China Gap Year (800) 321-4353

China is an unbelievable array of stunning landscapes and energizing cities that extends almost beyond comprehension. The fascinating beauty of the culture, breathtaking diversity of the landscape, and sheer energy driving the country must be experienced! This trip takes you through the heart of China’s most dynamic and interesting cities. Along the way, you’ll walk the world-famous colonial façade of the Bund in Shanghai, explore the monumental Great Wall as well as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing, and see the Terracotta Warriors and breathtaking peaks of Hua Shan in Xi’an. Leaping off the tourist track, students head up into the mountains of Xinjiang Province, the northernmost section of the ancient Silk Road. You will meet and stay with nomadic tribes, swim in crystal lakes, embark on a camel safari through rolling sand dunes, hike snow capped peaks, and explore ancient Silk Road cities with thriving bazaars which will take you back 1000 years. Next, head down to the lush mountains of Yunnan province, and spend time discovering the traditional cities of Dali and Lijiang. Wander intricate grids of cobbled alleyways and babbling brooks, peruse colorful hilltribe markets, and hike to breathtaking viewpoints and monasteries in the mountains that surround these picturesque cities. The last stop of this journey will be Hong Kong, where the bright city lights and breathtaking skyline will be the perfect crowning moments. And just to end in style, there’s an optional bungee jump from the skt Tower on the neighboring island of Macau! This 30-day adventure through China will leave no stone unturned, and will forever stay with you as the ultimate Chinese experience!

If you have any questions about the China Gap Year Program, please send an email to our Gap Year Divisional Director, Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com.

Special Note: Scheduled Gap Year programs generally include all breakfasts, and about half of the lunches and dinners during your program. Students are responsible for getting themselves to the starting point for their gap year program. Internal transportation and all accommodation and included tours, activities, admissions, and fees are included as stipulated in the itinerary. If you have any questions about any of our Gap Year programs, please email our Gap Year Divisional Director, Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com.

CHINA GAP YEAR 2009 ITINERARY

Day 1 – Beijing
• Arrive in the afternoon
• Meet with guide at the airport
• Transfer to hotel in Beijing
• Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• First traditional Chinese dinner
• Night walking tour of Shopping Bazaar
• Return to hotel
• Sleep

Day 2 – Beijing
• Breakfast at hotel
• Walk to Tiananmen Square
• Walking tour of Tiananmen Square
• Transfer by foot to Forbidden City
• Walking tour of Forbidden City
• Lunch nearby Forbidden City
• Hutong Pedicab tour or Old Quarter
• Walk back to Hotel
• Relax at the Hotel for a bit before dinner
• Peking Duck dinner
• Transfer to Beijing Opera House
• Beijing Opera Show
• Transfer back to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 3 – Beijing
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer by private car to Great Wall
• Lunch at Great Wall
• Full day touring Great Wall, multiple locations
• Check out the Alpine Slide
• Transfer by private car back to Beijing
• Return to Hotel, shower, change for evening
• Transfer by private car to dinner
• Chinese dinner
• Transfer by private car to Chinese Acrobatics Theater
• Chinese Acrobatics Show
• Transfer by private car back to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 4 – Beijing
• Breakfast at hotel
• Walk to the Temple of Heaven
• Walking tour of Temple of Heaven
• Lunch near the Temple of Heaven
• Walk to the Summer Palace
• Walking tour of Summer Palace
• Transfer by private car back to Hotel
• Relax at Hotel for a bit
• Dinner near Walking Street
• Walking tour of Walking Street
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 5 – Beijing
• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Mao’s Tomb
• Tour of Mao’s Tomb
• Transfer to Olympic Grounds
• Walking tour of Olympic Grounds
• Lunch near Olympic Grounds
• Return to Hotel
• Afternoon exploring Muslim Market & Pearl Market
• Final dinner in Beijing
• Return to Hotel and pack
• Sleep

