CHINA

Arrival, boutique hotel check-in, and a welcome dinner featuring Beijing’s celebrated roast duck.

A deeper look at the Forbidden City, followed by hutong neighborhood life, local conversations, everyday objects from earlier times, and a curated courtyard dinner in a traditional Beijing setting.

Explore the Great Wall through its history, landscape, and cultural significance. The day continues with a hosted traditional craft experience featuring a culturally significant Beijing practice, such as Jingtailan (Chinese cloisonné), offering insight into materials, techniques, and living heritage. In the evening, enjoy a selected cultural performance, such as Peking Opera or a classic acrobatic show.

Travel from Beijing to Chengdu and experience the shift from the monumental scale of the capital to the warmer, more relaxed rhythm of southwest China. After arrival, settle into the hotel and take time to rest. In the evening, enjoy a Sichuan welcome dinner introducing the region’s distinctive flavors and social dining culture.

Experience Chengdu through its regional craft traditions and the relaxed rhythm of everyday neighborhood life. A hosted visit or workshop introduces practices such as Shu brocade, Shu embroidery, or contemporary craft. Later, a guided neighborhood and teahouse experience offers a closer understanding of Chengdu’s daily culture through conversation, food, leisure, and tea.

Take part in a hands-on heritage workshop, such as bamboo weaving or another regional craft, guided by local artisans or cultural practitioners. Explore the materials, techniques, and creative process behind the tradition, as well as how these practices continue to evolve today. In the evening, enjoy a curated cultural dining experience bringing together Sichuan cuisine, live performance, and a distinctive local atmosphere.

Begin the day with a visit centered on Chengdu’s most beloved symbol: the giant panda. Learn about panda conservation, habitat protection, care practices, and the cultural significance of this iconic species in China. The visit includes a conservation-focused learning experience and, where available, a participatory component related to panda care, food preparation, or habitat support. The afternoon is reserved for rest or easy exploration, followed by a Sichuan teahouse-style performance in the evening.

Enjoy breakfast and prepare for departure at a relaxed pace. The program team will provide local coordination and assistance with onward arrangements, whether participants are departing by air or continuing with independent travel plans.

Specific workshops, performances, venues, and participatory activities may be adjusted based on local availability, institutional approval, and program coordination. When changes are necessary, an experience of comparable cultural value will be arranged.

No. This is not a conventional sightseeing trip. While the program includes meaningful visits to important cultural sites, the focus is on cultural context, local voices, hands-on experiences, curated dining, and a deeper understanding of China beyond the surface. Participants are invited to encounter China not only through its monuments, but through the people, traditions, flavors, and everyday moments that bring its culture to life.

Yes. China Beyond the Headlines is designed, managed, and hosted by InfinityX Culture. We work directly with a carefully selected network of experienced travel service providers, cultural venues, artists, and local partners in Beijing and Chengdu.

These partners provide support within their areas of expertise, including accommodations, in-country transportation, cultural visits, workshops, and on-the-ground arrangements. All partners are selected and coordinated by InfinityX Culture to help ensure that service quality, program goals, and the participant experience remain consistent.

InfinityX Culture remains responsible for program planning, participant communication, quality oversight, and day-to-day management. A member of the InfinityX Culture program team will accompany the group throughout the program and serve as the primary point of contact from arrival through departure.

This combination of direct program leadership and experienced local support helps preserve the personal nature and cultural depth of the experience while ensuring that the program remains clear, reliable, and well coordinated.

The program fee reflects a carefully curated small-group cultural immersion experience, including cultural interpretation, hosted visits, selected meals, hands-on workshops, local experts, and in-country coordination. It also includes carefully selected boutique hotel accommodation, program transportation within China, domestic transportation required by the itinerary, entrance fees for included visits, and English-language support throughout the program.

Not included: International airfare to and from China, visa fees, travel insurance, personal expenses, and meals during independent time or outside the scheduled program.

Submitting an application does not guarantee a place. Once accepted, you can reserve your place by completing the required confirmation steps.

Yes. Because the program is limited to 12 participants, applications may close once all available places have been confirmed.

Yes. Participants will be asked to share dietary needs and food allergies in advance. Where possible, we will make reasonable efforts to arrange suitable alternatives for halal-friendly, no-pork, vegetarian, gluten-free, allergy-related, or other dietary needs.

Because group meals are arranged in advance and may involve local restaurants, markets, or hosted cultural settings, the overall group menu may not be changed for individual preferences. Participants with severe food allergies or medically necessary dietary restrictions should contact us before applying so we can discuss what can be safely supported.

The standard program fee is USD $6,100.

After acceptance, a USD $1,500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place. Final payment is due by August 20, 2026.

Because accommodations, transportation, venues, and other program arrangements are coordinated in advance, cancellation refunds may be reduced by the non-recoverable costs already incurred at the time of cancellation. Specific cancellation and refund terms are provided in the Program Terms & Participant Agreement.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Accepted applicants will receive next steps and secure payment instructions before any payment is required.