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Information on Beijing, China

Health and Safety

Beijing, with a population of almost 20 million people, is generally very safe when compared with other major urban areas. The police and security service presence throughout the city serve to deter most serious crimes, but petty crimes do occur with some regularity. Therefore, it is important for participants to always be aware of their surroundings at all times whenever entering or exiting the Yale Center Beijing or Fairmont Hotel. Participants will either have adult supervision or walk in groups with working cell phone(s) when outside of the Hotel or the Center.

Chinese food may be unfamiliar to participants who are not entirely acculturated to the cuisine. All meals will be catered from reputable restaurants, but it is important to take precautions when eating local food. Antacids including Imodium or Pepto-Bismol are recommended especially for participants with sensitive stomachs. Tap water is NOT safe to drink in China, and bottled water will be provided to all participants. For any more serious illnesses that may arise, participants will be treated according to parental permissions at the foremost Western hospital in Beijing, which is Beijing United Family Hospital.

Check the vaccines and medicines list in the registration form, and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks before your trip) to get any necessary vaccinations or other medication that you will need for China.

Restricted Web

Due to the ‘Great Firewall of China,’ many websites and apps in common use in the rest of the world are not accessible in China. These include Google, Gmail, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and more. Individual websites can be tested in real-time using this link: http://www.blockedinchina.net/.

As a result, non-Chinese participants are encouraged to register for a Hotmail or Yahoo email address for the duration of the program to communicate with friends and family outside of China. Alternatively, Skype and Facetime are currently still accessible.

Cell Phones

Participants are required to have a working cell phone number in China. Chinese SIM cards can be purchased at the airport or participants can reserve a SIM card with Yale Center Beijing (YCB). More information on this will be communicated via email.

YYGS will communicate separately with all YYAS Alumni, Young Leaders (YL), and/or YYGS-Qooco Scholarship recipients about this.

Electricity

The electricity in China is generally 220V, 50HZ, AC. Depending on where you live, a voltage converter may be necessary for using your electrical devices in China. In addition, as the shape of a socket varies between countries, a portable plug adaptor may also be necessary. The Chinese standard socket is common in China, Australia, and New Zealand, but in few other countries. We strongly recommend purchasing any converters and/or adapters prior to your arrival to Beijing.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is an ongoing serious matter in Beijing. The air quality is measured in China in terms of AQI (Air Quality Index). The air quality in Beijing may be hard for people who have heart and respiratory system conditions. YYGS suggests its participants to wear N95 respirators when going outside on heavily polluted days.

You can monitor the air quality in Beijing at http://www.beijing-air.com and at http://iphone.bjair.info or follow @airmattersco on Twitter.

Getting to Beijing, China

All participants must enter their arrival and departure plans in CampDoc no later than May 20.

Check-in at the Fairmont Hotel: 8:00 a.m. – *5:30 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Sunday, July 28
*We extended timing for check-in and the free aiport shuttle on July 28th in response to flight arrival times.

Participants should plan on arriving at the Fairmont Hotel no later than 5:30 p.m. so they have time to check-in and drop off their belongings before completing the registration process at Yale Center Beijing . Participants who expect to arrive prior to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the session will check-in individually at the Fairmont Hotel and should call the Asia Program Manager upon arrival (number to be provided in mid-July.) Dinner, orientation programming, and activities will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. YYGS staff will walk participants from the hotel to the Center in groups.

If participants cannot arrive at the Fairmont Hotel by 5:30 p.m. on July 28, they may choose to arrive on July 27 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at an additional cost of $125.00 USD (payable through CampDoc). If participants plan on arriving a day early, please indicate this on the Part 2 of the online CampDoc form so we can make the necessary reservations.

Check-out from the Fairmont Hotel:  6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 10

At the conclusion of the program, all participants must be checked out and picked up no later than 12:00 pm on August 10. Please note that it is not possible to stay on site after this time, nor can the program or staff be responsible for any participant after the program concludes.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

Participants* in the Asia in the 21st Century (ATC) session are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Beijing and to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Beijing (please see below for details on YYGS shuttles from the PEK airport). The Fairmont Hotel is 40 minutes from Beijing Capital International Airport, 15 minutes from Oriental Plaza or Wangfujing Street, and just 20 minutes from Financial Street by car. Click here for a map and directions.

