In the summer of 2015, nine NCTA teachers (and three guests) spent three weeks in China on a joint study tour arranged by NCTA and Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO). The tour, "Wild China," had the participants traveling to multiple locations in China by foot, by bus, by train, and by plane. The program was lead by Dr. David Kenley (Elizabethtown College) and Dr. Patrick Hughes (University of PIttsburgh NCTA).
The tour began with a few days in Beijing, where the participants climbed the Great Wall, visited District 798 Art Zone, and explored the Forbidden City. Then it was off to Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors and explore the Muslim Quarter markets. The group spent a few days in a Buddhist monastery at Emei Shan and hiked up part of the mountain. In Chengdu they tried the spicy local "hot pot" cuisine, saw newborn Pandas at the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Center, and took in a cultural show. Although it was the height of the summer, the group got a break from the heat by visiting the higher-altitude cities of Lijiang and Dali, where they discovered the regional and ethnic diversity of China. A memorable part of the visit for a few intrepid group members was the hike (and donkey-ride) into the mountains of Tiger Leaping Gorge. After a brief stay in Kunming, they were off to Yangshuo where they got a river cruise, tried Chinese cookery, and saw the "Impression" light show. The bullet train brought them to Shenzhen where they then hopped over to Hong Kong for an all-too-short stay before returning to the USA.
For a blog of the tour which includes lot of photos, go to: http://www.eagle.pitt.edu/blog/2015