Weplore China 2011 Brochure

WEXPLORE CHINA 2011

We would like to offer you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That is what we expect WEXPLORE China to be – an unrivalled

learning experience, providing equal proportions of adventure, fun, an insight into international relations, language

studies, history and cultural interaction. Not to mention the personal skills that can be gained from working with students

from across the world and challenging yourself in a new and unfamiliar country.

‘New and unfamiliar’ definitely describes China. The World’s fastest growing economy is sometimes so new that a 15 years

old picture is unrecognisable nowadays and last month’s road map may already be out of date! Contrastingly, another way to

describe China would be ‘traditional’. In one of the oldest civilisations you will catch glimpses of the past as well as experienc-

ing current practices that can be traced back thousands of years. This huge and diverse country cannot easily be defined, but

one word that every visitor would agree on would be ‘fascinating’. We want you to experience as many aspects of fascinating

China as possible, and this was our motivation for carefully selecting the programmes in 2011.

• Beijing - 8 days discovering one of the World’s greatest cities

• Shanghai and Xi’an - 6 days in the dynamic city of Shanghai, and Xi’an, the ancient capital of China

• The Silk Road - a 12 day journey along the legendary trading route

• Hainan - 5 days in south China’s tropical island paradise

• WEMUNC 2011 - The 4th WE Model United Nations Conference, Beijing

The WEMUNC (WE Model United Nations Conference) has matured over the past 4 years to become a truly international

conference. We are honoured to invite you to a Model UN which now brings over 2000 delegates from around the world to

participate in 4 days of dynamic cross-cultural exchange, team work, diplomacy and debating. This conference never fails to

build strong new friendships between its delegates and helps to nurture the global leaders of tomorrow.

We have designed the WEXPLORE study tours to be unique, providing experiences that you cannot normally get from a visit

to China. An example of this is the WEXPLORE Field Research in Beijing where students will discover the city in teams and

undertake their own research on a key contemporary topic. There are dozens more exciting and unique features that we have

included and we encourage you to read through this brochure to fully understand our excitement about the programmes we

are offering in 2011!

Finally, for us the most important thing about our programmes are the people who join, and what we are most excited about

is welcoming you to China next year. We hope to see you soon!

Dear students and teachers,

Sincerely,

Board of WE Model United Nations conference & Director of WEXPLORE China

Invitation Letter

02 Invitation Letter

Why WEXPLORE China? 04

Why WEXPLORE? 04

Why China? 05

The Programmes 06

WEMUNC 06

Beijing 08

Shanghai & Xi’an 09

The Silk Road 10

Hainan 12

Programme Packages and Dates 13

Fees and Deadlines 14

Contact 15

Contents

WEXPLORECHINA

03Table of Contents

Personal Skills and Education

WEXPLORE China develops personal

skills which are crucial to your future

and valued by employers. In addition to

personal skill development, our pro-

grammes focus on other aspects of edu-

cation such as economics, history, art

and religion, giving an accurate view of

life in China today. We also believe that

inter-cultural relations are an extremely

important part of education, and we

design our programmes, particularly

WEMUNC, with this in mind

Safety First

We take safety seriously. All of our pro-

grammes are tried and tested and we

will not lead students anywhere that has

not already been checked by our staff. In

this way we give a sense of adventure,

with the assurance of safety

Best Value

We have an extensive network and ex-

pertise within China allowing us to offer

more for less. We believe that we can

not be matched for value by any other

company or organisation, and to prove

that we make our prices and costs com-

pletely transparent. We will be willing to

answer any queries that you may have

about the pricing of each programme

We are Specialists

We do not offer programmes in any

other country, we specialise in China!

