Beijing
Beijing · Qinhuangdao
Mountain & Sea Culture Tour — from 3,000 years of imperial heritage to where the Great Wall meets the sea
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2
Cities
11
Days
10
Nights
30
Min. Participants
12–18
Age Range
$2,000
Per Person

About the Program

The Mountain & Sea Culture Tour is an 11-day immersive study journey that takes teenagers from the ancient imperial grandeur of Beijing to the sun-drenched shores of Qinhuangdao — one of northern China's most beautiful coastal cities. This program blends living history, coastal adventure, and world-class water sports into an experience that is unlike any conventional sightseeing trip.

Students spend their first five days in Beijing exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, walking through hutong alleyways that have changed little in centuries, visiting elite university campuses, and watching Peking Opera performed as it has been for over 200 years. Then, a 2-hour high-speed rail journey delivers the group to Qinhuangdao — where six days of sailing, coastal history, and seaside art await.

In Qinhuangdao, students learn to sail at the CYA & RYA certified Blue Coast Sailing Base, stand at Laolongtou where the Great Wall dramatically plunges into the Bohai Sea, walk the golden sands of Beidaihe, and explore the iconic Aranya art community — home to the world-famous Lonely Library. A ratio of 1 teacher per 10 students and full-time bilingual support ensures every student is safe, engaged, and looked after throughout the journey.

Sailing on the Bohai Sea

Two Destinations · One Journey

Days 1 – 5 · Beijing

Imperial Capital

Ancient culture meets modern innovation

  • Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City deep tour
  • Great Wall hiking — Badaling or Mutianyu
  • Olympic Park: Bird's Nest & Water Cube
  • Temple of Heaven & hutong rickshaw ride
  • Tsinghua University campus visit
  • Summer Palace promenade & boat ride
  • Peking Opera performance & roast duck dinner
🏨 4-Star City Centre Hotel · Double Rooms
→
Days 6 – 11 · Qinhuangdao

Coastal Paradise

Sailing, culture & the sea

  • Sailing & SUP paddleboarding at Blue Coast Base
  • Shanhaiguan — "First Pass Under Heaven"
  • Laolongtou — where the Great Wall meets the sea
  • Aranya Lonely Library & Dune Art Museum
  • Beidaihe Beach & beach bonfire evening
  • Beidaihe Art Village & Biluo Tower light show
  • Traditional fishing village visit
🏨 4-Star Seaside Hotel or Boutique Homestay

2026 Program Schedules

Session 1
June 1
– June 11
11 Days · 10 Nights
Session 2
June 15
– June 25
11 Days · 10 Nights

Program Highlights

01
Sailing & Water Sports at the Blue Coast Base
One of northern China's most professional sailing facilities, holding both CYA and RYA dual certifications. Students board real sailboats with certified instructors and experience stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in the sheltered harbour — an introduction to water sports that stays with them for life.
02
Where the Great Wall Meets the Sea
Visit Shanhaiguan — the legendary "First Pass Under Heaven" — and climb its ancient city tower overlooking the fortress that once guarded the entire Middle Kingdom. Then stand at Laolongtou, the only place on earth where the Great Wall dramatically descends into the sea, stretching as far as the eye can see along the Bohai coast.
03
Aranya — China's Most Celebrated Art Destination
Explore the Aranya community, a contemporary coastal retreat that has become China's most talked-about cultural destination. Visit the world-famous Lonely Library perched dramatically at the water's edge, the Seaside Auditorium where architecture meets the ocean horizon, and the Dune Art Museum showcasing China's most exciting contemporary art.
04
Imperial Beijing & Elite University Life
Five days at the heart of the ancient capital: the Forbidden City's 9,999 rooms, the Great Wall at Badaling or Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven, and rickshaw rides through centuries-old hutong alleyways. Students also tour the campuses of Tsinghua University and Beijing Language and Culture University, meeting current students and talking about study in China.

