Activities

• Learn about Chinese business with company visits in Shanghai.
• Join classmates for a thrilling acrobat performance, river cruise, group meals, and more.
• Explore Chinese history and arts with visits to museums, art exhibitions, and plays.
• Travel to beautiful cities such as:
  • Suzhou, often called the “Venice of the East” for its many canals and famous for its classical gardens and silk industry
  • Hangzhou, known for its natural beauty as well as its textile and tech industries
  • Nanjing, one of China’s four ancient capitals and major commercial centers
  • Zhujiajiao, a traditional water town lined with stone bridges, cobblestone lanes, and canals
• Gain hands-on cultural experience by learning Chinese cooking, calligraphy, martial arts, or mahjong.
• Connect with the community by volunteering with local organizations or schools.

Excursions

Students participate in a multi-day excursion for an in-depth look at Chinese culture and history. Past excursions have included:

• Silk Road Trade Route – This famous premodern route enabled the exchange of merchandise, as well as religious, cultural, and artistic ideas. Students travel from the head of the northern route in Xi’an to Dunhuang, the City of Sands, a desert oasis at the junction of the northern and southern trade routes. Offered during fall term only
• Tea and Horse Road – This ancient network of mountain paths connected the tea-growing regions of southwestern China to Burma and India by mule caravan through the mountains and valleys of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and Tibet. Students may travel to Lijiang and Shangri-La, seat of a Tibetan autonomous prefecture near the border of Tibet. Offered during spring term only
• Global Business in China – Explore the Pearl River Delta Region in Southern China and sites such as the Canton World Trading Fair, one of the oldest world's trading fairs. Students visit companies and attend lectures on business development and industry, take a city tour, and visit a local temple.
• Convergence of Cultures – You’ll find some of the most traditional forms of Chinese culture preserved on the island of Taiwan, which maintains a thriving civil society with a democratic political system and capitalist economy. See why this culture is described as a blend of Chinese and Japanese cultures, with traditional Confucian beliefs and contemporary Western values. Visit the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, aboriginal communities, the port city of Kaoshiung, the night markets of Tainan, and more.

Internships

Study abroad students participating in the Organizational Internship course will be assigned to an internship project with a company in Shanghai. The internship sponsors, which vary each term depending on participating organizations and available positions, may include local Chinese companies and multinational companies, as well as international small and medium-sized enterprises and nonprofit organizations. Course curriculum includes class introduction, coached work, and final presentation to earn three academic credits. See the Course Information section for more detail.