The China Sanbao Tour

2011-07-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hello All;

Please Note:

Seats still available as of 20 December 2011:

Deposits received after 20 December will be put on the waiting list.
Do not miss out! Send your deposit soonest.

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The Sanbao Blog: http://sanbaostudio.blog.com/

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Here is the itinerary and costs for our 2012 Sanbao China Tour.

If you have any questions email me at zalt57@videotron.ca

29 September - 20 October 2012

Heavenly Temple

Beijing is a city bustling with art and cultural landmarks. The Group will visit Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City ,and/or the Heavenly Temple Park, and the surrounding areas. The Forbidden City has one of the most comprehensive ceramic collections in China, and the surrounding area is filled with art museums, and galleries. We will visit the Great Wall , and the Ming Tombs.

Each duck slice must have crispy skin

A highlight will be a meal at the famous Duck Restaurant, and a walk
about the markets.

There many Buddhas to reflect upon.

We will travel by airconditioned bus to Datong where we will visit the Yungang Grotto Buddha Sculptures, and Caves, The Hanging Monastery, and the Nine Dragons Wall. If time permits a visit to the remnants of the original Great wall of China.

We will see the real life in China.

Our travel to Tiayuan will be by bus through the country side.

The clay pot is polished then fired in a coal kiln, full reduction.

It is at Tiayuan where we will visit the Black Ware factory. We will see how the clay is prepared, formed, and polished. The kilns are fired with coal, and in heavy reduction. If we are lucky we will be there when the kiln is being opened.

And we thought pasta was and Italian dish.

Tiayuan has a good provincial museum, and of course it noted for the hundreds of methods for preparing noodle meals.

Hotel court yard in Ping Yao

Our next leg of our journey will take us to Pingyao (about 110km), to visit intact 6km Ming dynasty city wall (claimed to be the last remaining in China.) This will offer us the opportunity to visit well-preserved traditional Chinese architecture of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. Pingyao is a UNESCO site, We will stay overnight in a traditional Chinese court yard hotel.

Our tour will continue down the Yellow River plateau to the what was the original Capital of China. The city of Xian with it's great traditions and markets will greet us.

Every face is different. All made by hand.

Xian is the land of the famous Terracotta soldiers, the Muslim markets, and the bustling city that was the first capital of China during the time of Qin. We will be visiting the archaeological site that houses the famous soldiers made from clay, and we will also have the opportunity to visit a factory that reproduces these fine objects.

While we are in Xian we will have the opportunity to visit Chenlu a pottery village noted for the Northern Song celadon, and the folk blue and white on stoneware.

One of the many museums in Fouping
Photo by Susan Collette

Returning from the village we will stop at Fouping where we will have the opportunity to visit one of the most important collections of International Contemporary Ceramics that are housed in museum buildings that were constructed according to the country of the artists showing their work.

We will then depart Xian for Shanghai where we will spend an evening prior to travelling by bus to Jingdezhen.

Thousands of Teapots to look at and buy.

The next morning we will climb aboard our private air-conditioned bus for a drive into China's heartland to Yixing the home of the famous little brown teapots.

Yixing teapot master.

We will arrive at Yixing with time to visit the tea pot market before we check into our hotel at Dinshan. The next day will find us being hosted in the homes and studios of master Yixing teapot makers. Our hosts will talk and demonstrate their craft along with a copious serving of the traditional tea ceremony.

The evening will be topped off with a meal of Yixing cuisine, shared with the local artists.

The next day we depart Yixing following the Yangzi river valley towards towards Tiaping. Time permiting we will stop at Taoyao village where traditional pottery has been created during the last 500 years.

Photo by SCG Richards

The next day will be spent visiting the area craft and cultural spots such as a traditional rice paper making village, and yes you will be able to purchase these fine hand made papers. We will spend a second evening in Taiping.

Photo by SCG Richards

The next leg of our voyage will be across the Yellow Mountains to Jingdezhen the city famous for their creations of blue and white porcelain. We will settle in our hotel, downtown Jingdezhen and spend some personal time wandering about exploring the area.

Opening Ceremony for the Ceramic Fair

We will arrive in Jingdezhen in time to participate in the opening of the 2012 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo, and where we will attend exhibition openings, workshops, and a welcoming party at Sanbao.

Porcelain Master at work.

Our visit to Jingdezhen will allow us to enjoy the International workshops, and the studio experience at the Sanbao Ceramic Working Village.

Masters workshops during Ceramic Fair

We will participate in workshops with International artists attend demonstrations and listen to lectures from the International masters.

We will visit the famous traditional porcelain factories, and studios that dot Jingdezhen. We will walk the streets of the old city and hunt down antiques and objects of great beauty.

Yaoli village street.

Our stop at Jingdezhen will also allow us to take a day trip to the famous village of Yaoli, to visit the original porcelain kiln sites, and to dine on the Yaoli cuisine. Perhaps we will have the time to stop, taste, and purchase the celebrated local green teas.

People from around the world view the show.

In October each year Jingdezhen hosts an International Ceramics Expo, covering ceramics from high tech (space age applications) all the way to cups and saucers, with exhibitions by the world's most famous ceramic houses (Wedgwood, Spode, Mikasa, etc.) and workshops by leading ceramic artists from around the world.

At the end of our time in Jingdezhen, individuals will be able to elect to take a return to Beijing for thier flight home or to fly out of Shanghai.

