|
Week One
During this week you will be introduced to China, learning about its traditions and lifestyle: you will be able to ask as many questions as you want to. The week includes the following:
- An introduction to China, its culture, people and customs
- Chinese language classes
- Chinese cooking sessions
- Three night stay in Beijing
- Tour of the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square with free time to explore the Forbidden City.
- A Welcome Party
- Temple, market and village visits
Week Two
Dali is a wonderful place to unwind in week two of this trip. Not only is it positioned in a stunning location below Zhonge Peak (often remaining snow-capped until June) and near Er Hai Lake, Dali is brimming full of antique and recent attractions, ancient buildings and indigenous Bai people. You have the chance to explore the Three Pagodas of Dali, stay at the famous Shaxi village and visit the Nanzhao Grottos.
You will also have the possibility to enjoy a relaxing massage or a refreshing cold beer in a beer garden, or even experience the caravan horse tea route!
Week Three
This week you will have the chance to work and live with a local community. In the morning you can help local families with farming duties, spending the afternoons teaching English to children at the local school. You will be working for around five hours per day in total, and have a meal at the school or at the farmhouse. If you wish you can also get involved with a local tree planting project that has been set up to protect the neighbouring environment.
You won’t require any previous experience, or special English or farming skills for this program – just a good sense of humour will help you to get along with the locals!
Week Four
During Week Four you will be trekking one of China’s holiest peaks, Jizu Shan (Chicken foot mountain).
You will depart from the lake village location and climb to the top of the mountain, which takes approximately four hours. Once there, you can stay at the temple at the top of the mountain, and enjoy the spectacular sunrise and scenery.
On day two you will be trekking for around three hours, enjoying the serenity and scenery of the mountain, and in the evening enjoy the chanting of the local monks.
On the third day you will trek for around five hours until you reach the home stay village of Shangquing. This is an opportunity to see the farming village and the harvest of rice, tobacco and corn in the autumn or bean and wheat in the spring.
The following day you will have the chance to relax, rest and enjoy the local area.
On the fifth day you will trek your way back through the mountains for around 5 hours, until you come to the village of Wase, based at a lake. You will stay at Wase for the evening.
The sixth day is spent trekking for around two hours to Shuangland.
Your last day is spent packing and then enjoying a farewell social gathering with your new friends!
|
