Gene, Gail and I will be on this segment also. We were in China on the escorted cruise, PANDA, in 2007, and one of the reasons we picked this segment is because Gail didn't make it to Beijing. (She became ill on board, but luckily recovered soon after.) We really enjoyed China, and did Regent's excursion to Xian and Guilin--though on that cruise Beijing was not an endpoint, and it was in the Fall. I'm sure that Ngaire (when she returns from Egypt) or someone else at B&K can steer you in the right direction for your touring. Linda Litteken was also on PANDA, and I know that she is familiar with some of the Beijing tour guides. (We plan to do 3 nights in Beijing after the cruise segment.)

Meanwhile, I hope you will sign up on the Roll Call for KANGAROO, the nickname for this
cruise. (It wasn't clear to me from your post if you were doing one or more segments of the WC, not that it matters for the Roll Call.) The Roll Call can be found on "B&K Escorted 2011 Cruises and Tours."

We look forward to meeting you, and there won't be any confusion, because I never go by Gene.

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Eugene and Gail