China Program Details

The China program is an exceptional opportunity to witness firsthand a country that is in the vanguard of massive global change. Discover China’s rich and impressive history, its art, culture and traditions developed over thousands of years, as well as the gleaming new products of western-style development that are growing at an astonishing rate as the country remakes itself. The program involves contact with everyday Chinese people in their homes, a service learning project, meeting with business leaders and a spectacular trek on the Great Wall. The program explores three important cities: Beijing, the Capital; Shanghai, the country’s largest city; and Xian, the country’s educational hub and home to the Chinese space program.

Meet your Teacher Counselor and fellow students on arrival in the International Departure City. There is time to explore the local sights, complete your orientation and enjoy dinner together.  The next day, you travel together on an overnight flight to China, where you will meet your Program Director on arrival in Beijing.

• Sightseeing tour with a local guide includes Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People and more.
• Take a bicycle ride through the Hutongs, neighborhoods with traditional Chinese residences, and stop for tea and conversation with a local family.
• A Tiaji lesson helps you relax!
• Enjoy a special Peking Duck dinner.
• Meet with a local business leader to discuss the future of business in China, US relations and more.
• Learn to cook Chinese food and prepare your own lunch.
• A wonderful Chinese acrobat show will amaze you.

Travel to the Great Wall to begin a fascinating two-day trek which includes recently renovated sections as well as other sections that are in their original condition. Climb 300 steps up to the top of the mountain at Huangyaguan Wall and follow the path along the top of the ridge, while enjoying spectacular views of the mountains on all sides. Descend into the valley along sections of the Great Wall built about 1500 years ago, one of the oldest parts that few foreigners have seen. Spend the night in a farmer’s guesthouse in a small village before continuing along more pastoral sections of the wall and mountain paths through villages and beautiful countryside. The degree of difficulty of the trek is moderate, taking approximately 11 hours over two days and involving steps and some steep sections. Lunch is included each day.

• Teambuilding and leadership-oriented activities at Shangguan Lake, including building a raft to carry your team across the water and much more.
• Visit to a university campus.
• Overnight train to Xi’an.

• Sightseeing tour with local guide includes the Great Mosque of Xi’an, the oldest mosque in China, founded 742 A.D., the Muslim quarter where 50,000 Chinese Muslims live, and the Wild Goose Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, built in 652 A.D.
• Try your hand at Chinese caligraphy.
• Take part in a service learning project with a local school.
• Visit the Terracotta Army Museum, an extraordinary collection of sculptures discovered in 1974, including 8000 soldiers and some 700 horses as well as chariots, jugglers and others whose job was to care for the emperor in the afterlife. They were buried with China’s first emperor in the third century BCE.

• A full-day sightseeing tour with a local  guide includes The Bund, a neighborhood along the banks of the Huangpu, People’s Square , the French Concession, site of the former French settlement of Shanghai between 1849 and 1943, and the beautiful Yuyuan Garden.
• A river cruise along the Huangpu.
• Gala farewell dinner.

Throughout the program, you'll engage in discussions and debates related to what you are seeing and its significance.  You'll work in study groups to create “tapestries” describing your discoveries and experiences infused with contemporary and historical themes.

Board your return flight to the United States.  After clearing US customs and immigration, you will be checked in to your connector flight (if applicable) to return home.

Note: Your program may differ in some areas due to scheduling conflicts, unforeseen changes and new opportunities. Your program's final schedule will be confirmed closer to departure. The International Departure City is subject to change.