China is one of the world's major social, political and economic forces, and its stunning rise as a manufacturing powerhouse has captured universal notice. China's ancient history and its rich and varied cultures offer intriguing counterpoints to its rapid industrial growth, and this study tour will provide insights into each of these dimensions of contemporary China. From Shanghai's fast-paced and dense metropolitan mass to the history-laden gardens of ancient canal towns, our itinerary will encompass the old and the new, the past and the present, the rare and the everyday, and will offer study tour participants a close look at textiles and apparel spanning centuries.

Each day of our study tour will offer lenses onto textile and apparel history and textile and apparel design, production and retailing today. We'll look at the historical and contemporary Chinese arts that have influenced China's textile and apparel designers, including bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and a wide range of costume from China's diverse ethnic populations. We'll see silk production at its source and we'll visit silk markets and museums that document its long and vivid history. Along the way we'll see futurist urban landscapes, great architecture of the past as well as the present, quiet garden sanctuaries and bustling shikumen neighborhoods (stone gate houses) in the shadows of modern high rises, and we'll encounter the latest cutting-edge trends both in upscale designer boutiques and in the pavilions of Expo 2010.

China's contrasts are dramatic and they'll be spotlighted every day of our tour. We'll meet young apparel designers and traditional artisans carrying on centuries-old needlework traditions. We'll sample delightful food from different culinary regions including Shanghainese and Sichuan cuisines. We'll shop curbside and in the stalls of Suzhou's Silk Town as well as in the glittering retail shops and department stores of Shanghai's Nanjing Road shopping district. We'll see modern factory textile production using advanced technologies and on the runway we'll see the work of Chinese textile & apparel students from one of our host universities. We'll see, taste, smell, feel and absorb a good deal of the dynamic pulse of this complex and diverse nation, and leave with a better understanding of one of the US's major trading partners.
Faculty Leaders

• Round trip airfare from Lincoln/Omaha
• Hotel accommodations (double occupancy) with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• excursions and field trips as specified in the itinerary
• English-speaking local tour guide
• Selected admissions as specified
• Insurance

An estimated price for the course is $2800-2900 plus UNL tuition and fees for TXCD 492/892 which will be billed separately by UNL student accounts and due in early May.

Costs are based on a minimum of 15 participants and subject to change.

Withdrawal after November 17 is subject to a $150 cancellation fee plus irrecoverable costs. Cancellations must be made in writing to International Affairs.

Passport applications are available at www.travel.state.gov. It can take 8-12 weeks to obtain a passport. Do not delay application.

International Affairs will assist with the Chinese visa application process for the group. US passport must be provided to International Affairs before March 1 to allow time to obtain visas.