China will play a major role on the world stage
in coming years - and will receive increasing attention in the near future as host of the 2008 Olympics.
China Spectrum Travel/Institute for Chinese Studies offers a unique broad "spectrum" approach to study the history, culture, religion,
and philosophy of China - ancient and modern. Our "guests" can participate in these studies without leaving the U.S.A., during actual
travel in China, or both. Leisure "guests" will benefit greatly by participating in these studies prior to a trip to China - with us or with
another tour provider. Business "guests", especially medium and small, who may have a limited budget for seeking and connecting with
Chinese companies, will benefit greatly by participating in our program to learn how to do business with the Chinese and even have us arrange and
go to China with them to facilitate initial contacts.
FAIR WARNING. Now for the bad news. Mr. Riley does not have canned tours - each tour will be tailored for the individual "guest"
- and he can lead only two or three leisure tours per year from May through October. Business trips are more flexible and can be more frequent
(including Winter) - and since business travelers also want to see famous landmarks while in China, their travel could be combined with a leisure
tour or added to the business trip.
If "guests" organize their own groups (15 or more) they would qualify for a package. If there is an insufficient number to qualify for
the group rate, they would be responsible for Mr. Riley's expenses.
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News:
October 16, 2007
Stetson University China Studies Elderhostel Program - December 07 through April 2008. China One - Intensive study of Modern and Ancient China. China Two - Chinese Arts and Performing Arts. Intergenerational program in July 2008. Contact Stetson University or Boston Elderhostel Catalog. July 11, 2006
Chinese Performing Arts Troupe Available for Worldwide Travel. We now have a Florida-based troupe that features Acrobatics, Martial Arts, Folk and Modern Dance, Peking Opera, Music, and Drums. Small or mixed teams for half-hour shows or the entire troupe for a 90-minute show. Contact us. July 11, 2006
CENTRAL/EAST CHINA, JUNE 2006. I took an 18 day trip to explore the birthplace of the Han Chinese. Starting with Beijing, I then went to Taiyuan, Capital of Shanxi Province, to see the Jinci Ancestral Temple, Ancient Qiao Family Farm, and the Ancient Walled City of Pingyao - my hotel room was just as it appeared several hundred years ago. Cool!! Then to Changsha, capital of Hunnan Province to learn about the Han Tombs at Muwangdui, and to visit the city of Yueyang to visit Yueyang Tower (one of the three famous towers along with Yellow Crane Wuhan and Tengwang Nangchang). Next came Guangzhou (I have been to Guangzhou and Shanghai a number of times but never on my own as a "tourist")!! Saw the Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Zhenhai Tower (now an important museum), and more - including the city of Foshan (where SARS may have started) to visit another famous Ancestral Temple. On to Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, to visit the other tower - Tengwang Tower. (And saw many Americans there to adopt Chinese babies). Then to the port city of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, across the bay from Shanghai. Visited some of the most ancient Buddhist Temples in China, and went to the city of Shaoxing, a water city like Venice, to visit the Tomb/Temple of Yu the Great - founder of the Xia Dynasty some 4000 years ago. Took a speed boat from Ningbo to Putuo Island - the holy land of Guanyin, where I visited a giant statue of Guanyin and numerous temples and religious sites. Another speedboat ride - this time in a jumbo jet size boat that could take 480 passengers in the cabin (like a plane) - to Shanghai. Visited the tallest TV tower in Asia, the Pearl of the Orient in Pudong. (Pudong was a rice paddy when I first went to Shanghai in 1974.) I highly recommend the wonderful museum of Shanghai underneath the tower. Worth the trip. I spent one day in the city of Hangzhou to visit the beautiful, scenic West Lake. I tell the Chinese that I am from the West Lake of Florida, Mt. Dora!!! Finally, I returned to Beijing for a couple of nights, and returned to the USA. Special comments follow. July 11, 2006
RELIGION IN CHINA: We have been conducting the Stetson University China Studies Elderhostel Program for six years. One topic that always comes up in class is the question of religious persecution in China. When I went to China in 1973, Mao was in power and the Cultural Revolution (actually, a civil war) was in progress. Religion, along with education, performing arts, and much more - were being persecuted. But after Mao died and Deng Xiaoping started the reforms, all of them - including religion - quickly re-emerged. I have traveled frequently in China since 1996 - and all my trips included visits to religious sites. On this recent trip, I made a special point in every city to visit Christian and Catholic churches and talk to their people. My conclusion is just what I have been telling my students for years - China does not persecute or repress religion. ALL recognized and registered religions operate openly and freely. For example, Taiyuan has about 150,000 catholics, 199 catholic churches - to 17 Buddhist Temples. China does take legal action against any entity that tries to operate without registration (licensing). So underground churches would be subject to legal action - NOT because of religion, but because they are unregistered (unlicensed). Keep in mind that even in the USA a church must follow certain procedures in order to receive the status of a recognized church, tax exemption, etc. So... everyone in China - chinese and foreigner - are free to worship when and where they please. Almost everyone (except me) is missing what is really going on. They are caught up in anti-Chinese propaganda that cries "religious persecution" - and failing to recognize that China does support all religions and encourages the people to worship as they please. China spends millions of dollars to restore, renovate, and maintain religious sites - and therein lies the real problem. Religious sites are major destinations for tourists (domestic and foreign) and are major sources of revenue. Religion is a "For-Profit State Enterprise". Donations (revenue) goes to the State, and the State pays church/temple salaries, and provides for maintenance/upkeep. This is true in China (including Tibet) and Vietnam (which has some of the most beautiful religious sites in Asia). A contributor to the confusion is the Falun Gong - which is NOT a religion. Because it is outlawed, many uninformed Westerners support it as a "persecuted religion". They should simply do an internet search for "Li Hongzhi" and read his own statements. That should settle any questions. |
