Volunteer in China with Abroad Escape

Guangxi Culture Week is a structured introduction to rural China, based around Fengyan Village near Guilin. It is ideal if you want time to settle in, understand local customs, learn basic Mandarin, meet the local team, and experience Chinese culture before continuing into a volunteer placement.

This week goes beyond sightseeing. You take part in hands-on cultural activities, visit local villages and temples, explore traditional Yao heritage, try local food, and learn more about the values, customs, and daily life that shape the community.

Quick Facts

• Location: Fengyan Village, Guilin, Guangxi
• Focus: Cultural introduction, Mandarin basics, local customs, food, temples, village life, and rural China
• Best for: First-time visitors to China, solo travellers, and volunteers who want a softer start
• Arrival route: Gongcheng High-Speed Railway Station for Guangxi programs
• Included support: Local coordination, accommodation, meals, scheduled transport, and cultural activities where listed

What You May Do

• Explore Fengyan Village and traditional Yao houses
• Visit local markets and practise basic Mandarin
• Join Chinese language and culture sessions
• Learn about Chinese philosophies, customs, taboos, face, and guanxi
• Visit Confucius Temple, Guan Gong Temple, and local cultural sites
• Try Tai Chi, calligraphy, Chinese songs, and paper cutting
• Learn to make dumplings, baozi, or Yao oil tea
• Take part in bamboo rafting, village walks, and countryside activities where scheduled
• Join evening activities such as Mahjong, Chinese chess, or a movie night

Typical Weekly Schedule

Monday

Tour Fengyan Village and its ancient houses, learn about the Yao community and local history, hike to a viewpoint, then join a Chinese language lesson and a cultural session on Chinese philosophies and local taboos. Evening activities may include Mahjong, Chinese chess, or a Chinese movie.

Tuesday

Visit a local family, learn how to make Yao oil tea, enjoy a traditional breakfast, join Tai Chi, and take part in a session about Chinese festivals. Later, visit Hongyan Village for mountain scenery and bamboo rafting where scheduled.

Wednesday

Practical Chinese lesson focused on shopping and bargaining, followed by a visit to Lianhua Town market. In the afternoon, learn about Chinese food culture and prepare traditional dishes such as dumplings or baozi.

Thursday

Chinese songs lesson and calligraphy class in the morning. Later, visit the Confucius Temple, Guan Gong Temple, Cha River area, and Gongcheng Yao People's Museum. Evening may include free time or a self-organised BBQ at the centre.

Friday

Chinese language session followed by a traditional paper crafting workshop. The afternoon is free for relaxing, preparing for the weekend, or planning an optional excursion.

Good For

• First-time travellers to China
• Volunteers who want cultural context before project work
• Students interested in language, food, history, and rural life
• Solo travellers who want a supported first week
• Participants combining Culture Week with Rural Teaching

Important Notes

• This is a cultural introduction week, not a volunteer placement by itself.
• Activities can vary depending on weather, local schedules, group size, and availability.
• Some outdoor activities may change if conditions are not suitable.

The schedule can be changed or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions, cultural site availability, group size, and unforeseen circumstances.

Guangxi Rural Teaching gives you the chance to support English learning in rural China while experiencing village life, local traditions, and the daily rhythm of a community in Guangxi.

You mainly help children practise conversational English through simple, interactive activities. Depending on the school and timetable, you may also support songs, games, storytelling, art, music, science, drawing, colouring, sports, and other creative learning activities.

Quick Facts

• Location: Guangxi, with accommodation in Fengyan Village
• Focus: Conversational English, classroom support, cultural exchange, and rural community life
• Age group: Children and young people, usually from kindergarten to middle school age
• Typical teaching time: Around 1 to 2 hours per day
• Total daily activity time: Around 4 to 5 hours including preparation, training, teaching, and cultural activities
• Arrival route: Gongcheng High-Speed Railway Station for Guangxi programs

What You May Help With

• Teach basic English through simple exercises and conversation
• Use songs, games, stories, and creative tasks to make learning interactive
• Support local teachers with lesson preparation
• Assist with classroom activities and basic classroom management
• Help with art, music, drawing, colouring, writing, sports, or science activities where appropriate
• Share your culture and daily life with students
• Encourage students to practise speaking English with confidence
• Take part in local cultural activities after teaching sessions

Typical Weekly Schedule

Sunday

Pickup and transfer to the accommodation in Fengyan Village.

Monday

Introduction meeting after breakfast, lesson planning, and a tour of Fengyan Village and its traditional Yao houses. After lunch, you begin teaching. In the evening, you may join activities such as Mahjong or a Chinese movie.

Tuesday

Teaching in the morning or according to the local schedule. After lunch, visit the Gongcheng Yao People's Museum, Confucius Temple, and Guan Gong Temple to learn about local history, culture, and traditions.

Wednesday

Teaching, followed by lunch. Later, learn how to make Yao oil tea, taste traditional pastries, and try making dumplings or baozi.

Thursday

Teaching, lunch, and a visit to an eco-village where persimmons are harvested in autumn when available.

Friday

Teaching, lunch, rural research interviews to understand the village more deeply, and a summary meeting. In the evening, there may be a self-organised BBQ.

Good For

• Fluent English speakers
• Students interested in education or childcare
• Patient and creative volunteers
• People who enjoy working with children
• Travellers who want teaching experience in a rural community setting

Requirements and Notes

• You assist local teachers and classroom staff; you do not replace them.
• Lesson content should be simple, age-appropriate, and guided by local needs.
• Background checks or reference letters may be required for projects involving children.
• School schedules, class ages, holidays, and teaching needs can vary.
• For stays longer than one week, optional Chinese language and culture sessions may be available from the second week onward.

