Urban Expedition – Beijing
Urban Expeditions describe 1-day or multi-day overnight courses that take place in an urban environment and incorporate travel by foot and public transportation to explore elements of the city.
Urban Expeditions have similar goals to traditional wilderness expeditions with the obvious difference that they take place in the city. Like wilderness trips, participants are taken to environments with which they are less familiar. Participants are challenged to step out of their “comfort zones” and to take risks: interviewing strangers, organizing meals, trying new activities and foods, and engaging with diverse peoples. During this process they typically learn about teamwork, trust, compassion, and service. This trip involves discovering Beijing in a whole new way!
Our Services
✓ Local tour guide in each city
✓ All accommodation costs
✓ Full board meals for the entire trip
✓ All transportation costs
✓ All activities listed in the itinerary
✓ 1 free teacher per 10 paying students
✓ 24-hour emergency contact support during the trip
✓ Detailed pre-departure summary & briefing
✓ Adventure leaders
✓ Public liability insurance
✓ Our trips are fully risk-assessed
Recommended activities
Yoga
Blindfold Bridge
Volunteering
Help out at Roundabout, a social enterprise which was the first charity shop started in China helping give unwanted goods to those in need.
An Example itinerary
Day 1
- Meet your enthusiastic adventure leaders where you’ll come together for a trip briefing.
- Students will receive all the necessary gear like maps, compasses and repack bags accordingly for the most comfort while on expedition.
- A scavenger hunt in the local area. By doing so we’ll get a lay of the land, go over rules and regulations for urban travel, and what makes this place so special.
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Meal Initiative – designed to enable participants to push comfort zones by eating new or different types of food. In addition, through negotiation with small restaurant owners, participants engage with community members and practice communication skills.
- Arrive at your hutong hostel an iconic part of the city.
Day 2
- Navigate your way through the hutong’s and conduct a series of interviews, an important part of any “urban”.
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Travel to an indoor activities and climbing center, tonight’s sleep site, where they will learn from a professional how to climb and challenge themselves physically.
- Group meeting, reflection session, and journaling time before going to bed.
Day 3
- Breakfast will incorporate another meal initiative and a visit to a local supermarket or farmer market to prep for today’s lunch.
- Gift initiative – allows for students to focus and reflect on a peer, providing an opportunity for compassion and empathy. Students will purchase a gift for someone else for a small amount of money.
- Tonight’s sleep sight is going to be at a Yoga Studio.
- Quiz Night – Make sure you paid close attention to all the things we’ve done so far, but be prepared for specific Beijing questions.
Day 4
- Wake up to a yoga session of Sun Salutations run by a Yoga teacher.
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Navigate your way to the Liangma River for our Blindfold Bridge Initiative. The bridge initiative is a great teambuilding activity that provide an opportunity for students to experience trusting their group members.
- Take the subway to our service site, Roundabout, which was the first charity shop started in China helping give unwanted goods to those in need. Volunteering could include helping out at their store and sorting goods or helping out on any special initiatives they have at the time.
- Navigate your way to tonight’s sleep sight a local Hostel.
- Reflection session and secret gift giving exchange.
Day 5
- Sadly, it’s time to head back. Before we let you go, we ask that we take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve experienced.
Logistics
✓ Staying at community shelters and hostels
✓ Public Transport
✓ All accommodation and transport used is fully audited
Educational Value
✓ Expert local tour guides and artisan instructors provided
✓ Pre-trip support
✓ Educational materials available, workshops and meetings with local experts
Customer Reviews
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