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In just eight days with over 15,000 miles, four hotels, two tour guides, daily 6 a.m. wake up calls, and thousands of photographs to be shared, twenty five new friends from the Orlando Regional Chamber contingent returned to Orlando on Saturday evening full of centuries-old sights and sounds of Imperial China.  Also returning were representatives of the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, for a total of 127 travelers from Central Florida.

We traveled by air, bus, boat, Maglev train, rickshaw and on foot as we experienced 2,000 years of Chinese history and the modern-day metropolis of Shanghai where skyscrapers light the night sky with breathtaking architecture showcased in a rainbow of neon.  In one section, there are 55 skyscrapers at least 80 stories tall.

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On our first morning in Beijing we visited a jade factory and learned how to distinguish high quality jade from glass and plastic imitations. Color variations and visible clouds or flowers when held to the light indicate the ‘real thing.’  Our next stops were the Ming Tombs, where one of 13 Ming Emperors’ Tombs is fully excavated and open for exploration, followed by a visit to a cloisonné factory to see the intricate design work applied to copper pots that are then layered with color and baked into the surfaces. 

Climbing the Great Wall outside of Beijing proved challenging due to the extremely steep and variable steps, from four to nearly 18 inches in height, but with few exceptions our group made it to the top – and they have the t-shirts to prove it!  A Chinese Acrobatic Show topped off Day One.

Our second day in Beijing included visits to a pearl factory where one 11-year-old young lady in our group guessed the correct number of pearls found in one shell: thirty.  She received a free pearl for her best guess.  Pearls from China come in many colors, we learned, from white to lavender to black and gold.  The Summer Palace, known for the Long Corridor with its extraordinary painted gallery, views of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, as well as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and Marble Boat, was our next stop.

A rickshaw ride was part of the Hutong Tour where our guests enjoyed a “home cooked meal” provided by residents of Hutong in their own homes.  Through translators, our hosts shared the history of their home and the families who dwell there.  A tour of the Palace Museum, otherwise known as The Forbidden City, boasts a total of 9,999 rooms and was home to 24 emperors.

Our last stop was Tian An Men Square, the largest square in the world, and although many in our group opted to head straight for the bus due to the chilling cold and wet weather, several broke off to make sure that they planted their feet on the Square before rejoining the group.

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That evening a number of those on the trip participated in a China-American Business Meeting to explore opportunities with local businesspeople in China.  Greetings were provided by the presidents of our participating chambers of commerce and a representative of the Chinese Department of Commerce.

The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., where the emperors prayed to the heavens for a good harvest, was where we began our third day in China.  With an overnight snowfall, snowballs and snowmen were an unexpected treat for Floridians who had left 90 degree weather just a few days before.  The surrounding park and gardens are a favorite for the Chinese people where they dance and practice Tai Chi.  We were able to enjoy their ‘performances’ during our time there.

After an air flight to Shanghai, a two-hour bus ride brought us to the city of Suzhou located on the Grand Canal.  Our first stop there was at the centuries old, and appropriately named, Lingering Garden, one of four classical gardens in China.  Koi ponds, pagodas, and weeping willows provided the relaxing setting that our guests enjoyed, if only for a short time, as did the emperors who had them built.

At a silk factory, we followed the development of silk worms, feasting on mulberry leaves, to weaving their cocoons.  The single silk strand from each cocoon can measure 1 to 1½ miles long.  Understanding the process of ‘harvesting’ the silk and its conversion into fine silk fabrics, sheets and comforters, to name a few, was all our guests needed to complete purchases to bring home.  The craftsmanship of master embroiderers on display at the Embroidery Institute left travelers in awe of their final products.  Like fine paintings, the likenesses of the Mona Lisa and Princess Diana, take many months to complete.  Some pieces exhibited were two sided, with the knots hidden from view.  There are currently just five ‘masters’ with many more technicians in training for this 1,000 year old artistry.

A boat tour on the Grand Canal brought us to the old city market of Suzhou where everything from ginger to live chickens was offered for sale.  By now, we were accustomed to the constant barrage of street vendors offering a wide variety of products and were honing our skills at negotiating for the best prices.  Our final stop in Suzhou was at Tiger Hill, home to the 1,000 year old Buddhist pagoda built in 959-961 A.D.  Compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the tower leans to the north and east, and weighs 6,000 tons.  

A bus ride brought us to Hangzhou for an overnight stay, followed by a morning visit to the Longjing Green Tea Plantation where we learned about the harvesting and roasting of tea leaves as well as the Chinese tea culture and the health benefits of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.  Very few of us left without purchasing the Emperors Tea!

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The Lingyin Temple, with its main feature of the 64.3 foot camphor-wood carved Buddha, is 1,600 years old and was impressive to say the least.  Along the path leading to the Temple, we viewed the carved rock formations which provide a historical perspective as well as a variety of Buddhas, including the big-bellied laughing Buddha.  A boat tour of West Lake, although foggy, provided views of its ‘lake front homes’ including one on the hillside that belonged to Chiang Kai-shek.  After brief rest stop at the Shangri-La Hotel, a 3 ½ hour bus ride brought us back to Shanghai for a two night stay.

The rain and fog followed us to Shanghai, but it did not dampen our spirit.  On our arrival in the metropolis, we braved the elements to view The Bund, a famous waterfront park that includes many of the neon lit architectural icons of the new Shanghai.  The next morning began at the Shanghai Silk Rug Factory where we observed the master weavers perform their craft.  We learned the difference between silk-on-silk and silk-on-cotton rug products which also take many months to complete.  We also observed how the carpets are then sculpted by master cutters to give the final products their depth and texture.

After experiencing basic transportation options by bus and rickshaw, our next opportunity was the lightening speed, 431 kilometers per hour Maglev train, the first and the only commercial rail line of its type in the world which links downtown Shanghai with the Pudong International Airport.  With an investment of 10 billion yuan, it took 2.5 years to complete and brings a speed revolution to the world in ground transportation.

An opportunity to pick up those last minute souvenirs was made available to us in the ‘real’ China Town or old town bazaar, before we headed to our last evening’s entertainment.  The ERA Show, a multimedia theatrical spectacular, was a combination of Chinese acrobatics and Cirque du Soleil all wrapped into one.  Created by international masters, ERA captures the past, present and future in an entertainment experience that is taking Shanghai by storm.

In less than a week, we “Experienced China” in ways we could not have imagined.  From Bonsais and Bamboo to the Birdsnest, from silkworms and Saki to strings of pearls, from Tiger Hill and the tea plantation to unbelievable traffic jams, it was exhilarating and exhausting!  And, it is unanimously recommended!

If you “missed the boat” on this trip, rest assured that it’s never too late.  Dates have already been set for our next trip to “Experience China” in October 2010.  Contact Cyndi Matzick at Cyndi.matzick@orlando.org to learn more.

Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce is one of four lines of business of the Central Florida Partnership. A “Five-Star Chamber” - the highest level of achievement awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - we are positioned to serve the growing needs of businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the Central Florida Region.

Working together with BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves) and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership), the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.”

For additional information, visit:  www.orlando.org