You've paced yourself, you've worked hard, trained and built up strength and endurance for the big race. So what's the next logical step? Why, go to China for the 22nd Annual Beijing Marathon. The event, being held on Sunday, October 20, offers you a unique way of seeing the Imperial City--by running (or walking if you're just too tired) with 20,000 other sweaty athletes from around the world.
Pacific Delight Tours has assembled an eight-day, all-inclusive tour out of Los Angeles worthy of note centering around the tournament, an early showcase for this host city of the 2008 Olympic Games. They'll fly you out of Los Angeles on October 15, and put you up in the four-star Jinglun Hotel (recently renovated) with morning meals included starting from $1,230 per person based on double occupancy. Heck, they're even throwing in the obligatory post-race pasta dinner--noodles were invented here, after all--and a few other meals.
And if you're not a runner, that's okay, too. This deal is for the fans, loyal supporters and just plain curious as well the traveling sinophile There are scheduled tours to the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs and the Forbidden City that are part of the base price, plus additional for-a-fee tours that are available.
Add-on fares of up to $190 are available for departures out of several U.S. gateways. Single supplements run $225. Discounts and special arrangements can be had for running clubs as well. Registration for the marathon, which begins at the Olympic Games Center and ends at Tianamen Square, is an additional $80. Pacific Delights representatives will help you with the registration process for the race.
For more information, call 800/221-7179 or visit the Web site at www.pacificdelighttours.com.
