Chinese Bridge
Shandong Chinese Language & Culture Summer Camp 2008
Background Information
Welcome to Chinese Bridge -- Shandong Chinese Language & Culture Summer Camp 2008 for Canadian secondary school students.
In this tour, we will bring you across the vast lands of Jing and Lu, to the cradle of Chinese civilization, to experience the deep extensive roots of Chinese culture.
Beijing, the capital of China, amalgamates the magnificence and beauty of Chinese Art and culture. The Great Wall of China, Forbidden Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square and Ming Tombs are all world-renowned heritage sites. Visiting this place is like traveling back in time in a time machine to interact directly with history. When conversing there, you will definitely be able to feel the beauty of the language’s rhythm. This is because the standard for modern day Mandarin is based on the Beijing dialect.
Shandong is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, giving birth to the unique beauty of Qi and Lu cultures that make up an important part of the present day Chinese culture and traditions. The history of ancient civilizations of Shandong dates back more than 5,000 years. Relics of the first written Chinese words, the earliest fortress, the oldest section of the Great Wall and the earliest samples of silk and ceramics were all discovered in Shandong. We will be visiting Jinan, Taian and Qufu. They are very special tourist destinations known for the gathering of mountains, water and saints, a region where the essence of nature and culture integrates into one.
Mission
To explore the origins of Huaxia civilizations and experience the power of traditional Chinese language.
Organizers:
The Office of Chinese Language Council International
Shandong Provincial Education Department
Education Office, Consulate General of P.R.C in Vancouver
Maplestudent Benevolent Association
1
Itinerary
July 8: Depart from Vancouver to Beijing by Air China.
July 9: Arrive in Beijing in afternoon. Opening ceremony and welcome reception.
July 10: Attend the flag raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square; visit the Forbidden Palace Museum and Summer Palace.
July 11: Visit the Great Wall of China, Beijing National Stadium on the Olympic Green and Wangfujing Street.
July 12: Depart for Jinan, the capital of Shandong, by air.
July 13: Morning: Chinese culture lecture 1: Culture of Yellow River. Afternoon: Jinan city tour and the Yellow River along Jinan.
July 14: Morning: Take coaches to Qufu. Afternoon: visit Qufu, the hometown of Confucius and enjoy traditional music and dance performance at night.
July 15: Morning exercises: learn wushu. Lecture 2: The Origin of Confucianism. Afternoon: Lecture 3: Chinese Folk Songs and Musical Instruments. Night: Lecture 4: Chinese Art of Paper cutting (hands-on participation).
July 16: Morning exercises: learn wushu. Lecture 5: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy (hands-on participation). Afternoon: Either visit local farmer’s market or have activities with local middle school students.
July 17: Morning exercises: learn wushu. Take coaches to Taian. Afternoon: Enjoy hiking and explore natural beauty at Mt. Tai.
July 18: Morning: Visit local temples. Afternoon: Lecture 6: Culture of Mt. Tai. Visit Taian village. Make dumplings with villagers and experience life in a Chinese village. A campfire will be held at night. Stay with Chinese villagers (2 students per family) or hostels in village.
July 19: Morning: continue village life experience, work along with villagers, visit orchards and fisheries. Afternoon: Take coaches to Weihai.
July 20: Visit the kite capital of the world, the Weifang Kite Museum as well as a local folk customs theme park – Yangjin Town, to watch the traditional art of making wooden New Year pictures. Lecture 7: An Introduction of Weifang.
July 21: Take coaches to Qingdao, one of the 2008 Olympic venues. Visit Qingdao Beer factory, attend a lecture on Chinese beer culture.
July 22: See the whole island of Qingdao and Donghai Road as we tour Mt. Xinghao. Visit Mt. Lao and Taiqing Temple. Farewell party at night.
July 23: Depart from Qingdao Liuting International Airport to return to Vancouver by Air China.
hanban
