Capital city: Beijing
Currency: Yuan
Best time to travel: April to September in the north. Year round in the south
Community Projects available: Yes

View School Travel to China blog post

Why travel to China

•     Trek and learn about the Great Wall
•     Discover the ancient Silk Road cities and history
•     Beijing; Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square
•     Meet the Uyghur people in the far west
•     Cruise the Yangtse and Three Gorges
•     See Pandas in Chengdu
•     Explore Shangrila (Zhongdian) & the mountains of the Yunnan region

About China

China never fails to conjure up a myriad of feelings, images and a sense of mystery. Its history cannot be summed up here in a few paragraphs and to fully appreciate the currents that have shaped the country and its people, you must take the time to read at least one of the many excellent books available.

Within the almost four million square miles of China's vast territory live more than 1.3 billion people, which makes it the most populated nation on earth. For centuries, outsiders have yearned to visit China and it's only since 1976 that tourism really started. Initially, foreign visitors were only allowed to see a fraction of what the country had to offer, however, today it is possible to visit as many as 60 different areas. An increasing number of historical sites are also being restored and opened up to viewing for foreign tourists.

As much as China is keen to display its stunning scenery, historical sites and impressive cities, it is also dedicated to conveying something about how its society works. Although its political system has set it apart from the west, China is now moving forward in leaps and bounds, especially in the areas of trade and commerce. The major cities are indicative of the burgeoning economy of modern China.

As in the days of Marco Polo, travellers are still regarded as honoured guests and the locals delight in watching you watching them. Within the relatively short time that China's doors have been open to the West, few tourists have visited the rural parts of the country, including the remote region of Yunnan.

Trekking the Great Wall of China

China's Great Wall needs little introduction. What you need to know about is is the best way to experience it. World Youth Adventures can take you away from the restored sections and the large crowds to trek along a remote section of the Great Wall outside Beijing in Hebei Province. The scenery is vast and diverse as we trek our way through swaying corn cropped fields to distant green river valleys with one of the great wonders of the world as our backdrop. Camping near to villages provides us with true rural hospitality in the 'real China' and allow a rare interaction with the local people. The opportunity to visit a number of sections of the Wall will make your school adventure even more special.