Guilin Winter Trip | Chinese for Teachers
Are you a teacher in China looking to improve your Chinese skills? Join the Chinese Language Institute (CLI) in beautiful Guilin this winter holiday for the Chinese for Teachers study-travel program from Dec. 26, 2021 - Jan. 2, 2022. Options to extend your program for longer and continue improving your Chinese are available.
Teachers and aspiring teachers of all subjects and Chinese levels currently based in China are invited to enroll!
Program Highlights
Improve your Chinese through 15 hours of customized one-on-one lessons
Explore Guilin, one of China's most stunning destinations, alongside Chinese teachers and experienced guides
Engage in expert-led workshops and cultural activities designed to help you thrive as an educator in China
Live comfortably in a private room at the 5-story CLI Center
Meet new friends from around the world while creating meaningful memories
What is CLI?
Based in the picturesque city of Guilin, the Chinese Language Institute (CLI) is a center for Chinese language and cultural studies founded by American brothers in 2009.
To date, CLI has welcomed thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds from around the world to study through our intensive Immersion Program and bespoke academic tours.
CLI is based in the five-story CLI Center, our living and learning center home to classrooms, communal spaces, offices, and bedrooms.
All rooms have a range of amenities, including free WiFi, heating and AC, hot and cold water, and a private bathroom.
Gain insight into the CLI Center and community in the video below:
Ben
CLI alum
“I can't say it enough, this was an INCREDIBLE trip, and honestly, after taking it, I decided to sign on for a fourth year with my current school. This trip helped me see another side of China and motivated me to pick up and pursue Chinese (I've been practicing ever since I got back).”
“Through one-on-one classes, I was able to focus on topics, vocabulary, and grammar that I most needed. The one-on-one classes also allowed me to speak so much in Chinese that I really feel more fluent now!”
Helen
CLI alum
Guilin, Guangxi
With a balance of upbeat urban life and idyllic countryside, Guilin is the ideal setting to pursue fluency, advance your skills and relax during your winter holiday.
Known as the city of sweet osmanthus flowers, Guilin was chosen as CLI’s home for a variety of reasons – it’s warm; it’s a safe distance from the poor air quality of China’s biggest cities; it’s simple to navigate; local residents are exceptionally friendly and engaging; the cuisine is excellent; and the city has been famous for its stunning natural beauty throughout Chinese history.
The proverb 桂林山水甲天下 (Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎtiānxià) proclaims that “Guilin’s scenery is the most beautiful under heaven,” and rightly so.
Surrounded by picturesque limestone mountains, the bustling city is comfortably located along China’s famous Li River in the gorgeous province of Guangxi. Guilin’s natural landscape has proven so charming throughout history that it is even celebrated on the back of China’s twenty-yuan bill.
Trip Itinerary
1
Sunday, December 26
Afternoon: Arrive in Guilin; meet a CLI team member at the train station or airport; check into the CLI Center
5:00 PM: Engage in a program orientation to prepare for the week ahead
6:00 PM: Hike up Chuanshan (~20 minutes) for a stunning sunset view of Guilin
7:00 PM: Welcome dinner at Chuanshan Jiujiao with CLI team members
Hidden inside the caverns of a local karst mountain, this little-known local spot serves Guilin specialty dishes and holds over two thousand jugs of baijiu spirits.
2
December 27
9:00 AM: Attend one-on-one Chinese classes
12:00 PM: Group lunch with your fellow travelers and CLI teachers; free time to relax
2:30 PM: Optional stroll to a Buddhist temple and traditional Chinese medicine market
4:00 PM: Intercultural Communication for Teachers Workshop
Created specifically for international educators in China, this workshop integrates language and cultural training to help you better understand the nuances of Chinese organizational culture in order to communicate effectively with local colleagues and administrators at your workplace.
