2027 Minnetonka China Explorers Program
| Travel Dates: |
March 26, 2027 -
April 7, 2027
Dates tentative until flights confirmed
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $2,500 |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be 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 26 | USA - Beijing | The group will continue traveling from the USA to Beijing, China. | Ariplane |
| March 27 | USA → Beijing | Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and recover from jet lag. | Beijing Hotel |
| March 28 | Beijing | After breakfast, drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall , one of the best-preserved yet less crowded sections of the Wall. Ride a cable car up, enjoy hiking along the ramparts, and descend by cable car. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace , China’s largest and best-preserved imperial garden, with highlights like Kunming Lake and the Long Corridor. Dinner tonight features the famous Peking Duck , with a chance to practice using chopsticks. | Beijing Hotel |
| March 29 | Beijing | We’ll begin at Tiananmen Square , the world’s largest city plaza, then enter the Forbidden City , home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After lunch, we’ll visit the Temple of Heaven , a UNESCO site where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Dinner in the evening. | Beijing Hotel |
| March 30 | Beijing → Xi’an | This morning, explore Beijing’s traditional hutongs , narrow lanes full of history and daily life. Step into a local courtyard and take part in a hands-on activity such as Chinese paper cutting, calligraphy, or Peking Opera mask painting. After lunch, transfer to the railway station and take the high-speed train (~5.5 hrs) to Xi’an. Dinner upon arrival. | Xi'an Hotel |
| March 31 | Xi’an | Visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Museum , housing thousands of life-size clay soldiers, chariots, and horses guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang. Try your hand at making a miniature Terracotta Warrior in a hands-on workshop. After lunch, return to Xi’an to admire the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Dinner in the evening. | Xi'an Hotel |
| April 1 | Xi’an | Begin at Da Cien Temple , home to the towering Big Wild Goose Pagoda , built during the Tang Dynasty to safeguard scriptures brought from India. After lunch, visit the Ancient City Wall , one of the oldest and best-preserved in China, with optional biking on the ramparts. In the afternoon, explore the Great Mosque and stroll the bustling Muslim Quarter , with its markets and street food. Dinner tonight is free-style with cash given to students to try local delicacies. | Xi'an Hotel |
| April 2 | Xi’an → Shanghai | Fly to Shanghai (~2.5 hrs). After arrival, stroll along Nanjing Road , the city’s most famous shopping street, before walking the Bund , where historic European architecture faces the futuristic skyline of Pudong. Dinner in the evening. | Shanghai Hotel |
| April 3 | Shanghai | Begin the day with a visit to a local school for a language and cultural exchange. After lunch, explore Yu Garden , a classical Ming-era garden filled with pavilions, ponds, and rockeries, followed by shopping and snacks at Yuyuan Bazaar. Dinner tonight is free-style with cash given to students to enjoy local delicacies. | Shanghai Hotel |
| April 4 | Shanghai | Start the morning at Fuxing Park , where locals gather for tai chi, dancing, and morning exercises. Continue to Tianzifang , a maze of artsy shops, galleries, and cafés housed in traditional shikumen buildings. After lunch, ascend the Oriental Pearl Tower for panoramic views from its observation deck. Group dinner in the evening. | Shanghai Hotel |
| April 5 | Shanghai → USA | After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight. | Your own bed! |
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.
Chongwenmen Hotel
Chongwenmen Hotel is located in central Beijing, within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the Wangfujing shopping district. The hotel is next to Chongwenmen Subway Station (Lines 2 and 5), making it easy to explore the city. Rooms include air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, TVs, and private bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant serving Chinese and Western cuisine, 24-hour front desk service, and meeting spaces for group gatherings.
JI Hotel Shanghai
JI Hotel (Shanghai Hongqiao Zhongshan West Road) is situated at No. 908 West Zhongshan Road in Shanghai’s Changning District, about a 10-minute drive from Hongqiao International Airport. The hotel features comfortable single and twin rooms with standard amenities, including Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and daily housekeeping. Guest services include a 24-hour reception, express check-in and check-out, laundry facilities, and a restaurant offering Chinese and international options. The property is conveniently located near public transportation and offers easy access to the city’s commercial and cultural areas.
Group Flight
Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Alena Shish
China Country Director, Program Leader
Middlebury College – B.A. in Chinese Language in Literature; Minor in French & Francophone Studies
Born in Ukraine and growing up in the United States, Alena is no stranger to thriving in different cultural environments and studying foreign languages (so far, she speaks four: English, Chinese, French, & Russian). While at Middlebury College, she had the opportunity to study in both Hangzhou, China, and Paris, France. Her time abroad inspired her to see the potential in study abroad and intercultural exchange for personal growth and cross-cultural understanding. Having fallen in love with the Chinese language, food, and culture while abroad, after graduation, she moved to Shenzhen, China to help Chinese high schools students through the US university application process. Since then, she’s also traveled around Russia, Israel, East Asia and all over China. So far, she’s been to 19 provinces, 4 municipalities, and 2 administrative regions in mainland China. When she’s not hiking or spending time reading, she’s obsessively baidu-ing (the Chinese Google) new Chinese slang, new Chinese dishes to try, or new places to explore in China. She’s excited to see to share her love of China, Chinese language, and travel with all her trip participants.
Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History
Luke’s path to student travel began in Mexico, during a year abroad in Mexico and Central America. This formative time led him to join an international volunteer program which, after graduating from college, sent him to the small village of San Gerardo de Rivas in south-central Costa Rica. Welcomed by the loveliest of host families, his experience in this tiny town is directly connected to the beginnings of Walking Tree five years later. His love for travel still burns bright, and today he’s lucky to have a wife and daughter who are equally passionate about exploring the world. Settled in Denver, he adores his family and colleagues, skies whenever possible, and is a devoted fan of all Colorado sports teams.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families back home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC China website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before traveling.
Our in-country staff meticulously prepare for all programs. Walking Tree receives regular updates from the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to proactively stay ahead of any potential security concerns. Our in-country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families through in-depth interviews and visits, and stay informed about important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in comprehensive leadership training. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff, and U.S.-based staff.
We collect medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we can meet every student’s needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues not listed during your initial registration process. Leaders and in-country staff are prepared to respond promptly to any mental, physical, or emotional health concerns and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel can be unpredictable. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) provision. Detailed explanations of plan options can be found via the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage that includes CFAR, you must purchase the plan within 14-21 days of your first payment to Walking Tree. Be careful when you read the tenets of the policy to ensure you understand the required timeframe for purchase. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight. Please reach out to us with questions.