Shanghai Excursions

Xi’an and Northwest Rural China

(For Participants in Semester Global Campus Programs)

Serving as the capital city of 11 dynasties throughout Chinese history, Xi’an was once the largest city and center in world civilization. Since the 1990’s the city of Xi’an has emerged as a relevant cultural, industrial and educational center of northwest China. Currently it is the capital of the Shaanxi province. During this five-day excursion, students enrolled in the “Liberal Arts & Business” and “Accelerated Chinese Language & Culture” programs at the CEA Global Campus will explore both traditional China and the contemporary rural area. Students will visit the Qin dynasty Terracotta Warriors, Tang dynasty pagoda, and Ming dynasty city wall, as well as various Emperors’ mausoleums. The rural experience will include an overnight stay in a village, participation in farm work, and interviews with farmers on popular topics such as population migration as part of China’s agriculture policy.

Beijing

(For Participants enrolled in two 5 week summer sessions)

Beijing, China’s capital city, stands as one of the most populous cities in the world and the cultural and political center of China. Situated in the northern part of the country, Beijing is surrounded by mountains on three separate sides. Both the Yongding and Chaobai rivers run through the city and the Great Wall lines its Northern end. In addition to the Great Wall, Beijing houses several of China’s most well known attractions, including the For bidden City, Tian’anmen Square, the Beijing Opera, the Temple of Heaven, Olympic Park and the Pagoda of Tanning Temple. During your time in Beijing you will experience some of these attractions and become enamored by the city’s rich history and unique culture. Absorb the sights, smells and sounds that surround you as your stroll through the Forbidden City, experience the intimate nature of traditional activities like Tai Chi in a quaint park or a meal of Peking Duck in a bustling downtown restaurant, and lose yourself in the radiating energy that exists throughout this booming metropolis.

Suzhou

Suzhou lies approximately 100 km west of Shanghai and its old town with many canals, hump-backed bridges and white-washed houses is known as the Venice of the East to this day. While making a daytrip to Suzhou, you cannot miss what this city is primarily known for: its plethora of beautiful gardens. Many of these originally over 100 gardens, which are a legacy of Suzhou's past community of artists, merchants and scholars, are still in existence today. You can also expect to delve into the city's history of silk production and embroidery while visiting one of the many silk factories. For a view of the city from up above, we will climb the nine storey high North Temple which is the tallest pagoda south of the Yangtse River. For those interested in the ancient China, Suzhou is also home to a number of museums such as the Kunqu Opera Museum, the Pingtan Museum and the Suzhou Museum.

Hangzhou

Hangzhou, about 170 km south of Shanghai, is one of China's designated seven famous ancient capital cities. Once described as one of the finest and most splendid cities in the world by Marco Polo, Hangzhou has since been tagged 'Paradise on Earth'. In Hangzhou you will visit the two scenic resorts the city is most famous for: the West Lake and another section encompassing the Fuchun River and Thousand-Islet Lake. Bicycling around the lakes, you can't help but relax at the sight of weeping willows, peach trees, stone bridges, rockeries and painted pavilions, interspersed with ancient tombs, monasteries and temples. In addition to enjoying the scenery that also attracts many Chinese honeymooners, we will make a trip to one of the tea plantations where the famous Chinese Dragon Well (Hangzhou Lonkjing) tea is produced. While in Hangzhou you may also want to visit the Chinese Academy of Art located in an impressive new building on the eastern shore of West Lake. Not to be missed is Qinghefang Old Street which gives you a true feeling of being in China - swarms of people are enjoying the souvenir stalls, tea houses and makeshift puppet theatres amidst lots of noise and heat.

Moganshan

Known as Shanghai's heat retreat, Monganshan has a long-standing history of the elite of Shanghai, ranging from capitalists to gangsters, making it their summer get-away. You will be traveling along Hu Hang and Ni Hang highways into the clear skies and soft summer breezes rustling in bamboo adorned mountainsides. With its rural feel where village people have taken over granite villas of the past for the raising of chickens and tending of gardens, you will see Moganshan as a perfect get-away from the busyness of Shanghai. The most widely practiced activities here are reading a good book, sitting on a terrace with bamboo beer or hiking to the other side of the mountain to watch the beautiful sunset.