July 2027
Immersion Excursion
Immersion Excursion 2027
July 12 - 26
Open to students in Years 10–13
Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu
Highlights
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Up to 20 hours of dedicated Chinese classroom time with Harry, Jamie, and our accompanying MM tutors and local partners. Lessons can cover GCSE materials and topics if preferred!
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Explore the hutongs of Beijing as only we know how, including a kung fu class and a karaoke feast with the Kings of the Hutongs—our old friends, the Liu family!
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Cycle along Xi’an’s ancient City Wall, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, and feast your way through the bustling food stalls of Huiminjie.
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Meet Chengdu’s most famous residents—the giant pandas! Soak up the city’s relaxed pace of life in its traditional teahouses and explore its lively streets.
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Discover the bold flavours of Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu, from sizzling street food to a hotpot feast. Put your Mandarin into practice as we explore local markets and taste our way around the city!
Yes, Manhattan Mandarin Trips Are The Most Fun
"So so so great ! Covered so much ground, so many experiences and fun moments!! Amazing and hopefully you will do it again next year! I will be joining!! Thank you thank you!"
There’s a good reason our trips are so loved by students and families: we do what we loved doing while travelling through China as students ourselves. Since 2015, we’ve enjoyed rediscovering China each year, reconnecting with old friends while giving our students the trip of a lifetime.
The language progress can be remarkable, too. Many students return with noticeably stronger Mandarin and greater confidence, and some have even moved a year ahead in their studies after the trip.
Morning Mandarin lessons combined with daily immersive activities give students countless opportunities to put their learning into practice. Some even take on a full-immersion language pledge! We also have so much fun sorting our students into "houses" and giving them Mandarin challenges to earn points for their team: anything from reading a text about the local cuisine to interviewing locals.
With founders Harry and Jamie and our Manhattan Mandarin teachers leading the way, students will explore Beijing’s imperial history, Xi’an’s ancient wonders, Chengdu’s giant pandas and vibrant Sichuan food culture.
From food tours tailored to our group to Mandarin lessons based on students’ own school curricula, every step of the journey is designed to deepen cultural understanding and build students’ language skills—all with Manhattan Mandarin’s signature focus on fun and interactivity.
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Itinerary
*We adjust our precise itinerary according to our participants' interests and wish-list. A more detailed itinerary is available upon request
北京 Beijing
Beijing
We'll be staying in the Hutongs near the Bell and Drum tower, which has long been our favorite hood in BJ. Our courtyard hotel is an annual favorite with students, and allows for great interaction with our local friends in the neighborhood
Walking up Jingshan park to look out over the Forbidden City is always a fun start to understanding the layout of Beijing. Rickshaw tour around Beihai and some park life exploration • Gongfu lessons between the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the ancient hutongs • Feast and karaoke with our old friends, a martial arts family who are 4th generation hutong legends
A guided tour of Tiananmen and the Forbidden City • Feast on Peiking Duck at one of our favorite restaurants • Spa and massage time - we may need it by then! • We'll then do an awesome Food Tour through the hutongs, ending not too far away from our hotel
After morning Mandarin lessons and a good hotel breakfast, we'll visit the Temple of Heaven, explore the 798 art district and visit one of our favorite museums
On our final day in Beijing, we'll visit Qinghua University and learn about academic life in China • Visit our friends at the Schwarzman Scholars program • A guided tour of the nearby Summer Palace • Head out for an overnight stay at the Great Wall
Sunrise hike of the Great Wall • High speed rail to Xi'an!
西安 Xi'An
Xi'An
Walk Through 3,000 Years of History • Explore one of China's oldest capitals, where ancient dynasties, imperial monuments, and the legendary Silk Road shaped Chinese civilization.
Stand Face-to-Face with the Terracotta Warriors • Experience one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries and uncover the remarkable story of China's first emperor.
Discover the Legacy of the Tang Dynasty • Visit the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its peaceful gardens while learning how Buddhism spread across China. We'll be adding a calligraphy class here.
Bike the Ancient City Wall • Ride or stroll atop one of the world's best-preserved city walls, taking in breathtaking views where ancient Xi'an meets the modern city.
Master the Art of Handmade Biang Biang Noodles • Learn to stretch, slap, and prepare Xi'an's famous belt noodles in a hands-on cooking workshop before enjoying your own creation.
