14D China Fun - 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Lifelong Memories from $1640 kids

Picture spending two full weeks touring China, enjoying Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai with your kids or grandkids... or even someone else's kids. The luxury tour operator Pan Pacific Journeys is packaging special departures this year to take advantage of the 2010 World Expo, a fantastic event just like the old-style World's Fairs. It's coming to China's financial capital of Shanghai from May 1-October 31, 2010.

According to Pan Pacific, the theme of the 2010 World Expo is “Better City, Better Life,” representing a deep concern for the improvement of urban environments. The number of city inhabitants has risen constantly since 1800, and by 2010, as estimated by the United Nations, urban dwellers will account for 55% of the world population. So you can picture what a great finale Shanghai will be to this journey to China's most interesting destinations.

Until then, Pan Pacific is focused on creating special family memories. They offer, in addition to sightseeing at the main temples, museums and archeogolical sites, a variety of interactive cultural encounters. Families can climb the Great Wall, go for a pedicab or trishaw ride through quaint hutong lanes of Beijing, and even meet a local family and make a traditional dumpling lunch. There's also plenty of time for outdoor adventures, riding on a bamboo raft, and visiting a panda research center.

Typically, this tour begins in China's fascinating capital of Beijing (read more about Beijing for Families) and ends, all too soon, in Shanghai, another great city for families.

In between there's a visit to Xian to meet the famous terracotta warriors in their own environment, a stop in Sichuan Province to study pandas, and time to float along the Li River in Guilin/Yangshuo and appreciate the beauty of this classic landscape.

The Pan Pacific Journeys China Family Tour price starts at $2640 per adult, and includes 14 days of sightseeing, meals, hotels, guides, four flights during the tour and taxes. Families can add on international airfare to China beginning at $1,000 pp, depending on city of departure. Children under 12 who are sharing with parents pay from $1,640 each. Single supplements range from $760 to $890 depending on season, as all room rates are based on double occupancy. Better value if you bring a friend! The scheduled 2010 departures are March 16 ($2,640); June 15, 22 ($2,685); July 6, 13, 20 ($2,669); October 12 ($2,799) and March 15, 2011 ($2,640).

For bookings and more information, contact your travel agent, or visit Pan Pacific Journeys.