Mandarin Language Immersion – Guilin, China

Founded in the 13th century, and home to Ming and Qing dynasty emperors, the capital city of Beijing is one of China's true ancient citadels. After a period of isolation, the modern city is undergoing significant reform and change, embodying all the fascinating contradictions of modern China. Old Beijing continues to survive in its temples, palaces, and old alleyways, often set among sprawling avenues, towering skyscrapers, and shopping malls.

Enjoy a traditional Peking Duck Dinner to get a taste of the Chinese culture that we will be a part of during our stay. Peking duck is a dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era. The cooked Peking Duck is traditionally carved in front of the diners and served in three stages, allowing guests to enjoy a Chinese dining experience.

Explore the world's largest public square and equivalent to the size of 90 American football fields. In the center of the square stands the Monument to the People's Heroes (Renmin Yingxiong Jinian Bei), a 38m granite obelisk erected in 1958 and engraved with scenes from famous popular Chinese uprisings.

Discover the massive complex of red-walled buildings and pavilions topped by a sea of glazed vermilion tile. Visit the Inner Court, where only the emperor, his family, his concubines, and the palace eunuchs were allowed; the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where emperors lived after Yongzheng moved out of the Qianqing Gong and the Nine Dragon Screen, an 11½ft high wall covered in glazed tile dragons frolicking above a frothing sea, built to protect the Qianlong emperor from prying eyes and malevolent spirits.

An enormous park and altar directly to the south of the Forbidden City. Each winter solstice, the Ming and Qing emperors would lead a procession here to perform rites and make sacrifices designed to promote the next year’s crops and curry favor with Heaven for the general health of the empire.

Explore the fantastic Summer Palace, an expanse of elaborate Qing-style pavilions, bridges, walkways, and gardens scattered along the shores of immense Kunming Lake. We will enjoy a tour of the park, which covers roughly 716 acres, with Kunming Lake to the south and Longevity Hill to the north.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

one of the world’s most awesome and impressive sights. The series of stone and earthen fortifications snakes its way east to west for nearly 4,000 miles, and was built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century AD to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire.

13 of the 16 emperors who ruled China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) are buried in a box canyon at the southern foot of Tianshou Shan. This is the most extensive burial complex of any Chinese dynasty and the tombs are constructed in conventional fashion, with memorial halls at the front and burial chambers to the rear.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

The unusual city of Guilin, founded in the Qin Dynasty, is noted for the many karst peaks dotting the surrounding landscape that have inspired poets since the 6th century AD. After emerging as a provincial capital in the Ming dynasty, Guilin has grown into a picturesque city surrounded by crystal-clear waters, enchanting rock formations, and fantastic caves.

Ahead of our homestay and language classes, we will participate in an orientation session, which will include a program overview and safety briefing.

Enjoy a welcome dinner with your host families.

This morning we will have some free time to settle in, unpack, and spend time with our homestay families.

We will pair up with our local buddies for the Discover Guilin Scavenger Hunt.

Explore Guilin's famous "Two Rivers, Four Lakes" scenic area.

We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

This afternoon enjoy tea sampling and a discussion on Eastern philosophy at a Taoist tea house.

Hike Chuan Shan with local friends and enjoy Gulin's spectacular karst mountain scenery at sunset.

We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

Learn Chinese ink painting with a local artist and our Chinese friends.

Attend a round-table discussion on globalism with local business owners and city officials.

We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

Visit a Buddhist monastery built into the side of a karst mountain. Explore its underground prayer caves, and discuss Buddhism and monastic life.

We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

We will visit a local manufacturing company and discuss China's global footprint.

We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

Learn Taiji Quan with a local Taiji master and our Chinese friends.

We will enjoy a festive farewell dinner with our local friends and homestay families.

Shanghai is the largest and most dynamic city in China. The recent explosion of economic and industrial development in this autonomous municipality has made it one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Shanghai is an exhilarating, ever-changing city that isn’t just living China’s dream, it’s setting the pace for the rest of the world.

A pleasant and well-contained classical Chinese garden. Built between 1559 and 1577, the Yu Yuan (meaning Garden of Peace and Comfort) is a maze of Míng Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall.

One of the most important museums in China, with 11 state-of-the-art galleries and three special exhibition halls arranged on four floors, all encircling a spacious cylindrical atrium. The exhibits feature over 120,000 historic artifacts, arranged by theme rather than by dynasty.

This temple is famous for its jade Buddha statues, which are pure white and very elegant. The construction of the pavilions and halls are in the traditional style of the Song dynasty, and it has four halls: the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Grand Hall, the Reclining Buddha Hall, and the Jade Buddha Chamber.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

Built in 1998 as a Sino-American joint venture; it rises to 1,379 ft and blends traditional Chinese and modern Western tower designs. Take the High-speed Elevator to the observation deck on the 88th floor, known as “The Skywalk," to enjoy magnificent views over the city.

As we sail down the river towards the East Sea, we will enjoy the full sweep of the Bund and the 21st century cityscape of Pudong, as well as the futuristic Yangpu Bridge.

China’s premier shopping street starts at The Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jingan Temple and Yan’an West Street. In addition to the brand-name stores, specialty shops still provide choice silk goods, jade, embroidery, wool, and clocks.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

Attend a Martial Arts Demonstration Show or an Acrobatic Show.