This results in a unique experience

where you will feel much closer to the

local people and culture than on any

other expedition or tour. You will get the

chance to genuinely interact and make

friends with Chinese students, and visit

places that require local knowledge and

connections. We believe that this results

in a more rewarding learning experience

Enrich Your CV/Resume

• Gain transferable skills that are vi-

tal for your future career or entrance

to University. The WEXPLORE China

Programme can teach communica-

tion, team-work, leadership, man-

agement skills and inter-cultural

understanding

• Learn the Chinese Language

• Learn about China. WEXPLORE aims

to teach students about the history,

philosophy, culture, politics and

the economy of China

• Actively learn about the United Na-

tions and international relations at

WEMUNC

• Gain school credits. Depending on

your region and school, the WEX-

PLORE China programmes may be

officially accredited and taking part

may allow you to gain credits towards

your curriculum. Please contact us if

you require further details

Our Team

The WEXPLORE China team is made up

of highly qualified, passionate people

from around the world. We have vast in-

ternational experience in expeditions,

travel as well as working abroad, and

among the members of our manage-

ment team we are fluent in around 10

languages! We have worked extremely

hard to give you the kind of internation-

al experience that we have been lucky

enough to have

Why WEXPLORE?

04 Why WEXPLORE China?

Why China?

A Different World

China will challenge your world view. A

civilisation with over 5000 years of re-

corded history, a closed society for many

years, language and culture barely un-

derstood by outsiders - learning about

China is fascinating and exciting

The Richness of the Culture

China is a nation of 56 ethnic groups,

each of which have their own dress, mu-

sic, language, food and way of life!

Economic and Social Development

Now is the time to visit China. The

country has brushed off the global re-

cession as if it was a small flea, and the

economy continues to boom. This is

a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wit-

ness China changing right before your

eyes. You will witness dramatic social

changes, the huge disparity between

urban and rural life and between the up-

per and lower classes, the blooming of

entrepreneurship, art, music and leisure

activities as well as the destruction of

tradition to move forward at an astound-

ing pace. Witnessing this change is so

impressive that in the years to come you

will be continually telling stories about

“when I was in China…”

Facts and FiguresQuoted from McKinsey Global Institute

• Over the next 20 years, Chinese cities will add more than 350 million

people ... the population of the entire United States

• There will be more than 200 Chinese cities with more than a million

inhabitants ... in Europe today there are only 35 cities of that size

• There will be up to 50,000 new skyscrapers ... the equivalent of build-

ing ten New York cities

• There could be up to 170 new mass transit systems ... in Europe today

there are about 70

• By 2025, two-thirds of China’s citizens will live in cities ... that’s nearly

1 billion people

Three weeks may not suffice to get to know the whole country but it’s enough to dive into an incredible culture and breathtaking landscape. WEXPLORE China program gave us the possibility to be immersed in another way of life and I will never forget about the awesome time I had in China.

From Michele Dappen, Kantonsschule Zug, Switzerland WEXPLORE CHINA 2010 Participant

05Why WEXPLORE China?

Who will attend?

• Over 2000 delegates from all over

the world between the ages of 14 -

25

• Top MUN conferences in the world

will have their satellite conferences

on WEMUN EXPO Platform: BosMUN

by Boston University, BMUN by U.C

Berkeley, HMUN hosted by Harvard

University, ILMUNC by University of

Pennsylvania, MUNUC by University

of Chicago, NAIMUN by Georgetown

University etc. THIMUN by THIMUN

Foundation

What will I be doing?

• You will assume the role of a foreign

diplomat, not necessarily from your

home country

• You will be assigned to a committee

which will discuss two or three topics

during the conference

• Examples of committees could be

Human Rights Council, World

Bank, UNICEF, Sino-US Think Tank

etc.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn invaluable communication

skills - public speaking, negotia-

tion, debating

• Understand the United Nations -

the most important body in interna-

tional relations

• Learn research skills while prepar-

ing for the sessions

• Understand how to effectively work

as a team to complete a project

• Learn how to interact with people

from all around the world

The WE Model United Nations Conference (WEMUNC), established in 2007 and taking place in Beijing, was one of the very

first Model United Nations Conferences in China. In its third year it already welcomed students from 30 different coun-

tries in 35 different committees, and with over 2000 delegates has now grown to become the largest Model UN in Asia.

The WEMUN conference is an academic simulation of the United Nations with the objective of seeking solutions to vari-

ous problems of the world through discussion, negotiation and debate.

