Page 12 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – January/February 2020

AAA
By Craig Haberle, CTC
TRAVEL AGENCY
A Dynamic Mingling of the Past and Present
TM
China Today
The heart of today’s China beats in Beijing while contemporary culture and imperial heritage pulse throughout this vast country. During centuries past, dynasties defined eras of dominant rule and power in China. Only in current times have outsiders been welcomed and permitted previously forbidden access to historic structures and artworks that are preserved to display legacies from long-ago. Recent rapid and astonishing economic development is
changing most facets of China. This dynamic mingling of the past and present are equally on view during AAA’s Classic China tour, September 17-27, 2020.
Along the route of this well-
organized itinerary, you travel
back in time to be amazed at
the architectural and artful
accomplishments of ancient
dynasties. You also witness the
remaining vestiges of classic
19th and early 20th century
Chinese culture that is fast
disappearing under social,
economic and political pressure to modernize. China is a complex and perplexing puzzle of histories, traditions and contemporary global issues. Fortunately, your tour guides decipher
the country’s past and present so you can gain valuable insights about its future. Now is the time to visit China to see for yourself what makes it tick.
You begin in Beijing and delve into the imperial past while walking the same royal route as did centuries of emperors in their vast Forbidden City and its Imperial Palace. Your guide reveals ancient rituals and traditions among the
exquisite décor. A visit at the tranquil Temple of Heaven respects this place of prayer favored by Ming and Qing dynasty emperors.
Walk the Sacred Way
past the massive stone
statues guarding the
Ming Tombs of 13
emperors. See the
world’s largest public
space – Tiananmen
Square. When you are standing on the Great Wall and listening to your guide describe its history and construction,
try to imagine life as it was in China centuries ago. A rickshaw ride whisks you along narrow alleyways to attractive courtyard residences. Your personal connection with a local family during
an authentically prepared luncheon precedes the refined service of tea during a ritual ceremony in a traditional tea house.
Xi’an is a flight away from Beijing and quite
a change from the capital city. An ancient crossroads of trade, Xi’an was the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Today the city’s name is synonymous with one of the 20th century’s most
remarkable archaeological discoveries. Even though the thousands of statues of soldiers and horses comprising Xi’an’s incredible Terracotta Army were originally sculpted and positioned 2,200 years ago,
their existence was first unearthed only 45 years ago. Your choices of other included activities in Xi’an are attending demonstrations of T’ai Chi or traditional cooking, touring by bicycle, and visiting a primary school.
Shanghai is reached by plane and welcomes you to perhaps the world’s most populous metropolis. This prominent ocean port city
is now dominated by glittering
skyscrapers, but its famous “Bund” area retains its neoclassical buildings from the early 1900s. Weave through Old Shanghai’s lively markets for colorful experiences of the old and the new. A visit at a silk museum is followed by an energetic performance by Shanghai Acrobats. The water town of Zhujiajiao, founded over 1,700 years ago, is where you can stroll past historic buildings that now house rice shops and spice stores lining little streets leading to stone bridges that crisscross canals.
Although it was shrouded in mystery for centuries, China is no longer hidden and is yours to explore on this guided and enlightening tour. Your professional AAA travel agent looks forward to including you with other curious travelers at classic sites and sights in China.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
Now!