This 15-day journey offers a unique opportunity to volunteer in local schools, explore Beijing’s historic landmarks, and experience the business environment at JD.com. Students will deepen their understanding of Chinese culture through a homestay and interactions with their Chinese buddy. The journey culminates with a thrilling exploration of Inner Mongolia’s deserts and grasslands, offering unique insights into traditional Mongolian life. This trip is designed to enrich your knowledge of Chinese language and understanding of Chinese traditions and contemporary values.
Time: June 21st-July 5th, 2025
Trip Highlights:
- Local Volunteer Program (5 days): Engage in teaching English and interactive activities at local schools, gaining insight into China’s education system while making a real impact on young students.
- Company Visit to JD.com: Go behind the scenes at China’s version of Amazon. Explore the cutting-edge Asia No. 1 Intelligent Logistics Park, learn about advanced AI, big data, and logistics innovations, and participate in practical activities.
- Chinese Buddy & Homestay: Get paired with a Chinese buddy for a few months of virtual interaction before the trip. In Beijing, work together, explore the city, and end with an immersive 2-night stay at their home.
- Cultural & Historical Exploration: Discover Beijing’s iconic landmarks—Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven—while experiencing local culture through Hutong explorations, bustling market visits, traditional elderly morning fitness routines, and an ancient water town tour.
- Inner Mongolia Desert & Prairie: Journey by high-speed train to Inner Mongolia. Ride camels across the desert, learning survival skills and camel behavior. Visit the grasslands to meet local herdsmen, experience Mongolian hospitality, explore their yurt-building traditions, and immerse yourself in the horseback lifestyle.
What You Gain:
- Community Service Credits: Earn valuable credits that contribute to high school graduation and enhance college applications, all while experiencing a new culture and environment.
- Language Practice: Improve your Chinese language skills through real-life interactions, meaningful conversations, and daily practice.
- Cultural Understanding: Deepen your understanding of Chinese culture by forming connections, participating in local customs through homestays, a local school and Chinese company, and contributing to community initiatives.
- Lifelong Friendships: Build lasting relationships with your Chinese buddy and the children you teach at the local school, creating unforgettable memories.
- Adventure & Fun: From exploring ancient architecture to riding camels and experiencing the life of Mongolian herders, this trip is filled with excitement and discovery.
Package Includes:
- Expert education with the Chia Chinese Founder
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours with entrance fees
- Comfortable domestic transportation
- Comprehensive travel medical insurance
- Service charges, hotel taxes, and daily water supply
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Quality hotel accommodations (2 students per room) and meal plans (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
- Round-trip flights between Washington DC and Beijing
- No additional fees—everything included for a hassle-free experience!
- Visa Support from Chia Chinese
Not including:
- Visa
- Transportation fees in the US
- Personal expenses (shopping/excess baggage charges/etc.)
- Single room (charge $500 extra)
- Expenses caused by extra individual activities (individual sightseeing, cab tips, etc.)
Trip Itinerary
Arrive in Beijing, check in.
- Opening Ceremony: Begin with teaching skills training, preparing for the upcoming teaching sessions, and participate in group activities with your Chinese buddy.
- Explore the lively Sanlitun district with your new friends.
- Apply your teaching skills in teaching volunteer program at a local school, participate in classroom activities with children, teach children English and read English picture books together, plan lessons with local teachers, and obtain community service hours
- Visit the Palace Museum and take in the views at Jingshan Park.
- End the day with a delicious roasted duck dinner.
- Continue volunteering at the local school.
- Embark on a treasure hunt in the charming Nanluoguxiang and Houhai Hutongs.
- Wrap up the day with a team discussion and reflection.
- Continue volunteer work at the local school.
- Visit the Great Wall with buddies and discuss community projects in the evening.
- Continue volunteer activities at the local school.
- Practice bargaining skills at Hongqiao Market before joining homestay families for evening activities.
- Enjoy the wonderful large-scale circus acrobatic show (Chinese version-Cirque Du Soleil).
- Join host family events and experience the atmosphere of local family lifestyle in China
- Final day of volunteering at the local school.
- Enjoy a bike ride through Tiananmen Square and Qianmen.
- Spend the evening with your homestay family.