Day 6 – Beijing / Xi’an
• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Beijing Airport
• Fly to Xi’an City in the morning
• Arrive into Xi’an Airport in the morning
• Transfer to Hotel • Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• Afternoon touring Xi’an – Bell Towers & Big Goose Pagoda
• Transfer back to Hotel
• Dinner in city center
• Walking tour of Muslim Market
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 7 – Xi’an
• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Terracotta Warriors
• Morning exploring grounds of Terracotta Warriors
• Transfer by private car to Hua Shan Mountain
• Afternoon hiking to summit of Hua Shan mountain & Monasteries
• Transfer back to Xi’an
• Return to the Hotel, relax for a bit
• Dinner in the city center
• Walking tour of Xi’an center
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 8 – Xi’an / Kunming
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer to Xi’an Airport
• Fly to Kunming in the morning
• Transfer by private car to Camellia Hotel
• Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• Transfer to West Dragon’s Gate
• Walking tour West Dragon’s Gate
• Transfer back to Kunming
• Return to Hotel, relax for a bit
• Dinner in Kunming center
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 9 – Kunming / Lijiang
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer to Kunming Airport
• Fly to Lijiang in the morning
• Transfer to Lijiang City
• Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• Hike to Black Dragon Pool
• Explore Black Dragon Pool
• Hike back to Lijiang
• Dinner at the Tibetan House
• Evening walk around Lijiang walking streets
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 10 – Lijiang
• Breakfast in Lijiang
• Morning relaxing in Lijiang
• Lunch in the city
• Afternoon walking streets of Lijiang, shopping
• Dinner in Lijiang
• Naxi Opera Show
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 11 – Lijiang
• Breakfast in Lijiang
• Transfer to base of Yulong Xueshan Mountain
• All day hiking Yulong Xueshan
• Lunch on the mountain
• Transfer back to Lijiang
• Dinner in Lijiang
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 12 – Lijiang
• Breakfast in Lijiang
• Mountain bike out of Lijiang and up to Baisha village
• Explore Baisha hilltribe village
• Lunch in Baisha village
• Mountain bike back to Lijiang in the late afternoon
• Dinner in Lijiang
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 13 – Lijiang / Shaxi
• Breakfast in Lijiang
• Morning to relax and explore Lijiang
• Lunch in Lijiang
• Transfer to village of Shaxi
• Explore Shaxi
• Dinner in Shaxi
• Sleep in 300 year old monastery

Day 14 – Shaxi
• Breakfast in Shaxi
• Morning exploring Shaxi & visiting local school
• Lunch in Shaxi
• Afternoon hike up to hilltribe village in the mountains
• Arrive up in the village in the evening
• Dinner prepared by hilltribe
• Sleep in hilltribe village

Day 15 – Shaxi / Dali
• Breakfast up in the village
• Morning hike back to Shaxi
• Lunch in Shaxi
• Transfer to Dali
• Check into Hotel in Dali, drop off bags
• Dinner in Dali
• Evening walking tour of Dali
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 16 – Dali
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Morning exploring Dali
• Lunch in Dali
• Afternoon hike up into Jade mountains
• Hike the mountain’s ridgeline, swim in glacial pools
• Return to Dali in the evening
• Dinner in Dali
• Evening relaxing in Dali
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 17 – Dali / Kunming
• Breakfast in Dali
• Morning relaxing/shopping in Dali
• Lunch in Dali
• Afternoon transfer to Kunming
• Arrive into Kunming
• Check into Camellia Hotel, drop off bags
• Dinner in Kunming
• Evening walking around Kunming
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 18 – Kunming / Chengdu
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer by private car to Kunming Train Station
• Train to Chengdu
• Arrive into Chengdu
• Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• Dinner in Chengdu •
Sleep

Day 19 – Chengdu / Wolong
• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Transfer up to Wolong Giant Panda Reserve
• Explore the Reserve, hang out with the Giant Pandas
• Afternoon transfer back to Chengdu
• Return to Hotel, relax
• Dinner in Chengdu
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 20 – Chengdu / Emei Shan Mountain
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer to the base of Emei Shan Mountain
• 3 days exploring Emei Shan mountain range (day 1)
• Sleep at monastery on the mountain Day 21 – Emei Shan Mountain
• 3 days exploring Emei Shan mountain range (day 2)
• Sleep at monastery on the mountain

