3-Day Chinese Cultural Camp
$250
9:00AM - 3:00PM
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades 1st – 8th
Our 3-Day Chinese Cultural Camp allows campers to experience a broad sampling of China’s exciting cultural heritage! With daily language, art, and dance workshops, along with the opportunity to try delicious, traditional Chinese foods, campers will be able to show off all that they’ve learned during their end-of-camp performance for friends and family!
Campers will be split by age group. Lunch provided each day.
Download 3-Day Chinese Cultural Camp Schedule
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If you’re looking for a good book to help you logistically prepare for your trip to China, we really enjoyed this one!
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Suggested Packing Lists
The packing lists below are based on a 12-day trip that takes you through multiple provinces around China. When planning your own packing, keep in mind that northern provinces tend to be cooler, drier, and (in winter) snowier, while southern provinces tend to be warmer and wetter, and (in winter) rarely snow.
Spring
Spring is our all-time favorite season to visit China with relatively lighter crowds, cheaper flights, and the country is still buzzing with post-Lunar New Year energy.
Temperatures to pack for:
China’s spring temperatures, North to South, typically range from mid-50s to upper-70s. Northern provinces are dry and thawing out from their chilly winters. Southern provinces are more humid and springtime is the beginning of rainy season.
Clothing:
Keep in mind that you will need to be staying in a hotel for at least three days if you need professional laundry services (hotels generally have a 24-hr turnaround on laundry). In most cases, washing your clothes by hand in your hotel room and air-drying them, if needed, is the best option.
Keywords for spring: Comfortable layers
- 4-5 short sleeve t-shirts
- 2-3 long sleeve layering shirts (button-ups, cardigans)
- 1-2 light sweaters (hoodies, crewnecks, knits)
- Weatherproof jacket (hooded if you’re not a hat guy/gal, medium weight)
- 2-3 pants (to match all of the above tops)
- 1-2 nicer outfits in case of special occasions (orphanage visits or fancy dinner)
- Socks (we’ll be walking a lot, so choose our best ones)
- Underwear
- Pajamas
- 1-2 pairs comfortable walking shoes, 1 pair of nicer shoes for special occasions
- Baseball cap/sun hat/bucket hat/beanie (if you’re a hat guy/gal)
- Sunglasses
The Essentials:
- Personal Identification
- Passport
- Take additional photocopies of the photo page of your passport (1-2 hardcopies, 1 digital saved on your phone and in the cloud)
- If your travel visa is in an old passport, TAKE YOUR OLD PASSPORT WITH YOU
- Copies of your Adoption Registration
- 1-2 hardcopies and 1 digital copy saved on your phone and in the cloud
- Driver’s License
- Travel insurance card
- Passport
- Money pouch/belt
- $250-$400/person cash in USD (airports accept credit cards so you will not need to exchange any cash until you arrive at your hotel in China)
- ATM card
- Toiletries
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Glasses/contact lenses & contact solution
- Face wipes
- Deodorant
- Lotion, sunscreen
- Shampoo & conditioner
- *Note for women* Feminine products are slightly different in China. Pads tend to be thicker, with no wings, and tampons are difficult to find, as are menstrual cups. Plan accordingly if you are particular about the products you use.
- Tech support
- Cell phone and charger (150-240V capacity)
- Headphones
- If you use bluetooth headphones, consider bringing a backup wired pair as well. Some China airlines do not allow bluetooth headphones to be used in flight.
- Camera and charger(s) (150-240V capacity)
- Outlet adapter (although most hotels and cafes use Type A outlets) & power converter
- Portable battery charger (must have voltage label for TSA approval, must be below 100Wh)
- Health Items
- Kleenex (4-6 travel packets) or camping toilet paper rolls (Some public restrooms do not provide toilet paper)
- These super handy soap sheets or these cute ones (many public restrooms do not have soap)
- These super handy laundry detergent sheets (lightweight with no risk of bursting in your luggage)
- First Aid kit
- Personal medication
- Variety of over-the-counter meds: Benadryl, Tums, DayQuil, NyQuil, throat lozenges, Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, Excedrin, Sudafed, Mucinex, Pepto Bismol, Immodium
- Antibiotics for infections and traveler’s diarrhea (optional)
- Anti-itch/anti-histamine cream (Benadryl, Allegra, etc.)
