China
Program Summary
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China
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Adventure Highlights
Beijing, China
- Practice tai chi with a lesson from a master. Chinese people of all ages practice tai chi together each morning to promote their health and longevity.
- Visit the Temple of Heaven and learn the history of this central place of worship. One feature you don’t want to miss is the inner circular wall, whose unique acoustics allow the softest whispers to be heard half a courtyard away.
- Experience China on a grand scale as you stand in Tiananmen Square, the largest open public square in the world.
- Explore the Forbidden City, built in the 15th century. Cross threshold after threshold to enter the inner courtyards that were once open only to members of the imperial household. Learn the significance of the creatures that reside along the rooflines, and the dragons that wind among the paving stones.
- Train in one of China’s favorite sports, ping-pong. Visit a local middle school where young professional players and their coaches will help you sharpen your skills.
- Enjoy a true taste of Beijing during a traditional duck dinner.
- Brave a wild ride through the labyrinth of old Beijing by rickshaw. Many of these ancient hutong neighborhoods have been demolished to make way for modern progress, but efforts are now underway to preserve this historic way of life.
- Shop a local food market for ingredients, then enjoy a cooking lesson from one of Beijing’s top chefs.
- Visit China’s National Stadium, better known as the “Bird’s Nest” and the site of the awe-inspiring 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies.
- Further your Olympic exploration—and survey of modern engineering—in the striking Water Cube (National Aquatics Center).
- Discover the Silk Museum and learn about this fascinating industry. Take the opportunity to shop for something to take home as a keepsake of your adventure in China.
Great Wall—Chengde
- Journey to Gubeikou Village, which lies at the foot of the Great Wall. Have dinner in a traditional Mongolian yurt.
- Set up your camp outside the village with guidance from locals. Afterwards, enjoy local history and stories under the stars in the shadow of the Great Wall.
- Hike one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Great Wall of China. The wall, which is not continuous but actually built in multiple sections, extends for over 3,000 miles. Though you will walk only a small portion of the wall, be prepared for an arduous hike over rough terrain, as the stone work is rough-hewn and thousands of years old.
- Participate in a service project along your route, helping to clean up this monument while you hike.
- Explore the Imperial Summer Mountain Resort in Chengde.
- Try your hand at making traditional music after watching an expert performance.
- Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Lake Promenade, and enjoy the deer, koi, and lush flowers maintained for the royal family’s pleasure.
- Experience the Chinese craft of paper cutting. Watch the artist’s expert demonstration and then create your own piece of artwork to take home.
- Discover Little Potala Palace, a place of worship for Tibetan Buddhists. Take note of key elements in the design and layout to later compare to the Shaolin Temple.
- Journey through the Chinese countryside with its views of dark mountains, extensive fields, and the occasional pagoda-topped hill.
- Work on conversational Chinese with your travel manager during your scenic ride.
- Meet China’s most beloved and protected animal, the giant panda.
- Try your hand at Chinese calligraphy with experts at a local community center. Learn the unique philosophy that seeks harmony among mind, hand, and brush.
Dengfeng
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Longmen Grotto and its carvings. The site resembles an intricate honeycomb whose roughly 2,000 grottoes and niches are filled with countless Buddhist tablets and statues.
- Become a martial arts student for a few days at the Shaolin Temple.
- Spend your nights in unique accommodations—traditional farmer’s houses in Shaolin Village that have been renovated to host special guests like you.
- Meet students at the temple’s neighboring kung fu school. Make friends with the students as they show you around their dormitories and share a demonstration of their skills.
- Study the art of kung fu for yourself. One of the head warrior monks will introduce you to the principles of Zen Buddhism behind the practice of kung fu.
- Learn both the body mechanics and mental focus of this martial art form. Witness demonstrations from more advanced students that will challenge your perception of the potential of the human body.
- Visit the Astronomical Observatory, built in 1276, and complete a simple experiment.
- Enjoy an evening performance of kung fu set against the beautiful Songshan Mountains.
- Join the Buddhist monks for morning exercises. Their spiritual rituals—combined with the philosophy and movement you’re already learning—will give you a comprehensive introduction to this region’s culture.
- Explore the iconic Pagoda Forest, where you can trace the history of the temple’s prominent monks through the past 1,300 years.
- Advance your kung fu training when you learn basic moves with practice weapons—staves and swords—alongside the local students.
- Demonstrate all you have learned before the overseeing warrior monks and receive your certification of training.
- Bid farewell to your new friends during a dinner party and performance with the warrior monks and kung fu students.
* Trip itinerary subject to change.
