This Program is Directed by
Sylvie Littledale
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Travel abroad to China this summer and immerse yourself in the Mandarin language and culture of China. On this language program for high school students, take Mandarin classes in Beijing and explore the historic hutong neighborhoods. Enjoy a one-week homestay with a family in Chengde, camp alongside herders on the Inner Mongolian steppe, and take part in workshops with Chengdu’s avant-garde artists. Sample the Sichuan Province’s renowned cuisine and end your program in the diverse metropolis of Shanghai.
- Highlights
• Take daily Mandarin classes as you explore historic Beijing
• Spend a week living with a Chinese family in Chengde
• Ride horses and sleep in yurts on the Mongolian steppe
• Explore the diversity of Chinese cuisine, tasting dishes from over six regions
• Spend a week living with a Chinese family in Chengde
• Ride horses and sleep in yurts on the Mongolian steppe
• Explore the diversity of Chinese cuisine, tasting dishes from over six regions
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Beijing, China. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Beijing — 5 days
Explore Beijing’s ancient hutong alleyways and modern skyscrapers. Venture out into the city on foot to take in Beijing’s history, from its founding by Kublai Khan 800 years ago to its role as host of the 2008 Olympics. Each morning, take Chinese classes and during afternoons use your Mandarin to connect with Beijingers in different parts of the city. Study calligraphy or learn how to cook classic Beijing dishes. See an acrobatic show or listen to musicians play traditional tunes in the city’s numerous parks.
Chengde — 6 days
Drive three hours north to the historic city of Chengde. Join a host family for one week and practice your Mandarin as you immerse yourself in daily life. Climb the Great Wall at nearby Jinshanling. Spend mornings taking Mandarin classes and afternoons exploring Chengde’s temples and parks alongside local high schoolers. Learn all about the culture of the Manchus, the people who established China’s last dynasty, and whose culture makes up a significant part of Chengde’s heritage.
Inner Mongolia — 4 days
Journey north to Inner Mongolia to embark on a four-day trekking, hiking, and horseback riding adventure across the steppes. Interview local Mongolian herders about their livelihoods, sample traditional Mongolian food, and stay in a yurt. Play games and practice your Mandarin with local children, and learn how to assemble and disassemble a yurt. Practice archery, and learn how lifestyles are changing for herding families in the 21st century.
Chengdu — 3 days
Catch a plane to Chengdu, and get to know this fascinating, beautiful, and laidback city in Southwestern China. Practice your Mandarin in the city’s famous teahouses, and learn from a local chef how to recreate some of Sichuan cuisine’s signature spicy dishes. Get to know the young students, musicians, and artists who make Chengdu a major hub of contemporary Chinese youth culture. Take workshops in art and sculpture with Chengdu’s avant-garde artists.
Western Sichuan — 5 days
Drive west into the foothills of the Tibetan plateau, stopping along the way to see panda conservation in action at a Giant Panda Reserve. Hike along craggy mountain peaks and into majestic Tibetan villages nestled into green valleys. Stand on suspension bridges and admire the rushing Dadu River below. Explore the stone towers of Danba dating back centuries. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan meal in the home of a local family.
Shanghai — 3 days
Head to Shanghai for the last leg of the program. Explore the city’s iconic neighborhoods, from the Bund to the former French Concession, to the ultra-modern district of Pudong. Interview shopkeepers and local students about life in Shanghai.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Shanghai to Los Angeles with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Beijing, China. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Beijing — 5 days
Explore Beijing’s ancient hutong alleyways and modern skyscrapers. Venture out into the city on foot to take in Beijing’s history, from its founding by Kublai Khan 800 years ago to its role as host of the 2008 Olympics. Each morning, take Chinese classes and during afternoons use your Mandarin to connect with Beijingers in different parts of the city. Study calligraphy or learn how to cook classic Beijing dishes. See an acrobatic show or listen to musicians play traditional tunes in the city’s numerous parks.
Chengde — 6 days
Drive three hours north to the historic city of Chengde. Join a host family for one week and practice your Mandarin as you immerse yourself in daily life. Climb the Great Wall at nearby Jinshanling. Spend mornings taking Mandarin classes and afternoons exploring Chengde’s temples and parks alongside local high schoolers. Learn all about the culture of the Manchus, the people who established China’s last dynasty, and whose culture makes up a significant part of Chengde’s heritage.
Inner Mongolia — 4 days
Journey north to Inner Mongolia to embark on a four-day trekking, hiking, and horseback riding adventure across the steppes. Interview local Mongolian herders about their livelihoods, sample traditional Mongolian food, and stay in a yurt. Play games and practice your Mandarin with local children, and learn how to assemble and disassemble a yurt. Practice archery, and learn how lifestyles are changing for herding families in the 21st century.