- Mosquito repellant (Those pesky mosquitos really love our Asian blood… They start waking up in the spring down south)
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer/wipes
- Face masks
- Miscellaneous Items
- Some zip-lock bags (these are just always useful)
- Water bottle
- Snack foods in case you aren’t able to find enough food you like (Bring as much as you need, but don’t go overboard. Small snack bars, nuts, etc.)
- Bonus Items:
- Rain poncho (this one is great and easy to pack)
- Tracking tags for luggage, wallets, bags, etc.
- Card games/travel board games
- Travel utensils
- Travel blanket for international flight (why are they always so cold?)
- Small quick-dry travel towel (like this one) for sweat and spills
- Face wipes to freshen up after travel
Summer
Spring is our all-time favorite season to visit China with relatively lighter crowds, cheaper flights, and the country is still buzzing with post-Lunar New Year energy.
Temperatures to pack for:
Summers in China are hot and humid, so consider packing light, breathable items. Summer temperatures typically fall in the high-70s to upper-90s. With humidity, this feels more like a pleasant sauna as AC is typically only used in commercial facilities (cold air is believed to negatively affect the body’s chi).
Clothing:
Keep in mind that you will need to be staying in a hotel for at least three days if you need professional laundry services (hotels generally have a 24-hr turnaround on laundry). In most cases, washing your clothes by hand in your hotel room and air-drying them, if needed, is the best option.
Keywords for summer: Quick-dry, Breathable, Sweat-wicking
- Short sleeve t-shirts and tanks
- 1-2 light longsleeves (hoodie, cardigan, long-sleeved shirt)
- Shorts and capris
- 1-2 pairs of lightweight pants, if desired
- Lightweight, weatherproof jacket in case of rain (hooded if you’re not a hat guy/gal)
- 1-2 nicer outfits in case of special occasions (orphanage visits or fancy dinner)
- Socks (we’ll be walking a lot, so choose our best ones, sweat-wicking, non-chaffing)
- 1 pair of comfortable sandals
- 1 pair comfortable tennis shoes
- 1 pair of nicer shoes for special occasions
- Underwear
- Pajamas
- Swimsuit & swim cap (some hotels require swim caps to be worn)
- Baseball cap/sun hat/bucket hat/beanie (if you’re a hat guy/gal)
- Sunglasses
The Essentials:
- Personal Identification
- Passport
- Take additional photocopies of the photo page of your passport (1-2 hardcopies, 1 digital saved on your phone and in the cloud)
- If your travel visa is in an old passport, TAKE YOUR OLD PASSPORT WITH YOU
- Copies of your Adoption Registration
- 1-2 hardcopies and 1 digital copy saved on your phone and in the cloud
- Driver’s License
- Travel insurance card
- Passport
- Money pouch/belt
- $250-$400/person cash in USD (airports accept credit cards so you will not need to exchange any cash until you arrive at your hotel in China)
- ATM card
- Toiletries
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Glasses/contact lenses & contact solution
- Face wipes
- Deodorant
- Lotion, sunscreen
- Shampoo & conditioner
- *Note for women* Feminine products are slightly different in China. Pads tend to be thicker, with no wings, and tampons are difficult to find, as are menstrual cups. Plan accordingly if you are particular about the products you use.
- Tech support
- Cell phone and charger (150-240V capacity)
- Headphones
- If you use bluetooth headphones, consider bringing a backup wired pair as well. Some China airlines do not allow bluetooth headphones to be used in flight.
