Frequently Asked Questions about the China Trip

  1. Where Are We Going?
  2. How Safe is the Trip?
  3. When is the Trip?
  4. Who Can Come/What is the Cost and What Does that Include?
  5. How Do I Register?
  6. Who Do You Travel With and Where Can I Get More Information About the Trip?

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Where Are we Going?

With more than 4,000 years of history, and an incredibly rich culture, China is an amazing destination to learn about history, architecture, and science.  Paper, gunpowder, the seismometer, tangrams, noodles, dominoes, nail polish, fireworks, tea, playing cards, kites, negative numbers, and the fishing reel are just a few of the many amazing inventions to come from China!

Beijing: Travelers will experience Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and of course, the Great Wall of China, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!  We will have the chance to enjoy Beijing's unique and delicious cuisine, including Peking Duck

Xi'an: We will visit the Hanyangling Excavation Site, a tomb of the Ming Dynasty; and travel into the city to visit the Small Goose Pagoda and learning calligraphy and painting.  We'll also have the opportunity to ride bicycles on the ancient city wall (600+ years old) and visit the Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Emperor Museum & Exhibit.  An unbelievable piece of history!  We will also experience the Xi'an Night Market- a must-see on any trip to Xi'an.

Shanghai: Shanghai is the largest and most prosperous city in the nation. It is the economic, financial and cultural center of the country.  We will go on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of the city's highlights, see the incredible Shanghai Acrobatic Show, visit Ju Jia Jao (the Ancient Water Town), take ping-pong and badminton lessons from experts at the Sports Center, and take a night boat cruise of the Huang Pu River to view the Bund and Shanghai's spectacular night lights display on the city's incredible skyscrapers (which includes the world's second tallest building, the Shanghai Tower), and travel back to the airport on Shanghai's famed Maglev train, the world's fastest train!

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1
Los Angeles – Shanghai-Beijing (Be at LAX on the evening of 3/31)

 
Day 2
Beijing (L-D) Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven

Upon arrival, you will be transferred by coach bus to the reserved hotel. After a short rest, we will take a traditional Rickshaw to tour the Hutong and visiting local resident; we then have some free time to explore the Wang Fu Jin Night Food Street A.K.A. the Fear Factor Alley before our dinner at a local restaurant.

 

Day 3
Beijing (B-L-D) Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven

Today, we will begin our tour with our first stop at the Tiananmen Square, a famous landmark that holds the distinction as being the world's largest public square, and then continue to the Forbidden City. We will then have lunch at a local noodle house. After lunch, we will be visiting the Summer Palace. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a Welcoming Banquet, tasting Beijing’s famous Peking duck.

 

Day 4
Beijing (B- L- D) Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven

The highlight today will be a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall. We will start the morning with a visit of the Temple of Heaven. We are then traveling out of the city to the Great Wall and have lunch of Subway/KFC there. After lunch we will visit the Great Wall for some hiking on the Badaling Section and to visit the Great Wall Museum.

 

Day 5
Beijing - Xi’an (B- L- D) Novotel Hotel

We will take an early morning flight to Xi’an, the famed starting location of the Silk Road. Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties in China history. It is a city with over 5,000 years of history and is a must see while visiting China. Upon arrival, we will have lunch near by the airport. After lunch, we will be visiting the Hanyangling Excavation Site, a tomb of the Ming Dynasty;  We will have a Pizza dinner, after dinner, a short visit to the Muslim Night Market, then check into the hotel.

 

Day 6
Xi’an (B-L-D) Novotel Hotel

The highlight of the day will be a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors museum and exhibit. In the morning, we will be visiting the Ancient City Wall (over 600 years old); it is one of the most well-kept city-wall in China. We can take a short bicycle ride on the city wall. We will then go visit a local school and have lunch with the students; after lunch we will then visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors museum and exhibit where you’ll see about 1,000 life-size statues and horses stand in battle formation. The Terra-Cotta Warriors of the Qin Emperor is now regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World. We will then traveling back into the city for dumpling making class and dumpling feast. After dinner, we will be treated to a Tang Dynasty Musical and Dance Show.

 

Day 7
Xi’an - Shanghai (B- L- D) Regal Shanghai East Asia

In the morning, we will travel into the city to visit the Small Goose Pagoda and learning calligraphy and painting.  After lunch, you’ll be boarding a flight to Shanghai. Shanghai is the largest and most prosperous city in the nation. It is the economic, financial and cultural center of the country. Upon arriving to Shanghai,

 

Day 8
Shanghai (B-L-D) Regal Shanghai East Asia

In the morning, we will take a ping pong lesson at the sport center, and then visit the Bund;  We will visit the Yu Garden Bazaar and have lunch at a cafeteria style food court; After lunch, we will visit the Ancient Water Town (Ju Jia Jao).  We will have an early dinner and then head to see the Shanghai Acrobatic Show. .

 

Day 9
Shanghai - Los Angeles (B)

Check out from hotel before 2PM. We will take a short shopping trip in the morning for souvenirs. You will be transported to the airport for a flight to Los Angeles via the Maglev train and experience the fastest train in the World at over 270 mph.

 

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How Safe is the Trip?

As is always the case for me, safety is the number one priority, followed by fun and learning. To that end, we travel with Visit Asia, a company which has exceeded my high expectations for safety, quality educational experiences, and value. You can find out more about the company at: http://visitasia.co/about-us/  

The U.S. State Department describes China as "a very safe country", and the country is regarded as a safe place to visit by all major travel sites and guides books.

Over the years, I've taken over 1000 students with me on various adventures (I also do annual trips to Florida with 6th graders, Costa Rica with 7th graders, and have led trips to the Galapagos Islands and Cuba), and I know what a wonderful experience it can be for them. I also have three little ones of my own, so I know how important the issue of safety is for you, and I take it very seriously.  We stay in highly regarded, four star (and up) hotels in very safe areas.

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When is the Trip?

The trip is scheduled for PVPUSD's Spring Break 2019: The PVPUSD has not finalized their calendar for the 2018-2019 school year yet, but as soon as they have, we will have our dates.  The trip runs 9 days, 8 nights.

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Who Can Come/What is the Cost and What Does that Include?

The China trip is open to all PVPUSD students, K-12, their family members and friends.  The trip is appropriate for students in all grades, including high school and college, and students from PVPUSD schools other than Ridgecrest are welcome to join us.  Family members and friends from other schools inside and outside of PV are also welcome to join the trip.  Don't forget- Parents & siblings are welcome to come along on the China Trip!

The cost of the trip will be approximately $2,499 for students, $2,799 for adults.  The price includes all airfare (including airfare within China- we fly from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Shanghai), transportation, hotels, meals, activities, entrance fees, etc., etc.  It does not include the cost of a Chinese visa (approximately $160) and tips for guides. 

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How Do I Register?

Online: go to https://visitasia.co  Tour ID: RISCN19

 

Registration for our 2019 Spring Break trip is OPEN!!

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How Can I Get More Information About the Trip?

Please contact Dr. Oschman at scotoschman@gmail.com with any questions you might have about the trip.  The itinerary is also at the top of this page.

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