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Xi'an and Rural Shaanxi Province
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September 2-17, 2007
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Lead by Mary Warpeha, USCPFA-MN Chapter President
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through the cooperation of the
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Staff of the Shaanxi Provincial
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Office of Friendship with Foreign Countries
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In September 2006 I scouted our itinerary intending to
customize a tour highlighting the people and places of Shaanxi
and emphasizing the strong Minnesota connections. Hard-working people with calloused hands extended
in welcome convinced me that others would like to share a
relatively strenuous and rewarding adventure. Perhaps you can
throw off some comforts of life and reach out your hand to
our Shaanxi sisters and brothers.
Mary Warpeha
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HIGHLIGHTS
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BEIJING
(1 night, 1+ days)
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Tour the Imperial Palace and Temple of Heaven
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Optional days available
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NIGHT TRAIN
from Beijing to Xi’an
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XI’AN
(2 nights, 2 days)
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Travel to the World Class site of the Terra Cotta Army
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Experience newly opened Tang Paradise Park
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Peruse the Helen Foster Snow Museum
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Enter into the actual barracks of the 8th Red Army
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Spiritual tradition survives in the Great Mosque
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Be awed at the ultra-modern Agricultural
Development Zone
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Stroll in city parks along the City Wall
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Savor local cuisine including vegetables, eggs, tofu, fish,
grains, hot pot and traditional Muslim specialties
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AN SHANG VILLAGE
( 2 nights, 2+ days)
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Be enriched by the stories of Sino-American
Society President and Friend-of-Minnesota, An
Wei, in his childhood family home
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Explore this village of 900 people at a leisurely
pace
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Marvel at the modern primary school funded and
built through Project Peace, a project of Minnesota-based Global
Volunteers — consider how we can make a significant donation to
this project
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In April be honored guests at the opening
ceremonies of the village’s first annual Folk Art Festival
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In September marvel at the labor consuming
harvest of the staple crop of corn and preparations for the
hardships of winter
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Take rest in the hospitality of housing and meals
in farmers’ homes
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Hike the nearby Loess Plains and river gorge
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HANZHONG
(Night
train and 1 night hotel, 1 day)
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Visit local historic and ecological sites
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Enjoy a day of exercise
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Purchase school supplies and fresh foods in the
market for mountain village schools
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CHANGQING NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE
(5 nights,
5 days)
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Experience the beauty of the Qin Ling Mountains
in spring and autumn on daily treks in this remote area of
Southern Shaanxi Province
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Meander lowland and highland trails at altitudes
of 2500m in search of protected Panda, Takin, Golden Monkey,
Crested Ibis, Golden Pheasant and Giant Salamander
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Delight in spring and autumn foliage and flowers
in 4-5 hour treks with stops for picnics and vistas of newly
protected forests of birch and pine
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Learn from the expertise of local eco-tourism
guides versed in the biodiversity of the high country
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Rest nights in the Nature Reserve Hotel at 1100m
altitude with healthy authentic meals in the only restaurant in
Huangyyangjie village
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Be warmed by the hospitality of a farm family as
they open their homes, kitchens and bedrooms for meals and
overnight farmstays
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Chat with teachers and students in primary and
secondary schools serving farm community children
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Enjoy the escort of village elders in a meander
through farms to learn of age old cultivation of subsistence
crops of rice, corn, peanuts, garden greens and cash crops of
wolfberry, mushrooms and chestnuts
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- WHO SHOULD CONSIDER TRAVEL?
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Active adults who are excited about adventure travel
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in a remarkable developing country
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filled with interesting people and places
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will enjoy traveling with USCPFA-Minnesota.
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We will explore destinations unlikely on most itineraries
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as we visit the heart and hearts
of Minnesota’s Sister Province.
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DETAILS
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Join us with an extraordinary positive attitude
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Travel in good health—we will be in remote areas
with primitive medical care
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Plan on walking at a good pace uphill at
altitudes less than 2500m (8,000 ft) - no remaining behind
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Anticipate the need for tolerance for unexpected
changes which are inherent in exploration of a developing
countryside
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Anticipate wholesome local cuisine, prepared in
kitchens less hygienic than yours — our emphasis will be on
high quality, low-meat meals
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Come with a sense of adventure for Asian-style
toilets
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Volunteer to share a meditation/reading as well
as research on a topic pertinent to the itinerary
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Plan on limited luggage: Carry-on size luggage
for easy transport — a folding bag can be brought for shopping
along the way
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COST—
$2050
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Includes:
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Hotels, farmstays, meals, domestic airfare, train
fare, van transport, Membership and donation to USCPFA—Minnesota and
National, supply and book donations to local schools
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Does not include:
- International airfare
to Beijing
- Necessary visa and courier service
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Purchase of necessary travel insurance to include
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(we can assist you with this purchase)
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Trip cancellation
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Lost luggage
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Trip delay
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Medical and dental care in-country
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Medical evacuation
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Not included: All the fascinating souvenirs
which will tempt you along the way
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Contact
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Mary Warpeha
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651-638-0743
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Uscpfa_mn@hotmail.com
- WE WERE PART OF EARTH DAY 2007!
