St Leonard s College CUE China 2017

Transcription

1 Asia St Leonard s College Trip Highlights Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Centre volunteer program 2 day community service immersion at Miao Village Yangtze River excursion View the Terracotta Warriors and explore Xian Urban exploration Shanghai Dinners focusing on regional delicacies Visit to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Explore an impressive section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu Exploration of Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Chengdu Welcome to World Youth Adventures Thank you for your interest in our St Leonard s College CUE China 2017 trip. At World Youth Adventures we are passionate about sharing our experience with different cultures and wilderness regions of great natural beauty. We are committed to making sure that our range of unique itineraries are well researched, affordable and tailored for your enjoyment. The itineraries will give you the very best travel experience, designed by people with incredible local knowledge who share our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible tourism approach. We hope you will join us on this life changing experience, in the meantime join our community at Facebook.com/WorldYouthAdventures Trip Duration 19 days Trip Code: SOG4507 Grade Adventure touring Activities Community Project, Volunteering, Day Walking, Cruising Summary 19 day trip, 10 nights hotel, 2 night village stay, 3 nights Yangtze cruise, 1 night train, 2 nights flight Why travel with World Youth Adventures? World Youth Adventures (WYA) is a specialist division of World Expeditions that provides overseas adventure experiences for youth and young adults. We ve provided safe, quality travel experiences for students for over 20 years, in which time we ve designed and operated hundreds of fun, educational, adventurous, original and safe itineraries to more than 25 countries. If you are a student looking to your first overseas adventure, travelling with WYA is a sound first step. Your parents will be pleased to know that our duty of care to you is our number one priority. We are financially protected with adequate bonding and financial safeguards taken out in Australia, New Zealand, North America and the UK. Refer to our website to learn more about our industry leading risk management procedures World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM

2 Nov - 22 Nov Trip Dates The Trip An in depth journey through China for the St Leonard s Year 9 CUE Program featuring Community Service, Urban Exploration and Environmental Sustainability. What you will learn St Leonard s College Year 9 CUE program Community Service, Urban Exploration, Environmental Sustainability The program will be fine tuned to St Leonard s College s CUE program requirements and will focus on the following: *Engaging students in positive risk taking and experience beyond the classroom that is built on the concepts of connections. *Provoking inquiry into real world themes/issues and how individuals, local communities and the global community are impacted upon. *Encouraging behavior change towards more sustainable decision makers and therefore people of action. *Instilling in each student, a positive attitude toward self, the community and their world. *Giving students greater independence tp develop life skills and qualities considered important in independent learners and workers. At a Glance DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAYS 5-6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10 DAY 11 DAY 12 DAY 13 DAY 14 DAY 15 DAY 16 DAY 17 DAY 18 DAY 19 FLY MELBOURNE TO CHENGDU ARRIVE CHENGDU, ORIENTATION WALK, WELCOME DINNER DUJIANGYAN PANDA BREEDING CENTRE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM VISIT ZONGBEI MIDDLE SCHOOL, BULLET TRAIN TO CHONGQING FOR THREE GORGES CRUISE THREE GORGES RIVER CRUISE THREE GORGES CRUISE TO YICHANG. FLY TO GUIYANG TRANSFER GUIYANG TO MIAO VILLAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE IMMERSION BAIBI MIAO VILLAGE PROGRAM DEPART BAIBI VILLAGE. FLY TO XIAN IN XIAN, SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM AT HUILIN COMMUNITY CENTRE, VISIT GRAND MOSQUE VISIT TERRACOTTA WARRIORS. OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO SHANGHAI ARRIVE SHANGHAI. EXPLORATION AND SIGHTSEEING VISIT SHANGHAI SIGHTSEEING. BULLET TRAIN TO BEIJING BEIJING EXPLORATION AND CHINESE ACROBATIC SHOW DAY TRIP TO MUTIANYU SECTION OF GREAT WALL. BEIJING VISIT THE LAMA TEMPLE MEET WITH MONKS, EXPLORE HUTONGS BEIJING FLY TO MELBOURNE VIA BANGKOK ARRIVE MELBOURNE What s included 3 teachers from St Leonard s College travelling with group 17 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 14 dinners 3* hotels throughout China on a twin share basis International Airfares ex Melbourne Domestic airfares within China Expert bilingual guide throughout World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM

