Beijing & Shanghai
Look to China for a way of life that mixes ancient traditions with an ever-evolving cultural scene. Beijing was named China’s capital in 1949 and has since transformed into the nation’s political, educational, and economic hub. Experience how the city keeps one eye to the past as you savor the traditions of a local tea ceremony, stroll through the Summer Palace’s magical grounds, and glimpse China’s history of political protests in Tiananmen Square. The fusion of classic and contemporary continues in Shanghai, where you’ll come face-to-face with the Jade Buddha Temple’s centuries-old statues and visit the Shanghai World Financial Center—a modern construction representing ancient Chinese symbols of heaven and earth.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to China
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Day 2: Beijing
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in Beijing
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Day 3: Beijing
Tour Beijing, long been considered the political, educational, and cultural center of China, with an expert local guide
Visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and a site of frequent political protests
Visit the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors and so named because no one could enter or leave the premises without the emperor's approval
Visit the Summer Palace, an imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty, and explore its beautiful garden grounds
Enjoy a dragon boat ride and see the views from Kunming Lake (seasonal: April to October)
Enjoy dinner in Beijing
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Day 4: Beijing
Take an excursion to Badaling
Tour the Great Wall of China with your Field Director and see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which was built by 300,000 people over several centuries and now stretches over 3,000 miles
Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in Beijing where you will learn about:
- The Chinese culture of drinking tea in daily life today
- The history of chayi, or the art of drinking tea, credited to Emperor Shennong
- The significance of drinking tea among Chinese scholars in tea houses
Tour Beijing's Hutongs, a labyrinthine network of ancient city alleys, by traditional rickshaw
Add this in-depth excursion:
The Legend of Kung Fu show
Tonight, see the show that tells the story of a young boy, Chun Yi (the pure one), who in order to pursue spiritual and physical harmony becomes a monk and learns kung fu. Along the way he overcomes obstacles, is distracted and tempted, but ultimately achieves the designation of master. This performance combines story-telling, kung-fu, acrobatics, modern dance, and original music to celebrate the philosophy and skill of martial arts.
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Day 5: Beijing
Spend a full day exploring Beijing on your own
Enjoy a regional specialty and traditional side dishes with your group at a Peking Duck dinner
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Day 6: Beijing • Shanghai
Travel by high-speed train to Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and see views of the city from 1,555 feet above
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
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Day 7: Shanghai
Take a guided tour of Shanghai
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Jade Buddha Temple, a famous Buddhist temple
- Yu Yuan Garden, a showplace of classical Chinese landscaping
- Nanjing Lu, a main commercial district
Spend free time exploring the Bund and Nanjing Lu on your own
Enjoy a traditional Chinese acrobatics show
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Day 8: Shanghai
Spend a full day exploring Shanghai on your own
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
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Day 9: Depart for home
Add more days
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Day 9: Shanghai • Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong
Take a ride on the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
Enjoy dinner in Hong Kong
Watch A Symphony of Lights show, illuminating Hong Kong's harbor skyline, from the Avenue of Stars
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Day 10: Hong Kong
Spend the afternoon exploring Hong Kong on your own
Take a guided tour of Hong Kong
With your expert local guide, you will visit:
- Stanley Market, an open-air shopping area
- Aberdeen Harbor, a busy fishing port
- Repulse Bay, an upscale beach area
Take a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak and take in views of the city
Enjoy a Dim Sum tasting, comprised of many small dishes of specialties
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Day 11: Hong Kong
Add this in-depth excursion:
Macau Island
Venture via ferry to the island of Macau. As the first and last European colony in China, Macau has more visible colonial history than Hong Kong. It is fascinating to just walk around as the place is packed with churches, temples, fortresses and other old buildings bearing an interesting mix of Portuguese and Chinese characteristics. There are also hundreds of narrow alleyways forming a maze in the old part of Macau! A guide will accompany you on a sightseeing tour, including the famous ruins of St. Paul's, Na Tcha Temple, the Leal Senado Building–one of the best examples of Portuguese architecture in the area—and Macau Tower, an observation deck with a fantastic view of the city. (A Portuguese-style lunch is included with the excursion.)
