Dear Travelers:This extraordinary

journey will allow you to discover fascinating cultural sites, as well as the exciting natural history of China... from Beijing to the giant pandas... Xi’an to the feathered dinosaurs... the Dazu grottoes to the Yangtze River and Shanghai.

Our expedition will begin in Beijing with highlights both historical and con­temporary, as we explore Tiananmen Square, the ancient hutongs (historic neighborhoods), and the Great Wall.

At Beijing’s Museum of Paleontology, we will have an introduction to the spectacular fossils of feathered dinosaurs, the species at the transition from reptile to bird, recently discovered in China and first described by researchers in 2003. This is an extraordinary find and is of great significance to science.

We will take the train north from Beijing to the Chaoyang Basin in remote Western Liaoning Province where late Jurassic shales hold fossils that have contributed much to what we know about the evolutionary transition from reptiles to birds. Chinese scientists will join us in the field at the Sihetun Geopark Fossil Site.

A short flight will take us to Xi’an, site of some of the most ancient cities in the world. Its history begins in the Bronze Age 3,000 years ago. From 1,000 BC to 1,000 AD, Xi’an was the imperial capital of China for 11 dynasties. A prosperous city with many fine universities, today Xi’an is renowned for the extraordinary 2,300­year­old terra cotta warriors which guarded the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.

In Chengdu, we’ll enjoy other cultural highlights including Wuhan Temple or Dufu’s Thatched 

Cottage, the Sichuan Opera, and the grottoes at Dazu which are filled with ancient Buddhist carvings. The giant pandas will hold our attention at Chengdu’s wonderful breeding facility. Our adventure will con­tinue to the Yangtze River, where we will enjoy a cruise through the Three Gorges on board one of the comfortable Victoria river fleet. We then fly to Shanghai to see this vibrant city. An evening of cele­bration in Shanghai will conclude our adventure! Leading the expedition will be Dr. Chris Carpenter, an excellent ecologist with a sound understanding and appre­ciation of the cultural and natural heritage of China.

Chris has taken AAAS and Sigma Xi groups throughout China, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hunza over the last 17 years, and this adventure to explore China’s Unique Heritage is one of his favorite itineraries. Beyond learning about and visiting sites of global importance, our journey through the Middle Kingdom will confront a variety of fascinating questions about the heritage of China. We’ll take advantage of the opportunity to meet local people, both in scheduled exchanges with scientists and local experts, and spontaneous meetings with villagers and merchants in cities and small towns. We hope you will join us for an unforgettable visit to a fascinating part of the world.Sincerely,

Margaret M. Betchart President, Betchart Expeditions Inc. for AAAS, Sigma Xi & ACS

CHINA’S Unique Heritage

   From the Great Wall to Terra Cotta Warriors Feathered Dinosaurs to Giant Pandas!  •  May 29–June 14, 2011

AAAS Travels ACS & Sigma Xi Expeditions

BETCHART EXPEDITIONS Inc. 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435

FIRST CLASS

Trip Fee: $3,995 per person (plus air fare of approximately $1,195 + tax USA to Beijing, with return from Shanghai plus $595 in-tour flights). Single Supplement is $1,095.Questions? Please call Renee Apostolou, Betchart Expeditions Inc.,

Telephone: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910 Fax: (408) 252-1444 Email:   renee@betchartexpeditions.com  Look on the Web: www.betchartexpeditions.com

Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; group airport transfers; accommodations twin share; all meals in China; tips to drivers and local guides; entrance fees; baggage handling; leader ship, administration.Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare or in-tour flights (quoted separately); China visa fee; gratuities to expedition leaders; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, sodas, snacks, personal insurance; or foreign airport departure taxes.What to Expect: This expedition is planned for travelers who would enjoy exploring the unique cultural heritage and natural history of China including Beijing, Xi’an, Dazu, a Yangtze River cruise, and Shanghai, plus a chance to see the giant pandas and feathered dinosaurs sites. A highlight will be the relaxing and fascinating Yangtze River cruise.  Leading this trip will be an excellent American scientist with local experts and guides. The group will travel 3 to 6 hours by bus, train, or van on several days. On traveling days, we will take time for both planned and spontaneous stops to walk, photograph, and talk with local people. Food will include a varied Chinese and international menu.  Early summer weather will prevail with some rain. This expedition will be a tremendous experience for travelers with an appetite for adven ture who would enjoy a chance to explore China with an outstanding leader and like-minded travelers. 

