Four municipal politicians plan to travel between eight different cities in two countries over 11 days next month.
But this isn't an episode of Amazing Race: Civic Affairs.
It is a City of Burnaby expedition to meet with representatives in sister and friendship cities in Asia.
Mayor Derek Corrigan, three councillors, and representatives from the Burnaby Board of Trade and the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce plan to fly to Taipei, Taiwan on Sept. 20.
The group will go to five destinations in China - Zhuhai, which has an economic trade agreement with the Burnaby Board of Trade; Zhongshan, which became a sister city in 2011; Shenzhen, where the delegation will visit an LED light manufacturing plant, and stopovers in Hong Kong and Macau.
The three destinations in Taiwan are Taipei, which signed a friendship agreement with Burnaby in 2009; Taichung, which also signed a friendship agreement with the city in 2009; and Kaohsiung, which recently opened the largest solar energy plant in Taiwan.
Burnaby council approved funding for the trip at Monday night's council meeting. The journey is expected to cost $30,900, with funding from the boards, committees and commissions budget.
The City of Burnaby last sent a delegation to Asia in October 2010, though not to any of the same destinations.
The 2010 trip focused on other parts of China, and South Korea.
"People criticize us for spending money but most of the time, (sister city relationships) bring money back to the city, province and country," Coun. Pietro Calendino said at Monday night's meeting.
The city came under fire last spring after the mayor, three councillors, and four city staff members traveled to another of Burnaby's sister cities, Mesa Ariz., during spring break.
The trip for the mayor and councillors was estimated to cost $6,500, though that did not include the cost for city staff members.
The 2012 trip to Arizona was in honour of Mesa's centennial celebrations, according to a report from Burnaby's international relations and friendship cities committee, and focused on healthcare, education, aerospace, tourism and technology tours.
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