Participants traveling to the program must obtain appropriate identification to travel within China.

*YYGS will communicate with all YYAS Alumni, Young Leaders (YL), and YYGS-Qooco Scholarship recipients about ANY/ALL travel arrangements separately.

Traveling by Car or Taxi

Download a printable version of the hotel’s bilingual - English & Chinese map. Please print this map and keep it with you. The detailed instructions will ensure the taxi driver finds the hotel.

Traveling by Plane

If you are flying internationally, we strongly suggest flying into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Beijing Capital Airport is approximately 25 miles from central Beijing and is served by hundreds of airlines from airports all over the world.

Please check with your airline for unaccompanied minor procedures (if applicable). YYGS does not provide arrival escorts/chaperones for students who choose to travel as unaccompanied minors (UMs) with their airlines. YYGS will not register staff members at the airport to “sign-out” arriving participants and are not able to accompany any unaccompanied minors to or from their home airport and/or any connecting airports. YYGS does provide staff to meet students at PEK Airport in Beijing as part of their Free Airport Shuttle service options as detailed below.

FREE AIRPORT SHUTTLE - We extended timing for check-in and the free aiport shuttle on July 28th in response to flight arrival times.

SUNDAY, July 28: We will run a free shuttle service from PEK to Fairmont Hotel for students from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on arrival day. If you plan on using this free shuttle service, you must indicate it on your CampDoc Travel Form. Please note that you may have to wait at the airport with YYGS staff for up to three (3) hours before departing for Fairmont Hotel while we wait for other students to arrive. Students arriving at PEK outside of these hours will need to arrange their own transportation to Fairmont Hotel.

SATURDAY, August 10: We will also provide free shuttles at 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 12:00 pm on departure day from Fairmont Hotel to PEK for participants flying out of Beijing Capital International Airport at the conclusion of the program. Participants flying out at all other times or by other means will be responsible for arranging their own transportation from Fairmont Hotel.

Traveling by Train/Bus

Most of Beijing’s long-distance bus and train stations are conveniently served by Beijing’s extensive Metro system. The closest subway station is Yong’anli.

Residential Information

Housing in Beijing

All YYGS participants and staff will be staying at the Fairmont Hotel, conveniently located within steps from Yale Center Beijing, for the duration of the program. Participants will be living in doubles equipped with a private bathroom and shower as well as air conditioning. Participants do NOT need to pack linens or towels unless they prefer to use their own.

Room Cards

At check-in on the first day of the program, participants will receive a room card that unlocks their room door in the Fairmont Hotel. If a participant loses their room card, they should get a replacement card from the front desk in the hotel lobby. Participants are responsible for any costs associated with replacing lost room cards.

Laundry

Participants can have laundry done at Fairmont Hotel, but laundry costs at the hotel are extremely expensive and charged on a per-item basis. As a result, we recommend all participants bring enough clothing to last them for the duration of the program.

Mail

We do not accept any mail for participants during the ATC session.

Meals at YYGS

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be offered every day throughout the program to participants. All three (3) meals are included in tuition fees. Meals begin with dinner on the day of check-in and end with breakfast on the day of check-out.

If you have any specific dietary needs or restrictions, including food allergies and religious observances, please provide that information when you register in CampDoc.com (Part 1 of the Registration Form). We are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions.

Wi-Fi and Computer Equipment

Program participants will be provided with access to the secure Yale Wi-Fi network available at Yale Center Beijing upon check-in. There is Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, but please note that the internet speed can be quite slow at times.

Each participant* is required to bring their own laptop and is responsible for its security. Netbooks or tablets with keyboards are acceptable alternatives. Participants who cannot bring a laptop or tablet to the program may rent a program tablet through CampDoc for $100.00 USD ($50.00 USD fee + $50.00 USD refundable deposit). If the tablet is returned undamaged you will receive your $50.00 USD deposit back via CampDoc after your session. Should the tablet be returned damaged or in any way altered, we reserve the right to keep your deposit. Please note YYGS has a limited supply of tablets and they are on a first-come first-serve basis.

