hangzhou photo
It's only by leaving your casual surroundings that you can shed your fears and presumptions about others and find out who you truly are. Living in another country teaches you to trust yourself, your own thoughts and feelings, and not be afraid of strangers.
– Lyubov Zuyeva
Berea College

oreinatation/excursions

Each Central program offers an in-depth orientation that will acclimate students to the country's language and culture as they get a feel for their new environment.

Hangzhou orientation
Get to know your surroundings by beginning your semester abroad with a full orientation led by your resident director. Students learn about Chinese customs, values and history through a series of presentations, discussions and excursions. Practical skills such as shopping, using public transportation, and banking are also addressed in the orientation. The orientation continues throughout the semester through the China Seminar and includes excursions both within Hangzhou and to other important sites.

The initial orientation in Hangzhou also includes activities with the Central College Abroad students and their Chinese “pengyou,” meaning friend. This pengyou is a native Chinese Zhejiang University English student who has volunteered to help with the cultural transition and looks forward to the opportunity to speak English with a fellow student. Both students benefit from the cultural and linguistic exchange which begins by e-mail before the start of the program and is developed in the first days of orientation.

Cultural excursions
One of the highlights of studying through Central College Abroad Hangzhou is the number of cultural activities and excursions that are included as part of your program fee. Many of these excursions, facilitated by the resident director, link directly with your course work. Specific activities are tailored to take advantage of Chinese holidays and events.

  • Mid-autumn Festival calls for a visit to West Lake to celebrate the fall harvest by taking in the full moon and eating “moon cakes”
  • Vibrant celebrations of the Lantern Festival with noisy crowds, special foods and abundant fireworks
  • A three-day visit to Shanghai where students take in the exquisite Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, the Bund and the Chenghuang Miao area.
  • A five-day trip to Beijing including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Great Hall of the People, Yonghegong (Lama) Temple, the Bell and Drum Towers, and The Great Wall
  • A visit to the nearby “canal town” in Zhejiang Province

Outside of regular program excursions, many students choose to explore on their own, either over the weekend or during a semester break. Hangzhou provides easy access to other cities and regions of China through rail, bus and airline routes. It’s only one-and-a-half hours to Shanghai by bullet train. In the past, students have visited the many tea fields surrounding Hangzhou, as well as surrounding cities in Zhejiang Province. More adventurous travelers have visited Hong Kong and even Taiwan.