student experiencestudent experience
Find below the itinerary provided by our partner agency including information on language class time, daily activities, and brief descriptions of some of the locations that participants will visit during their stay in Beijing.
Week 1
- Day 1 Airport pick-up provided / Transfer to hotel and have a rest/ Arrival ceremony (dinner of Beijing duck)/ Transfer to Host Family
- Day 2 Chinese class**/ Visit Hutongs at Hou Hai Lake (Traditional homes of the Beijing people)
- Day 3 Chinese class / Chinese Acrobatics & Kung Fu show or Peking Opera show
- Day 4 Chinese class / Forbidden City trip
- Day 5 Chinese class / Free afternoon
- Day 6 Ba Da Chu Temple trip for hiking and Buddhist culture study
- Day 7 Jing Shan Park for morning exercise / Bei Hai Park in the afternoon
Week 2
- Day 8 Chinese class / Shopping at silk market
- Day 9 Chinese class / Picnic at The Summer Palace
- Day 10 Chinese class / Visit Peking University (ranked number one in China)
- Day 11 Chinese class / Calligraphy Class / Unique “hot pot” style dinner
- Day 12 Temple of Heaven trip / Chinese Class
- Day 13 Trip to the Great Wall
- Day 14 Tea house for tea culture presentation and tasting / Shopping at Wangfujing street
Week 3
- Day 15 Chinese class / Chinese Kung Fu Class
- Day 16 Chinese class / Western buffet style dinner
- Day 17 Depart for Xi An / Settle in at hotel / Traditional Shanxi dinner
- Day 18 Visit the ancient Terracotta Warriors and wild goose pagoda
- Day 19 Return to Beijing and rest / Free afternoon
- Day 20 Shopping at different Beijing markets / Farewell dinner of Beijing Duck
- Day 21 Airport drop-off provided / Return flight home
**Two sections of Chinese will be offered (beginner and intermediate). Classes break down into two, back-to-back, 50 minute classes with a 10 minute break between classes.
Activity Descriptions
Below are descriptions of some of the activities that are offered during the Summer Program in Beijing:
The Great Wall
Great Wall of China is one of the greatest wonders of the world. It winds its way westward over the vast territory of China from the bank of the Yalu River and ends at the foot of snow-covered Qilianshan and Tianshan Mountains. It is seldom that we see such a gigantic project in China or elsewhere in the world. The Chinese call it the Wall of 10,000 li. Its size is better seen on a map or from an aerial photograph. According to astronauts who looked back from the moon, of all projects built by man, the Great Wall of China is the most conspicuous seen in space. The great wall is something that can't be described and must be seen. Seeing the Great Wall is a “must” on any trip to China.
The Forbidden City
Beijing is a city with a long history; there are many places of historic interests in the city. But the most famous one is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, which is also called Imperial Palace, is a group of palaces with Chinese classical style buildings. It's the largest and most intact palace in the world. Forbidden City was the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, 14 emperors in Ming Dynasty and 10 emperors in Qing Dynasty lived in the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City lies in the center of Beijing City.
The Forbidden City has 9,000 rooms in total. To give you a feel for how big the city is take this example. If a baby is born in the Forbidden City, and he sleeps in each room for one night, then he/she will be 27 years old when they finish. In Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Forbidden City was a forbidden area. Common people were not allowed to be close to the City. Now, the Forbidden City is a museum. You will see introductions of the Forbidden City and the emperors who lived in the Forbidden City, and you will learn more about Chinese culture and history.
Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park was a part of the Forbidden City until the early 1900's when the walls were pulled down and a road cut through it destroying several gates and buildings between the park and the rear entrance of the palace. The hill in Jingshan Park was made with the earth removed to create the palace moat. It is well worth the climb on a clear day for spectacular views of the Forbidden City and Beijing.
The Silk Market
This is a popular destination for tourists looking for the incredible deals they hear about from back home. The market is filled with real and fake versions of all your favorite brand name clothes from back home. Also for sale are books, Chinese art, and jewelry. A major attraction must be the range of hand stitched ethnic fashions. These beautiful garments are produced to high standard and command a high price, but bargain hard and fantastic deals will come your way.
The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace was used as a summer residence by China's imperial rulers - as a retreat from the main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or 'Forbidden City') - a pleasure ground in the countryside, yet near to the city. It is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. The Summer Palace is virtually a museum of traditional Chinese gardening that uses rocks, plants, pavilions, ponds, and cobble paths to create a poetic effect between different scenes. When you stroll around the Summer Palace, you will constantly find the area changing.
Xi'An
Surrounded by rich loess farmland, Xi'an (Western Peace), the present capital of Shanxi Province, was home to the ruling houses of the Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties, when it was known as Chang'an (Eternal Peace). The most notable sites in Xi An is the Terracotta army – A life-size army entirely carved from stone. It is one of the most famous and breathtaking sites in China today.
Calligraphy Class
This class is used to give students an induction to Chinese writing. It focuses on basic strokes and stroke order. More importantly the class is used to spark interest by helping students appreciate this ancient Chinese art form.
Kung Fu (Wushu) Class
This class is used to introduce the students to the basic tenants of Chinese martial arts. They will be taught basic motions and helped to understand the purpose of Wushu in the lives of the Chinese people who study this ancient form of meditation.
Tea Culture
Drinking tea and the culture that surrounds tea is quite important to many Chinese people. Drinking tea is more than just a habit for Chinese people. Herbal remedies are seen as the main cure for many illnesses. Students will have an introduction to different types of tea and their uses. They will also be introduced to the ways tea was prepared during the different times in China's history. Students will have a chance to sample these different types of tea at a traditional teahouse.
Chinese Acrobatics / Peking Opera
The Chinese are well known for their acrobatic skills. The acrobatics show is an amazing display of dance mixed with martial arts. Peking Opera is China's most famous and ancient form of music. Actors wear extravagant costumes and facial paints. Every action, song, and costume has a special meaning. These shows are extremely fascinating as well as a feast for the eyes.
The Meals
Traditional types of food vary greatly from one province to another in China. Giving students exposure to different types of traditional Chinese food is something that adds to the feeling of being immersed in China. Peking Duck is a traditional specialty of Beijing and quite popular among foreign tourists. “Hot Pot” is the typical style food in the Si Chuan province of China. A boiling pot of soup sits in the center of the table where all the food is cooked and distributed to everyone. These two are among the most famous types of food students will be exposed to.