Travelers should talk with their travel implications of arriving in one city and leaving via another.

Shanghai

*Should some members of the tour may wish to stay a while longer at Sanbao to work on a short term project, arrangements can be made.

*Those wishing to extend their stay in Beijing or Shanghai may request help from Sanbao to make necessary reservations.

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The cost for this program is $3950.00CDN and includes all domestic flights and transportation in China along with hotels, meals, workshops, entrance fees, and symposium studio spaces and materials as well as assistants and English and Chinese translators.
All accommodation is two to a room. Single accommodation is available at additional costs.
A minimum of 12 travellers is required to make this trip possible at the quoted price.
Not included is international airfare, visa and medical travel insurance and personal expenses.
A Travel agent who will look after VISA and airline ticketing will be announced.

A $100.00 deposit by 31 December 2011 mailed to:

Terrance Lazaroff
7128 Arthur Halley
Longueuil, Quebec
J3Y 8P9

If you are interested in this adventure and wish more information, please contact program coordinators, Terrance Lazaroff at zalt57@videotron.ca - phone: 450 443 0790 or Ingrid Nicolai at Ingridonicolai@gmail.com - 514 933 3779 or 819 843 7476 (summer.)

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The Itinerary

for

The 2012 Sanbao China Tour

29 September - 20 October.

DAY	EVENING LOCATION	ACTIVITY
	Beijing	Arrival day before tour starts. Check in to hotel. Meet other travelers.
One	Beijing	Visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen square and surrounding area. Dinner in the Beijing Art district.
Two	Beijing	Visit the Great Wall and Ming Tombs. Return to Beijing for Duck Dinner.
Three	Datong	Depart via airconditioned bus for Datong. Visit Yungang Grotto Buddha Sculptures and Caves, Check into Hotel.
Four	Datong	Visit the Hanging Monastry and the Nine Dragon Wall. If time permits a stop at the original Great wall.
Five	Tiayuan	Visit Black ware Ceramic Factory, Lunch at noodle specialty restaurant. Afternoon visit to Shanxi Provincial Museum. Evening meal and free time.
Six	PingYao	Depart By bus for PingYao. Arrive in Pingyao (about 110km), view an intact 6km Ming dynasty city wall (claimed to be the last remaining in China), visit a well-preserved traditional Chinese architecture and town planning in Ming and Qing Dynasty, a UNESCO site, stay overnight in Pingyao. Check in to hotel evening meal and evening market visit.
Seven	Xian	Depart Ping Yao by bus for Xian travelling along the Yellow River plateau, visiting along the way.
Eight	Xian	Arrive at Xian and check into hotel, evening meal and evening free.
Nine	Xian	Visit Terracotta replica factory followed by actual Terracotta Soldier archeology site. Return to Xian and visit Muslem market for evening meal and shopping.
Ten	Xian	Visit Chenlu, Fouping, return to Xian for evening meal and rest.
Eleven	Shanghai	Depart Xian via air, arrive in shanghai in time to visit the museum. Free time to walk Nanjing road and visit the Pudong.
Twelve	Yixing	Depart Shanghai by bus to Yixing. Visiting along the way. Arrive Yixing visit old city and then check into the hotel.
Thirteen	Yixing	The next day will find us being hosted in the homes and studios of master Yixing teapot makers. Our hosts will talk and demonstrate their craft along with a copious serving of the traditional tea ceremony. The evening will be topped off with a delicious dinner shared with the local artists.
Fourteen	Taiping	Depart Yixing to Taiping, a village north of the famous Yellow Mountains. Visit the 1000 years old pottery village on the way,, We will stop along the way to visit a traditional rice paper making village, and yes you will be able to purchase these fine handmade papers. Check into hotel. Hotel for the evening.
Fifteen	Tiaping	Visit the Taiping area and local markets. Overnight in Tiapai.
Sixteen	Jingdezhen	The next leg of our voyage will be across the Yellow Mountains to Jingdezhen the city famous for their creations of blue and white porcelain, (approx. 4 hours by bus.) We will settle in our hotel, downtown Jingdezhen and spend some personal time wandering about exploring the area.
17 - 20		The main event in Jingdezhen will be the opening of the 2012 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo, and the Exhibition openings that follow. This day will be topped off with an elaborate banquet of National and International artists hosted by the local dignitaries.Our time in Jingdezhen will allow us to enjoy the International workshops and the studio experience at the Sanbao Ceramic Working Village. We will participate in workshops with International artists attend demonstrations and listen to lectures from the International masters. We will visit the famous traditional porcelain factories and studios the dot Jingdezhen walk the streets of the old city and hunt down antiques and objects of great beauty. Our stop at Jingdezhen will also allow us to take a day trip to the famous village of Yaoli to visit the original porcelain kiln sites and to dine on the Yaoli cuisine. Perhaps we will have the time to stop, taste and purchase the celebrated local green teas.
Twenty one	Depart Jingdezhen for Beijing or Shanghai	Overnight in Beijing or Shanghai (Individual choice) and Depart for home the next day or visit a couple of days on your own.
Twenty one	Depart Jingdezhen for Beijing or Shanghai	Those wishing to extend their visit in Sanbao can request a short term residency. Visa implications.
*Note: Some activity may be changed due to unforseen events.