CHINA DYNASTY - Itinerary

Cultural Wonders of Beijing, Guang’ai and Huaguoshan

Oct 23-31, 2009

Beijing Program

Beijing, the capital of China, has served as the sociopolitical heart of the Middle Kingdom since the 13th century. The city is home to ancient and modern historical monuments – including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City – rich cultural traditions, and cutting-edge modern art and architecture.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square, the symbolic center and origin of modern day China, is the largest square in the world. Framed by the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and the Gate of Heavenly Peace itself, the Square also holds Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and the Monument to People’s Heroes. It is here that Mao proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and here that Chinese protesters were massacred in 1989. Students will learn about the key modern architectural styles and structures – from the Imperial Gate of Heavenly Peace to the Socialist Great Hall of the People and the avant-garde National Centre of the Performing Arts.

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City’s 9,999 rooms, panoramic ceremonial halls, and intimate courtyards and gardens stand as a testament to Ming and Qing Dynasty grandeur. China's largest and best preserved imperial palace and ancient building complex, the Forbidden City represents the culmination of the two-thousand-year development of classical Chinese and East Asian architecture. Standing here, the awesome power of the emperor and China’s former place as the center of the world become startlingly clear. In small groups in front of the famed Nine Dragon Screen, students will be able to try on imperial costumes from various dynasties, and will work in groups on an interactive activity to determine which clothing was worn by various imperial figures.

Taichi Workshop and Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven – generally regarded as the high point of Ming dynasty architecture – served as the core of imperial ceremony and symbolism for five centuries. Laid out in a series of circles, representing heaven, and squares, representing earth, the temple was used by the emperor for elaborate prayer rituals. The iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, one of the most recognizable sights in China, was built without the use of a single nail. In addition to touring this awe-inspiring site, students will join the swirl of local Beijing residents who visit the temple for daily recreation. We’ll see singing, traditional Chinese instruments, fan dancing, waltzing, and learn a taichi class in one of Beijing’s most iconic locations.

Dumplings and Hiking at the Great Wall

The Great Wall is probably China’s most famous landmark – an enormous dragon-like monument that winds its way across China’s northwest. It once served as a barrier to protect China from

fierce northern invaders. We will embark on a challenging hike that covers some of the most dramatic sections of the Great Wall. Afterwards, we’ll first pay a visit to a traditional village home. The family’s two grandmothers will teach us how to fill and form our own delicious dumplings, which we’ll eat in a delicious feast under the shadow of the Great Wall (if it is too cold to eat outdoors, we’ll move to a neighboring restaurant, owned by the family’s son, and enjoy our dumplings there).

Community Service at the Guang’ai School

Guang’ai School is a suburban local primary school, located just outside of Beijing. Here, we will meet underprivileged children – orphans, the children of migrant workers, or the children of convicts. These kids are often treated badly by the rest of society because of their family backgrounds. In small groups, students will develop leadership skills as they take turns leading English activities and games with the local children. Sample activities include: English songs, matching games, coloring book building, etc. Afterwards, the International School of Kuala Lumpur and local students will be able to plant trees or paint a mural for the school together.

Peking Opera

While enjoying a traditional Chinese dinner, students will be treated to a short, intimate Peking Opera performance from a professional opera troupe. After the meal, students may speak to the performers about their craft, try on opera clothing, and even join the performers in song.

Market Bargaining Game

In a lively local market nestled among the hutong of Old Beijing, students will get a chance to hone their bargaining skills in a fast-paced bargaining game. Teams will race against the clock to find and buy a series of local products, bargaining hard to keep the items within their meager budget. Each team will record the initial asking and final selling price of each item they purchase, learning about bargaining and getting a chance to practice a bit of Mandarin.

Hutong Tour

Though fast-disappearing, the mazelike hutong alleys of Old Beijing can still be found in traditional corners of the city. Students will explore these ancient alleys and take a glimpse to the daily life of Beijing residents. At the same time, they’ll experience traditional Chinese culture for themselves, held in the courtyard homes of local residents. Under the guidance of local experts, students will learn the basic brushstrokes of calligraphy, tie silken Chinese knots, and play with traditional yoyos.