Chengdu — 3 days
Catch a plane to Chengdu, and get to know this fascinating, beautiful, and laidback city in Southwestern China. Practice your Mandarin in the city’s famous teahouses, and learn from a local chef how to recreate some of Sichuan cuisine’s signature spicy dishes. Get to know the young students, musicians, and artists who make Chengdu a major hub of contemporary Chinese youth culture. Take workshops in art and sculpture with Chengdu’s avant-garde artists.
Western Sichuan — 5 days
Drive west into the foothills of the Tibetan plateau, stopping along the way to see panda conservation in action at a Giant Panda Reserve. Hike along craggy mountain peaks and into majestic Tibetan villages nestled into green valleys. Stand on suspension bridges and admire the rushing Dadu River below. Explore the stone towers of Danba dating back centuries. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan meal in the home of a local family.
Shanghai — 3 days
Head to Shanghai for the last leg of the program. Explore the city’s iconic neighborhoods, from the Bund to the former French Concession, to the ultra-modern district of Pudong. Interview shopkeepers and local students about life in Shanghai.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Shanghai to Los Angeles with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.Â
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.Â
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Language Learning
The goals of this language program are to improve your fluency in Mandarin by building your vocabulary and confidence in speaking, while exploring China’s culture through outdoor activities and interactions with locals. Each day, leaders hold dynamic conversational language lessons designed to help you let go of your inhibitions and communicate more easily. Language lessons are fun and interactive, and incorporate active, hands-on elements such as scavenger hunts, games, and informal interviews.
Language Pledge
Two years of language study are required for this program. Each student signs a language pledge to speak only Mandarin during the program, not only with the many local people you meet, but also with your leaders and within your group. To learn more about our Language programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you— study different styles of Chinese calligraphy, make a photo journal about Tibetan architecture, or learn several cooking recipes from your Chengde host family.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active travel program that involves some hiking, horseback riding, and city walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Accommodations
We stay in a range of different accommodations throughout the program, including hotels, hostels, guesthouses, private homes, yurts, and tents. When not camping, the group will have access to hot water and electricity.
Altitude
This program visits high altitude destinations—Most of the excursion into Western Sichuan is over 8,000 feet (~2450 meters) in altitude, and some moderate hikes reach elevations as high as 10,000 feet (~3000 meters).
Meals
During the homestay, we mainly eat home-cooked meals with host families. The rest of the trip, most meals will be taken in restaurants. When camping, local outfitters and guides prepare meals for the group.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Language Learning
The goals of this language program are to improve your fluency in Mandarin by building your vocabulary and confidence in speaking, while exploring China’s culture through outdoor activities and interactions with locals. Each day, leaders hold dynamic conversational language lessons designed to help you let go of your inhibitions and communicate more easily. Language lessons are fun and interactive, and incorporate active, hands-on elements such as scavenger hunts, games, and informal interviews.
Language Pledge
Two years of language study are required for this program. Each student signs a language pledge to speak only Mandarin during the program, not only with the many local people you meet, but also with your leaders and within your group. To learn more about our Language programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you— study different styles of Chinese calligraphy, make a photo journal about Tibetan architecture, or learn several cooking recipes from your Chengde host family.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active travel program that involves some hiking, horseback riding, and city walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Accommodations
We stay in a range of different accommodations throughout the program, including hotels, hostels, guesthouses, private homes, yurts, and tents. When not camping, the group will have access to hot water and electricity.
Altitude
This program visits high altitude destinations—Most of the excursion into Western Sichuan is over 8,000 feet (~2450 meters) in altitude, and some moderate hikes reach elevations as high as 10,000 feet (~3000 meters).
Meals
During the homestay, we mainly eat home-cooked meals with host families. The rest of the trip, most meals will be taken in restaurants. When camping, local outfitters and guides prepare meals for the group.
A Day in the Life: Chengde​
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day during your homestay in our host community.
- Morning
8:00am
Enjoy breakfast with your host family
9:00am
Convene with your group for your daily Mandarin course
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Eat lunch at a traditional Manchu restaurant
1:00pm
Hike the Great Wall with local high school students
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy a dinner prepared by a rural family
8:00pm
Play card games with villagers near the wall
10:00pm
Spend the night at the Great Wall
A Day in the Life:
Chengde​
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day during your homestay in our host community.
- Morning
8:00am
Enjoy breakfast with your host family
9:00am
Convene with your group for your daily Mandarin course
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Eat lunch at a traditional Manchu restaurant
1:00pm
Hike the Great Wall with local high school students
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy a dinner prepared by a rural family
8:00pm
Play card games with villagers near the wall
10:00pm
Spend the night at the Great Wall
This Program is Directed by
Sylvie Littledale
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
