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China (South and West)

Program Overview

Venture deep into the heart of southwestern China and explore its 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
Begin your Experiment 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 host family in the provincial capitals of Kunming, Xi’an, or Guiyang, known for their cultural history and beautiful parks. Work on your conversational Mandarin as you practice tai chi with Chinese elders or shop in local 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
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. Experience an entirely different way of life as you spend a few days living as part of a family and participating in 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.

Sample activities: Hike to the three pagodas—the oldest standing wooden structures in southwestern China; see fifteenth- and sixteenth-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 community in the world.

Travel and Discovery
After your village homestay, hop a sleeper train to Guilin and Yangshuo to explore the tropical landscape of southern China before heading to 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.

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