Cycling in Beijing’s Countryside

Guarding Beijing’s northwest, Huanghuacheng Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). When summer comes, villages in this area are immersed in a sea of yellow wild flowers, hence the name Hunghuacheng (which means Yellow Flower Wall). Apart from its natural beauty, this part of the wall is also known as the “first pass” for its strategic importance and its relation to the nearby Ming Tombs. Our biking starts from Huaguoshan, 12 km from Huanghuacheng Great Wall. We take a short break at the Huanghuacheng wall, before cycling an additional 5 km to reach Yaoziyu village, a former military outpost that, over the centuries, has transformed into a quiet village.

Friday, October 23 The Adventure Continues

China Trip Departure: Friday, October 23rd from ISKL at 20:40 for flight CA 972 that departs at 23:40

All GAP participants on the China Dragon Dynasty Adventure meet their travel group leaders Mr. Geoff Moorhead and Ms. Tracy Woodward at ISKL at 20:40 or 8:40 pm Friday evening (3 hours prior to their flight departure at 23:40) to board the airport bus (which will be parked next to the front guard house.) Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to ISKL Friday evening to wish them a safe and wonderful adventure and to smile/wave as the bus departs for the airport. Parents will next hear from their children late Saturday, October 31st just after midnight when the travel group returns.

Students will not travel with cell phones.
If there is a significant flight delay, trip leaders will do their best to contact the lead parent on the emergency phone list who will share the message.

All parents will have participated in a detailed trip briefing at the Travel Group Family Potluck on Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 pm.
That briefing will include the trip packing list, departure/arrival times, emergency medical procedures, and GAP-parent emergency-contact protocol.

GAP-parent emergency-contact protocol is:

1) If all goes as planned, no news is GOOD NEWS!! In light of that, GAP parents will wait until their child returns to ISKL on Oct 31 or Nov 1st to hear about the trip adventures, challenges, joys, and highlights.
2) Parents will be contacted if their child has a medical emergency.
3) We will do our best to contact parents if there is a significant change in the return flight and pick-up times.
4) If a family has an emergency and needs to contact their child during the trip, parents will contact HS Principal Grant Millard who will facilitate communication with the travel group trip leaders.

Saturday, October 24 PEKING OPERA

• Morning: Arrive in Beijing
  
• Evening: Peking Opera dinner performance and activity

Sunday, October 25 TAICHI and the FORBIDDEN CITY

• Morning: Tour and taiji lesson at the Temple of Heaven
• Afternoon: Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour – Interactive historical costume activity in the Forbidden City
• Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant; Enjoy the Acrobatic Show in Chaoyang Theater

Monday,October 26 SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP OUTREACH

• Morning: Transfer to Guang’ai School; Music performance, English teaching, tree planting or friendship card making at the Guang’ai school
• Afternoon: Service project: Mural painting activity
• Evening: Small group reflection activities in hotel

Tuesday, October 27 VILLAGE HOME STAY

• Morning: Transfer to Simatai Great Wall; Packed lunch on Wall
• Afternoon: Great Wall hike from Simatai to Jinshanling
• Evening: Dumpling making lesson in Global Village; Dinner and overnight home stay

Wednesday,October 28 GREAT WALL EXPLORATION

• Morning: Basic Farming Work in Global Village
• Late Morning and Afternoon: Transfer and biking activity nearby Huanghuacheng Great Wall
• Evening: Return to Beijing; Dinner at downtown restaurant

Thursday, October 29 CALLIGRAPHY and LOCAL MARKET GAME

• Early Morning: Bargaining game at local market
• Morning: Traditional Chinese Cultural Workshops: Calligraphy, Chinese yo-yo, Chinese Knot and family visit in Houhai Hutong area
• Afternoon: Service projects: Visit Beijing Huiling Community; Sports games with Huiling Community members at Jingshan Park.
• Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant

Friday, October 30 GARDENING and WALL PAINTING

• Morning: Service projects: Gardening and wall painting at the Shunyi Taiyang Village; Followed by a lunch with Taiyang Village Kids
• Afternoon: Search and purchase game at the Yashow Market
• Evening: Farewell dinner; Reflection activities in hotel

Saturday, October 31 COMPLETING the CIRCLE: JOURNEY HOME

Students board flight CA 971 at 16:05 in Beijing and land in KL at 22:40 on Saturday, October 31st. Travel group boards a bus for ISKL and students meet their parents at ISKL 2 hours after the flight lands...approximately 00:40 late Saturday night. HAPPY HUGS!!! (Parents who wish to meet their child at the airport may do so but must be there before the students board the bus to return to ISKL as the bus will leave as soon as everyone is on board. For safety reasons, no students will be left to wait for their parents at the airport!) Enjoy your children's GAP stories!!!