Zhanjiang Homecoming

Zhanjiang Homecoming
November 22 to 29
in Beijing and Zhanjiang

Children adopted from Zhanjiang and their families are invited to this "welcome back" celebration, which includes four days in Zhanjiang. Families visit the orphanage, spend time with babies and older childen in care there. They play in Zhanjiang and along the South China Sea. They also tour in a fun and meaningful way highlights of Beijing.

Zhanjiang Social Welfare Institute Directors and China's Bridge of Love Adoption Service will organize and host this special journey back.

Itinerary

Costs

Registration

September 13, 2009 is the last day to register.

The Orphanage's "First Ever" Homecoming for Zhanjiang Children!

From Beijing Fun to a "Welcome Home" in Guangdong

Children hike and play along the Great Wall and explore in the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. They have the opportunity for a calligraphy class They see the great cultural heritage in China's capital that is theirs before heading to Guangzhou and Zhanjiang. In Beijing they also visit the China Center for Adoption Affairs and the matching room, where families like theirs are made possible. In Guanghzou, where adoptions from Zhanjiang were finalized, families will have the opportunity to visit the Civil Affairs office and view their child's original adoption file.

Making Friends Along the Way

There is a special bond between children adopted from Zhanjiang. The "home-coming" is a rich opportunity for kids to experience their first home in China with other children who were born in the Zhanjiang surroundings and cared for by the same staff and at the same orphanage. .

Holding Babies and Playing at the Orphanage

Children see where they lived at the orphanage. They meet caregivers and, if it is possible to arrange, their foster parents. They can hold and feed babies and play freely in the baby rooms and with the older children living at the orphanage. The orphanage staff and caregivers will be on hand to welcome and talk with the children and families.

Tasting Life in Zhanjiang

Along with visiting the school that older children at the orphanage attend, returning kids and families will eat at favorite local restaurants and see historical sites in Zhanjiang. Because of Zhanjiang's location beside the South China Sea, the weather is balmy in November. Kids, their families and older children from the orphanage will spend an afternoon by the sea. The last night of the trip families will make dumplings with orphanage staff and children. In China, making dumplings together is a tradition for extended families when they visit together.

Bridge of Love Adoption Service (BLAS) specializes in heritage tours for children adopted from China and will handle all travel plans and interpreting for families during the entire journey.

The Bridge of Love Adoption Service (BLAS)is licensed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China, is a nonprofit organization which provides specific adoption-related services including foreign adoption consulting, adoption dossier translation, adoption tour and root-seeking tour reception. China Welfare Institution Travel Service of BLAS is licensed by the State Travel and Tourism Administation.
BLAS Website
Contact: Cecilia, Tony or Lisa.

Phone: 861063527477

Email:
lxb2@mail.china-blas.org
blas-rst@hotmail.com

Zhanjiang Homecoming Tour Itinerary

November 22	Arrive in Beijing, check in at the hotel and take a rest
November 23	Tour to the Great Wall and Summer Palace
November 24 Morning	Visit CCAA and matching room. Calligraphy or paper cutting class for kids.
Afternoon	Go to Guangzhou by air CA1301/15:35-18:40 stay at the White Swan
November 25 Morning	Visit Civil Affairs Office and see your child’s original file.
Afternoon	Go to Zhanjiang by air CZ3327/15:00-15:50 Visit Zhanjiang city, the old French Quarter, and Haiwan Bridge
November 26 Morning	Visit the orphanage, meet with caregivers and orphanage staff, and hold and play with babies.
Afternoon	Visit the Zhanjiang history museum. Visit and play at Cunjin Bridge Park.
November 27 Morning	Shopping and free time. Lunch at the ocean liner restaurant.
Afternoon	Visit the local school that the older children from the orphanage attend.
November 28 Morning	Drive through countryside and along the ocean to the East Sea Island (Donghai Island) and walk and play by the seaside. (The older children from the orphanage come along for this fun) Photos of all the kids together and fun activities.
Afternoon	Farewell party and dinner at the orphanage. Visit babies again. Make dumplings with the children and staff. Photos with caregivers. Some children meet foster families, if possible.
November 29	Fly to Beijing and leave for home OR fly to another city in China and leave for home OR add on to your trip for further travel in China

Costs*

Adult: $1288.00 each. Reserves half a hotel room, to be shared by another adult and/or child. Each hotel room has two beds or a king-sized bed.

Child: $944.00 each. Reserves half a hotel room or an extra rollaway bed.

Child: $799.00 each. For child who shares a bed with an adult or another child. No rollaway bed requested.

The price includes 4-star hotels in Beijing and Zhanjiang with breakfast, airfares for Beijing-Guangzhou-Zhanjiang-Beijing with airport tax, activities as per itinerary, lunch and dinner daily, bilingual guides, bus service, special souvenirs, etc. Price does not include transport from home country to Beijing.

*Please contact BLAS about pricing for returning to your home country from a location in China other than Beijing or for "add on" trip options for other destinations in China.

Registration

You can contact vickie@zhanjiangkids.org for registration forms and the option to order online.

A non-refundable down payment of $100 per person is required at registration. All remaining travel fees must be paid by October 24, 2009. If participant cancels after that date, payment will be refunded, minus cancellation fees.

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