- Camera and charger(s) (150-240V capacity)
- Outlet adapter (although most hotels and cafes use Type A outlets) & power converter
- Portable battery charger (must have voltage label for TSA approval, must be below 100Wh)
- Health Items
- Kleenex (4-6 travel packets) or camping toilet paper rolls (Some public restrooms do not provide toilet paper)
- These super handy soap sheets or these cute ones (many public restrooms do not have soap)
- These super handy laundry detergent sheets (lightweight with no risk of bursting in your luggage)
- First Aid kit
- Personal medication
- Variety of over-the-counter meds: Benadryl, Tums, DayQuil, NyQuil, throat lozenges, Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, Excedrin, Sudafed, Mucinex, Pepto Bismol, Immodium
- Antibiotics for infections and traveler’s diarrhea (optional)
- Anti-itch/anti-histamine cream (Benadryl, Allegra, etc.)
- Mosquito repellant (Those pesky mosquitos really love our Asian blood… They are alive and well in the summer.)
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer/wipes
- Face masks
- Miscellaneous Items
- Some zip-lock bags (these are just always useful)
- Water bottle
- Snack foods in case you aren’t able to find enough food you like (Bring as much as you need, but don’t go overboard. Small snack bars, nuts, etc.)
- Bonus Items:
- Pocket fan (so nice to have! Can also buy in China anywhere and everywhere)
- Cooling scarf (like this one)
- Tracking tags for luggage, wallets, bags, etc.
- Card games/travel board games
- Travel utensils
- Travel blanket for international flight (why are they always so cold?)
- Small quick-dry travel towel (like this one) for sweat and spills
- Face wipes to freshen up after travel
Temperatures to pack for:
Summers in China are hot and humid, so consider packing light (think quick-dry, breathable items). China’s summer temperatures typically fall in the mid-70s to upper-90s. With humidity, this feels more like a constant sauna and AC is only used in commercial facilities in China.
Clothing: Keep in mind that you will need to be staying in a hotel for at least three days if you need professional laundry services. In most cases, you will likely be washing your clothes by hand in your hotel and air-drying them, if needed. With China’s humidity, things take longer to dry than some or accustomed to.
- Quick-dry, sweat-wicking apparel
- 1-2 nicer outfits in case of special occasions
- T-shirts and tanks are acceptable
- Shorts and capris
- Socks (search for anti-blister, sweat-wicking socks)
- Underwear
- Light, hooded jacket in case of rain
- 1-2 pairs comfortable walking shoes & 1 pair of comfortable sandals/flip-flops
- Swimsuit & swim cap (most of China’s pools require that you wear a swim cap)
- Baseball cap/sun hat/bucket hat
- Sunglasses
Our Essentials:
- Passport (+ additional photocopies of the photo page of your passport in case you lose your passport)
- Money pouch/belt
- ATM card
- Travel insurance card
- Toiletries
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Glasses/contact lenses & contact solution
- Face wipes
- Deodorant
- Lotion, sunscreen
- Shampoo & conditioner
- *Note for us women* Feminine products are slightly different in China. Pads tend to be thicker, with no wings, and tampons are difficult to find, as are menstrual cups. Plan accordingly if you are particular about the products you use.
- Body powder (for sweat-wicking, anti-chaffing purposes… Trust us.)
- These super handy soap sheets (China’s public restrooms rarely have soap)
- These super handy laundry detergent sheets (lightweight with no risk of bursting in your luggage)
- Camera and charger(s) (150-240V capacity)
- Cellphone and charger (150-240V capacity)
- Headphones
- Should bring a backup wired pair as well. Many China airlines do not allow bluetooth headphones.
- Outlet adapter (although most everywhere will likely have Type A outlets) & power converter
- Portable battery charger (Needs to have voltage label for TSA approval, must be below 100Wh)
- First Aid kit
- Any personal medication (for asthma, diabetes, heartburn, anxiety, etc.)