3 Fast train where indicated in economy class Sleeper train travel between Xian and Shanghai Boat cruise through the Three Gorges Private air conditioned transport Sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary Medical kit Visa costs Daily bottled water Tips and gratuities Detailed Itinerary DAY 1 Fly Melbourne to Chengdu Check-in at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Chengdu. Meals: NIL DAY 2 Arrive Chengdu, orientation walk, welcome dinner Check-in at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Chengdu. On arrival in China you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon there will be a trip briefing with your guide and an orientation walk before we head out to a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight: Chengdu Garden City Hotel or similar Meals: D DAY 3 Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Centre volunteer program This morning we drive to the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Centre where we will participate in the Panda research volunteer day program. The program involves students participating in a number of activities, including the Panda enrichment program. In the afternoon we return to our hotel, and later walk to a restaurant for a local delicacy, the Sichuan Hot Pot. Overnight: Chengdu Garden City Hotel or similar DAY 4 Visit Zongbei Middle School, bullet train to Chongqing for Three Gorges Cruise This morning we visit St Leonard s College sister school, the Zongbei Middle School for a program of activity and interaction. We then travel back into the city for lunch at a restaurant and visit the Wenshu Temple before we catch the bullet train (8717 dep 15:49 arr 17:29) to Chongqing where we will have dinner before boarding our river cruise boat for the Three Gorges Cruise. Overnight: river cruise. Twin share. DAYS 5-6 Three Gorges River Cruise The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world. We travel along one of the most picturesque sections of the river where, over millions of years, it has carved through the surrounding mountains to create the spectacular Three Gorges. The dramatic scenery of high peaks and huge cliffs, where temples perch high above the river, contrast with the significance of the river to the environment, the people and their culture. The effect of the changes to the river and the effect on the lives of people in this region, and those further downstream will be a focus of our discussion. We will take a number of excursions. Overnight: river cruise World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM

4 Fast Facts Countries Visited: China Visas: Yes* Vaccinations: Please consult a travel vaccination specialist for up to date information Leader: Expert local leader *Ask our staff for more information. DAY 7 Three Gorges Cruise to Yichang. Fly to Guiyang We disembark around 08:00 and visit the Three Gorges Dam Project before transferring to the rail station for our train to Yichang (D2266 DEP 11:33 ARR 13:36), where we transfer to Wuhan airport for our flight to Guiyang. On arrival we will transfer to our hotel for the night. Overnight Guiyang Regal Hotel DAY 8 Transfer Guiyang to Miao Village community service immersion This morning we board our bus for the to Baibi Primary School where we will meet the local Miao students and villagers, and participate in projects with them over the next days. After a day at the school we will drive to nearby Yishang village and our hotel. Overnight: Guesthouse DAY 9 Baibi Miao Village Program This morning we will hike to Baibi Village school through terraced fields, passing simple homes and learning about village life and how the villagers farm the land in a sustainable manner. We arrive and commence our activities at Baibi, stopping for lunch, and saying farewell the students late afternoon. Activities at the village school will be advised but may incude assisting with English language skills, joining sport activities and helping to improve the school environment. Overnight: Yishang Guesthouse DAY 10 Depart Baibi Village. Fly to Xian This morning after breakfast we transfer to Guiyang airport for our flight to Xian. On arrival we transfer to our hotel and take a walk in this exciting city prior to dinner. Overnight: Xian Skytel Hotel or similar DAY 11 In Xian, service learning program at Huilin Community Centre, visit Grand Mosque Xian was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The modernised new city bustles around the quaint, winding lanes of the Old Quarter, where old men sit and chat and where heavy carts are pulled by hand and hawkers sell their wares. Today we will explore on foot and by public transport. We start the day with a visit to Huilin Community Centre, established to support people with learning disabilities. We will join the local students and participate in a range of activities including games, sport, dancing and singing. We finish the day with a walking tour around the Muslim Quarter and focus on the ancient Silk Road. Our tour will include a visit to the Grand Mosque. The Grand Mosque is the oldest and one of the most important mosques in China, and was founded in 742 during the Tang dynasty ( ). There is time to explore the bazaar, where the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower are spectacularly illuminated at night and worth seeing on our way back to the hotel. Overnight: Xian Skytel Hotel or similar DAY 12 Visit Terracotta Warriors. Overnight train to Shanghai Today we visit the famous Terracotta Warriors. These warriors stand in their thousands outside the tomb of Qin Shihuang, where they were uncovered in 1974 by villagers digging a well. The warriors stand over 183cm tall, and each has different features and characteristics. Some stand in a vanguard with crossbow and longbow bearers; others hold spears, daggers and axes at the ready World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM

