Dear BACS-list members,

There are some places left on the Geographical Association International
Committee Study Tour of China, 26th July to 14th August 2005. If any of you
know any schools/geography teachers who might be interested in joining the
tour, please forward the below.

Interested parties should contact Sarah Maudes on [log in to unmask]

Best wishes,

Carol Rennie
British Association for Chinese Studies

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Geographical Association International Committee
C/O The Cottages,
Little Crakehall.
Bedale,
N.Yorks.
DL8 1JF
01677 423046

GAIC Study Tour of China 2005   26th July to 14th August.

Herewith details of the forthcoming tour. We have negotiated with tour
operators to obtain the best price. Our agents in UK are Ian Dickson Travel
(Edinburgh).  The tour is incredible value for money.

Leaders: Adam Nichols, Teaching and Learning Consultant, and Sarah Maude,
Ripon Grammar School.
Both have travelled extensively in China, including to the areas to be
visited. The itinerary includes visits and meetings which have been
organised through the contacts of the leaders and Janice Dickson (who
specialises in tours to China), making this tour unique.

Cost:       £2,200  (plus £10 registration fee).
This includes flights from your local airport, airport taxes, all
accommodation (double rooms in hotels), almost all meals, entrance fees for
group visits, tips and transport in China. It does not include Visa,
comprehensive travel insurance or health requirements (jabs etc).
Single room supplement (limited places, not available everywhere) £365.
 (If you have not travelled in such a group before, be reassured that many
single travellers to opt to share a room, you are encouraged to do so.)

Deposit.  A deposit of  £200 will be required when you have confirmation of
a place on the tour and send your booking form from Ian Dickson Travel.
The balance will be required 2 months before the tour commences.

Bookings and Eligibility
As we have considerable interest in this tour, priority will be given
initially to people who are currently directly involved in Geographical
education.

The tour will be quite strenuous and tiring so participants will need to be
reasonably fit and healthy.  There will be long drives on some days.

Application Forms are available from me - [log in to unmask]
If you have any queries please phone (evenings or weekends)  01677 423046

Sarah Maude,  GAIC Study Tours Co-ordinator.

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“Journey to the West” GAIC Study Tour to China 2005
Outline Programme

Themes for study:
Regional disparities and the development of the west.
Ethnic diversity and development in “minority areas”
Heritage tourism (along the Silk Road)
Desert landforms.
Farming on the loess plateau and in the oases of Xinjiang.

Itinerary:
Tuesday 26 July  Day 1
 Fly with KLM via Amsterdam from your local airport to Beijing

Wednesday 27  July Day 2 : 2 nights in Beijing
0830 Arrive Beijing and transfer to hotel
1300 Lunch then afternoon to Palace Museum (Forbidden City) (Optional)
 Briefing session and welcome meal

Thursday 28 July Day 3
 In Beijing: meetings -  topics requested:
Population; Development of the West; Inward investment: richer provinces to
poorer ones
Urban transportation, Olympics
Panoramic tour - including CCTV tower (weather permitting); hutongs

Friday 29  July Day 4   Overnight train to Xian
 Optional Great Wall Tour:  otherwise free time
overnight train 2028/0758  to Xian

Saturday 30 July Day 5: 2 nights in Xian
Tourism focus - Terra Cotta Warriors Tour am; return to Great Goose pagoda.
(optional free time to visit Moslem quarter and mosque etc)
Sunday 31st July   Day 6
Full day visit to Loess plateau for group.
Monday 1st August  Day 7; 2 nights Xining
Flight from Xian to Xining (2,200 above sea level), possible meeting in
Xining to discuss development.

Tuesday 2 August  Day 8
Visit Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum, Tibbetan Buddhist) birthplace of Tsongkhapa
and surrounding countryside.

Wednesday 3 August  Day 9   overnight Lanzhou
Morning train to Lanzhou, the main crossing point on the Yellow River for
the Silk road travellers, large industrial city.
 (4 hours by train Xining to Lanzhou)

Thursday 4 August  Day 10   2 nights Dunhuang
 Depart Lanzhou by air to Dunhuang, time depending on flight
schedules.
 Arrive Dunhuang, an oasis town at the edge of the desert, where
merchants, pilgrims, scholars and monks travelling along the Silk Road
established a community in the Tang Dynasty.

Friday 5 August  Day 11
Dunhuang    desert scenery; ride a camel at the Singing Sands, visit the
well preserved  Mogao Caves where the famous sutras were found by early
20th  Century explorers  Stein & Pelliot.   Visit the night market in
Dunhuang.

Saturday 6 August Day 12  overnight on the train or day train and extra
night in Turfan
 Travel by road to Liuyuan  (130km) for the  night train for Turfan
2316/0915
 Day train 0953 1750  & overnight in Turfan

Sunday 7 August Day 13    2 nights in Turfan
Arrive Turfan (Turpan), another beautiful oasis and centre of the grape
growing area - the second lowest place on earth after the  Dead Sea.
Tourist centre.  Traditional Uighur culture.
Visit the Flaming Mountins, Bezelik Caves, Emin Minaret and the Karez
ancient irrigation system and one of the ancient lost cities - Jiaohe or
Gaochang.
Monday 8 August : Day 14
 ? Gaochang or Jiaohe : free time in Turfan.

Tuesday 9 August Day 15  3  nights Urumqi
 Travel by morning bus to Urumqi capital of Xinjiang Uighur
Autonomous region.

Wednesday 10 August : Day 16
 In Urumqi Meetings on Western Development : see the Market,
Museum? Tien Shan  Mountains.

Thursday 11 August : Day 17
 Lake Tian Chi : State Farm?

Friday 12 August; Day 18
 Fly to Shanghai: 0840/1255  for 2 nights

Saturday 13 August Day 19
 Free in Shanghai.  Leaders will be able to recommend places to see,
Pudong, the Planning Museum, Bund etc

Sunday 14 August : Day 20
 Fly back 1220 to local airports.


19 nights in China : 2 overnight trains (17 nights hotel)
Extended stays can be arranged by Janice Dickson, in Shanghai or elsewhere
(eg Hong Kong)

Minor changes may be made to the itinerary as planning progresses.

PREPARATION:
No previous knowledge is required.  Some reading matter will be sent to all
participants before the tour.

The Geographical association accepts no liabilities in respect of this
study tour.