The research and preparation that is required, the opportunity for debating and negotiating and adopting views or at-

titudes other than their own and the involvement and interaction with young people from all around the world combine

to provide an intensive learning platform for personal development as well as world issues and diplomacy.

WEMUN EXPO Conference 2011

06 The Programmes

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon sent the following message to WEMUNC:

“This exercise is no empty role play. Half the world’s population is under 25. You are their

representatives. Many of you will move on to positions of real leadership. All of you, by

your choices as consumers, by your decisions as voters, will assume real power to shape

and change our world. Hopefully your time at this Model United Nations will help you be-

come the models the world needs to fulfill the ideals of this indispensable organization.”

Duration: 4 Days (4th - 7th August )

PriceSchool application fee per delegation (at least 7 students): USD: 200; EUR: 170; GBP: 150

Participation fee* (per person): USD: 450; EUR: 383; GBP: 340*If participant is an individual, not coming as part of a delegation, the fee is USD 470

07The Programmes

Highlights

• WEXPLORE Field Research - One of

our most challenging activities – plan

your route around Beijing in teams

to discover the city and Chinese cul-

ture in-depth. Stretch your leader-

ship, team-work and planning skills

to the maximum as your team tries

to undercover the reality behind your

chosen topic (for example: economic

development)

• Great Wall of China - Camp at the

foot of the wall and have a campfire

at the nearby village before hiking

along the Wall!

• The Great Beijing Race - compete

in teams and use your Chinese lan-

guage skills to race around the city,

completing tasks at different loca-

tions

• Tiananmen Square, Forbidden

City, the Olympic Village and the

Traditional Hutongs - discover the

extraordinary history of Beijing

Learning Outcomes

• Team-working, leadership and re-

search skills during the WEXPLORE

Field Research and the Great Beijing

Race

• Chinese Language and Calligraphy

• Cultural awareness - meeting and

talking with local people and work-

ing with international students dur-

ing team activities.

• Chinese contemporary issues - visit

village to learn about rural/urban dif-

ferences and income disparity. Learn

about topics such as economic de-

velopment, Chinese art, religion

and education during the WEX-

PLORE Field Research.

Duration 8 Days

Price USD: 1260; EUR: 1071; GBP: 952

Dates Round 1: 15th - 22nd Jul. 2011

Round 2: 21st - 28th Jul. 2011

Round 3: 27th Jul. - 3rd Aug. 2011

Round 4: 8th - 15th Aug. 2011

WEXPLORE Beijing: Where Tradition Meets ModernityChina’s capital, and the country’s political, cultural and educational centre is one of the most exciting cities in the world.

If China is a country of contrasts, then Beijing is its perfect microcosm. Traditional alleyways called Hutongs lie in stark

contrast with sprawling boulevards and highways, while ancient architecture sits next to giant postmodern creations.

One thing is certain, Beijing has a buzz - artists, writers, musicians, entrepreneurs and expats increasingly appear to live

alongside the traditions of a 2000 year old city. These multiple personalities in addition to stunning historical sites make

sure that Beijing’s visitors are intrigued, entertained and constantly in awe.

Example Agenda: Beijing day 4

05:30 - Wake up before dawn and

pack up you tent after camping at the

foot of the Great Wall

06:00 - Climb to the Wall as the sun

rises over one of the most memorable

views of your life. Hike along the Wall,

passing through 12 ancient guard tow-

ers.

11:00 - Have a local home-cooked

brunch at the nearby farmhouse before

taking the bus back to the city.

14:00 - Visit a tea house to learn

about different Chinese teas while tak-

ing part in a tea ceremony

17:00 - Watch an extraordinary per-

formance of Chinese acrobatics

19:00 - Dinner: the local delicacy of

Peking Duck

20:00 - Chinese Language Class

It was not a regular tour but a tour where we had think, innovate and analyze.From Rohan Shah, The Calorx School, India WEXPLORE China 2010 participant

08 The Programmes

Shanghai: The Pulse Quickens

Shanghai is not like Beijing, in fact, Chi-

na’s largest megalopolis is not like any-

where. One commonly used adjective

of the atmosphere in Shanghai is “pul-

sating”. A city that, since the economic

reforms, gathered the collective energy

of its 20M+ residents to shake off every

speck of its colonial, imperial and com-

munist past, Shanghai has never looked

back even for a second – because in this

city there isn’t a second to lose. Sur-

rounded by old canal towns known as

the “Venice(s)” of China, Shanghai is an

island of commerce, finance, trade and

an un-matched energy that gives a con-

stant feeling of opportunity to anyone

who lives there.