5 Responsible Travel The environments that you ll travel through are fragile. It is our responsibility as visitors to minimise the impact of our presence. Learn how you can minimise your impact by downloading our Responsible Travel Guidebook from our website. While you re there learn more about our sustainable travel policies. They are accompanied by dozens of horse-drawn carriages and enormous terracotta horses. The sight of the warriors arising from their clay pit, some intact, others still buried in the ground, is an extraordinary one. This afternoon we transfer to the train station for our overnight train to Shanghai. Overnight: Train. 4 berth compartments. DAY 13 Arrive Shanghai. Exploration and sightseeing Upon arrival in Shanghai we transfer to our well-located hotel to freshen up before we start our exploration. For 100 years Shanghai has been perhaps the most important economic and cultural city in the Pacific. Shanghai has a vibrant feel that infects all travellers who visit. We use public transport - metro and ferry, and some walking. We pay our own fares as we go, learning how the city operates. We will have 3 groups, each with a teacher and a guide. This morning after breakfast we will embark on a day of exploration that might include visits to the Long Hua Buddhist Temple, and take a walk through the famous and spectacular Yu Garden precinct. The river ferry will take us to Pudong, with time at the underground market, and sunset at Shanghai Tower. We will walk along the Bund with its amazing view, and visit Nanjing East Road. Overnight 3* hotel Shanghai. t.b.a. Meals: B DAY 14 Visit Shanghai Sightseeing. Bullet train to Beijing Today we continue our exploration of Shanghai with a visit to the Urban Planning Exhibition Centre and depending on time, the Shanghai Museum. The Urban Planning Centre lays out Shanghai before you, explaining the past, and presenting the future of this mega city. The Shanghai Museum houses over 120,000 cultural relics including Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, with a section dedicated to China s hill-tribes. We transfer to the train station for the high speed train (G4 DEP 14:00 ARR 18:48) and enjoy lunch at the station at one of the many restaurants (both Chinese and Western) on offer before boarding our train. Overnight: Beijing hotel t.b.a. DAY 15 Beijing exploration and Chinese Acrobatic Show After breakfast we will start our exploration of Beijing. Our sightseeing in Beijing will include a visit to the Beijing National Capital Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Zhongshan Park. Late this afternoon we will make our way to the famous Chinese Acrobat show. Set in an old theatre, the Acrobat show is an amazing display by very talented young men and women who enthral the crowd with daring feats involving bicycles, motor bikes and a host of spectacular skills. Overnight: 3* hotel Beijing t.b.a. DAY 16 Day trip to Mutianyu section of Great Wall. Today we travel to a beautiful section of the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section is approximately a 1.5 hours drive from Beijing, slightly further and less busy than the sections close to the city. The Mutianyu section is renowned for its Ming Dynasty Guard Towers and stirring views. Construction commenced over 2000 years ago, around 221 B.C, as a defence line of several thousand kilometres to keep out invaders from the north. We have the opportunity to hike along this spectacular section, quite often with no one else in sight, and to appreciate the many imposing watchtowers, as well as the surrounding rolling hills. Overnight: 3* hotel Beijing World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM

6 DAY 17 Beijing visit the Lama Temple meet with Monks, explore Hutongs This morning we travel by Metro and visit the Lama Temple and have a Q and A session with the Monks to learn about Buddhism. We have time to wander around the famous Hutongs. Hutongs are a maze of narrow streets and alleys with traditional courtyard residences. They are a wonderful glimpse into a bygone era before modernisation, and were originally established by Genghis Khan when his army captured Beijing. In the afternoon we have time to visit the Pearl Market. Tonight we will enjoy a meal close to our hotel and head back to our room to pack. Overnight 3* hotel Beijing Meals: B DAY 18 Beijing Fly to Melbourne via Bangkok This morning we continue to explore Beijing and visit the Temple of Heaven. Transfer to the airport for our flight to Melbourne via Bangkok. Meals: B,L DAY 19 Arrive Melbourne NIL Meals: NIL This Itinerary Is Subject To Change With Any Change In Community Regulations As Well As Governmental Changes And Natural Circumstances Beyond Our Control. Dietary Requirements Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Vehicles & Safety During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted. What s not Included 2 lunches, 2 dinners, bottled water in excess of that provided Items of a personal nature Travel Insurance (compulsory) Cost of community project materials World Youth Adventures - Scott Pinnegar 8/5/2017 6:01:19 PM