Shenzhen
Excursions and Trips for the Winter Mandarin Immersion Camps.
(Winter Sessions, Nov.-Feb)
Our trips are geared to introduce you to both the famous sites and cities around China, and also to give you as many chances to use the Chinese language you have learned. We have fully qualified guides with us at all times to ensure trips go smoothly and are an informative and fun experience, but at the same time we believe in giving our students opportunities to gain self sufficiency in the language and culture. To us, this means giving time for students to explore a city on their own or even doing simple tasks, under our close eye, like hotel check ins and ticket buying on their own. Our tours are not luxury 5 star trips. We believe that this type of tour isolates us from "common" Chinese people. By staying in comfortable 3 star hotels, hostels and local homestays, we feel we supply more opportunities to our students to interact with Chinese people and more chances to learn from them; which is really what this program is all about.
For an exact day-to-day itinerary please email us and we will be happy to provide you more information.
Weekend Excursions
Guangzhou
A contrasting city of green parks and trees, mingled with old temples, sprawling factories, crowded back streets and new buildings on main boulevards. The largest city in Guangdong and one of the oldest, here ancient culture meets modern times.
Day 1 - Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chen Family Temple, Temple of Six Banyan Trees, Shamian Island
Day 2 - A free day to explore the city on your own
Guilin & Yangshuo
See the towering limestone peaks and karst that rise majestically from the surrounding lush countryside while visiting enchanting villages.
Day 1 - Bike through the scenic countryside in the picturesque village of Yangshuo. Spend the afternoon rafting through caves and peaceful swimming holes. In the evening experience the famous night life of the famous Western Street.
Day 2 - A free day in Yangshuo. Take the chance to go on a ½ or full day climbing trip, or to explore an undeveloped cave. As well, there are options to go hot air ballooning, rent motorbikes or take a boat trip on a section of the Li River.
In the late evening take the overnight bus back to Shenzhen.
1-Week Final Trip
Beijing / Xi'an / Shanghai
Days 1-3 Beijing. Enter the Imperial past with visits to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and see the modern system with visits to Tiananmen Square and the Underground Tunnels. Stroll through bustling markets and eat succulent roast duck. See the changes that the 2008 Olympics are bringing to this ancient city.
Days 4-5 Xi'an. This ancient capital is the starting point of the famed Silk Road and home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of modern times, the Terracotta Warriors. Visit the well preserved city walls, the Big Goose pagoda and the Shaanxi historical museum.
Days 6-7 Shanghai. A cosmopolitan city blending funky architecture with old world charm. Walk along the glorious Bund or stroll through one of the flashy shopping districts and feel the vibrant pulse of the new China. Here we will be sure to take a river cruise and to see the famed Chinese acrobats.
All our trips include domestic travel, accommodations based on double occupancy, breakfasts and entrance to most sites and activities.
Our trips do not include visas, vaccines, lunch/supper, or fees for optional activities.
Disclaimer: The above trips are subject to change due to force majeure, or local conditions that make it impossible to follow the above itinerary. The itinerary is also subject to change where we feel said changes will improve the quality and condition of the trip.