The schedule can be changed or amended depending on school calendars, local conditions, holidays, weather, class availability, and unforeseen circumstances.

Huidong Turtle Conservation is based in Huidong City, Guangdong Province. It is designed for participants who want a hands-on marine conservation experience focused on sea turtle care, habitat support, beach cleaning, and awareness activities.

You work alongside local turtle reserve staff and conservation teams, helping with daily care tasks such as feeding, cleaning, enclosure maintenance, and reserve-based activities. You may also support beach cleanups, poster design, conservation education, or research-related tasks where scheduled and supervised.

Quick Facts

• Location: Huidong City, Guangdong Province
• Focus: Sea turtle care, conservation, beach cleaning, habitat maintenance, and awareness
• Arrival airport: Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, SZX
• Meeting point: Shenzhen Bao'an Airport arrival hall
• Pickup window: Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00
• Best for: Animal lovers, conservation-focused travellers, and participants who want a coastal China experience

What You May Help With

• Feed turtles under local staff guidance
• Clean turtle enclosures
• Maintain turtle habitats and support a safe reserve environment
• Remove debris from beach areas
• Join beach cleaning and habitat restoration activities
• Observe turtle behaviour and learn about different species
• Support conservation awareness activities where scheduled
• Occasionally assist with supervised research-related tasks
• Work alongside conservationists and university students where available

Typical Weekly Schedule

Sunday

Arrive at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport during the pickup window. Meet the local team at the arrival hall and check in to the accommodation.

Monday

Travel by high-speed railway from Shenzhen to Huizhou City, which takes around 30 minutes. From the railway station, continue by road to the Huidong turtle reserve accommodation, which takes around 50 minutes. You receive an introduction to the work assignment, followed by evening ice-breaker and team activities.

Tuesday

Pre-job training and documentary films about sea turtles in the morning. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of the sea turtle reserve and observe different turtle species and their living habits. Evening sharing session: My First Day With Turtles.

Wednesday

Work with the sea turtle keeper on tasks such as feeding or cleaning. In the afternoon, join beach cleaning. Evening activity may include a sea turtle knowledge quiz.

Thursday

Continue turtle care tasks with the keeper in the morning. In the afternoon, design a turtle conservation poster. Evening may include a self-care dinner and visit to the night market.

Friday

Morning turtle care tasks such as cleaning or feeding. Afternoon sightseeing by speedboat where scheduled. Final dinner with BBQ time.

Program Highlights

• Work hands-on with endangered sea turtles
• Support feeding, cleaning, enclosure maintenance, and habitat care
• Join beach cleaning and conservation awareness activities where scheduled
• Learn from local turtle reserve staff and conservation-minded students
• Experience the coastal setting of Huidong in Guangdong Province

Good For

• Animal lovers
• Marine conservation interest
• Outdoor volunteers
• Students interested in environmental work
• Travellers who want a beach-based China program

Aims and Objectives

• Support hands-on sea turtle care and conservation work.
• Help promote public awareness of sea turtle protection where activities allow.
• Give participants practical insight into reserve-based conservation work.

The schedule can be changed or amended depending on weather, animal care needs, reserve priorities, transport conditions, local availability, and unforeseen circumstances.

Arrival for Guangxi Programs

For Guangxi programs, including Culture Week and Rural Teaching, the listed arrival point is Gongcheng High-Speed Railway Station. Participants usually reach the area after flying into China and continuing by train.

Exact flight advice, train route, meeting time, and transfer instructions should be confirmed in your proposal before you book flights or train tickets.

Arrival for Huidong Turtle Conservation

For the Huidong Sea Turtle Conservation Program, the listed arrival airport is Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, SZX.

The meeting point is the arrival hall at Shenzhen Bao'an Airport. The pickup window is Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00.

Please do not book flights outside the pickup window unless this has been checked and confirmed in advance.

China Program Areas

• Guangxi: Rural program area for Culture Week and Rural Teaching, based around Fengyan Village and nearby community locations.
• Huidong: Coastal program area in Guangdong Province for Sea Turtle Conservation.

Orientation and Local Support

Orientation and project introductions are arranged locally. These may include practical information about the area, accommodation, health and safety, local customs, project expectations, and the weekly schedule.

Local coordinators and project staff supervise the program activities and support participants during the scheduled program period.

Accommodation

Accommodation is included from Sunday until Saturday noon of your final week. Participants stay in shared accommodation arranged locally for the program.

Accommodation details can vary by project area, so the final setup for Guangxi or Huidong should be confirmed in your proposal before booking travel.

Meals

Meals are included during the program: three meals per day from Monday to Friday and two meals per day on weekends.

What Is Included

• Project placement
• Pre-departure guidance from Abroad Escape
• Pickup during the regular arrival window where listed
• Transport during the program as per scheduled activities
• Local orientation or project introduction
• Shared accommodation from Sunday until Saturday noon of the final week
• Meals: three per day Monday to Friday and two per day on weekends
• Supervision by experienced local project coordinators
• Local team support

What Is Not Included

• Flights to and from China
• Visa costs
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Additional tours or optional activities
• Transport to the correct meeting point unless clearly stated in your proposal
• Return transfer unless confirmed in your proposal
• Travel between Guangxi and Huidong if you combine separate program areas

Requirements to Join

• Travel insurance is mandatory.
• You should be respectful, open-minded, and ready to follow local guidance.
• For Rural Teaching, patience and confidence working with children are important.
• Background checks or reference letters may be required for projects involving children.
• For Turtle Conservation, you should be comfortable with practical animal care, cleaning, outdoor tasks, and changing reserve conditions.

Accommodation, meals, arrival routes, pickup details, project logistics, and local schedules can vary by program area, project, date, weather, local needs, and transport conditions. Final details should be confirmed in your proposal before booking flights or trains.