China - January Culture+
| Dates: | January 3–22, 2008 |
| Cost: | $3295 |
| Application deadline: | Contact Us for Application Deadlines |
Travel
During your first few days in China, you'll travel high into the Jundu Mountains to the town of Badaling. Here you'll hike The Great Wall, the 4,000 mile fortress built over a period of two thousand years to protect the capital city of Beijing from attack. This is also the site of your first service learning project. You will contribute to China's ongoing effort to preserve this architectural wonder while you assist a local group with restoration projects.
Later in the program you'll fly to Sichuan Province, southwest of Beijing. Your first stop will be the Wolong Panda Reserve, China's oldest and largest reserve dedicated to the research, rescue and breeding of Giant Pandas. A highly endangered species native to China, it is estimated that there are only 2,000 Giant Pandas left in the wild. At Wolong, the Giant Pandas and other endangered species like the Red Panda and Golden Monkey find refuge on 400,000 acres of protected forest in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. You'll experience these amazing animals up close as you participate in habitat restoration and develop a curriculum to teach US and Chinese elementary students about the Reserve. You'll also take an excursion to the remote town of Shangli where you'll meet local villagers and learn about traditional Chinese culture.
After a quick visit to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, an overnight train will take you to Xi'an. As the capital of numerous ancient dynasties, Xi'an is one of China's most historically and culturally significant cities. You'll tour the city and visit the famous Terracotta Warriors. Built to serve the ancient Emperor Qin in his afterlife, this army of 8,000 life-size clay warriors will more than wow you!
Another overnight train will deliver you to Shanghai, the last stop on your China tour. Located where the great Yangtze River opens to the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai is China's largest city and the seventh largest city in the world. You'll see the effects of China's economic explosion as you explore buzzing streets lined with modern skyscrapers, stores, colorful advertisements, and flashing video displays.