6:30 PM: Walking tour of Guilin’s scenic Two Rivers, Four Lakes waterway; dinner on your own downtown
3
December 28
9:00 AM: Attend one-on-one Chinese classes
12:00 PM: Lunch on your own and free time to relax
3:00 PM: Volunteer at a school for special needs adults by playing games while learning about China’s social welfare system
5:30 PM: Free time for dinner and exploring on your own
7:30 PM: Optional tea ceremony and musical performance with CLI community members
4
December 29
9:00 AM: Attend one-on-one Chinese classes
12:00 PM: Lunch on your own and free time to relax
3:00 PM: Visit a university in Guilin for a roundtable discussion with Chinese educators and administrators regarding the current status of education in China
6:00 PM: Free time for dinner and exploring on your own
5
December 30
8:00 AM: Optional Taiji lesson on the CLI rooftop
Taiji Quan, often spelled Tai Chi in the West, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and health benefits.
9:00 AM: Attend one-on-one Chinese classes
12:00 PM: Lunch on your own and free time to relax
2:00 PM: Chinese for Classroom Management Workshop
Facilitated by CLI’s Head of Teaching Staff, this interactive seminar focuses on useful phrases for guiding Chinese students and managing classrooms, from school-related vocabulary to funny phrases for disciplining students!
4:00 PM: Enjoy a gondola ride up Yao Shan, the city’s tallest mountain, for a panoramic view of Guilin’s karst landscape
6:00 PM: Free time for dinner and exploring on your own
6
December 31
9:00 AM: Attend one-on-one Chinese classes
Afternoon: Free time for optional activities
Relax at an indoor pool and spa on the penthouse floor of the Guilin Exhibition International Hotel, hike through Seven Star Park, the city’s largest park home to monkeys, caves, stone forests, and more! Note that costs for this day’s optional activities are not included in your program fee.
Evening: Enjoy a festive New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Guilin!
7
January 1
10:00 AM: Depart CLI; board the private coach to Laozhai Village (~2.5 hrs)
12:30 PM: Welcome to Laozhai! Enjoy a walking tour of the village and check into a local guesthouse
Located deep into the mountains north of Guilin, Laozhai Village is home to over 40 families who are all connected by the surname “Zhao” and belong to the Yao ethnic minority. In 2013, the Chinese government granted the village an ‘ancient village’ status which implies protection of the environment, architecture, and culture of the village residents. Regulations have been put in place to prevent further commercialization of the area.
3:00 PM: Breakout activities
Engage with local community members during breakout activities including basket weaving, woodworking, tofu making, and fishing (subject to availability).
6:00 PM: Group dinner in a shared community space
7:30 PM: Community Engagement Night
Connect with Laozhai residents and practice your Mandarin by guiding adults and children in the village through an evening of English activities.
8
Sunday, January 2
9:00 AM Breakfast in a shared community space
10:00 AM Hike to Xinzhai Waterfall
Our group will hike the 4-kilometer loop from Laozhai, down the valley, through Xinzhai village, under the waterfall, and around the rice terraces.
12:30 PM Enjoy a picnic lunch and campfire with village residents along our hike
2:00 PM Bid farewell to your new Laozhai friends; return to Guilin and engage in a program reflection during the bus ride back
Evening: Program concludes; drop-off at train station or airport, or contine studying through CLI's Immersion Program
While the spirit of the above itinerary will remain unchanged, certain aspects are subject to be updated.
Program Tuition
Early Bird
register by
Nov. 15:
5,600 RMB
Regular:
5,800 RMBEnroll now
Add CLI's WeChat and text "Teachers" to reserve your spot or request more information today.
Program Fee Includes:
All activities and site visits listed in the program itinerary
Full-time bilingual CLI program leaders
24-hour assistance from CLI’s international and local team (www.studycli.org/team)
All group meals as listed on the itinerary
All group transportation in Guangxi
All tips for drivers, local guides, restaurant attendants, etc.
Quality housing accommodations (one to two participants per room; please contact CLI if interested in single occupancy at no extra charge)
Non-refundable program deposit (1000 RMB, included in the program fee) is due upon enrollment.
Program balance is due by Dec. 15, 2021.
Travel to and from Guilin and meals/activities on your own throughout the trip are not included in the program fee (please contact CLI for assistance reserving train tickets or flights).
A minimum of 5 participants is required to run the program. In the event of cancellation by CLI, all participants will receive a full refund.
Passport and green health code are required to attend this program.
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欢迎您来到桂林!
We look forward to welcoming you to Guilin!
- The CLI Team
Interested in more flexible program options? Click "Read more" to learn about CLI's Immersion Program and online lessons!