*YYGS will communicate separately with all YYAS Alumni, Young Leaders (YL), and YYGS-Qooco Scholarship recipients about this.

Rules for Attending ATC in Beijing

Name Tags

Participants must wear the nametags provided at all times during the ATC session, with the exception of when participants are in their hotel rooms.

Program Boundaries

During the program, participants may not leave the Fairmont Hotel or Yale Center Beijing for any reason unless accompanied by a staff member, a registered visitor, or during free time in a group of three (3) or more.

A boundary map will be provided for your safety; this is set to ensure that we know where you are in case of an emergency. There will be serious consequences for going outside of the established boundaries – up to and including dismissal from the program. If for any reason you need to go outside the boundaries, you must first obtain permission from a member of the YYGS Leadership Team.

Beijng is generally a very safe city, but traffic can be difficult to navigate. You should only cross the street at designated crosswalks, and only when traffic lights indicate it is okay to do so. Even then, you should always be sure to check to make sure there is no oncoming traffic before crossing. Cars, electric scooters, and bicycles do not always stop for pedestrians so it is best to exercise a high degree of caution when crossing the street.

Additionally, as with most tourist destinations, pickpocketing and theft are common occurrences in Beijing. Make sure that you keep a close eye on all of your belongings throughout your time in Beijing, and always keep your room locked at the Fairmont Hotel.

Cultural Excursions

You will visit various parts of Beijing during Cultural Excursions on three days throughout the program. During all excursions, you must always stay with your assigned excursion group. There will be serious consequences for leaving your assigned excursion group – up to and including dismissal from the program.

Visitors

All visitors must check in and sign in with our Health & Residential Life Coordinator (HRLC). While parents/legal guardians may visit their children during the program, we strongly recommend visits be limited to lunch or dinner in order to minimize the interruption of program activities. Other visitors (relatives, friends) also are welcome outside of class time, but any persons other than parents will need to be authorized by a parent or guardian. Authorization must be done via an email. to the Asia Program Manager. All participants and visitors must sign out with the HRLC before leaving the boundaries and sign in upon return.

Visitors are NOT allowed to attend lectures, seminars, writing/policy groups, or simulations without written permission of the Program Manager.

Leaving ATC

YYGS highly discourages participants from leaving in the middle of the session for any amount of time as it is a rigorous program and we have full-day schedules, however if there is a need to leave, participants must obtain permission from the Asia Program Manager. In order to obtain permission, a parent or legal guardian must send an email to the Asia Program Manager with a scanned copy of their identification so that the relationship can be verified.

If participants leave the program without using the established sign-out/sign-in procedures, then they will be considered to have “run away” and parents and authorities will be contacted. This is a serious infraction of YYGS policy that may result in dismissal from the program. YYGS cannot guarantee the safety of a participant who disobeys the program’s boundaries and/or the sign-out/sign-in protocol.

Rules for Living at the Fairmont

FAIRMONT HOTEL

During the program you will be staying at the Fairmont Hotel and sharing a room with another participant. Note that the Fairmont Hotel will continue to host non-YYGS guests for the duration of the YYGS program, so please be respectful to other guests at the hotel.

Rights of Roommates and Suitemates

Roommates must respect each other’s rights, possessions, and space. Communication and compromise are vital to a positive roommate experience. You and your roommates are encouraged to try to resolve roommate difficulties on your own at first, but should seek help from YYGS staff when facing difficulties that you cannot resolve on your own.

Room Changes

There will be no room changes except under exceptional circumstances, and then only when authorized by the Asia Program Manager. YYGS staff are available to help participants work through any issues that arise between roommates and will do so confidentially.

Hotel Room Cards

When checking in, you will receive a room card to access the hotel elevator and your room. Please carry your room card with you at all times for security reasons, and to avoid getting locked out of your room. If you are locked out of your room, you will need to go to the front desk in the hotel lobby and have them provide you with a temporary room card to enter your room. If you lose your room card, you will be responsible for paying any associated fees.

