King Edward VII College Language and culture trip to Beijing and Xian, China
About Your Destination Why China? A once in a life-time opportunity to experience a completely different culture An education visit sure to excite and inspire The trip is fully escorted with both national and local guides and includes: transport, accommodation, meals excursions, entrance fees, visas
Visa requirements Collective passport Passports in school by Friday 15 th December where they will be stored securely. Students who need their passports over the Christmas break need to bring them to school on the first day back. Failure to bring the necessary documentation on time may result in the students not being able to go on a collective passport.
Visa requirements Visa procedures Important updated information Passengers with non-british Passports or passengers who were born in other countries may be unable to travel on a group visa to China and as such will have to arrange their own separate visa. There is currently a restriction for individuals who have travelled to Jordan, Sri Lanka, Syria or Turkey on their current passports. These individuals are currently unable to travel on a group visa and will have to arrange their own separate visas. This information is subject to change and countries can be added or taken off the list. Each passenger must hold a valid passport to enter China. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of departure from China. All members of the group who are included on the visa need to enter and leave China together.
Transport arrangements Flights booked with British Airways 10-Feb-2018 BA039 Dep 16:20 Arr 10:25 (NDA = 11-Feb-2018) London Heathrow LHR Beijing PEK 17-Feb-2018 BA1038 Dep 06:35 Arr 10:00 Beijing PEK London Heathrow LHR
Transport arrangements Transport from the college to/from the airport Roberts Coaches - 30 per child for both journeys to and from the airport Methods of payment and deadline Friday 22 nd December Departure 10/02 around 10.30 am Arrival 17/02 around 1 pm Exact times to be reconfirmed later on Packed lunch and snacks to be provided by parents/carers Some money if students want to buy any drinks once the check in procedures have been completed. Travel sickness medication Travel pillow, boiled sweets or chewing gum
Itinerary Itinerary Day 1 Overnight flight to Beijing Day 2 Sunday - Arrive Beijing (Lunch, Dinner) Arrive in Beijing. Meet your tour guide at the airport. Olympic Park with Bird Nest & Water Cube (both outside) Transfer to Suyuan Phoenix Hotel. Twin rooms decide who you want to share with, no changes will be made once the room has been assigned Lunch and dinner at local restaurant
Day 3 Monday - Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Breakfast at hotel. Tian anmen Square and Forbidden City (complex only) home to China s Emperors from 1420 until the abdication of the last Emperor Pu Yi in 1912. Lunch at local restaurant. Summer Palace (excl. theatre, Longevity Hill and boat ride on Kunming Lake). Dinner at local restaurant. Transfer to hotel. Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 4 Tuesday - Beijing-Xi an (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Breakfast at hotel. Visit one of the great wonders of the world the Great Wall of Juyongguan Section. Lunch at local restaurant. Then visit the Temple of Heaven considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in China. Dinner at local restaurant Kung Fu Show
Day 5 Wednesday Beijing to Xi an Breakfast at hotel Check out of Suyuan Phoenix Hotel Mandarin Lesson (1 hr) Lunch at local restaurant Shopping at Wangfujing Street Day time Bullet train to Xi an (times to be confirmed later on) Packed dinner Arrive Xian, transfer to Forest City Hotel and check-in
Day 6 Thursday - Xi an (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Breakfast at hotel Terra-Cotta Army Lunch at local restaurant Huaqing Hot Spring Night market Dinner at local restaurant or packed dinner
Day 7 Friday - Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Breakfast at hotel Check out of Forest City Hotel Calligraphy Lesson in Tangbo Museum Big Wild Goose Pagoda Lunch at local restaurant Ancient City Wall Dinner at local restaurant or packed dinner Day time bullet train to Beijing Arrive Beijing, transfer to Suyuan Phoenix Hotel and check-in
Day 8 - Beijing-Exit (Breakfast) Breakfast at hotel Last meal. Transfer to the airport. Take the flight back home.
Supervision Mrs Evans, Finance Director Mrs Jauzelon Head of MFL, group leader Mrs Magee, Head of Humanities Dr Pye, Vice Principal A national guide who will meet us at the airport, stay with us at the hotel and travel with us until we have checked in for our return flight back at the airport Local guides in both Beijing and Xian. - First aid training - Please return the medical information forms and keep us updated if anything changes
Health and Safety advice High levels of air pollution that can occur in major urban and industrialised areas in China may aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions. Tap water in China is generally not safe to drink. You should drink only bottled water. Medication ensure there is enough, include some for possible stomach upsets. For fussy eaters, pack some high calories food like chocolate or nuts.
What to pack Sturdy comfortable non slip shoes for walking Waterproof jacket and/or umbrella Very warm clothes, gloves, scarf and hat Enough prescribed medication (if required) for the duration on the tour Travel adapters (China's electrical system operates at 220 volts) Mobile phone which operates in China. Small back pack for everyday use Toiletries including sanitary products for females Disinfectant gel Tissues A camera Notebook and pen A guide Students need to be able to carry their luggage themselves. Checked in luggage allowance 20kg.
Staying in touch You will be provided with emergency contact details for the duration of the tour These need to be used in case of emergency only. Students will have the details of the teachers and a card with the address of the hotel. Wi-Fi is usually available in the hotels and students can connect to the network. However, China is 8 hours ahead and communication is rendered difficult. There will be no access to Facebook, Twitter or Google or any other social media platforms. They can install Whatsapp or Facetime. Be aware that regular calls will be very expensive. If you want to contact your child on their phone, you need to dial +86 first. Top up phones before departure for emergency use (student getting lost). International call are not normally included in the monthly allowance. Enable roaming check with your phone provider.
Pocket money The official Chinese currency is known as the renminbi ('peoples money'), RMB for short. The monetary unit is the Yuan. The exchange rate fluctuates, however 1 is about 7.5Y (Yuan). It is possible to get Chinese currency before you travel, but you will need to order it in advance. We are not setting a limit for pocket money, but we recommend 100.
Photography While travelling through China you'll notice that tourists are quite an attraction to most Chinese and that they enjoy taking your picture. The Chinese are generally honoured if you would like to take their picture. Don't forget to ask their permission first though. Taking pictures or shooting a video at military sites in China is highly illegal. Many museums, palaces and temples also do not allow pictures to be taken or only allow you to take pictures for a fee. At times you'll only be able to take pictures without using your flash. In any case, it's best to always be on the look-out for the signs posted regarding photography and to be careful.
Public bathrooms Using public bathrooms during your trip will be quite an experience. The level of hygiene is commonly poor. Be sure to bring along toilet paper or tissues and anti-bacterial hand wipes.
Chinese food Meals usually consist of an international buffet for breakfast at your hotel. Lunch and evening meals are taken at various restaurants with Chinese dishes. One of the first things that may come to mind when thinking of Chinese cuisine is the use of chop sticks. This is a fun, age-old tradition and it won't be long before you get a knack for it. Special requests are difficult to accommodate in China and limited options will apply.
Our expectations Listen carefully when instructions are given Follow instructions at all times without questioning Follow the health and safety rules explained by your group leader Be open minded, enjoy the novelty and appreciate the differences Try something new - be curious, inquisitive and positive Have fun and make memories to last a life time