Enjoy dinner in Hong Kong
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Day 12: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly overnight to China
-
Day 2: Beijing
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in Beijing
-
Day 3: Beijing
Tour Beijing, long been considered the political, educational, and cultural center of China, with an expert local guide
Visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and a site of frequent political protests
Visit the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors and so named because no one could enter or leave the premises without the emperor's approval
Visit the Summer Palace, an imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty, and explore its beautiful garden grounds
Enjoy a dragon boat ride and see the views from Kunming Lake (seasonal: April to October)
Enjoy dinner in Beijing
-
Day 4: Beijing
Take an excursion to Badaling
Tour the Great Wall of China with your Field Director and see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which was built by 300,000 people over several centuries and now stretches over 3,000 miles
Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in Beijing where you will learn about:
- The Chinese culture of drinking tea in daily life today
- The history of chayi, or the art of drinking tea, credited to Emperor Shennong
- The significance of drinking tea among Chinese scholars in tea houses
Tour Beijing's Hutongs, a labyrinthine network of ancient city alleys, by traditional rickshaw
Add this in-depth excursion:
The Legend of Kung Fu show
Tonight, see the show that tells the story of a young boy, Chun Yi (the pure one), who in order to pursue spiritual and physical harmony becomes a monk and learns kung fu. Along the way he overcomes obstacles, is distracted and tempted, but ultimately achieves the designation of master. This performance combines story-telling, kung-fu, acrobatics, modern dance, and original music to celebrate the philosophy and skill of martial arts.
-
Day 5: Beijing
Spend a full day exploring Beijing on your own
Enjoy a regional specialty and traditional side dishes with your group at a Peking Duck dinner
-
Day 6: Beijing • Shanghai
Travel by high-speed train to Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and see views of the city from 1,555 feet above
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
-
Day 7: Shanghai
Take a guided tour of Shanghai
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Jade Buddha Temple, a famous Buddhist temple
- Yu Yuan Garden, a showplace of classical Chinese landscaping
- Nanjing Lu, a main commercial district
Spend free time exploring the Bund and Nanjing Lu on your own
Enjoy a traditional Chinese acrobatics show
-
Day 8: Shanghai
Spend a full day exploring Shanghai on your own
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
-
Day 9: Depart for home
Add more days
-
Day 9: Shanghai • Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong
Take a ride on the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
Enjoy dinner in Hong Kong
Watch A Symphony of Lights show, illuminating Hong Kong's harbor skyline, from the Avenue of Stars
-
Day 10: Hong Kong
Spend the afternoon exploring Hong Kong on your own
Take a guided tour of Hong Kong
With your expert local guide, you will visit:
- Stanley Market, an open-air shopping area
- Aberdeen Harbor, a busy fishing port
- Repulse Bay, an upscale beach area
Take a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak and take in views of the city
Enjoy a Dim Sum tasting, comprised of many small dishes of specialties
-
Day 11: Hong Kong
Add this in-depth excursion:
Macau Island
Venture via ferry to the island of Macau. As the first and last European colony in China, Macau has more visible colonial history than Hong Kong. It is fascinating to just walk around as the place is packed with churches, temples, fortresses and other old buildings bearing an interesting mix of Portuguese and Chinese characteristics. There are also hundreds of narrow alleyways forming a maze in the old part of Macau! A guide will accompany you on a sightseeing tour, including the famous ruins of St. Paul's, Na Tcha Temple, the Leal Senado Building–one of the best examples of Portuguese architecture in the area—and Macau Tower, an observation deck with a fantastic view of the city. (A Portuguese-style lunch is included with the excursion.)
Enjoy dinner in Hong Kong
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Day 12: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
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Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
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End-to-end support
Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.
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EF Global Learning Toolkit
We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.
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Guided exploration
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.
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Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