- Variety of over-the-counter meds: Benadryl, Tums, DayQuil, NyQuil, throat lozenges, Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, Sudafed, Mucinex, Pepto Bismol, Immodium
- Antibiotics for infections and traveler’s diarrhea
- Kleenex (6 travel packets) (Many public restrooms do not provide toilet paper)
- Alternatively, you can pack camping toilet paper rolls
- Mosquito repellant (Those pesky mosquitos really love our Asian blood… This will be your best friend)
- Also anti-itch/anti-histamine cream (Benadryl, Allegra, etc.) for mosquito bites
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer/wipes
- Face masks
- Zip-lock bags (these are just always useful)
- Water bottle
- Snack foods in case you aren’t able to find enough food you like (Bring as much as you need, but don’t go overboard. Small snack bars, nuts, etc.)
Bonus Items:
- Pocket fan (So nice to have. You can also buy this in China, if needed.)
- Cooling scarf (like this one)
- Tracking tags for luggage, wallets, bags, etc.
- Card games/travel board games
- Travel utensils
- Travel blanket for international flight (why are they always so cold?)
- Small quick-dry travel towel (like this one) for sweat and spills
- Face wipes because airplanes are so dry
Temperatures to pack for:
Winters in China are cold and snowy up north and wet and chilly down south. In northern China, temperatures typically fall in the mid-20s to upper-40s. Further south, temperatures are closer to low-40s to mid-60s. If you make it down to Guangdong or Hong Kong, you may even catch some balmy 70s!
Clothing: Keep in mind that you will need to be staying in a hotel for at least three days if you need professional laundry services. In most cases, you will likely be washing your clothes by hand in your hotel and air-drying them, if needed. With China’s humidity, things take longer to dry than some or accustomed to.
- Quick-dry, sweat-wicking apparel
- 1-2 nicer outfits in case of special occasions
- 2-3 long-sleeve shirts that you can layer if needed
- 1-2 sweaters/sweatshirts/hoodies
- 1-2 comfortable pants that make walking many miles painless
- Thermals for extra cold days
- Wool socks
- Underwear
- Warm winter coat
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes & 1 pair of boots
- Beanie or earmuffs
- Scarf
- Gloves/mittens
- Sunglasses
Our Essentials:
- Passport (+ additional photocopies of the photo page of your passport in case you lose your passport)
- Money pouch/belt
- ATM card
- Travel insurance card
- Toiletries
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Glasses/contact lenses & contact solution
- Face wipes
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Chapstick
- Shampoo & conditioner
- *Note for us women* Feminine products are slightly different in China. Pads tend to be thicker, with no wings, and tampons are difficult to find, as are menstrual cups. Plan accordingly if you are particular about the products you use.
- Body powder (for sweat-wicking, anti-chaffing purposes… Trust us.)
- These super handy soap sheets (China’s public restrooms rarely have soap)
- These super handy laundry detergent sheets (lightweight with no risk of bursting in your luggage)
- Camera and charger(s) (150-240V capacity)
- Cellphone and charger (150-240V capacity)
- Headphones
- Should bring a backup wired pair as well. Many China airlines do not allow bluetooth headphones.
- Outlet adapter (although most everywhere will likely have Type A outlets) & power converter
- Portable battery charger (Needs to have voltage label for TSA approval, must be below 100Wh)
- First Aid kit
- Any personal medication (for asthma, diabetes, heartburn, anxiety, etc.)
- Variety of over-the-counter meds: Benadryl, Tums, DayQuil, NyQuil, throat lozenges, Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, Sudafed, Mucinex, Pepto Bismol, Immodium
- Antibiotics for infections and traveler’s diarrhea
- Kleenex (6 travel packets) (Many public restrooms do not provide toilet paper)
- Alternatively, you can pack camping toilet paper rolls
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer/wipes
- Face masks
- Zip-lock bags (these are just always useful)
- Water bottle/thermos
- Snack foods in case you aren’t able to find enough food you like (Bring as much as you need, but don’t go overboard. Small snack bars, nuts, etc.)
Bonus Items:
- Tracking tags for luggage, wallets, bags, etc.
- Card games/travel board games
- Travel utensils
- Travel blanket for international flight (why are they always so cold?)
- Face wipes because airplanes are so dry
- Small quick-dry travel towel (like this one) for spills
Does my child need to be Chinese or an adoptee to attend camp?
