Program
Through this study tour to China, students will experience the world’s most populous country – a country with the world’s fastest growing economy, a fascinating 5000-year history, and one of the few remaining Communist-controlled governments; it is also the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics. We begin in Shanghai, China’s gateway to the Pacific, visiting the famous Yuyuan Gardens, the Shanghai Museum and the Bund (old foreign sector). From the bustling megalopolis, students will then venture into a Chinese village where the group will spend the next four or five days working on a building project with Habitat for Humanity. Although conditions will be rustic, the experience is sure to be one of the most rewarding of the trip. After this experience, we will fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province in China’s interior. In Chengdu, students will visit the home of Dufu, one of China’s famous poets, and the Panda Bear Research Base. Students will also have the opportunity to visit with students from a local high school and spend the night with a Chinese family. From there the group will travel to Mt. Emei, a famous Buddhist retreat where they will stay in a Buddhist monastery on the mountain. From Chengdu we will fly to Xian, home of the famous terra cotta warriors. Finally, the group will fly to Beijing, China’s capital, and visit the area’s most important sites – Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Olympic sites and, of course, the Great Wall.
There is a $475 program supplement for this study tour (which includes most meals). For participants who pay their own expenses, the cost – including several group meals – is $3400.
Special Note: Vegetarians or others with special dietary needs or sensitive stomachs should consult with the Belk Office before signing up for this program.
