China Travel 2006

We want to share with you news about Art of China 2006, a Global Harmony through Art (GHtA) sponsored travel adventure.

Global Harmony through Art Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to unify artists and art professionals throughout the world to cultivate peace and harmony.

This is not a "cookie cutter" tour! GHtA Director, Yi Kai, has arranged many special events and painting opportunities. You will have access to local people and places most visitors to China never experience!

Yi Kai was born, raised, and educated in China. He taught painting at Bejiing Art College & University. Following the incident at Tiananmen Square, he left China to live in the United States. As an artist, Yi Kai has participated and competed in art venues in the US and overseas. He became Executive Director of Global Harmony through Art in 2005.

Your GHtA tour will feature: Shanghai and ancient MuDu town built on a series of canals (which is nearly tourist free). You will paint in Huangshan, a most beautiful mountain area of China. In Bejing, we will visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and have a picnic lunch at a deserted section of the Great Wall at Matianyu. In Xian, we will walk on the city wall and visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. In the middle of our journey, we will spend two days in Jiuzhagou, a famous landscape vista on the border between Shenzhen and Tibet.

In addition, we will spend one day navigating the Li River made famous by generations of Chinese artists. Our tour will end in Macau and Hong Kong.

Yi kai has scheduled parties in local Chinese homes and artists studios. Demonstrations and discussion groups are on the agenda. We will also visit farms and local factories and meet the local people.

For detailed information, please contact: Yi Kai at (xxx)-xxx xxxx or Email:

Reservations will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. This tour will accomodate 20 people.

To reserve your place, please mail your completed tour application (one per person) with a $500 deposit per person to GHtA, Inc. to Wini King, Attn: GHtA Inc.,9736 E. Apache Trail, #13, Mesa AZ 85207.

Reservation deadline: May 15, 2006

Wishing you Peace and Harmony,

Helen (Betty) Ritter
President and Founder of Global Harmony through Art, Inc.

Visit to lead a workshop
in China 2006

China 2006 workshop

• $3,650 per person sharing a twin/double room.
• Cost based on 20 travelers plus 1 trip leader.
• Single room supplement is $614.

• All touring as stated in the enclosed itinerary including English speaking guide, entrance fees, air-conditioned private motor coach and driver plus one trip leader.
• All breakfasts, all lunches and 15 special dinners arranged by trip leader and CITS trip agent
• Day cruise on the Picturesque Li River
• Conveniently located three and four star hotels
• Six scheduled inter-China flights
• Four parties in artist’s studio and local homes arranged by trip leader
• Chinese visa
• Bottled water on the motor coach
• Demonstration of Chinese painting by local artists arranged by trip leader
• Visit a local garment factory and discussion with the owner
• $100 donation to GHtA
• Art instruction and critic for painting and drawing
• All gratuities with the exception of room service and house keeping
• Porterage and transfer of one checked bag per person

• Airfare to China
• All items of a personal nature such as laundry, room service, telephone or fax changes and beverages at meals
• Tips for housekeeping and room service
• Excess baggage fees
• Travel insurance
• Any other items not specifically mentioned as being included

Your hotel reservation in Shanghai is available at 2PM (check-in time) today. The hotel is China East Hotel. You need take the bus from Shanghai Pu Dong Airport to downtown of Shanghai and then a short taxi ride to the hotel. A welcome dinner have arranged by trip leader at a local restaurant specializing in South-eastern style cuisine.

We will have a motor coach tour of Old Shanghai including the beautiful Yu Gardens based on Ming (1400-1600) designs. After lunch in a restaurant in Yu Garden we will free time to explore old Shanghai. Late this afternoon we will have a cruise on the river followed by a group dinner arranged by trip leader.

Breakfast in your hotel, we will have a tour of Shanghai Art Museum. After lunch we will drive by private motor coach to MuDu town, a very old and picturesque town built on a series of canals. We will check into Tianping Hotel. Trip leader have arranged a visit to a garment factory. Tonight at 18:00 we will a cocktail party in the home of an employee of the factory followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

We will visit Yan Family’s Garden this morning. After lunch you can draw or painting around this beautiful old town for this free afternoon; dinner on your own. This evening we will drive to Suzhou to catch an overnight train departing 23:10 pm for Huangshan.

