Letter from Chairman Merv Lapin,
founder of China Cultural Adventures:
I first traveled to China in 1977 immediately after Mao Tse Tung died. Since then, I have made over 40 trips to all parts of China, both as a tourist and as a hockey coach for Chinese teams.
For three years I lived and worked in China helping the Chinese Sports Committee develop a youth hockey program. In 2002 and again in 2008 I will take the U.S. Olympic/National Women’s Ice Hockey team to play at the World Championships in Harbin from April 1-14, 2008.
Since I first traveled to China, there have been tremendous changes - from a drab green and dull blue Communist society to a freer and dizzying Capitalist one. These changes have created an interest for me in how the country and its society have developed over 3000 years.
My most memorable trip was from April-June 1989 during the Cultural Revolution. It was on this trip that I witnessed first-hand the Tiananmen massacre. It is my opinion that China will be the most important country in our future. I feel it is important to try and understand how as Americans we both differ and are the same as the Chinese. There is no better way to do that than to travel there. And so was born the Vail International Hockey trips for the youth of Vail – and China Cultural Adventures for Adults.
Eric and I have designed the trip for the first time visitor to China. We will see the most important and interesting sites with experienced guides – many that we have used in the past. All of the hotels and many of the restaurants are 4 and 5 star with which I am familiar.
I look forward to showing you China’s most important historical and cultural sites in a brief 16 day trip.
A short note from Eric Eves
In 1993 I traveled to China for the first time, I was a 14-year-old hockey player on one of Merv’s Vail International Hockey trips. This experience helped to shape my carrier path and passion for travel. I was a tourism business major at Colorado State University and have worked on 3 subsequent trips to China with Merv. China is an assault on ones senses; its history and future potential are fascinating. I look forward to sharing them with you.
