Travel China on your gap year. Ideas for gap year travel to China.
China gap year - Gap year programmes in China
China is an ideal and challenging gap year destination for the more adventurous gap year traveller looking to experience something different. For many years communist China was a no-go area for western travellers. In recent years, however, China has opened up to a far greater extent and it's now possible to explore this vast, fascinating country on your gap year travel. China is such an enormous country; the best way to travel around China is to decide on the places you definitely don't want to miss and focus on these. There are plenty of highlights to focus on as well, including the only man-made construction that can be seen from outer space - The Great Wall of China. It's even now possible for gap year travellers to work in China if they want to, giving them a far greater understanding of a culture completely alien to anyone who's grown up in the free-market western world.
If you are flying in to China the two major cities are Beijing and Shanghai. There are some direct flights to these two cities, or another option is to fly in to Hong Kong - from where there are plenty of connecting flights in to China. If you've got the time then a much more fun and rewarding way of travelling to China is by taking the Vodka Train. The Vodka Train travels on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia, Mongolia and China and is a great way to meet other like-minded travellers whilst seeing some sights very few other travellers get to see along the way. Real Gap has an excellent ‘The Trans-Siberian Railway' package for anyone wanting to take the exciting option of travelling to China overland. Travellers on the Vodka Train receive expert guidance in all of the major cities.
Beijing is home to China's most iconic landmarks and its incredible list of sights includes the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall of China. Beijing's Tiananmen Square has now become synonymous with the famous image of a protesting student standing firm against an advancing army tank during China's student-led protests in 1989. Modern-day Beijing, however, is a striking example of just how much China has changed in the intervening years.
If you really want to discover the real China on your gap year, then the best way to do so is to work there. Real Gap's ‘Paid Teaching English Programme China' provides a unique opportunity to get paid work in China as an English teaching assistant. If you've never taught before, in China or anywhere else, you don't need to worry. The programme includes a four-week training course and there is an orientation session once you arrive in China, as well as continuous support from Real Gap's representatives in China. The programme guarantees you paid work abroad teaching job in China and participants also receive tuition to learn Mandarin. It's even possible to do this if you just want to travel around China on your summer vacation.
The most famous tourist attraction in China is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China runs from west to east covering a staggering distance of over four thousand miles. The wall was started at some point between the 7th and 8th centuries BC as a defence wall against potential invaders. The construction was then gradually added to over many hundreds of years by various different civilisations. With it being so long it's obviously possible to see the Great Wall of China in many different places. Most people, however, choose to visit the section of the wall in Beijung which was mainly constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).
There are so many places to visit in China. Although it's possible to live and work in China on your gap year it's also possible to visit China as part of a round the world itinerary. If this type of gap year interests you then Real Gap's ‘Your Complete Gap Year - Volunteer Work and Travel the World' programme is a great option.
China gap year - Gap year programmes in China
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