Beijing Language Immersion and Culture Camp

Begin your tour to China’s most popular historical sites and cities today when you depart from you  US gateway city for Beijing.

Arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Your private English-speaking guide and driver will take you to the school dorm or hotel to check in and relax. Enjoy the welcome dinner and orientation in the evening and meet your language skill coaches/tour guides.

The camp opening ceremony will start at 8:30 am where you will be welcomed to the Language and Culture Camp. Prior to your first class, you will get to make introductions in Chinese to your group mates. Initially, it might be a challenge, however, after today’s lesson, you will be more confident to make introductions and have basic conversations in Mandarin. Later you will divide in groups and begin a lively Chinese lesson which will be focused on learning some practical Chinese words. This afternoon, begin your first China Cultural lesson- paper cutting, which is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts. We will use simple cutting tools of scissors or an engraving knife, and you will be amazed by the true to life expressions of the figure's appearance, or portrayal of natural plants and animals' diverse gestures. This will be followed seeing Chinese folk dance, such as Handkerchief dance, Xinjiang folk dance or the Minority dance. This allows your family to experience the Chinese culture in a practical and meaningful way.

Begin your day with a lively language lesson. Later explore the fascinating Hutong neighborhoods by taking a rickshaw ride through the classic Hutong area (don’t forget to tip your driver). Beijing’s oldest Hutongs were constructed during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour will take you through some of the best-preserved Hutong neighborhoods that represent the history, culture and lifestyle of old Beijing. After a special homemade lunch at a local family residence in the Hutong Lane area, you can learn to make your own kites under professional instruction. In the afternoon, visit China’s largest temple and altar—the Temple of Heaven, which is often depicted as the most recognizable symbol of China.

Begin your day with an interactive and lively language lesson; you will learn useful words and phrases to prepare you for shopping. Please keep a few notes as you will put them into practice soon.
This afternoon, tour the Forbidden City. Listed as a world heritage site in 1987, the Forbidden City contains the largest group of intact palace structures in the world. The palace is 720,000 square meters in size and contains 9,999 rooms, numerous pavilions, gardens and courtyards. Then visit the Tiananmen Square. Noted as the largest city square in the world, the square was initially designed for political rallies and important gala events. Today the square is flanked by the Forbidden City in the north, the Great Hall of the People in the west, Mao TseTung’s Mausoleum in the south and the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History in the east. Visit a Peking duck restaurant and see how the professional chef roasts Peking duck - Beijing's most famous dish. It is traditionally served with Mandarin pancakes, and green onions for brushing on the hoisin sauce. Have a Peking duck dinner there.
Tonight, enjoy a Beijing Kung Fu show at Red Theater, which is popular and appealing for both Chinese and foreign friends.

Begin your tour at Beijing Capital Museum and then visit Baigongfang Handicraft Museum. You will be intrigued by the various characters of Peking Opera and the eccentric patterns of Opera Masks which dramatically illustrate the personality and colors the Peking Opera. You can enjoy taking your own turn at drawing a mask with some guidance. After lunch, tour around Hongqiao Market and have a warm-up shopping experience; then it’s time for you to apply the words and phrases you learned on your shopping lesson. You are assigned to Panjiayuan Market and look for one treasured item you consider as the best. Groups will be sent out and you can use your Mandarin and bargaining skills to get the treasured item within a limited budget. After such an experience, you may find you are quite an intelligent shopper. Tonight, enjoy the performance played by the traditional Chinese instruments at The National Grand Theater.

Visit the local community, where you can communicate with the local people and learn the Chinese Fork Arts such as Allegro, Peking Opera or Flower Drum Opera. Later, visit a professional cooking school and learn to make JiaoZi there (traditional Chinese dumplings). This afternoon, enjoy a free day to wander around or make your own arrangements as desired.

Present your item purchased from Hongqiao and Panjiayuan market and share your own shopping experience with your classmates. There is sure to be some laughter as language teams share different shopping experiences and highlights. ! This afternoon, you can learn to play Taichi.

Explore the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace this morning, originally built in 1750 and later rebuilt in 1886. Located in the western outskirts of the city, the Summer Palace is the leading classical garden in China and a UNESCO world heritage site. After lunch in a local restaurant, your Culture and Language Camp graduation ceremony will be held and you are awarded your graduation certificate. Enjoy the last day here with all of your team members and group. Your finished pottery will be delivered to you as a memento. You can start to pack your things and then enjoy a farewell dinner as you wrap a meaningful and memorable trip.

Your guide and driver will transfer you to Beijing airport depart for your next desired city or back to United States.