COSTS & CONDITIONSWe will have a grand adventure of discovery. (No smoking in vehicles, during lectures, or meals, please.)Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: For assistance, please contact Renee or Taunya at Betchart Expeditions, (800) 252-4910. You should arrive in Beijing by mid-afternoon on May 30, 2011 and to depart from Shanghai on June 14th.Accommodations: We will stay in four star hotels in the cities, and good Chinese hotels in outlying locations. We will travel on board the first class Victoria ships on the Yangtze River. Accom modations are twin-share with private bath. Near the fossil site, the hotels are modest (the location is worth it!). Reservations, Deposits, and Payments: Please mail a deposit of $1,000 per person with the completed reservation form to: China’s Unique Heritage 2011, Betchart Expeditions Inc., 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435. The balance is due March 29, 2011.Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for unused meals or other expedition features.

China’s Unique HeritageMay 29–June 14, 2011

Responsibility: Betchart Expeditions Inc., Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society act only as agents for the passenger with respect to trans portation and hotels and exercise every care possible. We can assume no liability for injury, damage, delay, loss, accident, or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, acts of God, terrorism, or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to substitute another leader of similar expertise or to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded with no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrange ments are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance.© 2011 Betchart Expeditions Inc.  All rights reserved.   CST# 2036304-40

DISCOVER CHINA!

An Exceptional Journey

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ITINERARYDays 1/2 USA to Beijing   Depart from USA gateway cities for Beijing, crossing the International Date Line. Arriving Beijing by mid-afternoon on Day 2. Transfer to the Hanhua Hotel (3 nights). Welcome dinner.Day 3 Beijing Cultural Heritage   This morning, we will visit two important sites for under-standing contemporary China: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City of the Emperors. Tiananmen, one of the largest public squares in the world, lies adjacent to the so-called Forbidden City which served as the heart of power for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a span of five centuries. In the afternoon, explore the city’s historic hutong neighbor hoods. Some of the hutongs remain quite traditional; others have become popular, stylish destinations for young urban Chinese to stroll, eat and shop. This juxtaposition of the old and the new provides a fine insight into the enigma of contemporary Beijing.Day 4 The Great Wall of China   This morning we will depart for the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, northeast of Beijing. This section, where the Wall follows a precipitous ridge line, is particularly scenic. It is easy to let your mind wander, imagining the rugged land of the “Barbarians” to the north and the “civilized” pastoral landscapes to the south. We’ll walk a partly restored section of the Great Wall, then enjoy a cable car ride down!Day 5 Paleontology Museum to Chaoyang Today we will visit the Beijing’s Institute of Vertebrate 

Paleontology to meet experts and learn about the singular importance of China’s recently discovered feathered dinosaur fossils. In January 2003, researchers described a feathered reptile with gliding ‘wings’ on each of its four legs. This improbable creature strengthens the theory that avian flight evolved from “the trees down” rather than from the “ground up.” Chemical traces in some of the same fossils have been used to infer the actual color patterns of the dinosaurs’ plumage.   In the afternoon, we will depart by train for Jinzhou and Chaoyang, in China’s northeastern Manchurian region. The dry, hilly landscapes of Western Liaoning, where the renowned Yixian fossil beds occur, will reveal to us the old China, off the beaten track and largely untouched by the economic development that is occurring in the more prosperous southern regions. Chaoyang Hotel (2 nights).Day 6 The Chaoyang Basin

Feathered Dinosaur Site  In the morning we will drive via Beipiao to Sihetun, the world’s most important site for feathered dinosaur fossils. It is not that this is the only place where feathered dinosaurs lived; the fossils here are so beautifully preserved that they resolve normally indistinguishable details like feathers, and the antennae of fossilized insects. The excavation site 

has been partially enclosed so that it is possible to see numerous plant, insect, fish, and reptile fossils in-situ. The most significant fossils are excavated for research and museum display. We will see some of these at Sihetun and others in Beijing. On our return to Chaoyang, we may visit a “fossil market,” where the wares include petrified wood, invertebrate, and fish fossils. The dinosaurs and other reptilian fossils cannot be sold.

