China Photo Expedition 2007

Sue Zhou, a native of China and a skilled Oregon photographer, has become widely known for the photo expeditions she has organized to take photographers—both professional and amateur—to hidden areas of superlative grandeur in China , scenes that confound the expectations of westerners who imagine that ancient land  to have been totally exploited.  These tours visit spectacular places unknown to westerners and some even unknown to most Chinese.  They will also visit villages of some of China’s many minorities who continue to practice ancient customs.

Sue’s itinerary for this October will lead photo buffs to such places as the Nine Villages Valley, a fascinating  60,000-acre isolated preserve populated by rare plants, waterfalls, colorful lakes, valleys, giant Pandas and golden monkeys. The Nine Villages Valley and the nearby unique Yellow Dragon area are both listed in the Catalog of World Natural Heritages by UNESCO. A must stop at The Wolong Panda Protection and Breeding Center where the visitors will see 34 more panda babies and will be able to feed and cuddle Panda cubs.  A stop that will surprise westerners will be Asian Dragon Bay , a sunshine-drenched white-sand beach resort studded with palm trees and sitting roughly at the same latitude as Hawaii .  Besides scenery, the group will visit several local minority-nationality people’s villages to be guests in their homes and participate in their activities.  In Beijing , Sue has arranged for her group to visit The Great Wall in early evening after the gates have closed to the daily hordes of tourists so that her members may enjoy taking pictures in a quiet atmosphere.       

The itinerary of the expedition will provide a relaxed pace to provide plenty of time for taking photos.   To see highlights of Sue’s tour in 2004, visit her web site at http://home.comcast.net/~zhousu.  To see the pictures from her 2007 spring tour, click on the “Gallery” section at her web site. For a reference about the tours from people who have joined one or more of Sue's trips, call Sandy at 503-629-9497 ( Sandy ’s China photos won first prize in the ( Portland ) Oregonian newspaper contest in 2002. She has been on Sue’s tours three times) or Lois at 503-618-9801.

Price: $3950/person

Single Room Supplement: $850

Departure will be on Oct. 11, 2007

Tour package features:

• Round-trip international airfare from Portland , Ore. All airfare in China .
• Sightseeing tours by air-conditioned motor coach.
• Fine meals at whole trip.
• English-speaking guides at each city to show local sights.
• Itinerary can be adjusted if photo opportunities appear.
• Deadline for registration is Aug. 20 2007.
• Call Kathie at Dai-Ichi International Travel 503-228-1118 or Sue Zhou 503-639-8396(h); e-mail: zhousu@zhousu.us
• Tour web site: http://www.zhousu.us

14 - DAY   PHOTO  TOUR  OF  CHINA

2007

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Notes:

·        The fall tour will depart on Oct.11, returning on Oct. 25.

·        A deposit for Airline might be required by the Aug. 20. for the fall tour.

·        We will have a visa for you, but you must be sure that your passport is current. (You may get

a passport application from at any post office.)

·        If you have questions, call Kathie at Dai-Ichi  International Travel 503-228-1118 or

Sue Zhou at  (503) 639-8396(home); e-mail: zhousu@zhousu.us

·        Demand for international travel is expected to be high this year. Please fill out this form a.s.a.p.

so we can hold tickets for you. You can still cancel later. For travel insurance information,

call Kathie at 503-228-1118

• To see the pictures from spring tour, click on "Gallery" section.

• To check the detail of fall tour, click on "Fall Tour".

• Group size: 10-16 people

·        Send the check to:  China Tour

                                     11263 S.W. 91^st Ct.

                       Tigard , OR 97223

 Q:  Can you give us any more details about the fall tour?

 A:  The deadline for registering for the fall tour is Aug. 10.   By that time, I will email a tour-member list to you providing a very detailed itinerary including hotel names, phone numbers and Internet service information.  I will ask you to send me your passport or a copy of the passport so that I may arrange for your visa.  Meanwhile, I will book all of the airline tickets.  We will also invite the traveling group to a meeting before our departure so that we may discuss the expedition and get to know each other.

 Q:  What is the weather like during October in China ?

 A:  Sichuan Province will be colder than Hainan province.  We will be in Jiuzhaigou(Nine Villages Valley) on October 14 where the temperature at the mountaintop will be between 40°F to 60°F.  But Haikou and Sanya(Hainan) may be up to 90°F even we will get there on october 19.

 Q:  Should we consider anything extra to bring?

 A:  Basically no.  There might be hot in Hainan province, and if there are you can get a sun lotion for protection.  One more thing is to bring enough film from U.S.A. ,  because you will pay much more if you want to buy film or slides in China .

 Q:  Is it easy to exchange U.S. money for Chinese currency in China ?

 A: You might get a supply of Chinese money at a downtown Portland Federal Reserve Bank, you can also exchange US dollars at Chinese airports and hotels.  Bring cash or travel checks with you (there are no places to use credit cards in small cities).  Please keep receipts so that you can get reclaim US dollars at your departure airport if you have Chinese money left when you leave China .  The exchange rate from US dollars to Chinese Yuan is $100=RMB745 Yuan (reported by the Chinese government on 9/10 2007).

 Q:   How much money should  I bring with me for this tour?

 A:   The tour charge of $3950 includes your visa fee, international airfare, domestic airfare in China , all ground transportation, our tour guides, room and board.  You only need pocket money and tips for tour guides, bus drivers, and bellhops.  You might wish to hire porters to carry your equipment for you in some cases.  Also, there will be some activities beside the itinerary, such as night time shows.  Normally, $500 will be enough for the whole trip.

 Q:  How much should I consider tipping?

 A:  Our tips need to run a bit higher than the normal amount for general sight-seeing tours.  Ours will be a special photo expedition which will require more from our tour guides and bus drivers.   They will need to get up early and go home late. We asked the guides not to bring us to shopping centers (where they are paid by the merchants to deliver customers).   We paid about $6 per person per day for all tips during out last expedition.  I collected the tips and paid them through our travel agents ahead of time before we left the U.S.

Q: What is the standard voltage in China for chargers and other small devices?

A: 220 volts.  You should take a plug adapter for the outlets and a converter if you need to use electricity.  Some electronic adapters work on either 110v or 220v. If you are an AAA auto club member, it can supply adapters in its stores.  There is a store at Hwy. 217 & I-5.  It is at 6 Centerpoint.  It’s a large red brick building, with a very large AAA on top.  You can’t miss it.

Q: Do I need to get shots, and what medicine should I take?

A: You don’t need to get any shots.  Bring your own prescription medicine, plus basic medicine like Advil, aspirin, antacid, etc.

Q: Is it safe to X-ray my film?

A: Yes and no.  One X-ray experience shouldn’t have any noticeable effect.  Several exposures to X-ray probably will affect your film.  I recommend that you have your film hand checked before boarding the plane.

Q: Can I get my laundry cleaned?

A: Yes.  All the hotels will be able to launder your clothes.  The rooms have a laundry bag with a form to fill out.  You can mark rush cleaning (same day return); otherwise, they will be returned the next morning, clean.  You do this in the morning when you leave for the day.

 Q: What do we call you--Sue Zhou or Su Zhou?

 A: Either way.  Sue Zhou is my American name, Su Zhou is my Chinese name.  The pronunciation is the same.

Last revised: 9/16/2007