China 3-Week Language

Both historically and recently, Beijing has been a portal through which China has interacted with the rest of the world. In past centuries that interaction was marked by violence and the building of the Great Wall to ward off hostile forces to the north. Modern China has sought to reach out to the world in a different manner by hosting the Olympics and using Beijing as a showcase for its achievements. Fittingly, we begin our tour by visiting the historic Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the modern venues from the 2008 Summer Olympics.  One full day we travel to the Great Wall to trek a section of the 5,000 mile iconic landmark.
During this time, we get to know one another through orientation activities. We will present basic language lessons for students to provide them with greetings and other conversational skills to use when interacting with locals and bargaining in markets. And don’t forget the food! Our sightseeing and orientation is punctuated by the sampling of China’s various cuisines (remember to practice your chopstick skills beforehand)!

Before leaving Beijing, we give back to the city by volunteering at a school for low-income students who have re-located to the capital city from the rural Southern China. Previous groups have designed murals, painted classrooms, and built a library from scratch.

We continue our trip to southwest China with various adventures in and around quixotic Lijiang. Lijiang has maintained its historic architecture, an environment made even more authentic by the numerous canals cutting through the city. The cobblestone alleys and narrow lanes literally transport you to China’s past.

We make our home at a cozy family-run guesthouse 15 km north on Lijiang in the Naxi village of Yuhu. Yuhu is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, providing views of spruce glades and alpine glaciers. While there, our mornings are devoted to studying Mandarin with trained local instructors. Class size is limited to 8 students to assure individualized attention and provide appropriate practice. In the afternoons, we experience rural Chinese life first hand. We tend the organic garden, visit the monastery, and learn to prepare authentic Chinese cuisine. We take longer excursions as well: the yak meadow on the brink of the Tibetan Plateau and the fabled Shangri La or “paradise on earth” are just two options. One full day is spent trekking along the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge. With spectacular views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain above and the Yangzhe River below, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

Xi’an is our final destination and the place where students reminisce about their trip before returning home.  But before we go, we have some important work to do. We volunteer with children in one of China’s only orphanages dedicated to serving children in need of medical care. We provide the home with invaluable assistance. The exceptional children we meet have heightened needs for a loving, nurturing environment due to congenital disorders that are not addressed by their own families or other orphanages. This experience allows us to interact with Chinese children, giving them companionship and providing students with perspective on societal issues in China.

Naturally, it is not all work and no play! Xi’an is home to a number of famous sites—the Terra Cotta Warriors, Big Goose Pagoda, and Great Mosque. We also have time for some shopping in the expansive marketplace of Xi’an. For our final evening, we go out for a traditional hot pot meal, take in a local theater presentation, have plenty of time to share stories and cement the friendships you have made on this amazing adventure.