China - Summer Cultural Exploration

Explore

Of all the cities in Asia, few offer visitors the opportunity to see ancient and modern juxtaposed on such a grand scale as Beijing. AYUSA students will spend three full weeks in the political capital of China. During your time here you will see countless ancient wonders, such as the famed Great Wall, and modern marvels, including the Olympic Park, Bird's Nest, Water Cube and Olympic village. Your final week on program will be spent touring some of China's breathtaking countryside and the ancient cities of Nanjing, Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Spend your final three days in the dynamic urban metropolis of Shanghai. The AYUSA Summer Cultural Exploration program in China combines classroom learning and travel with a local homestay experience. This program is ideal for students who want to improve their Chinese and engage with the local culture through direct immersion.

Learn

Intensive Chinese language and culture classes take place in the morning, Monday through Friday, for three hours per day. To ensure quality instruction, classes are taught by fully qualified Chinese instructors and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1.

Experience

Two to three afternoons per week students participate in a variety of organized activities. Students will have the chance to explore Beijing through guided excursions to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beihai Park, the Water Cube, the Bird's Nest, Wangfujing Street and many more attractions. Afternoon cultural activities are hands-on and will include opportunities to learn Gongfu-Changquan, Taiji, Chinese paper cutting and table tennis. You'll even get to try your hand at making jiaozi, China's famous dumplings!

Travel

Students will have a chance to explore the vibrant heritage of China through guided and chaperoned visits to the following destinations:

• Nanjing: Located in the lower Yangtze River drainage basin and Yangtze River Delta economic zone, Nanjing was the capital of China for six dynasties and has also served as the national hub of education, research, tourism and transportation.
• Wuxi: Wuxi is nicknamed the "Pearl of Lake Tai" because it is built on the beautiful and scenic shore of Lake Tai. Wuxi is also known as "little Shanghai" due to its close proximity to the city and its booming economy and fast urbanization.
• Suzhou: Renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas and meticulously designed gardens, Suzhou is famous as an important tourist destination. Suzhou is a key center for China's silk industry and continues to hold this prominent title even today.
• Hangzhou: One of the most renowned and prosperous cities in China for the past 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also known for its breathtaking natural scenery and famous West Lake.
• Program Finale: Shanghai! Spend a few nights in the modern commercial and financial center of China and enjoy shopping in the world famous plazas while sampling delicious, authentic Chinese food. A final class will be held where you will begin to synthesize your experience in China and develop ways to continue learning Chinese when you return home. Students will participate in discussions on how to share your experience with family and friends.

Housing

AYUSA Study Abroad students will spend the first three weeks on program living with carefully selected local Chinese host families. Homestays allow for a deeper immersion into Chinese culture and give students an opportunity to practice their Chinese. Adjustment to host family life and Chinese culture will be assisted by an On-Site Coordinator. During the final week of your program you will stay in tourist class hotels.

Requirements

• 15–18 years old at the time of program departure
• 2.5 GPA or higher (4.0 scale)
• Flexible and mature personality; desire to be challenged, ability to remain open-minded and tolerant of cultural differences