Day 7 Chaoyang to Beijing & Xi’an   We will depart on a morning train from Jinzhou to Beijing, then fly to Xi’an, a city that served as the imperial capital of China from the dawn of its recorded history until the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in the 10th Century. Having supported Neolithic agrarian societies for at least 8,000 years, Xi’an later became the seat of Emperor Qin Shi Huang who unified China for the first time in the 2nd Century BCE. Later, Xi’an was the power center for other important dynasties, and it served as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Xi’an today is a thriving and culturally diverse metropolis with a significant population of Hui Muslims. Its Grand Mosque is a wonderful fusion of Chinese and Islamic architecture. Enjoy a stroll on the old city wall, and dinner in the vibrant Muslim quarter. Belltower Hotel (3 nights). Day 8 Xi’an, Imperial Capital of China

& Terra Cotta Warriors  This morning we will visit the world-renowned Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the site of an army of more than 6,000 life-sized clay figures interred in tribute to the emperor Qin Shi Huang who unified China 2,300 years ago. His name Qin is the origin of our word “China.” Most of the warriors are displayed in-situ. The most compelling are exhibited at museum on-site.  After lunch in a local township, we will explore the rural outskirts of Xi’an where a few of the farming families still utilize cave dwellings excavated into the native loess hillsides (though they have built traditional houses as well). Time permitting, we may visit the Banpo Neolithic site, an excavated village that dates from the dawn of agriculture more than 6,000 years ago.

Day 9 Han Tombs   Today we will visit the Han Tombs, a recently excavated, 2,000-year-old “mausoleum” of clay animals, miniature soldiers, and managerial staff that were buried to aid the Han Emperor in his next life. Beautifully preserved, the refined deportment of these sculptures indicates the relative sophistication of the Han, who succeeded the short-lived Qin Dynasty. In the after noon we will have time to explore Xi’an’s fascinating downtown within the ancient city wall. Possible activities include a stroll atop the restored city wall, a visit to one of the Goose Pagodas, or the Grand Mosque for an evening call to prayer.Day 10 Xi’an to Chengdu  This morning we will fly over the Qinling Mountains to Chengdu, cultural heart of the fertile Sichuan Basin. Chengdu is renowned as a gateway to the mountainous habitat of the Giant Panda, but for many centuries, it has been a sophisticated, engrossing city in its own right. Chengdu’s residents are proud of their robust vernacular culture and their beautifully land-scaped parks and temples. Today, as Sichuan booms, it keeps its link to the past through tranquil tea gardens and a delicious cuisine based on fish and herbs from the surrounding mountains. This afternoon, we will visit the new Sichuan Provincial Museum and a thatched cottage that evokes the residence of Dufu, one of China’s most beloved classical poets who lived in Chengdu during the Tang Dynasty more than 1,200 years ago. This evening, we will enjoy the Sichuan Opera. Tianfu Hotel.Day 11 Giant Pandas to Dazu   About 2,000 giant pandas survive in the wild mountains of western Sichuan, but they are very difficult to see. Fortunately for us, these endearing creatures can also be observed in naturalistic surroundings at several excellent breeding and conservation facilities. This morning, we will 

visit the Chengdu Panda Base on the northern outskirts of the city. Here, both giant pandas and their distant cousins the red panda are housed in large enclosures amidst groves of bamboo and dawn redwoods. You may hold a young panda (for a donation to the center!).  We will follow a scenic expressway southward through verdant countryside, past villages to the town of Dazu. Nearby, a spring issues from a cleft in red sandstone. During the religious fervor of the Tang Dynasty, 1,400 years ago, this auspicious location inspired devotees to carve hundreds of images from Buddhist folklore into grottoes on the side of the canyon. The figures we’ll see are expressive and beautifully executed. Dazu Hotel.Day 12 Dazu to Chongqing

Yangtze River Cruise  After our morning visit to the Buddhist Grottoes of Dazu, we will drive to Chongqing, a populous municipality set amidst hills where the Fuling River joins the Yangtze. Chongqing is the embarkation port for vessels which travel through the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges. We will sail on one of the comfortable Victoria River Cruise ship fleet (3 nights). Embark the ship and enjoy dinner on board.Days 13/14 Cruising on the Yangtze River   We will awaken en route to the Three Gorges. At first, we will pass low-lying hills of the Sichuan Basin, then the surrounding ranges will begin to enclose the river, culminating in a spectacular series of narrow chasms through which the boat sails. Stops en route include the Ghost City of Fengdu. A tributary known as the “Little Three Gorges” also makes a scenic side trip. Here the ridgelines of the gorges are spectacular—a classic Chinese landscape. Although the recently completed Three Gorges dam has been finished for some time, the impoundment behind the dam will not attain its minimum depth for several years.