Xi’an*: The Ancient Capital

China’s most historic city, Xi’an, was the

political centre for more than 12 dynas-

ties, and evidence can be found through-

out the city, which could be called a “liv-

ing history book”. It is also the starting

point of the silk road, which led to the

inevitable consequence of having a mix-

ture of different cultures, religions and

food. One of the greatest archaeological

finds was also in Xi’an – the incredible

army of Terra-cotta Warriors.

Highlights

• Boat Trip Around the Bund - the

most spectacular views in Shanghai

• Visit to a Factory - A glimpse into

how a joint venture is run in China

• Trip to One of the most beautiful Ca-

nal Towns Near Shanghai

• Terra-cotta Warriors - One of Chi-

na’s most impressive attractions

• Cycling on the Ancient City Wall -

the largest and best preserved city

wall in China

• Visit to the Muslim District and the

Mosque in Xi’an

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the economic develop-

ment of China

• Understand the history of trade

with China - Shanghai as the colonial

trading hub, and Xi’an as the silk road

starting point

• Compare modern developments

in China with the past to understand

the way China is heading in the future

Duration 6 Days

Price USD: 1100; EUR: 935; GBP: 830

Shanghai or Xi’an only is USD 720/ Euro 630 /GBP 560

Dates Round 1: 29th Jul- 3rd Aug 2011

Round 2: Shanghai/Xi’an, 8th - 10th Jul. 2011

* Xi’an is also included at the begining/

end of the Silk Road tour

WEXPLORE Shanghai & Xi’an

09The Programmes

WEXPLORE The Silk Road: The Meeting of CivilisationsThe very name of the legendary trade route connecting China with the West arouses the senses. It conjures visions of

camels winding through arid desert, burdened with the treasures of the Orient mixed with the riches of western civilisa-

tion – pearls, gold, musk, jewels, satin and silk. You can almost smell exotic spices, perfumes and hear the bartering at the

bustling oasis towns, filled with strange travellers from all over the continent and beyond. The importance of this link

between east and west, however, goes far beyond legends, romanticism, and the trade of luxury goods. Over thousands

of years many different people, cultures and religions lived in harmony along the silk road, happily sharing their food,

art, music and philosophy. The effects of this melting pot of culture and unique chapter in history can still be discovered

in China today.

Highlights of the Silk Road

• Visit the crystal clear Tianshan Lake

• Visit the ancient Buddhist City of Jiaohe, the elegant Emin Minaret, and witness the crossing of religions at Turpan,

an oasis town on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert

• Discover the largest repository of ancient Buddhist art at Mogao Caves in Dunhuang.

• Ride camels through towering sand dunes and camp in the desert.

• Climb the Western end of the Great Wall of China at Jiayuguan.

• Witness life in a Tibetan Village and one of the largest Buddhist temples in Xining.

• End the journey in Xi’an, visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and cycle around the city walls. (same as Xi’an trip below)

• Put together your own video documentary that you have been working on throughout the trip

Make your own Silk Road documentary

We designed the WEXPLORE Silk Road trip to be an exciting and interactive learning

experience, and what better way to learn than being the director of your very own

documentary movie!

You will be provided with a camera-man during the journey, and you will act as a film

crew making a documentary about the Silk Road. You can choose which topics to fo-

cus on, such as trade, religion, food, economic development or any other aspect of

culture. You will edit the documentary and present it at the end of the trip!

