2020 Community School of Naples China Program
| Travel Dates: | May 31, 2020 - June 11, 2020 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,990 USD
- or -
$2,890 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $990 |
| Deadline(s): | Interested travelers should enroll by Friday, October 11th. |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,990
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$2,890.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$55.34
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
China Cultural Journey
As the 21st century unfolds, it is clear that China will continue to take a leading role in shaping the way our shared world develops. The world’s most populous nation – and dynamic economy – has as its backdrop 5,000 years of history and is home to a wide variety of rich cultural traditions and exotic cuisines. Furthermore, China is the world’s fourth largest country in area, with wide geographic diversity and stunning natural beauty.
Your time in China can include visits to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and exotic markets. You may choose to study Mandarin, Kung Fu, Chinese cuisine, Tai Chi, or calligraphy. Visit isolated villages and staggering Himalayan peaks on the Tibetan plateau, or learn from business leaders and government officials at thought-provoking seminars. You will bike through rice paddies and traditional farming villages, immersing yourself in the local community and landscape. We are excited to bring you to this wondrous land for an adventure you will never forget.
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Wander the Hutongs and marvel at the wonders of imperial Beijing
Visit Wuhou Temple in Chengdu
Volunteer the Chengdu Giant Panda Base
Visit the unrestored portion of the Great Wall of China
Explore the Forbidden City in Beijing
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31 | USA - Chengdu | Today we'll depart the USA and fly across the Pacific to the metropolis of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China. | In flight |
| June 1 | Chengdu, Sichuan | After crossing the international dateline, we'll arrive in Chengdu in the evening. We'll settle in to the hotel, have our first dinner together and rest up for our upcoming adventure! | Xishu Garden Inn |
| June 2 | Chengdu, Sichuan | After a good night's rest we'll have our orientation and explore Chengdu, checking out the famous Wuhou Temple and eating our fair share of Chengdu's specialty street snacks on Jinli street. We'll also stroll over to the People's Park to hang with the locals while they get fit and socialize through ballroom dance, kite flying, taichi, and more! For dinner, we'll try our hand at expert level DIY Sichuan cuisine, hotpot! | Xishu Garden Inn |
| June 3 | Dujiangyan, Sichuan | Early this morning, we'll make our way to the Panda Center at Dujiangyan to begin our volunteer programing. Our tasks will including cleaning panda enclosures, preparing bamboo and “panda bread, as well as hand-feeding the pandas. | Dujiangyan Panda Business Hotel |
| June 4 | Dujiangyan, Sichuan | Today, we'll visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base to see the public facing side of panda conservation in China. We'll tour the facilities and also see the Giant panda’s smaller cousin, the Red Panda. Another option is a visit to Panda Valley, where important reintroduction work is being done. We'll also get the insider's scoop by speaking with scientists working at the center about their research and the future of China's adorable mammal. In the afternoon, we have two options: a relaxing hike in the misty waterfalls of Qingcheng Back Mountain, where we'll enjoy stunning scenery and an escape from the heat; or we can, check out the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, for which the region is known, and presents an impressive feat of urban/structural engineering that has been in use since the 3rd century. | Dujiangyan Panda Business Hotel |
| June 5 | Anlong - Chengdu, Sichuan | Today we will visit and tour Anlong Village to learn about the work of Chengdu Urban Rivers Association and pitch in to help with some of their sustainable agricultural education programing. We'll enjoy tea and mahjong on the shores of the surging river while we experience the relaxed pace of life in rural Sichuan. We'll also have the unique opportunity to enjoy family style meals in local farmer's homes. After heading back into the city in the evening, we'll enjoy an entertaining Sichuan opera performance featuring traditional “Face Changing” acrobatics, and more. | Xishu Garden Inn |
| June 6 | Transit | After a final morning in Sichuan, we'll hop on the long-distance sleeper train to Beijing. As we zip through the countryside, we'll rest and recharge our batteries, play cards, journal, and snack and/or practice our Chinese language skills with our neighbors. | Train |
| June 7 | Beijing | We'll arrive in Beijing and get settled in at our accommodations in the historic Ming Dynasty Hutong alleyways of the old city center. This afternoon we'll check out the Lama Temple, Beijing's largest active Buddhist temple. In the evening, we'll take a cooking class at The Hutong and try our hand at crafting the Chinese cuisine we've been enjoying (option of making dumplings or handmade noodles) | Drum Tower Hostel |
| June 8 | Beijing | We'll begin our morning bright and early with a hutong scavenger hunt, exploring our neighborhood and soaking up Beijing's unique culture. We'll make our way to the Drum and Bell Tower Squa e for a demonstration of how time was kept in ancient times by beating drums. We'll then hop on the subway heading towards Qianmen, the old front gate of the city wall. We'll walk through Tiananmen Square, and reflect on the significance of the events that took place here. Then, we'll make our way to the Forbidden City, the Chinese Imperial Palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Time allowing, we'll check out the emperor's impressive collection of elaborate mechanized clocks from all over the world at the Hall of Clocks. After a busy day, we'll spend the late afternoon in Jingshan park and enjoy the sweeping views of the Forbidden City from above. | Drum Tower Hostel or Sleepy Inn |
| June 9 | Beijing | Today we'll visit one of the most important cultural sites on the planet: the Great Wall of China! We'll start our climb on the Wild Wall in Lotus Pond Village (taking time to get a sense of life in a rural village outside the city) and eventually connect to the restored Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. After taking as many photos as we can stand, we'll have our choice of ways to descend, either via cable car or toboggan rides. We'll enjoy a meal at a small family-run restaurant to get a sense of rural home-style Chinese cooking. | Drum Tower Hostel or Sleepy Inn |
| June 10 | Beijing | For our final full day in China, we'll either engage in a cultural exchange activity with local students, or further explore Beijing's rich culture. Options include experiencing stunning imperial ritual architecture during a visit to the Temple of Heaven, or testing our haggling skills while picking up last minute gifts/souvenirs at the famed Pan Jia Yuan Flea Market. We'll go out for our farewell dinner and enjoy a Beijing specialty: Peking duck. We'll close out the celebration of our time together with a Karaoke party after dinner. | Drum Tower Hostel or Sleepy Inn |
| June 11 | Beijing - USA | Check out, head to the airport and fly home! 再见中国！ | Airplane |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Drum Tower Hostel
The convenient location of Drum Tower Hostel reduces commute times and eases busy travel days. However, we have chosen to partner with this particular accommodation for its safety standards, comfortable and cheerful atmosphere, and commitment to good service. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Dujiangyan Panda Business Hotel
A clean, three star budget accommodation for groups working on Panda conservation projects at the nearby Dujiangyan Panda Base. A fun, panda-themed hotel that is a hit with our students! Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Xishu Garden Inn – Chengdu
Xishu Garden Inn is a colorful and lively hotel located in the heart of Chengdu. It is inviting, charming and will offer a great place to retreat at the end of the day. Wifi and AC are available throughout the property and breakfast will be served each morning in the dining area. Students will be split between genders in double, triple or dorm style rooms depending on hotel availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
This being my first experience with an international trip for my child I have nothing to compare it to. However I feel Walking Tree did an excellent job from conception to completion with informing me on costs, what to expect, safety concerns, and sharing the experience through their blog. While I was worried about how safe my child would be on a trip… on the other side of the world, she told me that she felt safer than school safe.
Stephanie
Parent of Brigid, traveler on Japan Cultural Journey
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.