China comprises 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, two special administration regions and four municipalities directly under central government. The current head of state is President Hu Jintao.

The civil war in 1945 defined the China of today. Defeated Nationalists fl ed to Taiwan while victorious Communists founded the People’s Republic. Before then China had endured eight years of occupation by the Japanese imperial army souring relations between the two countries to this day.

With 5000 years of history, China is a cultural treasure trove and is one of the worlds greatest travel destinations. The Great Wall, X’ian’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square all ooze history and legend. The country is also home to other marvels like the Yangtze River, the Silk Road, the bamboo forests of the giant panda and misty peaks captured in traditional ink paintings, it also has no less than 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Travelling round China still requires some flexibility and patience but in return visitors to China are rewarded with memories to treasure for a life time.

• Explore Beijing
  Take a guided tour around this amazing city and take in some of its sights and sounds. We can visit Tianamen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Hutong Lanes. In the evening we can take in one of the incredible acrobat shows and have dinner in the Peking Duck Restaurant
  
  
• Chinese Education
  On the fi rst few days in China we are able to take part in an educational programme at the University and will have the opportunity to learn about Chinese cuisine, dance and Kung Fu
  
  
• Community or Environmental projects
  Working with a local community you’ll be amazed at what you can learn from each other. In China we have the opportunity to work with a local village and school very close to the Great Wall for a couple of days. Teaching English is very popular and playing football is obligatory!
  
  
• The Great Wall
  There are a number of places to visit the Great Wall and we have the chance to experience and walk along on two separate occasions. The walk from Simatai to Jinshanling is a spectacular section of the original unreconstructed wall with many steep staircases and old watch towers with Mongolia and China stretching for over 80 miles on a clear day. The other section we visit is the popular tourist spot of Shanghaiguan to see what the wall looks like once it has had some TLC
  
  
• Trek the grasslands of Inner Mongolia
  This is a great way to experience the beauty and vastness of Inner Mongolia with a three day trek through the grasslands. Overnight we will sleep in traditional Yurts and enjoy life under the stars with our nomadic hosts
  
  
• Camel Riding in the Xiangshawan Desert
  While we are in Inner Mongolia we will have the chance to visit this awesome desert and landscape. We trek from the grasslands into the desert and will have the chance to ride on the ‘ships of the desert’ also known as camels.