Nanjing/ Yangtze - Sustainability & Human Impact

The itinerary shown is purely an example. All of our trips can be built around your school’s needs, with so many wonderful things going on in these Chinese cities, there’s so much to see and do…

back to Conservation
 
 

Day 1 – Arrival & Welcome to the Yangtze Basin

  • Arrival in Nanjing and transfer to hotel

  • Welcome briefing: the Yangtze River and its global importance

  • Introduction to field journals and observation activities

  • First impressions walk in the local area

  • Evening meal and time to rest

Day 2 – Living with the River

  • Visit to riverside areas along the Yangtze River

  • Focus on:

    The role of rivers in urban environments

    Water, transport and settlement

  • Exploration of riverbanks, transport routes and public spaces

  • Interactive discussion and observation tasks

  • Guided comparison:

    River use in China and the UK experiencing the scale and importance of the Yangtze in daily life

  • Evening at the hotel - group down time

Day 3 – Freshwater Ecosystems & Species Recovery

  • Visit to a wetland or lakeside environment such as Xuanwu Lake Park

  • Focus on:

    Freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity

    Species adaptation and survival

  • Case study: Yangtze finless porpoise

  • Introduction to the Yangtze fishing ban and its role in species recovery

  • Case study: river clean-up and waste management along the Yangtze River

  • Fieldwork-style observation and recording

  • Guided discussion on:

    Conservation success and ongoing challenges and understanding how large-scale environmental action is helping restore the Yangtze ecosystem

  • Evening at the hotel - group games and downtime

Day 4 – Urban Nature & Cultural Landscape

  • Visit to Xuanwu Lake Park and surrounding areas

  • Focus on:

    Urban green spaces and biodiversity

    Balancing development with nature

  • Lakeside walk and ecological observation

  • Evening visit to the Confucius Temple area

  • Exploration of riverside streets, lanterns and local culture

  • Group dinner in a traditional riverside restaurant overlooking the Qinhuai River dining in a lantern-lit historic setting along one of China’s most famous riversides

 

Day 5 – The Yangtze Landscape & Three Gorges

  • Travel to the Yangtze River region

  • Exploration of the Three Gorges

  • Focus on:

    River erosion and dramatic landscapes

    Geological formations and change over time

  • Time for observation, photography and reflection viewing one of the world’s most dramatic river landscapes

  • Evening at the hotel

Day 6 – Engineering, Energy & Sustainability

  • Visit to the Three Gorges Dam

  • Focus on:

    Renewable energy and hydroelectric power

    Large-scale engineering and innovation

  • Exploration of environmental and social impacts

  • Group discussion and debate:

    Can large-scale engineering be truly sustainable?

  • Evening Yangtze River cruise viewing the Yangtze River at night

Day 7 – Reflection, Conservation & the Future

  • Group project and reflection session

  • Focus on:

    Protecting biodiversity locally and globally

    Lessons from the Yangtze River

  • Student presentations and discussion

  • Group reflection session at a riverside viewpoint overlooking the Yangtze River

  • Scenic walk and viewpoint experience within the Three Gorges taking in the scale and landscape of the Yangtze from above

  • Farewell celebratory group dinner overlooking the Yangtze River

Day 8 – Departure

  • Final reflections and certificates

  • Programme close

  • Transfer to airport