Arrive Huangshan which is the most beautiful mountain of China. We meet at the train station and transfer to mountain area; cable car up to the top. We can see the fantastic landscapes that have influenced Chinese artists throughout art history. We will visit and draw during the afternoon. Overnight at West Sea Hotel.

Visit local residence house in Hongcun and drawing around this area. Late afternoon transfer to airport, flight from Huangshan to Beijing and transfer to LiShi Hotel.

Trip leader have arranged a group dinner in a local restaurant that specializes in Hot Pot.

We will have a walking tour of Tiananmen Square this morning, following tour the Temple of Heaven; this Ming Dynasty temple is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Trip leader have an arranged a special evening starting with a party in the home of a local family where you will meet Yi Kai’s parents. Dinner will be at a restaurant that specializes in Peking Duck. Yi Kai’s parents and Mrs. Wang Kun (a famous 80 years old singer) will be our guests for dinner. We have been invited to have a drink at a local bar tonight owned by the uncle of Yi Kai’s wife, Jian.

This morning we will drive out into the countryside to climb on the Great Wall at Mutianyu. This isolated area of the Great Wall has few tourists and will make a perfect place for your private picnic lunch arranged by your trip leader. After lunch we will drive to the Summer Palace for a tour of this restful and beautiful structure and grounds. Trip leader have arranged the group dinner tonight in a special restaurant.

We will have a morning tour of the vast and complex Forbidden City followed by lunch arranged by trip leader in a local restaurant featuring recipes developed by royal chefs from the Ming Dynasty. The afternoon will feature a Pedi-cab tour of the Hutongs (old quarter) and a visit to one of the many courtyard homes. Evening free, dinner on your own.

Transfer to Beijing airport and flight to Xi'an. After check into Mercu Renmin Mansion hotel for lunch. We are going to visit Xi'an Art College this afternoon and will have party and dinner with some professors and students of this college in a local restaurant that specializes in 100 different kinds of dumplings.

This morning we will visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors, one of the most important archeological finds of the 20 th century. After lunch, we will tour the Buddhist temple of Wild Goose Pagoda, the Bell Tower and a walking tour around the top of the city wall. The evening is free.

We will fly from Xi'an to Jiuzhagou, a very famous natural landscape area on the border between Shenzhen and Tibet. After check into Jiulong Hotel, we will tour the small town. Dinner arranged by CITS (our trip agent).

We are touring Jiuzhaigou area and drawing or painting.

After touring Huanglong, we are drawing or painting around this area. We will have a group dinner in a local restaurant.

Checkout from our hotel and transfer to airport, flight from Jiuzhagou to Chengde. We will need to make a connecting fight from Chengdu to Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin, transfer to Fuboshan Hotel. Dinner arranged by CITS (our trip agent).

This morning we will have a cruise (lunch included) on the beautiful Li River from which we can see the fantastic landscapes that have influenced so many Chinese artists throughout history. We will disembark in the small town of Yangshou where your trip leader has arranged for you to take motor rickshaws into the countryside to visit a local village and farm. We will return to Guilin by motor coach. Group dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant.

After breakfast we will depart for Guilin International Airport for a flight to Macau. This town was settled by the Portuguese in the early 16 th Century and turned back to the Chinese in 1999. Macau was historically a place of vice and intrigue and today the city is a haven for gambling casinos. We will check into New World Emperor Hotel. After lunch you are free to explore Colonial Old Town studded with colorful architecture or some of the glamorous casinos. Macau is a blend of Portuguese/Chinese culture. This evening the trip leader has arranged a cocktail and dinner party with a group of local artists. They will demonstrate Chinese painting and discuss with us about art and GHtA.

This morning after breakfast we will take the hydrofoil to Hong Kong ( 90 minutes) We will check into Park Hotel and have lunch in there. This afternoon and evening are free to explore Hong Kong. Options include shopping at Shanghai Tang’s and afternoon tea in the Helifisland Hotel. Dinner on you own.

After breakfast your tour of Hong Kong Island will begin. We will visit Victoria Peak offers a fantastic view of Hong Kong and the harbor. We will continue to Repulse Bay and Aberdeen Fishing Village. Lunch on a floating restaurant.

Tonight trip leader have arranged a group farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Your tour ends at check out time. Take short taxi ride to Kowloon train station and exchange express train to Hong Kong International Airport.