2026
Immersion Excursion
Immersion Excursion 2026
July 13 - 25
Open to all High Schoolers
Highlights
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25 hours of dedicated Chinese class time
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Hike through the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, which display a different concoction of vibrant colors with every passing season
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Soak in the astounding surroundings of oblong mountains jutting out amidst terraced rice fields and picturesque villages on a cruise along the Li River
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Go tea-leaf picking in the beautiful Longjing fields of Hangzhou
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Explore the Hutongs of Beijing as only we know how, including a Kung Fu class and feast with the King of the Hutongs : )
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Adventuring through remote parts of the Great Wall away from the tourists and 老外
Yes, Manhattan Mandarin Trips Are The Most Fun
"So so so great ! Covered so much ground, so many experiences and fun moments!! Amazing and hopefully you will do it again next year! I will be joining!! Thank you thank you!"
There's a good reason our trips are so loved by students and parents - we do what we loved to do when traveling through China as students ourselves.
Since 2015 we've genuinely enjoyed rediscovering China each year, reconnecting with old friends while giving our students the trip of a lifetime.
We travel as only Manhattan Mandarin can; keeping up a great pace while also making the most of our local relationships to provide the most unique and authentic tour experience possible.
We'll check out as many amazing spots as we can (at NYC speed) while slowing down to converse with new friends and deep dive into the culture. We've added cooking classes, calligraphy classes, epic hikes, feasts upon feasts, a school visit and much more.
Please join us for another amazing trip this summer.
Itinerary
香港 Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Welcome feasting • Scenic ride up (or hike!) Victoria Peak for panoramic views of the city • Ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to reach the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery • Food tour through bustling Central district • Enjoy a variety of street food at Temple Street Night Market
桂林 Guilin，阳朔 Yangshuo
Longsheng
Explore Sanjiang village, home to the Southern Dong ethnic minority and Chengyang village, bordering on the Linxi River • Spend the day hiking through minority villages along the verdant Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces
Guilin - Yangshuo
Cruise along the Li River, often called the most beautiful river in all of China, to Yangshuo • Walk past stone houses down the cobbled streets of Fuli Old Town • Explore the village of Xingping, famous for its peaceful setting in the midst of the peaceful waters of the Li River and surrounding sharp karst peaks • Hike or bike near the calm Yulong River • Enjoy the spectacle of Impression Liusanjie, choreographed by the mastermind behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, in a natural amphitheater.
上海 Shanghai，杭州 Hangzhou，苏州 Suzhou
Shanghai
Experience a snapshot of local life by walking around Fuxing Park, a meeting spot for fitness dancers and taichi enthusiasts • Visit the Propaganda Museum and discuss Chinese 20th century history • Soup Dumpling Cooking Class! • Travel back to Shanghai’s stylish 1930s as you stroll through the tree-lined avenues of the French Concession
Explore modern art studios in the trendy, bohemian area of Tianzifang • Visit the Shanghai Museum, a treasure trove of Chinese artifacts • Enjoy VIP seating at an ERA Acrobatics Performance that fuses Chinese acrobatics with modern technology. Explore the old watertown of Tongli, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for the canals that wind their way between the town’s Ming and Qing era buildings • Practice your Mandarin haggling skills in a 'fake market' or the old town • Visit Yu Garden, the most celebrated classical garden in Shanghai, or enjoy a cup of tea in one of Pudong’s signature skyscrapers.
Suzhou
Day trip to Suzhou, a verdant city which houses the lion’s share of China’s traditional Chinese Gardens • Wander through Zhuozheng Garden, a secluded sprawl of classical verdure created by an imperial historian seeking solace • Step into the Nets and Master Garden, a compact garden designed by fengshui masters • A visit to the Suzhou Museum, a series of cascading white stucco walls, glass panes and footbridges spun together by the illustrious I.M. Pei • Unwind on a boat-ride along the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal • Return to Shanghai.
Hangzhou
Tea-leaf picking in the beautiful Longjing tea fields • Participate in a tea ceremony while surrounded by pagodas and placid waters in Guo’s Garden • Learn about the preferred tea of Emperors at the undulating “Dragon Well” tea plantation • Wander the calming grounds of Yongfu and Lingyin Buddhist Temples • Relax to the sounds of rippling water on boat ride across Hangzhou’s West Lake • Savor a dinner of local tea-inspired cuisine.
北京 Beijing
Beijing
Ping Pong and a refreshing stroll around Beihai • Kungfu lessons between the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the ancient hutongs • Feast and karaoke with our old friends, a martial arts family who are 4th generation hutong legends
Hike along the Great Wall, two hours outside of Beijing, after a revivifying lunch with local farmers • Stroll through the Panjiayuan ‘Antiques’ Flea Market, and navigate through thousands of stalls and shops selling souvenirs and antique replicas • Drive back into town and spend the evening at your leisure
Calligraphy Class in the hutongs • Explore the 798 art district • Tour the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square • Feast on Peiking Duck
Where We Stay
Luxury Boutique
BANYAN TREE YANGSHUO
Nestled against the meandering Li River, Banyan Tree Yangshuo effortlessly intertwines traditional Chinese design with luxuriously appointed contemporary comforts.
5 Star
The Langham Shanghai
The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi lies in the well-known fashion and leisure district of Shanghai, close to the Huaihai Road shopping street.
5 Star
Shangri-La GUILIN
Located on the famously picturesque Li River, the Shangri-La Guilin offers weary travelers comfortable, elegant rooms as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Luxury Boutique
The Orchid Beijing
House in a well-reserved old dwelling, The Orchid Hotel, Beijing is located in the historic Hutong area in the heart of Beijing, a 12-minute walk from Houhai Lake and the bars.
Details
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$6,000 per student
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5% discount if you've signed up before Jan 1, 2026
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*Stay tuned for an exact itinerary of flights, hotels, trains, and dates
What's Included
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All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
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All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
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All meals
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All activities booked with our partners
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All accommodations
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Private chauffeur service