Most things, answered plainly.

International students aged 16–24 who want to really understand China — through Shanghai: how its universities work, the grain of the city, genuine contemporary culture, and how people actually live. At our three host universities we also teach genuinely interesting, specialist material. Most of our enquiries come from the US, Europe and Japan.

It's an academic program, not a tour or a camp. Three of China's most-cited universities — Fudan, Tongji and Shanghai Jiao Tong — host the cohort for faculty-led days and issue an official certificate; there are no campus drive-bys and no filler, and the city days are treated as fieldwork rather than sightseeing. International airfare is the only major cost not included.

Typically 24–30 students — a small group by design, never a coachload — and we run at the minimum of 24. One bilingual program lead and three resident counselors who also translate, plus 24-hour medical cover.

Across the nine university days, mornings are usually an academic block; afternoons are a seminar, a walking studio, or an enterprise visit; evenings are usually free. Two to three days are given to Shanghai's culture and daily life, and two more to Shanghai Disneyland and Legoland to unwind.

Programming is in English. Seminars at the universities are interpreted as needed. We provide a light Mandarin survival kit.

No. Everything runs in English, university seminars are interpreted as needed, and we provide a light Mandarin survival kit. Students who do speak Mandarin get more out of the unscripted moments, but it is never a requirement.

Yes. Each three-day chapter ends with an official certificate issued by the host department at Fudan, Tongji or Shanghai Jiao Tong — not a private certificate of attendance. Complete the fortnight and a student carries home three.

30% non-refundable deposit on booking, 70% balance due six weeks before departure. Cards via Stripe Checkout, wire via Wise or bank.

Before six weeks: balance is refundable in full, deposit is not. After six weeks: written request reviewed case by case.

Full refund of every penny paid, including the deposit — or a transferred seat in the next cohort, at your choice.

No. Payment is handed off to Stripe Checkout; cards never touch our servers. We never collect card numbers by email or phone.

A bilingual program lead and three resident counselors — who also translate — are with the cohort for the full 14 days, with 24-hour medical cover and a direct parent hotline. Every staff member is background-checked.

On-trip clinic partner in Shanghai. Trip insurance up to USD 100,000. Direct parent hotline. We share documentation on booking.

Counselors carry the cohort's medical notes and are trained in first response, with an on-trip clinic partner and trip insurance up to USD 100,000 in place. The direct parent hotline reaches a person who knows your child, and serious cases go to a vetted Shanghai hospital with a counselor present throughout.

Tell us on enrolment. Halal, kosher, vegan, allergens — we work with hotels and canteens to accommodate, and brief every restaurant in advance.

It depends on nationality. About 50 nationalities can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days; for others (including US) a tourist L-visa is required. We provide an invitation/welcome letter and guidance.

If your nationality needs an L (tourist) visa, apply about four to six weeks before departure — the invitation letter unlocks once your deposit is paid. Visa-free nationalities need nothing in advance beyond a passport valid for at least six months.

We do not. We are not a visa agent. We provide the letter and a step-by-step guide. The application is filed by the family or their agent of choice.

No. We never collect or store passport numbers. We ask for full name and date of birth at enrolment, and that is the limit.

No — international airfare isn't included in the program fee, so you book your own. If you'd like help, we can share preferential fares on a few fixed routes with select partner airlines; compare them and book whatever suits you best. No markup either way.

If you'd like — we have preferential fares on a few fixed routes with select partner airlines. Tell us your departure city and dates and we'll share what's available, so you can compare and book direct yourself. No obligation, no markup.

We share precise arrival and departure windows on enrolment. Common arrivals are the day before Day 01; common departures are the evening of Day 14 or the morning after.

Name, date of birth, parent contact, dietary requirements, medical notes shared by the family. No passports, no card numbers, no biometric data.

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