Day 15 Yichang to Shanghai   By morning, our vessel will have traversed the locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world. After a tour of the dam site, we will disembark and transfer by bus to Yichang for our connecting flight to Shanghai, near the mouth of the Yangtze River. Shanghai is China’s most confident and commercially vibrant metropolis. It’s high density architecture includes European colonial, classical Chinese, Socialist, and futuristic designs that are difficult to classify. Shanghai Hotel (2 nights).Day 16 Shanghai   This morning, we will visit the memorable Shanghai Museum, which houses many of China’s most important cultural treasures. The nearby Exhibition Hall of Urban Planning provides a fascinating insight into the phenomenon of 21st Century Shanghai. Its detailed scale-model map of the city is guaranteed to amaze. We will also visit the historic left bank of the Pudong River. The area, which foreigners called “The Bund,” was a commercial center for the European trade enclaves that operated in Shanghai during the first half of the 20th Century. Enjoy a farewell dinner followed by a performance by the Sichuan Acrobats.

Day 17 Shanghai to USA   Transfer to the airport for return flight to the USA. Arrive home the same day.

RESERVATIONS #1178

Yes! I/we want to join the China’s Unique Heritage Expedition, May 29–June 14, 2011, offered by AAAS Travels, Sigma Xi Expeditions & ACS Expeditions. Please reserve _____ space(s). As a deposit, I/we enclose a check for $_____________ ($1,000 per person) payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account.

Name(s)  _______________________________________  Age_________

_______________________________________  Age_________

Address _____________________________________________________

City ________________________________ State ____ Zip ____________

Phone:  Home  (________) ______________________________________

Work   (________) ______________________________________

Email Address ________________________________________________Membership (please circle):    AAAS    Sigma Xi    ACS    Planetary SocietyAccommodations Preference:    ___ Twin  ___ Single   ___ Share (with a friend) 

___ Share (assign a roommate)    ___ Nonsmoker      ___ Smoker

Signature  __________________________________ Date  ____________

Signature __________________________________ Date  ____________

    Mail To:   China’s Unique Heritage 2011 Betchart Expeditions Inc. 17050 Montebello Road Cupertino, CA 95014-5345

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Days 1/2 USA to Beijing   Depart from USA gateway cities for Beijing, crossing the International Date Line. Arriving Beijing by mid-afternoon on Day 2. Transfer to the Hanhua Hotel (3 nights). Welcome dinner.Day 3 Beijing Cultural Heritage   This morning, we will visit two important sites for under-standing contemporary China: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City of the Emperors. Tiananmen, one of the largest public squares in the world, lies adjacent to the so-called Forbidden City which served as the heart of power for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a span of five centuries. In the afternoon, explore the city’s historic hutong neighbor hoods. Some of the hutongs remain quite traditional; others have become popular, stylish destinations for young urban Chinese to stroll, eat and shop. This juxtaposition of the old and the new provides a fine insight into the enigma of contemporary Beijing.Day 4 The Great Wall of China   This morning we will depart for the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, northeast of Beijing. This section, where the Wall follows a precipitous ridge line, is particularly scenic. It is easy to let your mind wander, imagining the rugged land of the “Barbarians” to the north and the “civilized” pastoral landscapes to the south. We’ll walk a partly restored section of the Great Wall, then enjoy a cable car ride down!Day 5 Paleontology Museum to Chaoyang Today we will visit the Beijing’s Institute of Vertebrate 

Paleontology to meet experts and learn about the singular importance of China’s recently discovered feathered dinosaur fossils. In January 2003, researchers described a feathered reptile with gliding ‘wings’ on each of its four legs. This improbable creature strengthens the theory that avian flight evolved from “the trees down” rather than from the “ground up.” Chemical traces in some of the same fossils have been used to infer the actual color patterns of the dinosaurs’ plumage.   In the afternoon, we will depart by train for Jinzhou and Chaoyang, in China’s northeastern Manchurian region. The dry, hilly landscapes of Western Liaoning, where the renowned Yixian fossil beds occur, will reveal to us the old China, off the beaten track and largely untouched by the economic development that is occurring in the more prosperous southern regions. Chaoyang Hotel (2 nights).Day 6 The Chaoyang Basin

Feathered Dinosaur Site  In the morning we will drive via Beipiao to Sihetun, the world’s most important site for feathered dinosaur fossils. It is not that this is the only place where feathered dinosaurs lived; the fossils here are so beautifully preserved that they resolve normally indistinguishable details like feathers, and the antennae of fossilized insects. The excavation site 

has been partially enclosed so that it is possible to see numerous plant, insect, fish, and reptile fossils in-situ. The most significant fossils are excavated for research and museum display. We will see some of these at Sihetun and others in Beijing. On our return to Chaoyang, we may visit a “fossil market,” where the wares include petrified wood, invertebrate, and fish fossils. The dinosaurs and other reptilian fossils cannot be sold.