Day 22 – Emei Shan Mountain
• 3 days exploring Emei Shan mountain range (day 3)
• Transfer back to Chengdu
• Check into hotel, shower, relax
• Dinner in Chengdu
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 23 – Chengdu / Guilin
• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Transfer to Chengdu Airport
• Fly to Guilin in the morning
• Transfer to city of Yuangshuo
• Check into hotel, drop off bags
• Late lunch in Yuangshuo
• Afternoon exploring Yuangshuo
• Dinner in Yuangshuo
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 24 – Yuangshuo
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Morning hiking around Yuangshuo
• Return to the city for lunch
• Afternoon hike up to top of Yueliang Shan Mountain
• Return to Yuangshuo in the evening
• Dinner in Yuangshuo
• Evening exploring Yuangshuo
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 25 – Yuangshuo
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer to Longsheng
• All day hiking exploration of Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces
• Lunch in Longsheng
• Return to Yuangshuo in the evening
• Dinner in Yuangshuo
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 26 – Yuangshuo / Hong Kong
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Morning boat trip upriver to explore rural villages
• Lunch in villages
• Boat back to Yuangshuo in the afternoon
• Transfer to Guilin Airport •
Fly to Hong Kong in the evening
• Transfer to Kowloon Island
• Check into Hotel, drop off bags
• Dinner on Nathan Road
• Evening walking through Temple Street Market
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 27 – Hong Kong
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer by MTR & Cable Car to Lantau Island
• Explore Lantau Island & Big Buddha
• Return to Kowloon island in the afternoon
• Walking tour of Nathan Street
• Dinner on Nathan Street
• Walking down to Hong Kong/Kowloon Harbor
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 28 – Hong Kong / Macau
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Hydrofoil transfer to Macau in the morning
• Transfer to Macau Sky Tower
• *Optional Bungee Jump from Sky Tower
• Explore the Old City & the Portuguese Temple
• Hydrofoil transfer back to Hong Kong in the evening
• Explore Kowloon in the evening
• Dinner in Kowloon
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 29 – Hong Kong
• Breakfast at Hotel
• MTR across Harbor to Hong Kong Island
• Morning exploring markets of Hong Kong Island
• Lunch on Hong Kong Island
• Explore Mid Levels of Hong Kong Island
• Take Sky Tram up to Victoria’s Peak for sunset
• Dinner at Victoria’s Peak
• Sky Tram and MTR back to Kowloon Island
• Return to Hotel
• Sleep

Day 30 – Hong Kong / Onwards
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Last morning in Hong Kong
• Lunch on Nathan Road
• Transfer to Hong Kong Airport
• Depart China on connecting flights onward

An Important Note about Schedule Changes: Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Pack the following items with your CARRY-ON Luggage:

* PASSPORT - you can not get on the plane without this!
* AIRLINE TICKETS - you can not get on the plane without these either!
* WALLET - with a bit of US money for the trip over. Your allowance account will be available to you as soon as you arrive in China. Most students bring something like $100 on the actual flight in case they need it along the way.
* 2 Photo Copies of your Passport - you will give these to our staff when you arrive in China. You only need to copy the 2-page spread that has your picture, date of birth, passport number, and personal information.
* 1 Spare T-Shirt - you may want to change shirts somewhere during your flight
* Sunglasses
* Toothpaste
* Toothbrush
* Journal and Pens - start the habit of writing in your journal before you leave
* Water bottle - keep yourself hydrated to avoid jet lag
* Snacks – comfort food that won’t melt - granola, dried fruit, etc. You don’t need much, but just in case you don’t like the airplane food. (Note: Singapore Air serves some tasty meals)
* Deck of Cards - fun for the plane and with your friends in China too
* Books – Something to pass the time.
* Cameras - Don't forget to bring your chargers, batteries and memory cards!! You can also bring your USB cords for downloading pics for emails. (For all ipod photo / video users, try and practice putting pictures onto your ipod at home before coming out here)

(TIP: BRING ALL OF YOUR FILM IN YOUR CARRY-ON, AND ASK THE STAFF AT EVERY X-RAY STATION TO WALK THE FILM AND YOUR CAMERA AROUND THE MACHINE. DO NOT PACK YOUR FILM IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!)

