from me.

5. All people interested in this opportunity are urged to immediately apply for your passport whether or not you eventually decide to go. The cost is minimal and the waiting time for a passport is much longer these days due to immigration and terrorism issues.

6. China and Japan are not designed for buses to arrive door to door. Many times tourists are required to walk a distance of several city blocks to get to sites of interest. Plus, the sites themselves like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City are very immense and require a lot of walking. We will be traveling in early June when the weather will be hot and humid. Please do not overextend your estimate of your health because good medical care cannot be guaranteed. The tour will not be able to make huge adjustments for the health of individuals that were indiscreet in choosing to go. Hospitals would not be as well staffed or equipped in places in China, particularly in Xian and Kunming, in relation to what you would expect in the USA.

 

Click here for printable document

Word []— pdf []