CHINA

World-Class Golf
at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort

by Dan Poppers*

Beijing April ,2006
Travel is full of surprises. I think it's one reason so many of us love it so much. The farther away we go, the more we expect the unexpected.

  In everyday life, we can often predict what's coming around the corner. When traveling, the challenge is to find the corner (while gazing gallantly at our "Visitor's Map"), realizing that once we find the corner and make the turn, the excitement of the unknown still remains.

  The first surprise on my trip to China is not one I recommend. I had looked at my itinerary a month in advance, filed it away in a secure place, and went about my everyday responsibilities as publisher and editor-in-chief of GolfNews Magazine.

The golf mascotte inspired by the terra cotta warriors of Qin Emperor at Xi'An

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*Dan Poppers is Golf Writers Association of American national award winner and publisher of GolfNews Magazine. He is President of the International Golf Travel Writers Association.

Traditional China

What I didn't do is put the exact dates and times of my departure and return flights in my daily appointment book. Beijing time is 15 hours later than L.A. time (14 when it's not daylight savings time).

  "World traveler" Dan Poppers missed his flight to China by 24 hours. By not reading my itinerary carefully and often, I got my days mixed up (my eye focused on the next day arrival day rather than the actual departure day) and my trip to China started with unexpected anxiety.

Air China 

 Fortunately, the general manager of Air China at LAX, Zhihang Chi, came to my rescue. Thanks to Air China 's policy of personalized service, Mr. Chi arranged to change my flight to the following day.  Reminder: learn a lesson from me. Days beforehand, when traveling through multitude time zones, check flight days and times carefully. Write down in your appointment book the exact days/times you leave and return.

  It seemed only appropriate to fly on a Chinese airline for my first flight ever to China . An airline from another country wouldn't have felt the same. It would be like a visitor flying to America for the first time on Mexicana or British Airlines. Whenever possible, I say start your visit to a foreign country on that country's airline-then your travel adventure starts the minute you walk on the plane.

Air China was definitely the right choice. Based in Beijing , Air China is the largest carrier, and the preferred carrier for Chinese national leaders traveling abroad and for foreign government leaders who visit China . So, I knew I was in good hands when I boarded the plane. The service was excellent and the meals turned out to be very good.

Right away, just a few minutes into my flight, I realized I was visiting a country with friendly people. The Chinese people on board (and the overwhelming majority of people on board were Chinese) were very friendly to me; my smiles met their smiles, and it was a great way to start a trip that I only had dreamed of taking, never realizing that someday-this day-that I actually would be going to China.