China Peony Festival Tour 2015

July 22, 2014 - PRLog -- My tour to China in 2013 was fully booked, as were my previous ones so I hope that if you are as excited about it as I am, you will secure your spot soon.

If you have not been to China before, I hope you will consider this tour. I don’t do it very often and each time it sells out. I have had the pleasure of seeing China many times and am always humbled by the people. They are so happy to meet us and have their pictures taken with us. China is an incredible country and the more you visit it, the more you want to see. This tour enjoys many of the highlights you have heard about in China, plus some of the most breathtaking gardens, a wonderful first timers glimpse of China .. do come along and see it for yourself. You will come home with some unforgettable memories.

‘Perhaps the best place to begin the story of peonies in the garden is in China. Peonies were known in China as far back as perhaps 1000 BCE. It was not however until the seventh century, during the reign of the Emperor Yang (605-617) of the Sui dynasty, that peonies were thought to have been grown as ornamental plants.’

Besides seeing some of the country’s greatest sights such as the Terra Cotta Warriors and Great Wall, we’ll pay a special visit to the International Peony Festival, the largest event of its type in the world. Luoyang, where the festival occurs, was China’s capital in ancient times.

Please enjoy a few of the many compliments received from my 2013 tour…

‘Great tour, thank you! The China tour exceeded my expectations in every way: the people, the gardens, the places we stayed and the professional guides were all exceptional. Your expert planning always shows itself with the thoughtfulness and timing of each day’s events.’ Mary Jane, China 2013

‘It absolutely exceeded my expectations, that is why I am on my third tour with Donna. I can rely on the high standards, a varied and interesting itinerary and a delightful host. It was a wonderful mix of gardens and culture. Just keep doing what you do Donna: meticulous advance planning, a sharp and observant mid on the ground and a good mix of activities. A wonderful blend of thanks again Donna. See you on the next one!’ Michele, China 2013

‘Inspiring discoveries about ancient to modern culture – art, gardening, architecture, language, acrobats, politics, farming, crowd behavior. It has reshaped and refreshed my thinking. Great selection of sites/gardens. Excellent guides and great timing. What a great trip you organized! From first landing in Beijing with blue skies to the finale ride early to the Shanghai airport, the timing, sequence of varied activities, selection of sites was ideal. Even more important, everyone on the trip was nice (how is that possible?) and the city guides were good, the national guide kindly solicitous, knowledgeable, self-deprecating, and playful. Donna, I wouldn't have changed a moment on this trip and came away inspired with the beauty, antiquity and imagination of the places we went. Thanks a lot for the hard work and long experience it takes to make such a trip go so smoothly. Your prayers to the gods for fair weather in Beijing, in Luoyang (on peony festival day), and on the Bund make those days stand out. And made it possible to enjoy even the rainy night with the regional dancers and Korean students performing on our boat down and up the Huangpu.’ Jim, China 2013

visit www.gardeningtours.com for the full 15 PAGE Day by Day Itinerary

Donna Dawson, creator

www.icangarden.com and www.gardeningtours.com

Winner Canadian Website of the Year 2014