Summer Study Tour of China

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Join us this July for our Experiential Learning Study Tour of China!

On this year's China Folk House China Experiential Study Tour, under the theme of "Masters & Making: Traditional Craft in China," we will journey through China's most storied craft traditions, from imperial workshops to Tibetan villages, to trace the hands and heritage that have shaped Chinese culture for millennia.

You will have a unique opportunity to study Chinese language, history, and culture through hands-on learning and people-to-people cultural exchange, focusing in particular on the architecture, craft, and folkways of Southwest China.

Our program will feature a field study of vernacular architecture and local temples in the historic county of Jianchuan, Yunnan. You will undertake apprenticeships with traditional local craft masters, under whose guidance you will study crafts like wood carving, silversmithing, black pottery making, wooden joinery, and door painting. 

You will also explore the extraordinary cultural and biodiversity of the Shangri-La region of Northwestern Yunnan. They will conduct fieldwork to document the disappearing folkways in rural villages undergoing rapid change. This is a special chance to experience Tibetan culture and other hybrid ethnic traditions found in the region.

Itinerary (24 days in total)

• 2 Days - Beijing: Students will visit the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven and engage with local students. 
• 5 Days - Qinhuangdao: Students will participate in the Qinhuangdao Festival and see where the Great Wall meets the ocean.
• 2 Days - Dali: Students will visit the Three Pagodas and Lake Erhai. They will also experience and learn about Bai minority culture.
• 7 Days - Jianchuan and Lijiang: Students will visit historic sites on the Tea Horse Road and undertake craft apprenticeships. They will also visit Lijiang Ancient Town and see the Naxi Orchestra.
• 3 Days - Shangri-La: Students will explore the Songzanlin Monastery, visit Tibetan villages and make Nixi black pottery. 
• 2 Days - Shanghai: Students will explore city planning and traditional culture.  

Why travel with us?
With decades of experience of leading experiential learning programs for students in China, we aim to provide the best possible experience at the best possible value of any Chinese study abroad program. We work with long-term partners and local guides to arrange activities and unique apprenticeships that offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our trip is lead by an experienced team, including John Flower, Ryan McElveen, and Xuan Wang.

• Dr. John Flower is director of the China Folk House and former director of the Sidwell Friends School Chinese Studies Program, former associate professor of East Asian History at UNC, and a scholar of local history and folklife in China. 
• Hon. Ryan McElveen is managing director of Global Leaders of Fairfax County, managing director of the US-China Education Trust, nonresident fellow at the University of Hong Kong, former associate director of the Brookings China Center, and a member of the Fairfax County School Board. 
• Ms. Xuan Wang is an upper school Chinese language teacher at Sidwell Friends School with 18 years of teaching experience. She has previously taught in the UVA-in-Shanghai summer immersion program, CIEE Shanghai, Middlebury-Monterey Language Institute, and Ramapo Central School District in New York. She is also president emeritus of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Virginia.

What is included? How much does the program cost?

• Lodging at quality hotels and trusted guesthouses in each locale
• In-country airport transfers and bookings for air, high-speed rail, and bus transportation
• Assistance with visa processing
• All meals, taking account of food allergies and special needs
• Personalized briefings, itineraries, and advice to ensure smooth travels
• Partnership with local expert guides and trusted tour and lodging providers

We are working to subsidize the cost of the trip and airfare, and the final fee will be announced at a later date.