A very 'Bon Voyage' as first local tour group heads to US

By Lu Feiran and Zhang Fengming  |   2008-6-18  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE first tour group from the Chinese mainland to the United States set out yesterday, with agencies describing most of the group as seasoned travellers.

The group will meet other tourists from Beijing and Guangzhou in Washington DC, and then start a 10-day tour through six cities along the east and the west coasts.

Organized by the Shanghai International Travel Service Co Ltd and the Shanghai China International Travel Service Co Ltd, the group comprises 76 members ranging in age from 19 to 74 years old.

Zhang Jingrong, 67, signed up for the group with her husband Lu Baoquan, who is 72 years old.

"Since retiring we have traveled to 26 countries," said Zhang. "We both think we should seize the opportunity to see more while we are healthy enough to get around."

Tourists said the trip was well organized with plenty of traveling tips, dinner menus and accommodation arrangements.

Agencies said special arrangements would greet the first group from the Chinese mainland including an official welcoming ceremony on a yacht in Washington DC.

Another two groups will set out for the US at the weekend. They will stay in the country for 12 and 14 days respectively, according to the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission.

The country's sole trans-bank bank card system operator said yesterday that more US merchants, including stores under brands like GAP, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Guess and shopping centers like Macy's and Barstow Outlets, had begun accepting China UnionPay debit cards.

UnionPay is still in talks with US partners on accepting UnionPay credit cards. More than 200,000 ATMs in the US, with UnionPay signs, as well as PULSE and CitiBank, accept UnionPay cards including debit and credit cards.

Chinese travelers in the US also have access to an emergency hotline 866-567-5516.