Day 7 Chaoyang to Beijing & Xi’an   We will depart on a morning train from Jinzhou to Beijing, then fly to Xi’an, a city that served as the imperial capital of China from the dawn of its recorded history until the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in the 10th Century. Having supported Neolithic agrarian societies for at least 8,000 years, Xi’an later became the seat of Emperor Qin Shi Huang who unified China for the first time in the 2nd Century BCE. Later, Xi’an was the power center for other important dynasties, and it served as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Xi’an today is a thriving and culturally diverse metropolis with a significant population of Hui Muslims. Its Grand Mosque is a wonderful fusion of Chinese and Islamic architecture. Enjoy a stroll on the old city wall, and dinner in the vibrant Muslim quarter. Belltower Hotel (3 nights). Day 8 Xi’an, Imperial Capital of China

& Terra Cotta Warriors  This morning we will visit the world-renowned Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the site of an army of more than 6,000 life-sized clay figures interred in tribute to the emperor Qin Shi Huang who unified China 2,300 years ago. His name Qin is the origin of our word “China.” Most of the warriors are displayed in-situ. The most compelling are exhibited at museum on-site.  After lunch in a local township, we will explore the rural outskirts of Xi’an where a few of the farming families still utilize cave dwellings excavated into the native loess hillsides (though they have built traditional houses as well). Time permitting, we may visit the Banpo Neolithic site, an excavated village that dates from the dawn of agriculture more than 6,000 years ago.

Day 9 Han Tombs   Today we will visit the Han Tombs, a recently excavated, 2,000-year-old “mausoleum” of clay animals, miniature soldiers, and managerial staff that were buried to aid the Han Emperor in his next life. Beautifully preserved, the refined deportment of these sculptures indicates the relative sophistication of the Han, who succeeded the short-lived Qin Dynasty. In the after noon we will have time to explore Xi’an’s fascinating downtown within the ancient city wall. Possible activities include a stroll atop the restored city wall, a visit to one of the Goose Pagodas, or the Grand Mosque for an evening call to prayer.Day 10 Xi’an to Chengdu  This morning we will fly over the Qinling Mountains to Chengdu, cultural heart of the fertile Sichuan Basin. Chengdu is renowned as a gateway to the mountainous habitat of the Giant Panda, but for many centuries, it has been a sophisticated, engrossing city in its own right. Chengdu’s residents are proud of their robust vernacular culture and their beautifully land-scaped parks and temples. Today, as Sichuan booms, it keeps its link to the past through tranquil tea gardens and a delicious cuisine based on fish and herbs from the surrounding mountains. This afternoon, we will visit the new Sichuan Provincial Museum and a thatched cottage that evokes the residence of Dufu, one of China’s most beloved classical poets who lived in Chengdu during the Tang Dynasty more than 1,200 years ago. This evening, we will enjoy the Sichuan Opera. Tianfu Hotel.Day 11 Giant Pandas to Dazu   About 2,000 giant pandas survive in the wild mountains of western Sichuan, but they are very difficult to see. Fortunately for us, these endearing creatures can also be observed in naturalistic surroundings at several excellent breeding and conservation facilities. This morning, we will 

visit the Chengdu Panda Base on the northern outskirts of the city. Here, both giant pandas and their distant cousins the red panda are housed in large enclosures amidst groves of bamboo and dawn redwoods. You may hold a young panda (for a donation to the center!).  We will follow a scenic expressway southward through verdant countryside, past villages to the town of Dazu. Nearby, a spring issues from a cleft in red sandstone. During the religious fervor of the Tang Dynasty, 1,400 years ago, this auspicious location inspired devotees to carve hundreds of images from Buddhist folklore into grottoes on the side of the canyon. The figures we’ll see are expressive and beautifully executed. Dazu Hotel.Day 12 Dazu to Chongqing

