China

Country Description

As one of the largest countries in the world by size, population, culture, or political and economic importance, an educational tour of China comes out at or near the top of almost every list. Bring your students to walk the Great Wall of China and take in the quietly imposing terracotta warriors of Xian. Pass through Tian’anmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace to begin your journey to the divine Palace Museum (The Forbidden City), home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Get panoramic views of the landscape of typical river towns in southern China as you boat along Shanghai’s Grand Canal, the longest man-made waterway.   Discover the remarkable series of rock carvings in the steep hillsides of Dazu. These carvings, dating from the 9th to the 13th century, portray a rich diversity of subject matter and provide insight into life in China during this period and evidence of the harmony within Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Each region of China offers its own food, culture, and geography providing an array of diverse and unique experiences.

China is one of the world’s economic juggernauts. Although its Communist government exerts stronger control over corporations—both domestic and foreign—than governments in other countries, the sheer size of China’s population and labor force, its natural resources, and its need for imported resources combine to make it one of the major players in the world economy. It is so economically strong that it can affect corporations in other countries to change their policies. That can make China a controversial superpower at times, but they have so much clout that most companies simply recognize it as the cost of doing a very profitable business. Students will learn American companies have been more than happy to do business with China, with companies from tech giants like Apple and Google to food companies like Smuckers and ConAgra setting up shop in the country.