Follow The Yellow Silk Road This Summer-- For Free!

The Hangzhou Tourism Commission (and a number of corporate sponsors) are planning on sending two lucky families (One American, One Chinese) on a Free Round the World Trip this summer.

The trip will trace the ancient Silk Road starting in Hangzhou and then traveling through China, Greece, Croatia, Venice, Geneva, Paris, Boston, and then New York City. In addition to the two families that are going to go, they'll send a media "Storyteller" to help chronicle the trip via Social Media.

Hangzhou China

If you want to audition for the slots, you need to go to http://globaltour2015.com and fill out the application (including a short video) Families will be voted on via Social Media.  Family Auditions will be accepted May 27-June 11.  (Winner announced June 18)

Here's the press release they sent me.  Good luck!

Hangzhou Tourism Commission Opens Entries for Global Tour 2015

U.S. Families to Audition for Free 30-Day Trip Around the World Starting in Hangzhou, China

New York (May 27, 2015) – The Hangzhou Tourism Commission (HTC) today announces the official launch of a social media campaign called, Global Tour 2015, which will send one U.S. and one Chinese family, along with a media “Storyteller,” on a free 30-day trip around the globe from July 24th through August 22nd.

The campaign was created to promote U.S. travel to a destination emerging on the global stage: Hangzhou, China, known for its beauty, perfect blend of traditional and modern Chinese experiences, and has become China’s top launch pad for tech start-ups, including home of e-commerce giant, Alibaba.

In tandem with China National Tourism Administration’s theme “Beautiful China 2015 – Year of Silk Road Tourism,” HTC’s Global Tour 2015 will support the winners to trace the ancient Silk Road beginning in Hangzhou and traveling through Dunhuang, China; Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Paris, France; Boston, Massachusetts (Hangzhou’s U.S. “sister city”); and finally ending in New York City.

Before commencing the tour, the winning families and the media Storyteller will spend several days learning the rich culture, history and lifestyle of Hangzhou, which is known as one of the happiest cities in China. The group will then travel west following the Silk Road, spreading the happiness and building lasting international friendships along the way. The Storyteller will accompany the family on the trip to chronicle the adventures via social media.

Families interested in entering for the Global Tour 2015 must visit http://globaltour2015.com and complete a questionnaire and submit a short video audition. Members of the media and social media influencers interested in winning the Storyteller position will need to complete a 200-word written submission, a second writing assignment selecting which of the landmarks on the Global Tour is the happiest, and are encouraged to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Family submissions will be put to a public social media vote and then the winners will be selected by a panel of judges.