11-Day Itinerary

Beijing · Qinhuangdao · Mountain & Sea Culture Tour · Ages 12–18

01
Beijing: Ancient Capital of a Thousand Years
Days 1–5 · Imperial heritage, cultural landmarks & university life
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
MorningArrive at Beijing Capital International Airport. Hotel check-in at the four-star city centre hotel.
AfternoonQianmen Street & Dashilan exploration — one of Beijing's oldest commercial streets. Taste traditional snacks: sugar-coated haws (冰糖葫芦) and donkey rolls (驴打滚).
EveningWelcome dinner and opening ceremony — meet your group, guides, and begin the adventure.
Day 2
Imperial Splendour — Forbidden City & Peking Opera
All DayTiananmen Square and Forbidden City deep tour — 600 years of imperial history comes alive through the world's largest palace complex, housing 9,999 rooms and priceless imperial treasures.
SunsetJingshan Park — climb to the pavilion for the most celebrated panoramic view over the Forbidden City's golden rooftops.
EveningPeking Opera performance — experience China's most iconic performing art form, with its elaborate costumes, acrobatics, and centuries-old musical tradition.
Day 3
Great Wall & Olympic Glory
MorningGreat Wall climbing at Badaling or Mutianyu — "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man." Experience the awe-inspiring scale of China's greatest monument.
AfternoonOlympic Park — visit the iconic Bird's Nest National Stadium and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Centre), legacy landmarks of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
EveningAuthentic Beijing Roast Duck dinner — savour the city's most celebrated dish at a renowned traditional restaurant.
Day 4
Royal Gardens & University Life
MorningSummer Palace — stroll the lakeside promenade, climb Longevity Hill, and take a boat ride on Kunming Lake. Experience the splendour of China's most beautiful royal garden.
AfternoonUniversity tour — visit Tsinghua University and Beijing Language and Culture University. Tour campuses, explore history museums, and interact with current Chinese students about academic life and future ambitions.
EveningFree time in Sanlitun or Blue Harbour — experience Beijing's vibrant contemporary urban culture and nightlife.
Day 5
Temple of Heaven, Hutongs & Journey to Qinhuangdao
MorningTemple of Heaven — walk the ancient Danbi Bridge to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Learn about the philosophy of harmony between heaven and earth that guided centuries of imperial ritual.
AfternoonHutong exploration — ride rickshaws through Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang, explore traditional courtyard houses (siheyuan), and listen to stories of Beijing life from local rickshaw pullers.
EveningHigh-speed rail to Qinhuangdao (2 hours). Arrive and check into the four-star seaside hotel — the Bohai Sea awaits.
🚄
High-Speed Rail Transfer — Beijing to Qinhuangdao
Approximately 2 hours · 2nd class · Departs Beijing South Station
02
Qinhuangdao: Seaside Paradise & Cultural Haven
Days 6–11 · Water sports, history, seaside art & coastal adventure
Day 6
Embrace the Sea
MorningBeidaihe Beach stroll — feel the Bohai Sea breeze on your face as you walk the soft golden sands of one of northern China's most beloved coastlines.
AfternoonBeidaihe Art Village — visit artist studios and creative homestays in this unique coastal art community where painters, sculptors, and makers have gathered for generations.
Evening"Tower Show" — a spectacular sea fantasy light and water performance at Biluo Tower Sea Bar Park, welcoming you to Qinhuangdao in style.
Day 7
Water Sports Adventure at Blue Coast Sailing Base
MorningSailing Base Orientation at the CYA & RYA certified Blue Coast Sailing Base — professional instructors explain sailboat structure, rigging, and safety protocols before heading to the water.
AfternoonSailing & Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) — board a sailboat with an instructor, learn basic sailing skills, and feel the thrill of riding the waves. Then try the internationally popular SUP in the calm harbour waters.
EveningBeach Bonfire Party — gather around the fire, share sea experiences, sing songs, and forge friendships under the stars with the Bohai Sea as backdrop.
Day 8
Where the Great Wall Meets the Sea
MorningShanhaiguan — visit the "First Pass Under Heaven" (天下第一关), climb the ancient city tower, and overlook the historic fortress that once guarded the boundary of the Middle Kingdom for over 600 years.
AfternoonLaolongtou — stand at the only place on Earth where the Great Wall plunges directly into the sea. Experience the grandeur of "the Great Wall meets the sea and the sky" — a sight found nowhere else on the planet.
EveningSeafood feast — celebrate with a fresh Bohai Sea seafood dinner featuring the finest local catches.
Day 9
Aranya Art Community
All DayExplore the unique artistic atmosphere of the Aranya community — China's most celebrated contemporary coastal retreat and a global destination for architecture, art, and culture: the Lonely Library (world's most secluded reading room, perched above the Bohai Sea), the Seaside Auditorium (where architecture meets ocean), the Dune Art Museum (contemporary exhibitions in a stunning coastal setting), and Aranya Beach (sun, sand, and artistic inspiration).
Day 10
Fishing Village & Closing Ceremony
MorningTraditional fishing village visit — meet local fishermen who have lived by the Bohai Sea for generations, learn about their traditions, their boats, and the rhythms of coastal life.
AfternoonClosing ceremony — share the highlights of your 11-day journey, reflect on what you have seen and learned, and receive your study tour certificate.
Evening"Star River into Dreams · Light Up Yutian" — a spectacular grand finale featuring water screen fountains, laser shows, and fireworks bringing the tour to a perfect close.
Day 11
Farewell & Departure
MorningPack luggage and say goodbye to teachers, guides, and new friends.
NoonTransfer to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Check-in for departure flight.
AfternoonInternational flight departure — carrying memories, new friendships, and a deeper understanding of China.

