China adventure: Chamber promotes 2015 group tour

By Mary Owen

A tour of China slated for 2015 will broaden the horizons of participants as well as help raise funds for the Stayton Sublimity chamber of commerce.

“(It) will help us continue to promote businesses and assist visitors to our area,” said Kelly Schreiber, executive director of the chamber.

“People going on the trip can also fill out a business inquiry form that will match them up to a business in China that they’d be interested in visiting. I think gaining awareness of other cultures is always life enhancing.”

Schreiber joined 15 chamber executives on tour in China Oct. 4-13 to explore the special promotional offer for chamber members and community members. Now she will help coordinate a local group to travel to China in October 2015.

The invitation for the preview tour was extended by Citslinc International, an organization that only conducts tours for chambers and their communities, hosting up to 20,000 visitors last year.

“Our trip helped us get familiar with what to expect so we can better explain it to community members that are interested in the next China trip,” Schreiber said.

She visited Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, exploring historic sites including the Great Wall of China, touring Hutong in a rickshaw, taking a boat ride on the Suzhou Canal, and having lunch in a local family’s home.

“Learning the rich history of the ancient culture thoroughly amazed me,” Schreiber said. “I gained a new appreciation for the culture and people of China. I love their sense of family and taking care of each other. Everyone was so kind and happy.”

Schreiber said the Chinese way of life is slower than in this country, and revolves around a philosophy of health, happiness and longevity.

“In all the sightseeing, I was awed by how old so many places are amid modern architecture,” she said. “I walked on cobblestone that was thousands of years old!”

A dozen Stayton area residents have already expressed interest in traveling with Citslinc next October. Cost for the trip is $2,200 per person (double occupancy) and covers all inclusive tours as well as round-trip airfare, three meals a day, and accommodations in four- and five-star hotels.

“Accommodations were top notch in every city,” Schreiber said. “The cuisine was delicious and varied in each city. We didn’t have much of an opportunity to get hungry before we were stopping at another restaurant.

“Our two tour guides were extremely knowledgeable about the history as well as giving us insights into their own lives and the culture of the Chinese people.”

A preliminary itinerary and additional information is available on the chamber’s website, stayton/sublimity chamber.org/china-travel.

“I think gaining awareness of other cultures is always life enhancing,” said Schreiber, who has been asked to research trips to Ireland and Italy for future years.