NORTHERN : THE TEA & HORSE CARAVAN OCTOBER 2018

PREPARED BY THE HUTONG FOR: THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF KEY CONCEPTS TEAM BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

Our aim is to help students develop leadership, communication, and The program offers students’ first-hand experiences with Yunnan’s interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances while also improving biologically diverse environment. Students will participate in a variety of their understanding of team dynamics. The Hutong’s carefully planned hands-on, strategically engineered activities that will get them critically outdoor activities, will test students’ abilities to work effectively as a analyzing various threats posed to the region’s natural environment. team. In order to successfully participate in and complete the course, Students will also assess a range of sustainable solutions to these students must work together and collaborate effectively. By the end of challenges. By the end of the program students will be able to recognize the program they will understand and be able to identify the benefits distinct features of the region’s biodiversity, as well as thoughtfully and challenges of TRUE collaboration. evaluate the impact of human activity and the importance of sustainable development in Yunnan. PHYSICAL CHALLENGE CULTURAL IMMERSION AND PRESERVATION Our aim is to offer students a rewarding physical challenge that pushes personal and physical growth. The Yunnan Adventure will test their tenacity Throughout the program students will be participating in a range of and move them beyond their perceived comfort zones, all in the spirit of carefully selected, meaningful cultural activities, all with the purpose of a safe, controlled and mediated adventure. Yunnan province has some of immerse students in the unique cultures of the region. Students will also the most spectacular, rugged and underrated scenery in all of and experience up close how different groups have coexisted and prospered students will try their hands at a number of different outdoor challenges for centuries. Moreover students will learn about efforts by local, national, throughout the program. By the end of the program students will have and global organization to preserve the region’s cultural heritage. By the developed a greater appreciation for and ability to exert themselves end of the program students will have an increased appreciation of the physically, mentally and emotionally. similarities and differences in contrasting human cultures, as well as a greater sense of global awareness and international mindedness.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 2 DESTINATION: NORTHERN YUNNAN

The Hutong’s Tea Horse Caravan program brings students on an exploration of the misty mountains, gaping gorges, and colorful cultures of Northern Yunnan. Located on the threshold of the Himalayas, visitors are treated to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. For centuries the rugged terrain shielded local people from the Han dominated empires of China’s past, resulting in a host of vibrant ethnic minority groups each with its own language, cuisine, distinctive form of dress, festivals, and belief systems.

Our adventure will have students tackling the arduous terrain and interacting with the local communities. Each day, students will have the opportunity to participate in carefully designed activities that are sure to bring new challenges, new flavors, new stories, and new friends. From the breathtaking views of to friendly villagers around Shaxi, students are sure to experience China like never before and take home a new, unique perspective of the Middle Kingdom.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 3 ITINERARY & DAILY SCHEDULE GROUP A Meals provided indicated in schedule as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D) DAY LOCATION ACTIVITIES

10/14 Beijing - Afternoon Take afternoon flight to Lijiang

Accommodation: Evening Hotel Hotel check in Lijiang Old Town Dinner Program Introduction Meals: D 10/15 Lijiang - Tiger Morning Leaping Gorge Breakfast and checkout Transfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge (approx 2.5 hours) Begin Tiger Leaping Gorge trek Accommodation: Guesthouse Afternoon Lunch at a local Naxi guesthouse Continue Tiger Leaping Gorge trek including 28 bends Meals: B, L, D Check into guesthouse Clean-up and showers

Evening Dinner Evening games and reflections 10/16 Tiger Leaping Gorge Morning - Shaxi Local breakfast Continue Tiger Leaping Gorge trek from guesthouse Accommodation: Guesthouse Afternoon Complete Tiger Leaping Gorge trek Meals: B, L, D Late Lunch Transfer to Shaxi village (approx. 2 hours) Check-in to homestay in Shaxi Old Town Clean up and explore village

Evening Dinner Reflections

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 4 ITINERARY & DAILY SCHEDULE GROUP A Meals provided indicated in schedule as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D) DAY LOCATION ACTIVITIES

10/17 Shaxi Morning Breakfest at our guesthouse Accommodation: Cycle ride through the countryside to Hoshan Village Guesthouse Afternoon Meals: B, L, D Lunch with local family Famring activities with local family (seasonal) Continue cycle ride through Bai Minority Villages

Evening Structured free time to explore Shaxi old town Dinner at local restaurant in an old theater Evening Bai music performance at the theater Reflections

10/18 Shaxi Morning Breakfast at our guesthouse Accommodation: Hike to Shiboshan Guesthouse Visit Shihongzi Temple and Buddhist grottoes Sketching activity atop mountain Meals: B, L, D Afternoon Lunch Rotational activities at Pear Orchard Temple -Bai cooking lesson -Bai Handicraft workshop

Evening Dinner in Shaxi Old Town Reflections 10/19 Shaxi - Lijiang - Beijing Morning Breakfast at homestay Accommodation: Visit legendary Shaxi Friday market N/A Lunch Meals: B, L Transfer to Lijiang for afternoon flight

