Culture and Voluntourism in China

Welcome to the People’s Republic of China! On arrival in Beijing, you are met by Goway’s local representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy an informative city tour en route to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free.

China is the world's largest country in population with over 1 billion people—about 20 percent of all the people in the world. It is the third-largest country, in area, and one of the world's oldest countries, with a rich history that stretches over thousands of years. During this tour, you will marvel at the contrasts and the mysteries waiting to be discovered.

Overnight: New Otani Changfugong Hotel (3 nights)

After breakfast, your full day of touring begins with Tian’anmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Proceed to the Forbidden City. Built by more than 200,000 workers in the 15th century during the Ming dynasty, the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) was home to the 24 Emperors of the Ming and Ch’ing (Qing) dynasties. Its structure is the best preserved and most complete collection of imperial architecture in China. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, another masterpiece of Ming Dynasty architecture, which exemplifies Chinese perfection of form and space and was built for important rituals for the emperors. Transfer back to the hotel after dinner at a local restaurant. BLD

Depart the hotel for one of the highlights of the tour and visit and climb The Great Wall of China, Mutianyu Section (cable car ride, if needed, will be on own arrangement). The Great Wall is the only man-made object visible to the naked eye from space, and was built in the fifth century BC to protect China from the aggressive northern Tartars. It winds 6000 kilometers through Northern China, and you will marvel at the sweeping vistas. There will be time for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch at a local restaurant, stop at the sacred Path of the Ming Tombs for a view of beautifully carved statues of real and mythical animals and guardians.

Travel back to Beijing and enjoy a guided walking tour of Hutong, a unique opportunity through the ancient quarters of Beijing to experience local people’s life. Transfer back to your hotel after a special dumpling dinner at a local restaurant.

New Day is located in the small farming village of Qingyundian, on the outskirts of Beijing. Most villagers live in very simple homes without indoor plumbing or running water.

In the spring of 2006, the Pearl Project began, which reaches out to the neediest families in our community. The goal is to help restore dignity and hope to families who have a difficult time making ends meet. They help provide home repairs, food, and money to cover medical and schooling costs for four local families. As a volunteer at New Day, you can visit these families in their homes, delivering needed supplies and also offering to help them to improve their living conditions.

Visit the Elderly:
There is an elderly home with over 70 residents located close to New Day, with about 11 individuals who are very poor and living on government assistance. You can go on the monthly visits to celebrate birthdays with these residents.

Care for Orphans:
Caring for orphans provides a profound impact on the development of these children and is one of the most rewarding opportunities when serving abroad. The orphans at our Foster Home all have special physical needs and were brought into our care from orphanages all over China.

The children at New Day are always excited to see new faces and love the personal attention they receive from volunteers. Local Chinese nannies appreciate help with daily routines such as feeding and playing with the little ones. When you come to volunteer at New Day, you can hold and feed the infants, play with the toddlers, help teach in the preschool or assist with the children’s physical therapy exercises. Volunteers often organize special games, songs and activities for the children, which is always very popular.

Your first stop is at a local park, where you will learn Taichi from a Taichi Master in a local park. Afterwards, visit the Summer Palace, home to the 19th century Empress Cixi. The park is a beautiful combination of lake, bridges, gardens, temples, and pavilions. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Xian. On arrival in Xian you will have a short visit to the city wall en route to your hotel for a 2-night stay.

Just one-and-a-half hours by air from Beijing, Xian is the home of the world-famous life-size Terra Cotta Army, unearthed in 1974, by local farmers, after being buried with the first Qin emperor for 22 centuries. Xian was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC, and the capital city for 11 dynasties. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. BLD

Overnight: Titan Times Hotel, Suite Room (2 nights)

Depart your hotel for another major highlight of your China tour – a full-day excursion to the Terra Cotta Warrior and Horse Museum (the Eighth Wonder of the World). Visit over 6000 life-size warriors and horses guarding the tomb of the first emperor of China.

After lunch join your guide for a visit to the Muslim neighborhood with Arab merchants travelling on the Silk Road from Persia and Afghanistan. Xi'an's Muslim neighbourhood still retains the atmosphere of those trading days with bustling markets selling dried kiwi fruit, dates and an array of souvenirs. The cobbled backstreets are stocked with teashops and eateries serving steaming bowls of yang rou pao mo, a spicy mutton soup with pitta bread croutons, followed by sesame seed cakes. Proceed to Beilin Museum, the Forest of Steles, built to preserve the Thirteen Classics of Filial Piety which were engraved during the Tang Dynasty. A significant collection of Steles was gathered by the Qing dynasty and the building became known as the Forest of Steles.

Today, this is a professional art museum which collects, studies and displays various Steles and stone sculptures. If you are interested in Chinese art and calligraphy, there are some interesting objects on display here. Today’s dinner is a Chinese meal with local flavour, special noodles are made right in front of you by a local chef. Transfer to the hotel at the end of the dinner. BLD

Before your flight to Guilin, you will visit a farmer painters’ village. This village is famous for its style of Chinese painting. It is instantly recognizable, mainly for the bold, exaggerated forms and excessive use of color. Every inch of the canvas is filled with scenes from daily rural life. At the end of the visit, you are transferred to the airport to connect with your afternoon flight to bustling Guilin, a place well-known for its amazing scenery and stone carvings.

Guilin, a cultural city with a history of over 2,000 years, is world-famous for its serene landscapes, mysterious limestone formations, mist-covered hills and bamboo groves. The region boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and offers one of the most photographed areas of China. The city of Guilin is located on the Li River, surrounded by the exotic geographic formations that seem to evoke a mystical feeling in all who travel here. Although it is a small, slow-paced town, Guilin has a highly developed tourism infrastructure. It is the breathtaking beauty, peacefulness, and tranquility in such a magical setting that rewards those who visit Guilin. BLD

Overnight: Bravo Hotel (2 nights) 

After breakfast you will be transferred to the wharf for the boat cruise of the Li River. The cruise down the Li River is 50 miles with opportunities to see the breathtaking panorama of the misty “karst” scenery (limestone formations along the river banks). You will observe feathery bamboo plants, cormorant fishermen in small boats, and picturesque villages as you sail along this calm, serene river. After the boat cruise, you will have time to visit a local farmer’s village. Travel back by road to Guilin and your hotel. BLD

This morning is at leisure for your individual exploration. This afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong. B