For some reason, I had little documentation on the 1998 trip (despite a few pictures). When I put out a plea to participants, Heidi Keller Force replied that she had a journal she’d share. This entry is based mostly on her notes (which sort of equalled mine). It give a student perspective on the trip (though I suppose she edited some evening episodes that she will deny happened). thank you, Heidi.
Professors: Dr. Hoyt and Dr. Jin
Students: Heidi, Alison, Jackie, Jessica, Anita, Romi, Kristi, Heather, Kerry, Brian “Udo”, Glen, Brian M, David, Mahesh, Derek, James, Mike
May 7/8 – Korean Air – Chicago O’Hare à Seoul à Hong Kong – Day 1
Arrived at O’Hare late in the evening. Very long flight to Seoul. Another flight to Hong Kong. Flew into Kai Tek airport on Hong Kong island and you could practically look into the buildings before landing. Pilots had to be specially trained to land here. The new airport opened later in the Summer. Arrived in HK and checked into the Park Lane Hotel. We all explored as 
small groups in the early afternoon – walked around, fitted for suits, etc. First thoughts on Hong Kong – overpopulated, dirty and the terrible smell! That evening the group took a ferry to Cheung Chau Island for a dinner full of seafood – crab, squid, mussel, lobster, shrimp and blue lady beer. Took the ferry back and enjoyed the Hong Kong skyline at night. Subway back to the hotel.
May 9 – Explored Hong Kong – Day 2
Large breakfast buffet in the hotel Boarded a bus for a full-day tour of Hong Kong with guide Atmin. First stop was the “San Pan Tour”, which included views of the famous floating restaurants of Hong Kong, fishing house boats 
and straw hats. Next stop was to Repulse Bay with a view of the hotel with the hole in it for the dragon to drink out of the bay. Took pictures at the Happy Buddha statue. Lunch was at the Revolving 99 restaurant with a full buffet – all free except for a $7 coke! Journeyed to the highest point in Hong Kong to enjoy the views then took a steep tram down the mountain. Visited the Stanley Market. Dinner that evening was with one of Dr. Hoyt’s friends and included our first attempt at chopsticks on the trip. Several students decided to enjoy the Hong Kong nightlife to end the HK leg of the trip.
May 10 – Guangzhou – Day 3
Up early for an express train to Canton/Guangzhou. We were excited to see McDonald’s on arrival and enjoyed a “cheap” $2 value meal for lunch. Walked the streets and noticed lots of people, dirt and bikes! Took a bus to visit the 5 Goat Temple and a porcelain store. Next stop was a real China food market – lots of live animals, raw meat, bugs and Chinese medicine. Stayed at the White Swan Hotel. Group dinner with more new foods to try – pigeon, eel, frog and clam! In the areas around the restaurant girls tried to sell us flowers and yelled American swear words to us.
May 11– Kunming – Day 4
Early morning flight to Kunming. Explored Golden Dragon Mountain and rode on a ski lift up the mountain. Explored several Buddhist temples and an art gallery where we had our names painted in Chinese. Lunch at the New York Café which was a huge stir fry. After lunch we visited the largest copper temple. Checked into the Golden Dragon hotel. The group was on our own for dinner that night. A few of us went to the Happy Café for dinner. No one in the restaurant could speak English and not sure what we ate for dinner. But it was a fun experience! Explored some of the “cheap” markets after dinner and saw lots of interesting people.
May 12 – Kunming & Train – Day 5
After breakfast we took a two hour bus ride to visit the Stone Forest and stopped at a pearl shop on the way. The Stone Forest was cool but very hot! Back on the bus and stopped at a Jade shop and enjoyed the beautiful countryside… including people plowing the fields. Drove through a bad storm and realized driving there is very unsafe. Safely arrived back in Kunming to grocery shop before the overnight train ride. The train ride…. What an experience! The group was in one train car and split up into our own ”cabins.” It was awful. Long, dirty, and the toilet was a hole straight down to the tracks!
May 13 – Train & Chongqing – Day 6
We were on the gross train all day! Let’s just say it was an experience. Finally arrived in Chongqing at 5pm in the evening to what my notes say the “dirtiest city ever.” Took a tour bus to the highest point of the city and could see tables from the bus of raw meat with bugs all over it… gross! At the top of the mountain we saw a map for the dam they were going to build in the Yangtse River. Checked in to the Chongqing Guest House Hotel – not the nicest of the trip but working bathrooms and a shower! The group dinner that night was at the Hot Pot. The dinner was good and the buffet included a variety of foods such as brain, blood curd and chicken feet! Some students were brave and tried many things including the hot pot liquid!
May 14 – Yangtse Cruise – Day 7
Another early morning to catch a bus to the boat. Boarded the Yangtse 
Cruiser, which would be our home for the next few days. Our lunch that day was a preview of the same meal we’d eat during our time on the ship. That afternoon a few of us watched a Chicago Bulls game in our rooms. A surprise to watch that in the middle of China. Our first stop was to the Ghost City. It included lots statues and superstitions like trying to run up the steps without taking a breath. After we went to an 
acrobat show and sat on tiny chairs. It was a fun show. Back on the boat we went to the Captain’s cocktail hour, group dinner, celebrated a birthday, karaoke, attempted to view stars on the deck but couldn’t due to the terrible pollution and more.