Afternoon Fly to Beijing

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 5 ITINERARY & DAILY SCHEDULE GROUP B Meals provided indicated in schedule as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D) DAY LOCATION ACTIVITIES

10/14 Beijing - Lijiang Afternoon Take afternoon flight to Lijiang

Accommodation: Evening Hotel Hotel check in Lijiang Old Town Dinner Program Introduction Meals: D 10/15 Lijiang - Shaxi Morning Breakfast and checkout Accommodation: Naxi cultural activities in Baisha Old town Guesthouse Lunch

Afternoon Meals: B, L, D Transfer to Shaxi (2 hours) Guesthouse check-in Structured free time to explore Shaxi old town Walk to Duan village

Evening Dinner at local restaurant in an old theater Evening Bai music performance at the theater Daily Reflections

10/16 Shaxi Morning Breakfest at our guesthouse Accommodation: Cycling Workshop Guesthouse Cycle ride through the countryside to Hoshan Village Meals: B, L, D Afternoon Lunch with local family Famring activities with local family (seasonal) Continue cycle ride through Bai Minority Villages

Evening Dinner in Shaxi Old Town Daily Reflections

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 6 ITINERARY & DAILY SCHEDULE GROUP B Meals provided indicated in schedule as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D) DAY LOCATION ACTIVITIES

10/17 Shaxi Morning Breakfast at our guesthouse Accommodation: Hike to Shiboshan Guesthouse Visit Shihongzi Temple and Buddhist grottoes Sketching activity atop mountain Meals: B, L, D Afternoon Lunch Rotational activities at Pear Orchard Temple -Bai cooking lesson -Bai Handicraft workshop

Evening Dinner at Pear Orchard Temple Evening chores with local farmers including feeding the animals Daily Reflections

10/18 Shaxi - Tiger Leaping Morning Gorge Breakfast and checkout Transfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge (approx 2.5 hours) Accommodation: Begin Tiger Leaping Gorge trek Guesthouse Afternoon Meals: B, L, D Lunch at a local Naxi guesthouse Continue Tiger Leaping Gorge trek including 28 bends Check into guesthouse Clean-up and showers

Evening Dinner Daily Reflections 10/19 Shaxi - Lijiang - Beijing Morning Local breakfast Accommodation: Continue Tiger Leaping Gorge trek from guesthouse N/A Afternoon Meals: B,L Complete Tiger Leaping Gorge trek Lunch Transfer to Lijiang airport

Evening Late afternoon flight to Beijing

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 7 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

COURTYARD GUESTHOUSES During our time in Northern Yunnan, the group will be based with friendly local families at their compfortable and cozy courtyards. The courtyards have been renovated to serve groups and includes showers, bathroom facilities, and cozy lounge areas. THE OLD TOWNS OF LIJIANG COUNTY During the program we will spend time visiting the old towns of Lijiang county. The beautiful old towns of Baisha, Shuhe, and Dayan are incredible places to learn and interact with the people of the Naxi minority group. Home to over 300,000 residents, Lijiang county is the largest concentration of the Naxi people in China and therefore a great place to learn about this colorful culture. We will take time to learn about Naxi Dongba writing and religion, hear stories about Naxi traders on the Tea and Horse road, watch Naxi craftsmen at work, sample delicious Naxi Cusine, and take in the beautiful architecture by waundering the streets of the old towns.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 8 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

THE BAI MINORITY VILLAGES AND OLD TOWN OF SHAXI VALLEY

One of our stops on the Tea and horse Caravan route will be the sleepy region around Shaxi. Once a major trading stop, Shaxi is teeming with beautiful landscapes, deep history, and rich Bai culture. While seemingly straight out of a time capsule, the Shaxi region is also facing rampant changes and development thanks to a new highway which has opened up the area. However, the local community is fighting hard to protect and preserve its treasures thanks to numerous efforts promoting responsible travel, sustainabile development, and enviornmental awareness. In Shaxi, our program will offer students hands-on opportunities to be immersed in the local culture while learning about the importance of sustainable tourism.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 9 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: NORTHERN YUNNAN

BAI KITCHEN Building on our theme of Cultural Immersion, students will be led by passionate local chefs in the art of making traditional Bai cuisine. Renowned across China for its rich flavors, variety of healthy ingredients, and general tastiness, students are sure to enjoy making their own delicious Bai dishes to share. SHIHONGZI TEMPLE AT SHIBAOSHAN The ancient buddhist grottoes at Shihongzi have stood watch over the people of Shaxi valley for centuries. High up in the hills surrounding the region, these exquisite stone carvings depict a range of different scenes including the history of the Nanzhao kingdom, Bai matriarchal traditions, and representations of foreign emissaries visiting Yunnan. Spared the vandalism endured by most other Buddhist sites around China, the carvings at Shibaoshan offer students a unique, untainted perspective into the history and culture of the valley. CULTURAL PERFORMANCES Shaxi as a number of active old theaters, with local musicians and artisans using the creative spaces to share culture with visitors and perform for local residents. During our time, students can have the opportunity to see and hear traditional performances and music.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 10 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: NORTHERN YUNNAN

