SAMPLE ITINERARIES

BEIJING

No visit to China is complete without a few days spent in Beijing. The Chinese capital is one of the most unique and dynamic cities on earth. Beijing is home to 15 million people and provides one of the starkest examples available of the political communism and economic capitalism that drive China forward. We will spend our time visiting three of the best known sites in the country: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Further exploration provides time to visit great markets, explore hutongs (traditional housing complexes) and much more.

KUNMING, YUNNAN PROVINCE

Kunming, capital of the southwestern province of Yunnan, will be our home as
students study Mandarin as well as a wide breadth of China’s most
intriguing cultural disciplines. The mornings will be devoted to
Mandarin language study taught by expert teachers. Evenings will be
reserved for cultural activities such as kung fu, karaoke, cooking, tai
chi, calligraphy and more. The group will live in dormitories and will
eat the majority of its meals in the cafeteria, while having ample
opportunity to explore Kunming and the incredibly diverse culinary
options that abound in this city of three million inhabitants.

MONASTRY AND DALI

Several excursions will be planned to Dali, a popular tourist destination and a
portal to history of China’s minority kingdoms. We will tour the city
wall and go to giant stupas that stand guard to the entrances of the
city and admire the brilliantly colored clothes and unique customs of
local indigenous groups. Then we will hop on our bicycles and pedal
through the surrounding farmland to the shores of Erhai Lake. Our group
will also visit a Buddhist monastery, high in the hills above the city,
this complex of temples and living quarters is home to dozens of monks
and young orphans who are taken in, fed, and trained.

HONG KONG

Where traditional fishing villages contrast with modern skyscrapers, Hong
Kong proves its title of being where “East meets West”. In the past
century, the city bounced between Chinese, British and Japanese rule
and, through it all, has flourished as one of the world’s leading
financial centers and top travel destinations. Our group will dive right
into this bustling metropolis of 7 million. On our first day we will
take a tour of the island on a double decker tram, ride up Victoria Peak
to view the picturesque skyline, and view the Symphony of Lights from
the Avenue of the Stars. On our second day we will view the natural
beauty of Lantau Island. Our group will first hike up to Po Lin
Monastery to view the Tian Tan Buddha then do some dolphin watching in
Tai O.

SHANGRI-LA

Shangri-La, known locally as Zhongdian, is a remote town at the foothills of the Himalayas, which is ethnically Tibetan and has a wonderfully distinctive feel. We will spend our first day here getting used to the altitude and touring the city and a beautiful Tibetan temple. The following morning the group can hike through mountain villages along beautiful trails, stopping to sample yak butter tea.

LIJIANG

Celebrated for its dazzling red lamps that dangle over meandering waterways, Lijiang is a beautiful town full of vendors, food stalls and is ripe for exploration. Our group will practice negotiating in Mandarin, have an epic scavenger hunt, and enjoy the plethora of dining options in this idyllic setting.

TIGER LEAPING GORGE

One of the deepest canyons in the world, the gorge has been formed by the mighty Yangtze River and provides a unique landscape with spectacular views. Our groups depart early for two days of world-class trekking. We will spend the first day hiking into the gorge, where we will relax and spend the night at a guesthouse. On our second day of trekking, the group will hike out of the gorge, stop for lunch, and stay the night in Shu he, a traditional village with a great guesthouse.

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

The Yangtze is one of the world’s largest rivers and this is your chance to see it. Travelers enjoy the comforts of a 5-star cruise ship while taking in the world-class scenery. There will be daily stops while we cruise through the cradle of China, including a chance to see the Three Gorges Damn.

YANGSHUO

Yangshuo is in the heart of terraced rice paddies, converging rivers and stunning limestone pinnacles. This is a great setting for adventure. Rock climbing in Yangshuo is reputed to be some of the best in China, and groups can also mountain bike to remote villages, boat down the Li River, or explore the area by foot. Hiking about terraced rice paddies makes for great photos and even better memories.

SHANGHAI

At once glamorous, cosmopolitan, historical and quaint, Shanghai is a
testament to both China’s rapid development and colonial past. Here our
group will marvel at traditional and modern architecture while taking
walking tours through the French Concession and viewing the towering
skyline of Pudong. We will revisit the past at the Shanghai Museum and
peek at the future at the Urban Planning Museum, all with plenty of time
for Shanghai’s most popular past time – shopping!