Westridge China 2010

Day 02: March 22, Monday -- Beijing
Orientation to the city of Beijing followed by a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where students will take a Taichi class. In the afternoon, visit the giant pandas at the Beijing Zoo. Learn more about the animals by interacting with the animal caregivers at the zoo. Then visit Beijing Olympics venues – Bird’s Nest and Water Cube (outside view). In the evening, enjoy Peking Opera at the Liyuan Theatre.

Day 03: March 23, Tuesday -- Beijing
Today’s highlight is a visit to the renowned Great Wall (Ju Rong Guan section, about 30 miles north of Beijing). This will be followed by a visit to the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Way. We will enjoy a famous Peking Duck meal this evening.

Day 04: March 24, Wednesday -- Beijing
In the morning, stroll on Tian’an Men Square and explore the Forbidden City, the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. In the afternoon, visit a local school to have a discussion and range of activities with Chinese students who will be eager to connect and speak with Westridge students. At night, enjoy a traditional Chinese acrobatic show.

Day 05: March 25, Thursday -- Beijing/Luoyang
We will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple to begin the day. This visit will help students learn more about religious practice in Tibet and other areas where Tibetan Buddhism is practiced. Most of the monks here are from Inner Mongolia but can speak Mandarin; hopefully some in our group can converse with some of them, aided by our local guide/translator/teachers. After a home-made lunch in a local resident’s home, we will tour the traditional Hutong where local people have lived for generations. In the evening, we will transfer to the railway station for the soft-sleeper train to Luoyang (about 9 1/2 hours); overnight on the train (with four-berth cabin sharing).

Day 06: March 26, Friday – Luoyang
Arrive in Luoyang in the morning. Meet the local guide at the railway station. You will visit the Longmen Grottoes, where you will see over 2,100 statues carved out of the stone cliffs, and over 10,000 carved Buddhist statues. This afternoon, we will visit the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in China.

Day 07: March 27, Saturday -- Luoyang
The morning program brings us to the Shaolin Temple in the mountains of Songshan in Dengfeng – this is the birthplace of Chinese Martial Arts. You will watch a group of Kung Fu students showcase spectacular feats of strength, speed and power. In the afternoon, you will attend a Kung Fu class to learn and practice some of the fundamentals of this ancient martial art. You will be driven back to Luoyang in the afternoon.

Day 08: March 28, Sunday -- Luoyang/Xian
After breakfast we’ll take a motor coach to Xian (about 5 hours). Today’s program features a visit to the ancient City Wall and the Bell Tower, famed landmarks of Xian. The ancient City Wall is the most complete city wall that exists in China and is one of the largest ancient military defense systems in the world. Afterwards you will attend a class to learn how to make Chinese dumplings. At night enjoy the famous Dumpling banquet followed by an evening taking a leisurely walk along the Muslim Quarter to see the night market and street offerings.

Day 09: March 29, Monday -- Xian
We will begin our day with a visit to see the Terracotta Warriors. This site is considered to be one the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. In fact, it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The museum covers an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into three sections. In a workshop, each student will learn-through-doing about the creation of the Terracota soldiers by making a Terracotta warrior. In the afternoon, our group will visit the Starfish Foster Home orphanage to meet and interact with the babies/youth at the facility and a talk to staff about the programs they offer for children in need.

Day 10: March 30, Tuesday -- Xian/Beijing
Enjoy a free morning to explore the city, including the Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter. After lunch we will fly back to Beijing. The rest of the day is free for shopping or exploring in small groups.

Day 11: March 31, Wednesday -- Beijing/USA
This morning will be open to be spent in small groups either shopping or exploring. Students and teachers/leaders will spread out and explore sites or do some last-minute shopping. We will be back at the hotel by 4pm, and then transfer to the airport for the home bound flight.