What You Take Home

Farewell from Qinhuangdao — your Mountain & Sea journey is complete

Skills & Certificates
Official study tour certificate
Sailing and paddleboarding basics learned at a CYA & RYA certified base
First-hand experience of UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven
A real sense of university life in China after meeting students at Tsinghua and BLCU
Lifelong friendships and memories from the Bohai Sea to the Great Wall
Service Included
4-star accommodation throughout — city centre hotel in Beijing, seaside hotel in Qinhuangdao
Balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily — including specialty meals (Beijing Roast Duck, seafood feast)
High-speed rail Beijing → Qinhuangdao (2 hours, 2nd class)
Private tour buses with full insurance throughout
Professional bilingual guides, 1 teacher per 10 students
Travel accident insurance, first aid kits, hospital partnerships
Depart from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). International flights not included.

Comprehensive Service Assurance

🏨
Accommodation
  • Beijing: Four-star city centre hotel, double rooms
  • Qinhuangdao: Four-star seaside hotel or boutique homestay
  • All rooms include private ensuite bathrooms
🍽️
Food & Beverage
  • Balanced, nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
  • Specialty meals: Beijing Roast Duck & Bohai seafood feast
  • Special dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice
🚄
Transportation
  • Airport pickup and drop-off on arrival/departure days
  • Beijing–Qinhuangdao: High-speed rail (2 hrs, 2nd class)
  • All city transport: private tour buses with full insurance
🛡️
Safety & Medical
  • 1 teacher / guide per 10 students at all times
  • First aid kits and established hospital partnerships
  • Comprehensive travel accident insurance included
  • CYA & RYA certified instructors for all water activities
🌐
Language Support
  • Full-time bilingual guide throughout the program
  • Bilingual printed materials for all activities and site visits
  • Multilingual guides at major historical sites
🎨
Activities & Excursions
  • All venue entrance fees included
  • All activity materials and equipment included
  • Sailing and water sports equipment provided
  • Study tour completion certificate for every student

Ready to Join the Mountain & Sea Culture Tour?

Beijing · Qinhuangdao  ·  11 Days · 10 Nights  ·  Min. 30 Students  ·  $2,000 per person

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