Yangtze River Cruise  After our morning visit to the Buddhist Grottoes of Dazu, we will drive to Chongqing, a populous municipality set amidst hills where the Fuling River joins the Yangtze. Chongqing is the embarkation port for vessels which travel through the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges. We will sail on one of the comfortable Victoria River Cruise ship fleet (3 nights). Embark the ship and enjoy dinner on board.Days 13/14 Cruising on the Yangtze River   We will awaken en route to the Three Gorges. At first, we will pass low-lying hills of the Sichuan Basin, then the surrounding ranges will begin to enclose the river, culminating in a spectacular series of narrow chasms through which the boat sails. Stops en route include the Ghost City of Fengdu. A tributary known as the “Little Three Gorges” also makes a scenic side trip. Here the ridgelines of the gorges are spectacular—a classic Chinese landscape. Although the recently completed Three Gorges dam has been finished for some time, the impoundment behind the dam will not attain its minimum depth for several years.

Day 15 Yichang to Shanghai   By morning, our vessel will have traversed the locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world. After a tour of the dam site, we will disembark and transfer by bus to Yichang for our connecting flight to Shanghai, near the mouth of the Yangtze River. Shanghai is China’s most confident and commercially vibrant metropolis. It’s high density architecture includes European colonial, classical Chinese, Socialist, and futuristic designs that are difficult to classify. Shanghai Hotel (2 nights).Day 16 Shanghai   This morning, we will visit the memorable Shanghai Museum, which houses many of China’s most important cultural treasures. The nearby Exhibition Hall of Urban Planning provides a fascinating insight into the phenomenon of 21st Century Shanghai. Its detailed scale-model map of the city is guaranteed to amaze. We will also visit the historic left bank of the Pudong River. The area, which foreigners called “The Bund,” was a commercial center for the European trade enclaves that operated in Shanghai during the first half of the 20th Century. Enjoy a farewell dinner followed by a performance by the Sichuan Acrobats.

Day 17 Shanghai to USA   Transfer to the airport for return flight to the USA. Arrive home the same day.

RESERVATIONS #1178

Yes! I/we want to join the China’s Unique Heritage Expedition, May 29–June 14, 2011, offered by AAAS Travels, Sigma Xi Expeditions & ACS Expeditions. Please reserve _____ space(s). As a deposit, I/we enclose a check for $_____________ ($1,000 per person) payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account.

Name(s)  _______________________________________  Age_________

_______________________________________  Age_________

Address _____________________________________________________

City ________________________________ State ____ Zip ____________

Phone:  Home  (________) ______________________________________

Work   (________) ______________________________________

Email Address ________________________________________________Membership (please circle):    AAAS    Sigma Xi    ACS    Planetary SocietyAccommodations Preference:    ___ Twin  ___ Single   ___ Share (with a friend) 

___ Share (assign a roommate)    ___ Nonsmoker      ___ Smoker

Signature  __________________________________ Date  ____________

Signature __________________________________ Date  ____________

    Mail To:   China’s Unique Heritage 2011 Betchart Expeditions Inc. 17050 Montebello Road Cupertino, CA 95014-5345

Dear Travelers:This extraordinary

journey will allow you to discover fascinating cultural sites, as well as the exciting natural history of China... from Beijing to the giant pandas... Xi’an to the feathered dinosaurs... the Dazu grottoes to the Yangtze River and Shanghai.

Our expedition will begin in Beijing with highlights both historical and con­temporary, as we explore Tiananmen Square, the ancient hutongs (historic neighborhoods), and the Great Wall.

At Beijing’s Museum of Paleontology, we will have an introduction to the spectacular fossils of feathered dinosaurs, the species at the transition from reptile to bird, recently discovered in China and first described by researchers in 2003. This is an extraordinary find and is of great significance to science.

We will take the train north from Beijing to the Chaoyang Basin in remote Western Liaoning Province where late Jurassic shales hold fossils that have contributed much to what we know about the evolutionary transition from reptiles to birds. Chinese scientists will join us in the field at the Sihetun Geopark Fossil Site.

A short flight will take us to Xi’an, site of some of the most ancient cities in the world. Its history begins in the Bronze Age 3,000 years ago. From 1,000 BC to 1,000 AD, Xi’an was the imperial capital of China for 11 dynasties. A prosperous city with many fine universities, today Xi’an is renowned for the extraordinary 2,300­year­old terra cotta warriors which guarded the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.

