Wonders of China

Most of the accommodations are hotels with flush toilets. When in hotels, there will be two or three students per room. All of those hotels will have showers and electricity. Wifi in Chinese hotels can be spotty. With the internet blocks in China (not because of Rustic Pathways), students will not be able to access Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.

When we stay in Danba, we stay in a guesthouse with squat toilets. The guesthouse is dorm style and there will be 4 – 6 students per room. This guesthouse is remote with little electricity, no showers, and no internet.

Throughout the days in China, the public toilets will be squat toilets.

We will be eating a variety of Chinese food on this program. When we are in the rural areas of China, there will be less variety in the dishes. Breakfast includes steamed buns, fried rice, and fried vegetables. Lunches and dinners are shared dishes of rice, vegetable dishes, chicken and pork dishes, tofu dishes, and noodles. Food in the Sichuan Province tends to be spicy, but your Program Leaders know how to order non-spicy food.

Yes, we can easily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and other common dietary requirements on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we always recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!

Water from the tap is safe to use for brushing teeth etc, but, students will be provided as much bottled water as they can drink. Don’t forget to bring along your own reusable water bottle, so we can minimize our plastic usage.

Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 90s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. Since Danba is located in the mountains, the temperature will go down into the 60s in the evenings. The weather does not vary much between June and August. Make sure to pack sunscreen, bug spray, and your rain jacket.

This program will have one flight within China from Beijing to Chengdu. Click the “Plus Airfare” link next to the cost of the program for pricing. Internal flight routings and airline tend to be determined closer to the summer.

We want to encourage students to disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the experience and get the most out of their program. Thus, students will not have access to wifi. Reception for international plans is spotty and we do not recommend purchasing one for this trip. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once your student is in country. Students can bring phones, but are not allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken.

Wifi in China can be spotty. With the internet blocks in China (not because of Rustic Pathways), students will not be able to access Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or WhatsApp.

Personal gifts, laundry, phone calls, and snacks are not included in the program price. The following is a list of possible add-on activities and their cost:

Students will have the chance to visit two markets during this itinerary, in addition to small snack shops and purchasing handicrafts from the local community. We recommend $150 per week to cover souvenirs and incidentals.

In general, Chinese dress modestly, and as polite visitors, we will dress accordingly. While Beijing can be a little more relaxed, it is important that we show respect at all times, particularly in the rural areas of Sichuan. The requirements are fairly straightforward and the same for any gender:

Shorts: Rule of thumb is that the bottom of the shorts should be mid thigh or longer.
Leggings or yoga pants: Only if paired with shorts over top because they are too form-fitting.
Loose-fitting pants, capris, and long skirts: Acceptable and preferred. While in rural Sichuan, you will want to wear pants because that is more culturally appropriate and it is chilly in the mountains.
Tops: Shoulders must be covered – No tank tops or spaghetti straps.

If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your Program Leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.

This is a fast-paced program and students will not have time to do laundry.