Taste the Flavors of the Silk Road • Wander the vibrant Muslim Quarter, savoring handmade noodles, roujiamo (Chinese burgers), dumplings, sizzling skewers, and other beloved local specialties.
Experience Xi'an After Dark • Watch the ancient city walls glow at sunset before exploring lantern-lit streets, bustling night markets, and lively food stalls.
Practice Real-World Mandarin • Build confidence by ordering food, shopping in bustling markets, and chatting with local vendors throughout the city.
成都 Chengdu + 四川 Sichuan
Chengdu
Discover Chengdu, the laid-back capital of Sichuan Province and one of China's most exciting culinary and cultural destinations. Famous for its giant pandas, fiery cuisine, traditional teahouses, and welcoming atmosphere, Chengdu offers students a fascinating look at a different side of Chinese life.
We'll visit the world-famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, explore historic neighborhoods and bustling markets, and experience the city's celebrated food scene on a Lost Plate food tour, sampling authentic Sichuan dishes while practicing Mandarin with local guides and restaurant owners.
Students will also participate in immersive Mandarin lessons, try their hand at preparing traditional Sichuan dishes, relax in local teahouses, and experience the excitement of Sichuan opera's famous face-changing performances. From pandas and hotpot to daily conversations with locals, Chengdu promises an unforgettable combination of language learning, cultural discovery, and adventure.
Leshan, Qingcheng
Just outside Chengdu lies one of China's most extraordinary historical treasures: the Leshan Giant Buddha, a colossal 71-meter-tall stone statue carved directly into a cliff overlooking the meeting of three rivers.
Dating back more than 1,200 years to the Tang Dynasty, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest surviving ancient stone Buddha in the world and a remarkable testament to Chinese engineering, religious traditions, and artistic achievement.
Students will journey to Leshan to experience the sheer scale of this incredible monument while learning about the arrival and influence of Buddhism in China. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, rivers, and lush greenery, Leshan offers a spectacular opportunity to connect classroom learning with one of China's most iconic cultural landmarks.
Our Sichuan adventure concludes with an unforgettable escape into the mountains. Qingcheng Mountain (青城山), one of the birthplaces of Chinese Taoism, is celebrated for its lush forests, mist-covered peaks, ancient temples, and peaceful mountain villages.
Students will leave the bustle of Chengdu behind and travel into the beautiful Sichuan countryside, stopping to discover the remarkable Dujiangyan Irrigation System, an ancient engineering marvel that has helped manage the region's waterways for more than 2,000 years.
The highlight of our mountain excursion will be a guided 3–5-hour hike along scenic forest trails, passing waterfalls, bamboo groves, streams, and traditional mountain architecture. We'll stay in a comfortable local guesthouse, enjoy regional home-style cooking, and experience the quieter rhythms of rural Chinese life.
Combining outdoor adventure, Chinese philosophy, natural beauty, and Mandarin immersion, Qingcheng Mountain is the perfect conclusion to our journey—a chance for students to challenge themselves, strengthen friendships, and discover a side of China far removed from its bustling cities.
Where We Stay
Xishu Garden Inn, Chengdu
A beautiful boutique hotel walking distance to People's Square and the bustling night markets.
Junhefu Hutong Hotel
House in a well-reserved old dwelling, Junhefu has been a favorite of MMTravel for years. Located in the historic Hutong area in the heart of Beijing, a 12-minute walk from Houhai Lake and the close to the bell and drum towers
Sheraton Xi'an Bell Tower
Located in the middle of old Xi'an, this hotel has epic views of the Bell Tower. Walking distance to Huiminjie and the city wall. We've loved staying here in the past.
Details
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£3,975 + VAT per student (does not include international flights)
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Discounts:
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£3,000 + VAT if signed up before Sep 1, 2026
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£3,500 + VAT if you sign up before Jan 1, 2027
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Fee does not include flight to and from China
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The international flights will be from London to Beijing ; Chengdu to London
What's Included
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All domestic travel, including flights, trains, private drivers, buses, taxis (and boat rides!)
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All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
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All meals, including over 20 hours of professionally led food tours with dozens of restaurant stops
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All activities booked with our partners, including accompanying teachers
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25+ hours of class and 1:1 tutoring time
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All accommodations
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Daily updates from Harry and Jamie on the ground!