Zhejiang is China’s wealthiest province, and is known as a center of industry and manufacturing. It boasts some of the most modern and economically developed cities in China. Hangzhou, the provincial capital, is among the most technologically advanced, and the headquarters for some of China’s most iconic tech companies, including AliBaba and NetEase. At the same time, the province has a particularly forward-thinking approach to development, such that much of it is both unspoiled but oddly accessible. That means our school groups can experience its beautiful coastline, emerald rivers and lakes, and thickly forested mountains, using an unrivaled network of highways and high-speed rail lines.

Our programs in Hangzhou (including nearby Lin’an) blend past and present, urban and rural. We can incorporate modern STEM-themed activities, as well as traditional Chinese culture elements focused on history, cuisine, and the arts. The West Lake area is the staging ground both for our legendary cultural scavenger hunt and hikes through terraced tea plantations. Our outdoor bases on the outskirts of the city, meanwhile, offer opportunities for cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, and even some team-building games on an artificial beach.

To the North of Hangzhou is Moganshan, whose refreshing breezes and cool summer temperatures first enchanted foreigners in the 1880s. Many of the villas that they built are still standing, with some having being transformed into hotels and guesthouses that operate today. Our Moganshan programs involve a variety of different cultural, service, and outdoor activities, tailored to meet the aspirations and curricular goals of the schools that we partner with.

We are particularly proud of our programs in Qiandaohu (“Thousand Island Lake”), an artificial lake south of Hangzhou. It was formed in 1959, with the construction of the Xin’an Dam. At that time, the whole valley was flooded, and entire villages were submerged forever. As the reservoir was filled in, former mountains became islands, giving the area its distinctive look. Students on our Qiandaohu programs can cycle along China’s longest ‘greenway’ bike path, explore the islands by kayak, and go for a couple of ‘walks in the woods’ to take in scenic vistas of the lake. There are also numerous options for DIY traditional culture and service activities, focused around lake conservation.

For schools that really want to get off-the-beaten-path (but still stay relatively close to campus), we offer a program in Xianju. Hundreds of gigantic reddish sandstone towers dot the landscape and give the region a dream-like feel. Up until recently, this area was largely inaccessible, and has been relatively spared of industrial development. It is home to East China’s last Shangri-La, a village which can only be accessed on foot. Students will hike into the village, with the option to spend the night camping out in tents under the stars. The rest of the trip will be spent exploring the sandstone towers from above, below, and afar, on two legs and two wheels, via kayak, bicycle, via-ferrata, and gondola.