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- The Minnesota Chapter of US-China Peoples
Friendship Association along with 20 other organizations, was a
proud partner of Wishes for the Sky—Twin Cities’ Earth
Day arts experience on Harriet Island.
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nature-inspired day of wishing and promising, Wishes for the
Sky was a contemporary art event that invited everyone to
participate in a work of public art. It was created by St. Paul
Artist-in-Residence Marcus Young, Shen Pei, and their team of
collaborators.
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- Families were invited to:
- • Play the wind chimes sculpture
- • Create wishes in the wish-making
pavilion
- • Make “Promises to the Earth” to adopt
sustainable practices
- • And fly a kite to carry your wish to the
sky.
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- A Free Public Art Event
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- Sunday, April 22, Earth Day 2007
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Harriet Island, Saint Paul
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25th Anniversary of Sister
Relationship of Shaanxi Province and State of Minnesota
Committees have been meeting to plan
events for the upcoming 2007 Anniversary Year. If you
are interested n participating as an organization of as an
individual, contact Mary Warpeha at 651-638-0743 or Dong Li
at dongli2k@yahoo.com
- YEAR OF THE PIG
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- 4705 CHINESE NEW
YEAR 2007
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- SHAANXI FOLK ART THEME
- celebrating
- Minnesota-Shaanxi 25th
Anniversary
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Sunday, February 11, 2007
- 5:00 Gathering & Folk
Art Exhibit
- 6:00 Banquet 7:00
Program
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- Ms. Gao Hong
- World-renowned Pipa
Artist
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- James Swiderski, Board
Member
- “Living and Working in
Shaanxi”
- U Garden Chinese
Restaurant
- 2725 University Avenue
S.E. Minneapolis
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CHAPTER PRESIDENT ATTENDS
YOUXIE FRIENDSHIP FORUM
AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHANGHAI YOUXIE
At the
invitation of the National and Shanghai Peoples Associations for
Friendship with Foreign Countries (Youxie) 9 members of USCPFA
attended the Second Friendship Forum and 50th
Anniversary of Shanghai Youxie in September. The
delegation was headed by National President Robert Sanborn.
Minnesota Chapter President Mary Warpeha traveled with the group
of nine to Beijing, Wuhan, and Shanghai. The group was
joined by delegations from the English-speaking countries of
Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Suriname.
The Friendship
Forum 2006 was hosted by National, Hubei Province and Wuhan
Municipal Associations for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
CPAFFC Vice President Madame Li Xiaolin, Director of the U.S.
Division Ms. Luan Yutao, and Deputy Director Xie Yuan welcomed
and updated the group regarding past efforts and future
cooperation with friendship organizations. Heads of each
delegation were given an opportunity to report on the
activities, present ideas and express problem areas.
In conjunction
with the Friendship Forum, the group was given a tour of Beijing
which included the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, hutongs, a
cricket raiser’s operation, a kindergarten and the Mansion of
Prince Gong. Wuhan officials hosted a tour of East
Lake and the Hubei Provincial Museum. The group was on the
road to Mt. Wudang for a martial arts performance and cable car
ride to the monastery atop Mt. Wudang in the Shiyan area.
The following day the visit included Longzhong where statesman
Zhugeliang lived over 2000 years ago. In Xiangfan a tour of No.
2 Automobile Factory was a highlight. Each of these
stops included a friendly welcome and hosting by the local
governments.
The second
part of the travels included a celebration of the 50th
Anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Peoples Association
for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Zhou Muyao, Vice Chair of
the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal Peoples Congress
greeted a dinner party of 300 Chinese and visitors. Mr.
Zhou announced that in its first 10 years from 1956 to 1966 over
20,000 people in 1200 delegations from 96 countries visited
Shanghai. 120 foreign ballet, orchestras, song and dance,
art and film artists visited. More than 80 exhibitions of
paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, pictures, arts and crafts
were exchanged.
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