2022 Denver Language School China Immersion Program
| Travel Dates: |
March 24, 2022 -
April 2, 2022
Dates are tentative until flights are secured
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,790 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,200 |
| Deadline(s): | The next info meeting to be held in September. |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,790
Pay in Full
$2,790.00
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:
$81.79
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.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Eat delicious, and we mean delicious Chinese food!
Improve your Mandarin through regular interaction with native speakers
Wander the Hutongs and marvel at the wonders of imperial Beijing
Hike unrestored portions of The Great Wall
Volunteer on a local community project
Volunteer the Chengdu Giant Panda Base
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 24 | USA - Chengdu | Today we'll depart the USA and fly across the Pacific to the metropolis of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China. | In flight |
| March 25 | Chengdu | 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 |
| March 26 | Chengdu - Dujiangyan | 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 and learning more about the center's efforts to reintroduce these animals to the wild. | Dujiangyan lodging |
| March 27 | Chengdu - Dujiangyan | 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 lodging |
| March 28 | Chengdu - In 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 fellow passengers. | Sleeper Train |
| March 29 | 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) | Sleepy Inn |
| March 30 | 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 Square 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 early evening in Jingshan park and enjoy the sweeping views of the Forbidden City from above. | Sleepy Inn |
| March 31 | Beijing | Today we'll travel to a rural village at the foot of the Great Wall of China. We'll hike through chestnut orchards, walk past Wild Wall (an un-restored section) and enjoy exploring this quiet, peaceful community. The entire group will be staying with the Hu family and have the opportunity to practice our Chinese with them and enjoy home-cooked meals as part of this unforgettable opportunity! | Hu Family Home |
| April 1 | Beijing | After arriving back in Beijing we'll either engage in a cultural exchange activity with local students, or further exploration of this massive city. 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. | Sleepy Inn |
| April 2 | Beijing - USA | Check out, head to the airport and fly home! 再见中国！ | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Sleepy Inn
The cosmopolitan and vibrant atmosphere make this hotel a wonderful experience for our student groups. Selected for the great service, clean rooms and advantageous location, Sleepy Inn is an excellent place to relax between adventures around Beijing. Rooms and bathrooms will be exclusive to our travelers.
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.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
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
I was very concerned about my daughter who has a peanut allergy travelling to a foreign country for the first time without us. Walking Tree was very sensitive to my concerns and reassured me that this is something they could handle and they did! I would send her again in a heartbeat. Thank you Walking Tree.
Kerry
Parent of Emilie, traveler on 2018 Service Program to Costa Rica
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.
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
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.