Del Mar Photonics

PICALO  2008 - 3rd Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics * April 16-18, 2008 * Capital Hotel * Beijing, China
pictures from the conference

PICALO Pre-Conference Tour
Monday, April 14
Wuhan, China
 

Cost: $150 per participant (additional to PICALO registration fee)
includes dinner and River Tour Sunday evening, Round trip transportation on Monday to area companies, driving tour of Wuhan, lunch and dinner on Monday.

Ramada Facts | Wuhan Map | Ramada Rooms & Suites | Make Hotel Reservations

Wuhan, capital of the Hubei province, is known as China's Optical Valley. It is the largest base for the optical electronics and photoelectronics industries in China. The Optical Valley is located in the Wuhan East Lake High-Tech development zone. Wuhan's optical electronics industry encompasses optical communication, power and consumer optical electronics, and relevant software. The industry is on an upswing, with the production value growing by an average of 30 percent a year since 2001. Its fiber-optic cable sector is currently third in the world in terms of manufacturing capability.

PICALO attendees have the opportunity to visit historic Wuhan and tour prominent laser companies. Attendees will make their own travel arrangements to Wuhan on Sunday, April 13 (or before if desired.) The recommended hotel is Guanggu Huameida (Ramada Guanggu) with a PICALO pre-conference tour rate of $126USD including buffet breakfast (available on-line only). Online hotel reservations can be made at http://www.gtborientholidays.com/PICALO/booking_form_wuhan.html. Roundtrip Transportation (Airport – Hotel) - It is strongly recommended that you pre-book transportation. You will be met outside of baggage claim for your transportation. More details will be sent to you before the conference.
 

Participants will tour 3 companies and interact with executives from each company. Enjoy a driving tour of Wuhan and see the history including including Huanghe Pagoda and East Lake. Conclude the day with a closing dinner banquet including representatives from the featured companies and other area Wuhan laser companies. Don’t miss this exciting networking opportunity in Wuhan, China!

Wuhan is situated where the Hanjiang River joins the Great Yangtze in an area known as the Jianghan Plain. Wuhan, divided by the Yangtze River, has come to be known as the Three Towns of Wuhan with Hankou and Hanyang on the west bank, and Wuchang on the east. Wuhan has both an ancient history and a thriving present; look into the past and catch a glimpse of the future!

Agenda (subject to changes and/or modifications; approximate times only)
Sunday, April 13	Attendees travel to Wuhan on own and stay at designated hotel (air travel arrangements on own)
18:00	Participants meet in Guanggu Huameida (Ramada Guanggu) hotel lobby for transport to local restaurant. Enjoy Dinner with fellow attendees (included)
20:00	Yangtze River Evening Cruise - China's longest river as well as the world's third longest.
21:30	Return to the hotel
Monday, April 14	Enjoy Buffet Breakfast in hotel and meet bus for 8:00 departure
8:00 – 9:30	Visit National Optical-electronic Laboratory, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
9:30 – 11:00	Visit Chutian Laser Processing Company Laser Cutters, Laser Markers, Laser Engravers, Laser Leat-treating Machines, Laser Punchers
11:00 – 12:30	Visit Huagong Laser Engineering Company Huagong Laser Engineering Co. Ltd specializes in the R&D and manufacture of laser equipment and provides laser processing solutions for customers worldwide.
12:30 – 14:00	Lunch
14:00 – 16:00	Driving Tour of Wuhan to include Huanghe Pagoda and East Lake
16:00	Return to Guanggu Huameida (Ramada Guanggu)
18:30-20:00	Wuhan Closing Banquet
Tuesday, April 15 morning	Travel back to Beijing (air travel arrangements on own)

 

PICALO Advanced Program

PICALO Post Conference Tour: MutianYu Section of the Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, & the Famous Cloisonné Factory

Saturday, April 19
Cost: $110 per participant (additional to PICALO registration fee)
Includes roundtrip transportation from the Capital Hotel, lunch, all admission fees and gratuities.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes for this tour.

Approximate tour hours: 8:30am departure – 5:00pm return.

 The Great Wall
An hour’s drive from Beijing’s center is an amazing work of architectural innovation, the Great Wall of China.
Spend time marveling China’s oldest defense - wall born from the sacrifice, sweat, tears and labor of
millions since the 7th century B.C. Originally built from stone, wood, grass and earth, this the impossible feat of making and connecting over 10,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers of towering wall from bare hands was completed in over two thousand years.
The Great Wall, the only man made wonder of the ancient world which can be seen from the moon, is a magnificent
monument to China’s long and rich history.

Extending in China from east to west for more than 6,700 kilometers like a robust dragon, the magnificent Great Wall is undeniably the most awesome attraction in China. It was originally built by the first emperor 2,000 years ago. It has been regarded as the greatest construction in the history of human civilization. The PICALO tour will visit a lesser know section of the Wall - MutianYu. Located at Huairou County some 73 kilometers (about 45 miles) northeast of the Beijing urban area, MutianYu Great Wall winds along lofty, cragged mountains from the southeast to the northwest for approximately 2.25 kilometers (about 1.4 miles). Connected with Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to the east, this section of the Great Wall holds a prominent place in Chinese military history. Take time to walk up the snaking sections of walls, peek through the watchtowers and enjoy the amazing view.

Participants will have plenty of time to marvel at the sites. Depart the Great Wall and head to lunch at a Chinese style restaurant (included in tour fee.)

Depart after Lunch for the Ming Tombs via the “Sacred Way.”

Ming Tombs at the Sacred Way

The Ming dynasty was known as the “period of restoration and reorganization” in the 18th century as China, under the Ming era, saw a flourish of the trading business with the rest of the world. With that prosperity, the wealth was splurged on both the living and the dead.

Take a tour of the vast mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty at the Ming Tombs which lie northwest of Beijing. After taking in the Great Wall (which the Ming emperors were heavily involved in), venture around the magnificent Changling tomb which inhumes Emperor Zhuli and his empresses, some of which were said to be buried alive.

Taking 200 years to build, the mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the 13 emperors. Soak in the rich historical and palatial complexity of its architecture and design as a guide tells stories of empresses who had to express the ultimate loyalty to the deceased Emperor by being buried with him.

Cloisonné Factory Visit

End the day with a visit to a cloisonné factory. Cloisonné is a unique combination of copper and porcelain working skills, traditional painting, sculpting, and etching skills. Originating in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Cloisonné is an intricate process that requires many years of training for an artisan  to master. Cloisonné pieces can be found in large objects, such as vases and other large utensils and decorative items, as well as small items like earrings, bracelets, chopsticks, or jars. See the complete process in the making of Cloisonné from base-hammering, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel firing, polishing and gilding.

After an amazing day, return to the Capital Hotel by approximately 5:00pm. Enjoy a final evening of camaraderie with fellow attendees and friends.