In Chengdu, we’ll enjoy other cultural highlights including Wuhan Temple or Dufu’s Thatched 

Cottage, the Sichuan Opera, and the grottoes at Dazu which are filled with ancient Buddhist carvings. The giant pandas will hold our attention at Chengdu’s wonderful breeding facility. Our adventure will con­tinue to the Yangtze River, where we will enjoy a cruise through the Three Gorges on board one of the comfortable Victoria river fleet. We then fly to Shanghai to see this vibrant city. An evening of cele­bration in Shanghai will conclude our adventure! Leading the expedition will be Dr. Chris Carpenter, an excellent ecologist with a sound understanding and appre­ciation of the cultural and natural heritage of China.

Chris has taken AAAS and Sigma Xi groups throughout China, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hunza over the last 17 years, and this adventure to explore China’s Unique Heritage is one of his favorite itineraries. Beyond learning about and visiting sites of global importance, our journey through the Middle Kingdom will confront a variety of fascinating questions about the heritage of China. We’ll take advantage of the opportunity to meet local people, both in scheduled exchanges with scientists and local experts, and spontaneous meetings with villagers and merchants in cities and small towns. We hope you will join us for an unforgettable visit to a fascinating part of the world.Sincerely,

Margaret M. Betchart President, Betchart Expeditions Inc. for AAAS, Sigma Xi & ACS

CHINA’S Unique Heritage

   From the Great Wall to Terra Cotta Warriors Feathered Dinosaurs to Giant Pandas!  •  May 29–June 14, 2011

AAAS Travels ACS & Sigma Xi Expeditions

BETCHART EXPEDITIONS Inc. 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435

FIRST CLASS

Trip Fee: $3,995 per person (plus air fare of approximately $1,195 + tax USA to Beijing, with return from Shanghai plus $595 in-tour flights). Single Supplement is $1,095.Questions? Please call Renee Apostolou, Betchart Expeditions Inc.,

Telephone: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910 Fax: (408) 252-1444 Email:   renee@betchartexpeditions.com  Look on the Web: www.betchartexpeditions.com

Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; group airport transfers; accommodations twin share; all meals in China; tips to drivers and local guides; entrance fees; baggage handling; leader ship, administration.Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare or in-tour flights (quoted separately); China visa fee; gratuities to expedition leaders; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, sodas, snacks, personal insurance; or foreign airport departure taxes.What to Expect: This expedition is planned for travelers who would enjoy exploring the unique cultural heritage and natural history of China including Beijing, Xi’an, Dazu, a Yangtze River cruise, and Shanghai, plus a chance to see the giant pandas and feathered dinosaurs sites. A highlight will be the relaxing and fascinating Yangtze River cruise.  Leading this trip will be an excellent American scientist with local experts and guides. The group will travel 3 to 6 hours by bus, train, or van on several days. On traveling days, we will take time for both planned and spontaneous stops to walk, photograph, and talk with local people. Food will include a varied Chinese and international menu.  Early summer weather will prevail with some rain. This expedition will be a tremendous experience for travelers with an appetite for adven ture who would enjoy a chance to explore China with an outstanding leader and like-minded travelers. 

COSTS & CONDITIONSWe will have a grand adventure of discovery. (No smoking in vehicles, during lectures, or meals, please.)Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: For assistance, please contact Renee or Taunya at Betchart Expeditions, (800) 252-4910. You should arrive in Beijing by mid-afternoon on May 30, 2011 and to depart from Shanghai on June 14th.Accommodations: We will stay in four star hotels in the cities, and good Chinese hotels in outlying locations. We will travel on board the first class Victoria ships on the Yangtze River. Accom modations are twin-share with private bath. Near the fossil site, the hotels are modest (the location is worth it!). Reservations, Deposits, and Payments: Please mail a deposit of $1,000 per person with the completed reservation form to: China’s Unique Heritage 2011, Betchart Expeditions Inc., 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435. The balance is due March 29, 2011.Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for unused meals or other expedition features.

China’s Unique HeritageMay 29–June 14, 2011

Responsibility: Betchart Expeditions Inc., Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society act only as agents for the passenger with respect to trans portation and hotels and exercise every care possible. We can assume no liability for injury, damage, delay, loss, accident, or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, acts of God, terrorism, or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to substitute another leader of similar expertise or to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded with no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrange ments are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance.© 2011 Betchart Expeditions Inc.  All rights reserved.   CST# 2036304-40

DISCOVER CHINA!

An Exceptional Journey