No, our cultural camps are for everyone! Anyone with an interest in learning about Chinese culture is going to love camp and we cannot wait to be part of their cultural learning journey!
Is this camp ADA accessible?
Yes, our buildings are ADA compliant, with ramps and automatic doors. Our ADA bathroom is on the main floor and sinks are wheelchair accessible. Our teachers are happy to make any additional accommodations as needed to increase the accessibility of any of our camp activities throughout the week. If you have any specific questions, please email us.
I know that my child will love this camp, but they may need additional support (i.e. one-on-one care, etc.). Is this possible?
Yes, please contact us and we will happily work with you to create a personalized care plan for your camper to make sure they are able to make the most of camp. We can also assign a camp counselor specifically to your child who can train with you and your child prior to camp to ensure that their needs are understood and met.
5-Day Chinese Cultural Camp
$395
9:00AM - 3:00PM
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades 1st – 8th
Our 5-Day Chinese Cultural Camp allows campers to experience a broad sampling of China’s exciting cultural heritage! With daily language, art, and dance workshops, along with the opportunity to try delicious, traditional Chinese foods, campers will be able to show off all that they’ve learned with an end-of-week recital for friends and family!
Campers will be split by age group. Lunch will be provided Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please pack a sack lunch for Monday and Thursday.
Does my child need to be Chinese or an adoptee to attend camp?
No, our cultural camps are for everyone! Anyone with an interest in learning about Chinese culture is going to love camp and we cannot wait to be part of their cultural learning journey!
Is this camp ADA accessible?
Yes, our buildings are ADA compliant, with ramps and automatic doors. Our ADA bathroom is on the main floor and sinks are wheelchair accessible. Our teachers are happy to make any additional accommodations as needed to increase the accessibility of any of our camp activities throughout the week. If you have any specific questions, please email us.
I know that my child will love this camp, but they may need additional support (i.e. one-on-one care, etc.). Is this possible?
Yes, please contact us and we will happily work with you to create a personalized care plan for your camper to make sure they are able to make the most of camp. We can also assign a camp counselor specifically to your child who can train with you and your child prior to camp to ensure that their needs are understood and met.
Chinese Lion Dance Camp
$325
9:00AM - 1:00PM
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Grades 6th – 12th & Adults
Hosted at United Martial Arts Center, our Chinese Lion Dance Camp is a week-long exploration of everyone’s favorite martial arts puppetry! The martial arts of lion dancing take moments to fall in love with and a lifetime to master. Campers will build essential movement and performance skills through the week in this exciting, heart-pumping week-long intensive.
Campers will be split by experience level. Lunch not included.
Will the campers be split by skill level?
Yes, we have two instructors this year to allow for different levels of skills training! Campers will be split between two levels – Beginner and Intermediate.
Do I need to have previous martial arts training to join this camp?
None at all! We’re here to introduce AND improve. Beginners are encouraged to attend!
Chinese Culinary Camp
$450
9:00AM - 3:00PM
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades 4th – 12th
Put those chef hats and aprons on and join us for a tasty adventure you’ll never forget! Our Chinese Culinary Camp will be split by skill level and will help immerse campers in the art of Chinese cooking, exploring the rich cultural history behind traditional dishes and styles. From mastering cooking techniques to exploring the influences of Chinese cuisine, campers will also get to visit local markets and restaurants for inspiration! Hands-on cooking classes and collaborative team challenges will culminate in a delicious lunch for all to enjoy, cooked by campers!
Lunch provided each day.
Are cooking supplies included in the price of camp?
Yes, all food and cooking supplies are covered in the registration fee!
Who will be leading the cooking?
Our teachers are all passionate Chinese cooks, ranging from professionally trained chefs to awesome home cooks!
What about safety? Will the campers be using real knives, real fire, real utensils?
Yes, we will be using real utensils and real fire. Campers will be cooking in teams, with adults leading each team to make sure we take great care to maintain high safety standards for all of camp. If you have specific requests regarding your camper’s access to tools or open flames, please email us.
