Merrimack chamber's trip to China has seats still open

There are still seats available for this year's Merrimack Chamber of Commerce's annual trip to China, which includes visits to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.“This is an amazing trip that is action packed and incredibly educational,” said Deb Courtemanche, executive director of the chamber, adding the trip is open to the public.So far, about 45 people have registered for the trip, which takes place Oct. 6 to 14. The nine-day, all-inclusive package is $2,149, which includes airfare, hotels, tours and three meals a day.

Courtemanche said the popular trip has become an annual event for the chamber. Last year, 80 travelers participated, and the year prior had about 100.A full itinerary has been planned, with visits to Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Tourist attractions that will be visited include the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Tea Plantation and Buddhist Temple.“Even though the trip is extremely affordable, that by no means indicates it is no frills,” said Courtemanche. “We ate three meals a day, many in amazing restaurants or in people's homes. All of the hotels were at least five-star with English speaking staff and fine restaurants representing cuisine from around the world.”

Mattie Kelly Arts Center unveils new Broadway season.Travelers will be bused from Nashua to John F. Kennedy International Airport for a direct flight to Beijing, where the tour will begin.Courtemanche hopes about 55 more people will register for the trip. She stressed that travelers do not need to be affiliated with the chamber and do not need to be Merrimack residents.“We will visit the Great Wall and actually climb it,” she said, adding she is especially looking forward to revisiting that site.