10 The Programmes

Learning Outcomes

• Learn team work skills while making a

documentary video

• Understand the history and impor-

tance of the Silk Road, and the effect

it had on China and the West

• Understand the cultural differenc-

es between China’s various ethnic

groups, and experience the diver-

sity which makes western China so

unique

• Learn Chinese language interactively

in a challenging environment

• Understand how different cultures

and religions mixed in the past com-

pared to modern China and discover

how people managed to live harmo-

niously

• Learn about the major religions and

their followers, historically and today

Duration 12 Days

Price USD: 2300; EUR: 1955; GBP: 1737

Dates Round 1: 23rd Jul.- 3rd Aug. 2011


11The Programmes

Highlights

• Experience rural China - Help with

farm work and home-stay with locals

• Volunteer in a rural school - Teach a

class to the local children

• Beach - Sip a coconut, relax in the

sun, or try water sports at China’s

best beaches

Learning Outcomes

• Understand rural Life in China – Al-

most 60% of the population live in ru-

ral areas, this is crucial to understand-

ing the economic and social issues

in China today

• Learn how to farm in tropical cli-

mates, with crops like pepper, coco-

nuts, bananas and rubber trees

• Learn how to teach in a local school

Duration 5 Days

Price USD: 850; EUR: 722; GBP: 642

Dates Round 1: 30th Jul.- 3rd Aug. 2011



WEXPLORE Hainan: Tropical Haven

The Island of Hainan, with its palm-fringed smooth sandy beaches, fresh coconuts and grilled seafood is China’s truly trop-

ical paradise. For years considered a backwater to banish poorly performing government officers, the Island has escaped

the rampant development of nearby Guangdong Province, accordingly preserving its traditional ways of life and the

cleanliness of its waters. Although still predominantly an Island of farmers and rural villages, there have been many recent

developments in the tourism industry, with luxury hotel complexes sprouting up along the beautiful coastline in Sanya.

Example Agenda: Hainan days 3 and 4

07:00 - Get up early for a breakfast before helping the farmer pick rice from his fields.

12:00 - grab some lunch, before heading to the school in the afternoon to be a volunteer teacher.

14.:00 - Run an English class at the school.

18:00 - Relax in the evening, and say goodbye to the children at the vil-lage as it is your last night.

07:00 - Get up early again the next morning to head to the tropical para-dise of Sanya.

12:00 - You spend the day lounging on the beach or swimming, taking a well deserved rest.

18:00 - In the evening you go for a luxurious seafood dinner at the unique seafood market

19:00 - As the sun sets on Sanya you reflect on all the amazing people you have met and remarkable things you have done on your trip to China.

12 The Programmes

Programme Packages and Dates

Month Day Beijing Shanghai Xi’an Silk Road Hainan Day Month

Jul 15 15 Jul

16 16

17 17

18 18

19 19

20 20

21 21

22 22

23 23

24 24

25 25

26 26

27 27

28 28

29 29

30 30

Jul 31 31 Jul

Aug 01 01 Aug

02 02

03 03

04 04

05 05

06 06

07 07

08 08

09 09

10 10

11 11

12 12

13 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 17

18 18

Aug 19 19 Aug

Month Day Beijing Shanghai Xi’an Silk Road Hainan Day Month

WEMUN Conference 2011

Jul 15-

Jul 22

Jul 21-

Jul 28

Jul 27-

Aug 03

Jul 29-

Jul 31

Aug 01-

Aug 03

Jul 30-

Aug 03

Jul 23-

Aug 03

Aug 08-

Aug 19

Aug 08-

Aug 10

Aug 08-

Aug 10Aug 08

-Aug 12

Aug 11-

Aug 15

Aug 08-

Aug 15

July & August

Packages

As displayed on

the diagram, most

combinations of pro-

grammes are avail-

able, and the same

programme may

have different dates

to choose from.

All programmes take

place between 15th

July and 19th August

2011.

October (Mid-autumn Break) Packages

1 week package:

Beijing or Shanghai

+ Xi’an. 2 weeks

package: Silk Route,

or Beijing + Shanghai

+ Xi’an.

Programmes can start

between 10th and 22nd

October 2011.

Easter/Spring

Break Packages

We can create custom

packages depend-

ing on your holiday

dates. Contact us for

more details.

