Ask anyone what they know about Anhui Province, and they will invariably respond: the Yellow Mountains of Huangshan. The Yellow Mountains are indeed beautiful, and have been the subject of uncountable poems and works of art throughout the centuries. And yet, there is much more to Anhui than the Yellow Mountains.Since the province was basically inaccessible to outsiders until the 20th century, it boasts a unique style of architecture, dozens of local dialects, world-famous teas, and well preserved caravan (hiking, nowadays) trails.

Our flagship Anhui program involves a variety of different activities in the Huangshan region, with a focus on culture and the outdoors. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the culture and history of the area through short hikes, a bike ride, scavenger hunt, tea-picking, and more. The trip will peak on Days 4 & 5 (literally!), as students ascend the famed Yellow Mountains on foot, spend a night at a hotel on the summit, wake early to watch the sunrise, and descend via cablecar. While these two days will undoubtedly be exhausting, students will be treated to awe-inspiring scenery and an unforgettable experience.

Our other Anhui program is a service learning trip, based in the city of Tongling. Anhui Pronvince has set ambitious goals for reforestation and is encouraging Anhui residents to help plant trees through its “植树义务” initiative. Towards this end, the green city committee of the local forestry department has assigned us a small plot of barren land for tree planting, which we are slowly filling with saplings. When not planting trees, students will stay engaged through a mountain hike that also includes a glass walkway, an educational visit to the endangered Yangtze river dolphin sanctuary, island scavenger hunt, and local handicraft projects.