Abbotsford News Friday, May 15, 2015
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Terra Cotta Warriors
Tiananmen Square
Peter Mitchell, winner of The Abbotsford News’ 2014 Trip of a Lifetime Contest.
Abbotsford Chamber trip to China On April 11, a group of 31 travelers flew out of Vancouver to Beijing for what would be a memorable and educational adventure. The trip was hosted by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and was open to members, but also included a number of non-members and the winner of the Abbotsford News contest for a free trip to China. The first day was spent visiting the Temple of the Harvest, established in 1420 by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. Then it was a trip to the Ming Tombs, a jade factory and a cloisonné factory (an ancient technique used to decorate metalwork objects). Afterwards, the group went to the mountainous area of Badaling to climb the Great Wall. The trip’s itinerary was packed with full
days spent immersed in Chinese culture, sampling authentic Chinese cuisine and visiting historical areas, including touring the oldest part of Beijing before dining with a local family.
huge opportunity for local business, but there are significant differences, and you need to know how to do business there. Our Chamber trips are opening a window of understanding to this growing market.”
A number of the Chamber delegation met with local business officials to build contacts and create relationships for potential future business. According to Allan Asaph, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Chamber, the purpose of the trip was to introduce Chamber members to the people, history and culture of “old” China and the modern reality of “new” China.
At one point the group split in two, with 18 travelers flying back to Shanghai and 13 going to Xi’an.
“In addition, we looked to establish business contacts and develop relationships in China,” he said. “The pace at which China is moving forward is amazing. It represents
The Shanghai group took a bus tour through the local farming area to the city of Suzhou, where they visited the grounds of Tiger Hill and the “leaning tower” of China. Meanwhile, the Xi’an group visited the Banpo Museum, a 6,000-year-old preserved prehistoric caveman site, before heading to a factory producing authorized replicas of the Terra Cotta Warriors. The two groups eventually reunited to
spend the last full day in Shanghai before beginning their return trip on the Pudong Airport Mag-Lev Train. “This $1.2-billion electric train makes a one-way 30.5 kilometre trip in just over seven minutes, reaching a top speed of 431 kilometres per hour,” says Asaph. “When the two trains pass each other it is impossible to take a picture of the other train because of the speed.” On April 19, the group flew back to Vancouver. “It was fast-paced with a very full itinerary, and from the trip reviews, everyone enjoyed the people we met, the sights, the food and the companionship of our fellow travellers,” says Asaph. “We are currently exploring new destinations for next year’s trip.”
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