Pack the following items in your CHECKED Luggage:

* Silk Sleeping Sheet- for hostel beds
* Long Pants (1 or 2 pairs - I suggest something lightweight ie. linen or a quick drying material)
* Underwear (between 7 - 10 pair)
* Socks (4 pairs)
* Swimsuit (modest)
* T-Shirts with sleeves (5-7 t-shirts)
* Tank Tops (1-2)- Remember that you want to be culturally sensitive with your dress, so don’t bring anything too tight or revealing
* Long Sleeve T-shirt - one or two - they help keep off the sun and keep in a little warmth in the evenings
* Rainproof, Lightweight Jacket - a small travel one is best
* Shorts (3 or 4 pairs ) - not too short or tight, as this is offensive in Chinese culture.
* Running Shoes - 1 pair (optional)
* Sandals that are strapped (Chaco’s or Teva’s are recommended) - the Chinese live mostly in sandals
* Flip-Flops - 1 pair - really cheap, lightweight ones you can slip on and off easily
* Soap in a Plastic Dish - 1 bar
* Personal First Aid Kit - optional but recommended - a small kit with basic first aid supplies
* Small day bag – for side trips or hikes.
* Sunscreen - we suggest that you bring two completely different types. Alternate between them to avoid having any allergic reactions
* Chapstick- make sure that it has sunscreen in it. Lip balm without sun protection actually attracts the sun. Burt’s Bees has some nice products.
* Sunburn cream or Aloe Lotion - if you are someone who is prone to sunburn, we suggest that you bring a small tube or bottle of sunburn relief cream just in case you get too much sun.
* Insect Repellant - bring one that is heavy in DEET (40% or more) and one that is natural Citronella - 2 cans or bottles minimum. Be sure to switch off between insect repellants since DEET-based repellants can cause allergic reactions.
* Hand Sanitizer- one bottle. Always use this before you eat as many germs are passed from your hands to your mouth and keeping your paws clean helps keep you healthy wherever you are traveling!
* Small packs of Kleenex Tissues - public toilets in most of Asia do not supply toilet paper - you are meant to bring your own. It's always handy to have a few packs of Kleenex tissues with you when you travel in Asia.
* Hat or cap for sun - you may want to bring two hats or visors to keep off the sun, and to trade
* Towel (1 towel - NOT white) - white towels get rather gnarly looking after a while
* Laundry Bag for dirty laundry, or an old pillow case - keeps the clean stuff away from the dirty stuff so you don't have to sniff to find out.
* Medications (must alert staff about these) - bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying.
* Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia - if you use contacts, bring all of your chemicals with you

China Gap Year FAQ’s

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will be staying in small guest houses for the majority of the program. All guest houses are clean and are equipped with western style facilities and hot & cold water showers. Also, students will also spend one or two nights sleeping in a Chinese monastery while summiting the mountain of Emei Shan. The monastery is equipped with a public bathroom and shower facility, and double rooms.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?
Yes, for the entire China program students will be drinking bottled water.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
The food has a wide range of delicacies, as each Chinese province specializes in their own dishes, and adds different spices and flavors. The diet ranges tremendously, and includes various vegetarian dishes, chicken, beef, pork, and fish dishes, as well as a multitude of fresh fruits and vegetables. The places we eat and the dishes served are all of the highest health quality, and there are no concerns about the level of cleanliness of the restaurants students eat in.

4 - How long is the flight to this country?
Depending on where students will be traveling from, the flight time will vary. From the USA, flight time is approximately 14 hours. From the South Pacific the flight time is approximately 14 hours. From India the flight time is approximately 14 hours. From other locations within Asia, the flight time is between 2 – 3 hours.

5 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
US citizens are required to have a visa prior to arriving into mainland China. Students should apply for a 30 day Single Entry Tourist Visa. Students do not need a visa for Hong Kong or Macau.

6 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov. When looking at the information for China on the CDC website, you will be able to search by region & city. The list of regions & cities is as follows: Beijing (city), Xi’an (city), Yunnan Province (various locations of Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, & Shaxi), Sichuan Province (Chengdu & Emei Shan Mountain), Guangxi Province (city of Yuangshuo), Hong Kong, and Macau.

7 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Not included in this trip are optional activities, souvenirs, and snacks. The program fee covers all breakfasts, half of your lunches and half of your dinners. Students need to bring money to cover the costs of the remaining meals. Optional Activities for the China Gap Year: 1. Hot Air Balloon Ride (Yuangshuo) - $100.00 USD 2. Bungee Jump at Hackett Sky Tower (Macau) - $100.00 USD