This trip to China was amazing! The very busy itinerary gave us an adventure every day.
Going from Levin to the very busy streets of Beijing, on a public holiday, walking amongst 250,000 people (as reported in the local paper) in Tiananmen Square and 120,000 people in the Forbidden City, had to be a culture shock for some of us in the group. We had to be really careful to keep everyone together so that we would not be separated. We did not want to lose anyone!
There were many new experiences on this trip, different foods to get used to, different smells, temperatures up to 32 degrees, experiencing BIG cities, seeing how people live in a different way … everything was different!
The students all coped very well. They had to be organised in the morning to be out the door by set times, ready with their back pack, water bottle (water not out of the tap but bought) and ready for a day of new experiences. By the end of the day, everyone was really tired but thrilled with the adventure.
CHINA TRIP 2012 ITINERARY
Friday 5 October
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City home to 24 Emperors of the Ming & Qing
Dynasty
After lunch take the Hutong tour on Rickshaws and enjoy the Legend of Kungfu show
Saturday 6 October
Visit the Summer Palace, the Beijing Zoo to see the Pandas,
China tea tasting and the Ya Show markets
Tonight enjoy the traditional Peking duck dinner
Sunday 7 October
Climb the Great Wall at the Jurong Pass, visit a local Jade factory
and after lunch visit the Changling Ming Tomb and the Sacred way
Monday 8 October
Visit the Temple of Heaven and the Hongqiao markets with the afternoon free
Tuesday 9 October
Depart Beijing and arrive in Guangzhou
Transfer to the Overseas Chinese Vocational school
Stay 5 nights in the International school hostel
Wednesday 10 October
Chinese Language, Chinese handicraft (crepe flowers), Pearl River night cruise
Thursday 11 October
Chinese Language, Yuexiu Park (Guangzhou’s Five Rams Statue, ‘Wuyang Shixian’),
Dinner with the Principal at a local restaurant, interacting with local students
Friday 12 October
Visit Bai Yun ancestral village and Beijing Pedestrian Street, Chinese painting at night school
Saturday 13 October
Guangzhou sightseeing and Teemall Plaza
Depart Guangzhou to Shenzhen by bus (approximately 2 hours)
Full day at the Splendid China and Minority Park with shows
Our guides were able to teach us all about the Chinese culture. Having them with us meant that we were able to gain far more out of what we saw.
We all had the most amazing time in China. We enjoyed every moment and loved the interaction we had with the local people.