Trips

FEBRUARY 01

VARIOUS TIMES Join the group to fly to Beijing, China!

FEBRUARY 03

5:00/5:30am Arrive in Beijing, Depart to hostel

7:30am Check--‐in at hostel

7:30am--‐12:00pm Free time, breakfast, nap

11:00am  Bank/Money Exchange 

12:00pm Group Lunch

1:00pm Temple of Heaven

4:30pm Pearl Market Shopping

6:00pm Dinner with Mentors and free time

9:00pm NO SLEEPING BEFORE 9:00!

FEBRUARY 04

8:00am Tiananmen Square

9:30am National Museum

10:30am Forbidden City

1:00pm Jiangshan Park

(optional, additional cost)

1:00--‐5:00pm Free Time

5:00--‐9:00pm Group dinner, Acrobatic Show

FEBRUARY 05

8:00am– 1:00pm Free time 

1:00--‐5:00pm ESL Training

5:00pm Group Dinner

6:30pm Nanluoguxiang (Shopping street) or Free Time

FEBRUARY 06

7:00am--‐6:00pm Great Wall, Group lunch, Ming Tombs, and Jade factory

6:00pm Free time

FEBRUARY 07

8:00am – 12:00pm Culture Training

12:00--‐1:30pm Group Lunch

1:30--‐5:00pm Amazing Race Beijing Edition

FEBRUARY 08

8:00am– 12:00pm ESL Training

12:00--‐2:00pm Group Lunch and Rest

2:00--‐5:00pm Fake Market Shopping

7:00pm Kong Fu Show (optional, additional cost) I’m going!

FEBRUARY 09

(Participantsare welcome to attend the LDS Beijing Branch)

8:00am Depart for church

10:00am--‐1:00pm Church

1:00pm Lunch

2:30pm Olympic Stadiums or Free Time (Possibly a trip to the zoo, panda exhibit and the aquarium) 

FEBRUARY 10

8:00am--‐12:00pm ESL training

12:00--‐1:00pm Lunch and Rest

1:00--‐5:00pm Culture Training

5:00pm Free time

FEBRUARY 11

8:00am--‐1:00pm Summer Palace

1:00--‐5:00pm Free time

5:00--‐8:00pm Group Dinner and night market (pedestrian street area)

FEBRUARY 12

TBA Participants will depart for schools via train or plane- Details in Beijing

FEBRUARY 14

It is possible some schools may start a little earlier or later, but at this point your scheduled start date.

FEBRUARY 12-17

Settle into apartments and prepare for teaching. These days may be filled with dinners hosted by your school, unpacking, cleaning your apartment, going shopping, getting to know your cities, signing autographs, taking pictures, etc.

Be sure to make these days fun! Fun is the ultimate cure for homesickness!

Gansu Service Project 

China Horizons is organizing a service project to visit a remote village in the Gansu Province (Western China).  This is an amazing and incredibly meaningful opportunity.  China has experienced great development and wealth in recent years, but the vast majority of China's people, the farmers and workers, still live in very harsh circumstances and experience extreme poverty.  They work harder than we can imagine to try to escape this poverty and give their children a quality education that will open up a better future for their families.  We will be spending most of our time at a small, poor primary school with the goals of inspiring these precious children, doing our small part to improve their quality of life, sharing our love with them and giving them a memorable experience.  These are people that have never seen a foreigner in their life, let alone experienced the comforts of the development China is currently experiencing.  If you really want to have a unique experience in China, this Gansu project will take it to a whole new level. 

Gansu Service Trip Highlights/Details:

•  Ride the train from hot and humid Eastern China out into the cool deserts and mountains of Northwest China beyond where most Westerners and even Chinese manage to travel.

•  Take in breathtaking landscape with wide-open spaces and blue skies (with sunsets to die for at 9 or even 10 pm)

•  Experience a fascinating blend of Han Chinese, Mongolian, Uighur, and Muslim cultures.

•  Stay in the traditional and humble homes of local families (along with another English-speaking Chinese volunteer). Eat home-cooked meals with them. Play with their kids.  Help with chores. Sleep on a kang! (coal-heated bed)

•  Provide meaningful service for the primary school and community.  Potential activities include (but are not limited to):

◦      Teaching English, which really means singing, dancing and playing games,  Plenty of time to play with the cutest kids on the planet. Yes, you'll be able to play with the most amazing, lovable, humble and hilarious kids in the world.

▪     Seriously. You won't want to leave.

◦        Donate needed items to the children and community such as warm winter clothes, books, school supplies, toys, etc.  Teach useful skills to the community (for example, bring the supplies and teach how to knit winter hats)

◦  Assist with a community improvement project such as construction, road repair, or clean-up Anything else we come up with!  Think about what you have to offer.  We're open to suggestions!

Option to travel around the Gansu province after the project is finished (a once in a lifetime opportunity that you'd be kind of foolish to pass up if circumstances allow it).

Dates: 

This Gansu trip will take place between June 29 and July 10.  The service project itself will only last approx. 5-7 days, however after the project, there will be plenty of time for optional travel opportunities throughout this unique region of China. 

I'll be coming around the ocean when I come, I'll be coming around the ocean when I come, I'll be coming around the ocean when I come!

July 16th!!