Menu Apply
China officially follows a single time zone, China Standard Time (CST), which is UTC+8:00, across the entire country, despite its vast geographical size spanning five time zones.
The official currency in China is the Renminbi (Yuan) (CNY). 1 euro equates to 7.6119 Yuans.
The volunteer programs are located in different parts of China, depending on the type of project.
The program timetables may vary, as these are subject to local climatic conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Volunteers will receive three traditional Chinese meals daily,
The arrival window is Sunday between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Volunteers will be picked up by local staff and subsequently transported to their accommodation.
The volunteer programs are located in different parts of China, depending on the type of project. These locations are:
The southern Chinese province of Guilin, renowned for its spectacular landscapes of karst limestone.
The capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan, Chengdu, which is one of western China’s three most inhabited cities.
The rural island of Naozhou.
And the city of Zhanjiang, located on the southern coast of continental China in the Guangdong province. with a total surface area of 12,741 square kilometres and a population of more than 7 million people.
The program timetables may vary, as these are subject to local climatic conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Costs
Depending on the volunteer program:
Volunteers will receive three traditional Chinese meals daily, served in the dining room. Typically, for dinner, volunteers are offered noodles and fried rice, which has been well-received by foreign students in our experience. A vegetarian option is also available.
Just like its economy, China’s transport network has rapidly developed in recent years. The country now boasts the world’s largest road network and the most-used train system.
Flights
Despite being the most expensive method of transport, flying is by far the quickest and most convenient way to travel long distances in China.
The main international airports are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. However, other large cities also have airports for domestic flights.
Trains
This is the most popular method of transport in China, with most large cities having their own metro systems. Besides its vast network of standard rail lines, China also has more than 7000 km of high-speed rail lines.
Bus
For short journeys, buses are a very cheap way of getting around, representing a good alternative when it’s not possible to go by metro.
Taxi
Taxis tend to be cheap and easy to find. However, be sure to agree on a price before starting the journey.
Other alternatives
Bike-taxis and motorbikes are another way of getting around in China, representing another cheap way of getting around. Similarly, we recommend setting the price before starting the journey.
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to China, with arrival scheduled on Sundays between 08:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Upon arrival, they will be transferred to their accommodation to rest and commence their volunteer program on the following Monday.
For the panda conservation volunteer program (Chengdu), the start dates are the following:
| 2020 | |
| January 13 | July 06, 13, 20 & 27 |
| February 03 & 17 | August 03, 10, 17 & 24 |
| March 02 & 16 | September 07 & 21 |
| April 06 & 20 | October 05 & 19 |
| May 04 & 18 | November 02 & 16 |
| June 01, 8, 15, 22 & 29 | December 07 & 21 |
There are many wonderful places to visit in China. A travel guide can give you a list of all the different things to see. However, here are some of our own recommendations:
The Li River
This 80km river, which stretches from Guilin to Yangshuo, passes by a series of magnificent hills, unique cliffs and fascinating caves. Why not take in the views from the comfort of a typical bamboo raft? Especially popular amongst Chinese tourists is a place near Yangshuo, which is pictured on the 20 yuan note.
Yangshuo
This picturesque city is renowned for its hills, rivers and bar-lined streets. Visitors can enjoy many activities such as rafting, cycling and rock climbing during the day, before watching the lights glisten on the Li River as the sun goes down. Be sure to spend at least one weekend here!
Seven Star Park
Renowned for its rock formations, this park has many different attractions such as the Flower Bridge, the Seven Stars Cave, Camel Hill and even a zoo.
The objective of the project is to train young people to be social leaders. The volunteers live in a multicultural environment, work as a team to develop tasks or institutional projects, accompany the beneficiaries in their daily lives or through workshops, and collaborate with the needs of the centers and homes.
Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.
Attention to Centers and Homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.
Social Action The volunteers committed to the project will work alongside the community, involving different actors in society and allowing the full fulfillment of the rights of all people.
When volunteers arrive at the airport, the local coordinator will pick them up and transport them to their accommodation. They will spend the next few days here alongside their fellow volunteers.
At the accommodation, volunteers will receive three meals a day from Monday to Friday and two meals a day on Saturday and Sunday.
The volunteer houses consist of 4-6 person bedrooms, each separated by gender. There is also a shared bathroom and communal areas for all residents in the accommodation.
Upon arrival and settling in at the destination, there will be a welcome meeting with the local coordinators. During this meeting, volunteers will receive information about the area, standard schedules, rules, and details about the program they will be participating in.
Volunteers will enjoy typical Chinese cuisine, with most dishes accompanied by rice and noodles. Vegetarian meals are also available upon request.
In addition to noodles and rice, participants in the Zhanjiang Ocean Conservation Volunteer Program can expect to have a substantial amount of seafood, as Nhauzhnu is a fishing island.
The total cost of the volunteering programme is broken down into 2 parts. The inscription fee that is paid to book your place on the programme costs €210, with the programme fee being paid at a later date.
.
| VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME PERIOD | PROGRAMME FEE (EUROS, €)* | PROGRAMME FEE (USD, $) |
| 1 weeks | 175€ | 197$ |
| 2 weeks | 350€ | 395$ |
| 3 weeks | 525€ | 593$ |
| 1 month (4 weeks) | 700€ | 790$ |
| 5 weeks | 875€ | 988$ |
| 6 weeks | 1050€ | 1186$ |
| 2 months (8 weeks) | 1400€ | 1581$ |
| 10 weeks | 1750€ | 1977$ |
| 3 months (12 weeks) | 2100€ | 2373$ |
*** The costs that are given in euros are estimates, owing to constant fluctuations in conversion rates.
* The Panda conservation volunteering programme (Chengdu) has a special price of €805/week (only 1-week programmes are available).
* The Zhanjiang Ocean conservation volunteering programme (Nhauzhnu Island) has a special cost of €350 for the first week and €350 for every additional week.
Visa, flights, travel insurance (obligatory), vaccines, return to the airport following the programme and other personal expenses.
