The last time Tulane Patterson was in China, it was just months before the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Now the Lynchburg business owner wants to return to see how China’s cultural revolution has changed the country. He also wants to learn how China serves its aging population so he can apply what he learns in his home health business.

“What I hope to do is arrange some appointments with some people and learn from them,” he said on Monday. “I’m always researching how to improve our business. … We all age, but how countries handle it (differs).”

Patterson, founder of Generation Solutions in Lynchburg, is one of numerous people considering traveling to China this October with the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced last year that it would organize a trip to China to foster international connections for Lynchburg businesses this October. The trip costs $1,999 per person and will take place Oct. 10-18.

About two dozen people attended the chamber’s first orientation meeting for the trip Tuesday night.

Rex Hammond, president of the Lynchburg chamber, said about nine other people who have expressed interest in the trip could not attend Tuesday. He said he expects interest to grow and thinks 40 to 100 people will go on the trip. The chamber is likely to hold two more orientation meetings, he said.

Ping Liu, a tour manager of Citslinc International, told the people at the orientation about items that could be included on the itinerary and gave them tips to make sure the trip goes smoothly.

He said that the trip includes insurance in case anyone gets injured or sick on the trip. People at the orientation asked questions about the time zone difference between Lynchburg and Beijing (13 hours) and the anticipated weather in October (warm but not hot).

Patterson, a member of the chamber’s board of directors, said that he was very supportive of the idea when the board discussed coordinating the trip to China. He said that the price is very competitive.

In addition to business interests, some in the Lynchburg area are considering the trip for personal reasons. At least one couple hopes to go to celebrate a wedding anniversary.

Darryl Huften said Monday that he and his wife are considering the trip because their daughter is about to graduate from Randolph College with a degree in global studies.

“Her interests are in Asia. We sent her to China last year, and she had a wonderful time,” he said. “We thought we would go experience the culture.”