- Explore the Temple of Heaven Park.
- In-depth company visit and participate practice at JD.com (China version of Amazon). Visit the Asia No. 1 Intelligent Logistics Park of the base, learn about the application of China’s logistics black technology and artificial intelligence & big data, and participate in practical work
- Spend the evening with your homestay family.
Visit Gubei Water Town and experience the scenery of Jiangnan Water Town in the north. Watch a drone show and a Chinese folk show at night.
- Engage in handicraft workshops at Gubei Water Town, creating own kites.
- Travel to Ordos by High Speed bullet train from Beijing and visit the Ordos Fountain in the evening.
- Explore the City: Take a bus to Rattlesnake Bay Desert and experience the vastness of the desert landscape.
- Desert Survival: Experience camel riding, learn about the habits of this desert creature, and acquire desert survival knowledge while hiking along the camel route.
- Participate in exciting sand skiing activities, join the “Brave Desert Storm Challenge,” and engage in a team sand skating competition.
- Try Inner Mongolia’s delicious local food.
- Entering the Mongolian Prairie: Enjoy an Inner Mongolia prairie adventure tour to learn about the life and traditions of the horseback people.
- Experience horse riding and watch equestrian and wrestling performances.
- Sing and dance with Mongolian herdsmen! Enjoy Mongolian dance and learn folk dance under the guidance of the herdsmen.
- Bonfire Party: Experience a campfire and taste delicious roasted whole lamb, staying in yurts with ethnic minority characteristics.
- Cultural Experience: Visit a local Inner Mongolian herdsman’s home to learn about their traditions and life, gaining insights into their local culture.
- Cultural Experience:Listen to herdsmen explain the process of yurt construction, understanding and learning the techniques involved.
- Close Ceremony: Everyone experience the grassland culture together, feed sheep and make milk tea, sit together to share feelings and gains from the entire trip, and hold a group talent show. We will issue certificates and take commemorative group photos
- Return to Beijing by bullet train.
Depart from Beijing.
If you’re interested:
Please fill up the form here by 12/20/2024. We will reach out to schedule an interview and screen and have the finalists by 1/10/2025.
12 students will be selected to join this enriching learning experience and match you with similar interests friends from Beijing. Each applicant will be carefully interviewed to ensure the best fit for the program, with preference given to our dedicated school-year volunteers and interns.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at chiachineselearning@gmail.com or text Cindy at 267-353-5205 to introduce yourself and learn more.
We are also pleased to announce our partnership with Harvest International Education. To learn more about their experience, please visit their website at www.hi-edu.org
Their Reference
- National Cathedral School (Senior High) – Washington, DC
Contact Person: Xin Xu
Email: iamxuxin@gmail.com
Address: 3612 Woodley Road NW, Washington, DC 20016
- Avenues The World School (Junior High) – New York
Contact Person: Wei Zhang
Email: wzhang@avenues.org
Address: 259 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10001-7020
- Barnstable High School (Senior High) – Boston, MA
Contact Person: Bo Wu
Email: Wu_Bo@barnstable.k12.ma.us
Address: 230 South Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
- Berkeley High School – Berkeley, CA
Contact Person: Xin Chen
Email: xinchen@berkeley.net
Address: 1980 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
- Black Pine Circle School (Junior High) – Berkeley, CA
Contact Person: Shelly Xu
Email: xxu@blackpinecircle.org
Address: 2027 7th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
- China Friends (Junior High) – Chicago
Contact Person: Zhaoyi Liu
Email: zhaoyi@chinafriends.org
Address: 1535 N Dayton, Chicago, IL 60642
- Durham Academy – Durham, NC
Contact Person: Bonnie Wang
Email: Bonnie.Wang@da.org
Address: 3601 Ridge Road, Durham, NC 27705-5599
Their previous experience video links
Explore the videos from our partner’s previous adventures below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18dZfnMf9DnsD1queFeAh84nZl73C4W63/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fmxvWpqjtaYhD4K_ZNV_i7VlBV0hM_2A/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kkle0RXsDkB7es2IjEh3asxy6s5ufvNS/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aujjGeiF86aKTmmgGJYMUkmxbrZDL9UO/view
Get in Touch
We’re here to discuss your child’s Chinese learning journey.