HIKING THE TIGER LEAPING GORGE An unforgettable sight, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world’s deepest through which the mighty roars through 34 rapids in just 9 miles/15 kilometers. Over the course of two physically challenging days, students will have the opportunity to hike this legendary trail amidst the dramatic snow capped peaks, bright green countryside and clear blue sky of the valley.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 11 VALUES AND CHALLENGES

Throughout our programs, we challenge students to not only push their THE CHOPSTICK CHALLENGE boundaries and explore their surrounding culture but we encourage them to take responsibility for their actions through embracing sustainable Each student is given their very own set of sustainable bamboo chopsticks travel, making good decisions and supporting their classmates. These with a stylish pouch to keep them in. Why? Forests are being chopped notions are born out of our own company Core Values: down for producing chopsticks – 20 million trees per year to produce 80 billion disposable chopsticks for China alone. To discourage deforestation 1. Be a good egg! and wasteful consumption we avoid using disposable chopsticks and encourage responsibility for possessions. Students who demonstrate 2. Embrace diversity! best sustainability practices will earn the ‘Golden Chopstick Award.’ 3. Light a spark! THE HUTONG HELMSMAN 4. Go the extra ‘li’ (mile)! was known as “The Great Helmsman” because of his ability 5. Seek challenge! to steer the PRC to the right course of action. At The Hutong, we will choose our Helmsmen and Helmswomen based on who has lived up to 6. Smile more! the Hutong’s Core Values that day, thereby helping steer us to a more successful trip. We typically have each teacher choose someone from We like to challenge students to adopt these practices and award those his or her group, and by the end of the trip each student ends up being who demonstrate such values during the trip, through initatives such as.. recognized for their positive contributions. . NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 12 REFERENCES

We have been running innovative, custom-crafted educational tours since 2009 with responsible professionalism and while maintaining an exemplary safety record. We encourage all new partners to contact references for an unbiased perspective on their experiences with The Hutong. Below is a list of top administrative contacts for international schools that we regularly run programs for. We are also happy to provide contact information of teachers who have been trip leaders on our programs, and with whom we have worked closely

Simon Joyce [email protected] Brenda Petersen [email protected] Head of Co-Curricular Activities, ISF Academy Hong Kong Assistant Head of School, Concordia International School, Colleen Drisner [email protected] Greg Ladner [email protected] Secondary School Principal, Beijing City International School Associate Principal, Hong Kong International School Heidi Witt-Williams [email protected] Fred Runkel [email protected] Head of Secondary School, British School of Co-Principal, YCIS Shanghai

“The Hutong is the best group I have had the opportunity to work with in my 16 years of doing Week Without Walls programs. They are safety oriented, engaging to students, understand the importance of building solid relationships, great communicators, detail oriented, problem solvers, and an all around fun group of people work with.” Craig Gingerich, Concordia International School Shanghai “In 32 years of teaching, I have accompanied many school trips all over the world and used many companies. This trip was one of the best and The Hutong deserve to be ranked at the top!” Beryl Scott Rous, Utahloy International School

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 13 ABOUT THE HUTONG

At The Hutong, we offer a range of interactive, educational, unique, Each year we expand our destinations and topics. Our goal is to work and fun activities to students and school groups of all different ages. Our closely with schools to incorporate their curriculum and learning objectives interactive programs are designed to broaden participants’ understanding in our educational travels, and give the students and staff exceptional of Chinese culture and allow them to experience an authentic side of experiences. The Hutong is happy to propose customized offsite programs China. We aim to adapt our programs and work closely with schools and that build upon the units of inquiry taught in your school. teachers to create customized cultural activities for various grade levels and subject areas. By incorporating grade and subject-specific learning The Hutong places particular emphasis on experiential learning, and targets into the design of our onsite and offsite excursions, The Hutong works increasingly to give its students the opportunity to service the strives to offer top-notch activities that are engaging and relevant. communities they visit. Students who attend Hutong trips engage with global issues by collaborating to plan and execute community service Combining our staff’s expertise in both tourism and education, we have programs. They leave the trip with a renewed sense of their strengths been running unique and creative study tours to off-the-beaten-track and abilities, as well as a more solid understanding of ethical tourism destinations since 2009, with thorough professionalism and maintaining and global development. an impeccable safety record. We aim to broaden students’ horizons by exposing them to memorable experiences throughout China. Our typical educational tours focus on a combination of cultural immersion and outdoor education. We place an important emphasis on experiential learning. We do not just visit tourist spots, but we experience the places we visit and take a step deeper. The majority of our team has a background in both travel and education and this is where we look to excel.

NORTHERN YUNNAN 2018 14