Discover the marvels of China in May 2013
By Kathleen Rubino '13
The Alumni Association is sponsoring a tour to China, hosted by Distinguished Service Professor John Chaffee, May 26-June 11, 2013. This trip is open to the public. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)
Chaffee, a longtime faculty member in history and Asian and Asian American studies, was born in China to missionary parents. During his time at Binghamton, he has written many books and articles about China, and visited the country often.
"I hope that I will be able to share my love of Chinese history and my lifelong fascination with China," Chaffee says. "It is an endlessly fascinating country, and, from trip to trip, it changes before one's eyes."
He says China is the seat of one of the great civilizations of the world, but is also a land that is imbued with historical significance - something that will be a special focus of this trip.
Travelers can look forward to an extensive tour of China, starting with Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple and ending with an excursion to the Great Wall of China. Visitors will even visit Suzhou and Hangzhou, two scenic areas of China that few American tourists ever get a chance to see.
This unique tour has several Binghamton connections. In Wuxi, travelers will meet Ruby Wang, a longtime Binghamton resident who has retired to her birthplace. A tour of the Wuxi Museum will include a wing devoted to her paintings. Then, in Beijing, artist Michael Cherney '93 will meet with the group; he has won Chinese awards for work that combines Chinese and Western genres from calligraphy to photography.
The trip costs $4,299 per person (with a $500 deposit due upon registration), which includes airfare, 14 nights of first-class lodging, most meals (including a gala farewell banquet), internal flights and train tickets.
See a detailed itinerary at the Alumni Travel Program website. To register or get more information, contact partner agency Travel with the Experts at 888-684-4885 or info@travel-experts-ltd.com.