13Programme Packages and Dates

Registration

• REGISTER AT http://www.wemunc.org/wexplorechina

• REGISTRATION FEE: $200* per person

*Registration fee to be paid in advance by each person attending the programme, it is non-refundable but will be deducted from the overall cost.

Payment Deadlines For 2011

• DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION FEE: 30th March 2011*

• DEADLINE FOR REMAINING PAYMENT: 30th May 2011

• REFUND DEADLINE: July 1st 2011 (no refund will be given to any group or participant if they do not inform WEXPLORE before this

date of their intention to withdraw from the programme)

*Places on WEXPLORE China 2011 are limited, we recommend participants to pay the registration fee early to secure their places. If you pay the

registration fee before 31st, Dec 2010, we will offer you free airport pickup/drop-off, guarantee a place on the program and a good country assign-

ment for the WEMUN EXPO Conference

RMB USD EURO GPB

Conference 3,060 450 383 340

Beijing+Conference 11,628 1,710 1,454 1,292

Beijing, Shanghai+Conference 16,524 2,430 2,066 1,836

Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an+ Conference 19,108 2,810 2,389 2,123

Beijing+Hainan+Conference 17,408 2,560 2,176 1,934

Beijing, Xi'an+Conference 16,524 2,430 2,066 1,836

Silk Road+Conference 18,700 2,750 2,338 2,078

Beijing+Silk Road+Conference 27,268 4,010 3,409 3,030

Silk Road+Conference+Hainan 23,800 3,500 2,975 2,644

Conference+Hainan 8,840 1,300 1,105 982

Airport pick up & send off 270 40 34 30

* Conference fees are USD 20 more for individuals not coming with a delegation/school

^ A one-off fee of USD 200 should be paid by schools who wish to register for the conference

Above are the suggested packages, but customized service can be provided, contact us for further information

Included in Price:

• All travel within China (flights,

trains, buses etc)

• Accommodation (3/4 Star hotels,

camping, etc.)

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner +

bottled water

• All activities (inc. Chinese class-

es, entry fees etc)

• Basic healthcare insurance

• Advice and support before the

trip

Not Included in Price:

• International flights from your

home country

• China Visa application fees

• Travel Insurance (for property,

cancellations and serious acci-

dents)

• Inoculations (we suggest you

consult your local doctor for de-

tails)

• Bank transfer fee for payments

Programme Fees

Registration and Payment Deadlines

14 Fees and Deadlines

Contact UsWeland International

Room 2802, Shangdu International, No.8 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing, China

Tel: +86 1058701599

Fax: +86 1058701560

www.wemunc.org/wexplorechina

Yichan YuanBoard of WEMUN Conference& Director of WEXPLORE China

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +86 10 5870 1599

Mobile: +86 1348 869 6159

Fax: +86 10 5870 1560

Sara EnstedtVice Director of WEXPLORE China & Eu-ropean/Middle East Regional Manager


Tel: +86 10 5870 1599

Mobile: +41 764 887 273 (Swiss)

Mobile: +86 1369 118 1492 (China)

Jose FelicianoLatin America Regional Manager


Tel: +86 10 5870 1599

Mobile: +511 991 271 221 (Peru)

Mobile: +86 1531 173 3905 (China)

Stepan PlokhotnovRussian Regional Manager


Tel: +86 10 5870 1599

Mobile: +7 913 969 3838 (Russia)

Josh RennieUK & Ireland Regional Manager


Tel: +86 10 5870 1599

Mobile: +44 776 1301 754 (UK)

Mobile: +86 1343 635 9374 (China)

15Contact

All original materials in this document © 2010 by the Beijing WELAND International Ltd., except as noted.

Any reproduction of original material, by any mechanical or electronic means, is prohibited without the

express written by the Beijing WELAND International Ltd.

All original materials in this document © 2010 by the Beijing WELAND International Ltd., except as noted. Any reproduction of original material, by any mechanical or electronic means, is prohibited without the express written by the Beijing WELAND International Ltd.

Weplore China 2011 Brochure

Documents

Transcript of Weplore China 2011 Brochure