Program Details

Mid-week in late June
One-night orientation session begins on the Choate Rosemary Hall campus

Next day
Transfer to JFK Airport; departure via direct flight to Beijing. Arrival in Beijing the next day.

Academic Portion
Study in residence at Beijing Language Institute

Typical weekend excursions during the academic portion:

Weekend 1
Great Wall and Ming Tomb; Shopping in Silk Alley

Weekend 2
Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

Weekend 3
Forbidden City, Palace Museum, Beijing Opera and Laoshe Tea House

Final excursion:

Day 1
Xi'an: see first Emperor of China's 6000 life-size terra cotta warriors (from 221 BCE), the "eighth wonder of the world"; Huaqing Hotspring, the historic site of Xi'an Incident; Banpo: see 6000-year old site and get a clear view of historic matriarchal clan community in the Yellow River Valley

Day 2
Travel to Suzhou: visit the Huqiu (Tiger Hill); Shizilin (Lion Grove Garden, the summer home of I. M. Pei family); Liuyuan (Lingering Garden)

Day 3
Travel to Zhouzhuang; see well preserved village of Ming Dynasty and Ming Architecture; transfer to Hangzhou

Day 4
Hangzhou: boat ride around the West Lake, "Paradise in China": see enchanting Three Pool Mirroring the Moon and Lessor Yingzhou Isle; view Fish at Flowers Harbor; walk along Suti Causeway

Day 5
Hangzhou: tour the Lingyin (Soul Retreat) Temple, one of China's most famous Buddhist monasteries and Tomb of Yue Fei; romantic taste of Longjing Tea in Meiwu

Day 6
Travel to Shanghai: City Tour; visit to the Pudong district; Nanpu Bridge; cruise on the Huangpu River

Day 7
Shanghai: tour the Yu Garden; the Jade Buddha Temple: the Shanghai Bund; the Children's Palace (China's Gifted and Talented Program)

Day 8
Departure for JFK airport, where program terminates