CHINA

Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the China: The Great Wall to the Himalayas packing list.

In China, the weather can vary from very hot climates to more mildly cool climates up in the higher altitudes in Shangrila (some nights it can get as low as the high 50’s). Please pack according to the ARCC packing list; we have taken these climate variations into consideration.

This summer we will be visiting several communities in China and working on different service projects that reflect the needs of the local community. Through our in-country partners ARCC has close ties with several different communities in China, and through these connections we have been able to assess where our help is needed the most. There are several types of projects we will engage in to get the best and most well rounded experience possible: volunteering with pandas at the panda breeding center in Chengdu, teaching English to school children with little access to spoken English, helping farmers in a village in rural China, and working on various infrastructure projects that are needed in a rural Yunnan village. Through these projects we will not only help the communities we are visiting, but gain a new insight into the beautiful culture and peoples of China.

ARCC recommends that you take some health precautions before your trip to China, which are the same as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).

During this adventure we sleep in a variety of accommodations: quaint guest houses, simple western style hotels, hostels, and an on-site bunk house at our panda service project.

While in China we will travel to each location using various means of transportation. We travel between Beijing, Chengdu, Shangrila, Lijiang, and Shanghai using one of the national airlines of China. For charter to villages and between activities we will use private charter vehicles.

We will have a chance to sample the incredible and diverse traditional dishes served throughout the different regions of China. While staying in rural host communities, we are presented with a wide spread of traditional options, ranging from vegetarian stir fries, soups, noodles, and a variety of different types of fresh meat and fish. While the variety is widespread, each meal is also presented with the staple food of the region, white rice! When we are not staying in villages, we eat out at restaurants. Many of these have both the option for Chinese food, as well as for Western cuisine such as pizza, pasta, hamburgers, and so forth.

For our China program we recommend you bring anywhere from $50 – $75 additional spending money per week, a total of $225. You should bring this money in the form of cash (small bills are best) and also bring an ATM/debit card with you. China uses the “Renminbi” (RMB) or “Yuan” (CNY) as currency and there are approximately 6.5 RMB/CNY to every US $1.

As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about your travel plans and its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.

Yes. ARCC requires that all students traveling to China have a valid passport. Please note that it must be valid for 6 months AFTER your return date, until at least January 21, 2019. Please have your passport renewed if it expires before this date!! Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this adventure. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.

Yes. Once you enroll in the China program and gain access to your “ARCC Family Portal” your visa information will be provided. You can obtain a Chinese visa in person at a Chinese consulate or embassy, or through the mail using a third party provider. The visa costs for U.S. passport holders is $140 if you obtain it in person, and up to $200 if you use a mail service. ARCC office staff will assist you throughout the visa process but it does need to be processed in your local region.

China is fifteen hours ahead of the Pacific Standard Time (PST) during the summer, and twelve hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). If it’s 7:00 AM Monday in China, it’s 4:00 PM Sunday in Los Angeles and 7:00 PM Sunday in New York.

Although you won’t be doing any traditional backpacking on this program it is important that you bring a large backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the trip the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.

We have the chance to live amongst some needy people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms; Pens, pencils, notepads, calculators and English children’s books are widely accepted. Also, sporting equipment (soccer and basketballs, nets, and air pumps with needles) are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles ARCC would ask that every person to bring no more than a gym of bag of goods to donate.