May 15 – Yangtse Cruise – Day 8
Visited White King City and got our first view of the gorges. After lunch of the same food, we all put on life jackets for the small boat tour through the lesser of the three gorges. The small boat was quite an adventure and felt like it was going to fall apart a few times going over rocks. Lots of beautiful scenery and we were all glad to get back on the ship. Group dinner and another fun night on the cruiser. I think it was Anita whose splendid rendition of “I just called to say I love you” still warms my memories of the Yangtze cruise.
May 16 – Yangtse Cruise and Wuhan – Day 9
In the morning, we got to see the dam they were building as well as went through the locks. A few took “titanic” pictures on the front of the boat (it was the big movie in 1998). We had a farewell lunch on the boat and also received free shirts and shots with the captain. Once off the boat we boarded a bus for a three-hour trip to Wuhan. When we arrived in Wuhan we saw many familiar restaurants on our way to the hotel – McDonalds, KFC and more. We checked into the Changhai Hotel and several of us ran a few blocks to McDonald’s!! After that we walked around and explored markets. Some of us bought Budweiser because they had a brewery in Wuhan.
May 17 – ANOTHER overnight Train Ride – Day 10
Up again early for breakfast. Stopped at a store for more food for the train – ramen, water and chips ahoy! Boarded the train at 10am. The train was much cleaner than the last one and had a regular toilet. We all rested on this leg of the trip.
May 18 – Shanghai – Day 11
The train arrived in Shanghai at 7:30am. We got off the train and ate breakfast at our hotel the Jin Jiang Tower. A few of us went to KFC. We then 
visited an art museum. Later in the day we met Omar who was an IWU alum who was running a chicken feed plant for Cargill in Shanghai. We checked out the Shanghai waterfront, enjoyed ice cream bars and even took a fun “Charlies Angels” picture. Later we
visited the Friendship Store, something Hoyt mentioned a lot in marketing class. After we went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Dinner that evening was at the Gap with most of the group, Hoyt, Jin and Omar and Tuan from IWU. The entire group went to an acrobat show after dinner which was awesome. To end the night, Omar and Tuan took out a group of us to an English bar and a disco.
May 19 – Shanghai – Day 12
After breakfast, we all visited the Jade Buddha Temple. We then went to 
Nanjing Road, which was similar to 5th Ave in NYC. Lunch at the Hard Rock Café! Dr Jin showed us the building where he grew up, which was near the Hard Rock. Next we went to a garden which was neat to see in the middle of the city, another market and then the Children’s Palace. We all enjoyed the palace and took lots of pictures of the cute kids. That evening the group went to dinner with Steve and son who were also from Bloomington.
May 20 – Beijing – Day 13
Up early for breakfast and headed to the airport. Two hour flight to Beijing. Once safely in Beijing we met our tour guide for the new few days. (Note – each city we had a new tour guide. Lee was our tour guide that traveled with us the entire trip). Checked into the Landmark Hotel which had a Hard Rock Café on the main floor. We visited the Temple of Heaven. Some of the group went to a Korean dinner and others to bed early. It’d been a long few days.
May 21 – Beijing – Day 14
Breakfast and then off to explore. Our first stop was to Tiananmen Square. 
We got a group IWU photo on the edge of the square and in front of the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the next stop and was amazing. Lunch at McDonald’s and more shopping at the local markets and stores. It was a game for the group to see who could get the best deals… and some the most stuff –
Mahesh! That evening the group went to dinner and we all celebrated Dr Jin’s birthday! We celebrated a few birthdays during the trip.
May 22 – Beijing and the Great Wall of China – Day 15
After breakfast, we headed out to visit a pottery shop, the Ming Tombs, and 
a friendship store for lunch. Then off to the Great Wall of China! This was a highlight of the trip for all. We took an IWU picture of the group on the wall. Lots of walking and climbing – didn’t realize how steep it was in some a
reas. Lots of fun pictures taken with the group. After several hours we headed back to Beijing. Such an amazing part of the trip. Later that evening, several of the group went to the Hard Rock for dinner and dancing.
May 23 – Beijing – Day 16
Today was the last full day in China. What an unforgettable trip for the entire group! Visited the Beijing Zoo to see the pandas. After we went to the Summer Palace. We all did more shopping – including several of us buying the singing Mao lighters, beanie babies, visiting a silk market, the friendship store and more. That evening the group all went to our farewell dinner and enjoyed Pekin Duck. We had our last group meeting of the trip and talked about what it meant to all of us. Back to the hotel to stuff our suitcases with all of our souvenirs…
May 24 – Heading Home – Day 17
We were all up early to start the long journey home ☹. Hoyt had already left the group as he was staying for 10 more days. Jin and Lee (our guide for the trip) took all of us to the airport. Dr Jin looked very worried leaving us (he was staying in China). One of the students on the trip was taking several swords onto the plane in the cabin (can you imagine now?) and others were taking many beanie babies (they were hot back in the US and one student maybe had a suitcase full?). We safely made it to Seoul and after talking in the airport, the 17 IWU students boarded the plane for the long flight back to O’Hare. What an unforgettable trip. Thank you to our IWU professors for making it such a great trip and one that many of us still talk about over 25 years later!!