China (South and West)

Huanying ni dao Zhongguo lai.

Eating Chinese food.

Venture deep into the heart of southwestern China and and explore its stunning natural beauty and fascinating ethnic diversity. Traveling with a group of Chinese students, you experience a rare insider’s journey as you live in the foothills of rugged mountains, learn about traditional Chinese medicine, and feast your eyes on the world-famous terra cotta warriors.

Orientation in Two Ancient Capitals

Participants work together in China.

Your Chinese adventure begins in Beijing and Xi’an, two of China’s most historically important cities. You and your group become accustomed to the country as you learn survival Mandarin, haggle at street markets, and order jiao zi from local restaurants.

Sample activities: Explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City; hike along the Great Wall of China; see the 6,000 individually carved terra cotta warriors; take in the sights and smells of Xi’an’s Muslim quarter and Great Mosque.

Urban Homestay

Spend a week living with a caring host family in the provincial capitals of Kunming or Guiyang, known for their mild climates and beautiful parks. Work on your conversational Mandarin as you practice tai chi with Chinese elders or go shopping in bustling markets with your host family. Visit children at a local primary school and interact with college students from local universities as you get to know Chinese youth and culture.

Journey into the Interior and Rural Homestay

Plouging the field in China.

Travel into the mountains of Yunnan or Guizhou to experience breathtaking landscapes and learn more about the ethnic minorities of central and western China. Isolated for centuries by rugged terrain, these regions are some of the most beautiful and culturally diverse in all of China. During your rural adventure, spend a few days living as part of a family in a small community nestled in the mountains. Experience an entirely different way of life as you become part of the daily activities of this colorful village. Prepare meals with your host family, buy ice cream at the local store, and spend time with new Chinese friends.

Biking

Sample activities: Hike to the three pagodas—the oldest standing wooden structures in southwestern China; see 15th- and 16th-century frescoes created by Tibetan, Naxi, Bai, and Han artists; get lost in the maze of cobbled streets and wooden buildings of Old Lijiang; bike around stunning Erhai Lake; visit the Huangguoshu waterfall—the largest in China; take in a local opera performance, learn to make tofu, or jump on a horse-drawn taxi to explore surrounding villages; live in the largest Miao village in the world.

Travel and Discovery

Temple

After your village homestay, hop a sleeper train to Guilin and Yangshuo to explore the exotic tropical landscape of southern China before heading to bustling, modern Shanghai.

Sample activities: Climb Moon Hill, a limestone karst peak overlooking the lush Yangshuo region; cycle through remote villages; boat up the scenic Li River, an inspiration to poets and artists for thousands of years; relax in Shanghai’s ancient Yuyuan Gardens.

Code: CHSD (4 weeks)
Features: Travel
Prerequisites: None
Dates: June 30 - July 30
Depart/Return: Los Angeles
Fee: $5,900

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Features
Travel

Dates
June 30 - July 30

Depart/Return
Los Angeles

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