[EXPLORE] The Huangshan Handbook

Every academic year, YCIS Beijing Secondary students are given the unique opportunity to travel with their teachers and classmates to culturally significant destinations within China as part of the Experiencing China programme. In April, Year 9 students journeyed to historic Huangshan (黄山). For those of us who were unable to take part in their fabulous field trip, fear not! YCIS Beijing has prepared this guide so that you too may Experience China as our students get to every year!

Day One: Much to the chagrin of our eager Year 9 students, the journey to Huangshan city involved a six hour train ride departing from Beijing Station. After checking safely into your hotel, don't miss the opportunity for some quick shopping and sampling of the mouth-watering local street food at the famous and historic Tunxi Laojie (屯溪老街). 

From there, put your Chinese skills to use like our students by attending a traditional calligraphy brush workshop. The extensive short course starts students from scratch, learning first how to assemble a calligraphy brush using sheep’s wool.

Day Two: One cannot visit the "Yellow Mountain" without a hiking trip. After climbing the mountains, explore, as our students also did, a bamboo forest. Year 9 student Ilaria Dennis recounts the experience as "pretty exhausting, but the view was absolutely amazing!" Within the "Bamboo Sea," students were able take back a souvenir in the form a freshly cut bamboo stalk which they were taught how to carve. Follow this up with a bike ride exploring the local villages and trying more local cuisine and your day of active learning will be complete.

Follow the link below to finish reading our fantastic guide for Huangshan!