Rooms should be kept locked at all times. Yale Young Global Scholars is not responsible for any stolen items or money.

Cleaning and Responsibility for Damage

You are expected to keep your room clean throughout the session. In the event of any significant damage to your room during your stay, your parents will be informed and they will be required to cover the cost of the damage.

Curfew

You must be in your assigned room at the Fairmont Hotel each night by 10:15 p.m. At this time, a staff member will come through and do a floor check. After 10:15 p.m., you may not leave your assigned rooms unless it is a medical emergency. Please call the program phone if you have an emergency. Lights must be turned off by 12:00 a.m.

Visiting Other Participants’ Rooms

You may visit the rooms of other participants of the same gender until 10:15 p.m.

Each participant’s floor in the hotel will be devoted specifically to one gender so there is no reason for participants to enter the floor of the opposite gender. You may not visit the hotel floor or room of participants of the opposite gender. YYGS staff and instructors will be living on split gender floors along with participants.

If participants of opposite genders need to work together on a project, they can do so in the many common spaces provided.

Laundry

Participants can have laundry done at the Fairmont Hotel, but laundry costs at the hotel are extremely expensive and charged on a per-item basis. As a result, we recommend all participants bring enough clothing to last them for the duration of the program.

Gym & Pool

There is a gym at the Fairmont Hotel that participants may use during free time. In order to use the gym, you must first get the necessary authorization from your parent/guardian via completion of the registration forms in CampDoc.

Participants are NOT permitted to use the pool at the Fairmont Hotel at any time during YYGS as there is no lifeguard on duty.

Right of Entry and Room Search

YYGS staff reserve the right to enter your room at any time for health, safety, or maintenance reasons, and to ensure that the use of the room conforms with program regulations.

YYGS staff may conduct a room search for health or safety reasons, or if there is a reasonable belief that there may be drugs, alcohol, weapons, stolen property, and/or any other materials that are in violation of program rules and regulations in the room. In the interest of safety and security, YYGS staff may conduct this search without your presence.

Packing List for ATC

Things to bring with you:

  • Government-Issued Photo Identification (ID) and Valid Travel Documents
  • Student Identification (high school ID from your respective country)
  • Cell Phone with Chinese SIM Card (if possible)
  • Laptop Computer, Tablet, or Equivalent
    • If you do not have a note-taking device, you may rent a program tablet through CampDoc for $100.00 ($50.00 fee + $50.00 refundable deposit). YYGS has limited tablets and they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.*
  • Voltage Transformer and Adaptor (if traveling to ATC from outside China)
  • Toiletries (shampoo, soap, deodorant/antiperspirant, toothpaste, toothbrush)
  • Pens or pencils and notebooks or writing tablets
  • Water Bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Prescription medications in original bottles/containers with dosage information
  • Umbrella and light rain jacket
  • N95 Mask
  • USB thumb or key drive
  • Formal Attire (for Capstone Presentation and Networking Event)
  • Costume, musical instrument and/or prop (optional, for Multicultural Showcase)

*To register and submit payment on CampDoc for Early Arrival or Tablet Rental, click on ‘Registration’ on the left side of your screen and begin by selecting ‘Register for a New Session’. YYGS will communicate about these items separately with all YYAS Alumni, Young Leaders (YL), and YYGS-Qooco Scholarship recipients.

FAQs for ATC

What should I wear?

The dress code at YYGS is a fairly relaxed one, and we promote a professional but comfortable learning environment. Be aware that summers in Beijing can be quite warm and humid with occasional rain. Participants should keep in mind that they will be interacting with Yale University students and staff on a daily basis. Here is what we suggest:

      For the morning, afternoon and evening times: T-shirts or polo shirts, or blouses, and jeans, light pants, or modest shorts.

      For the final program exercise and end-of-program dinner and graduation event: One or two dressy outfits such as dresses, suits, blouse/shirt and skirt/slacks, blazer with tie, or similar.

      Please do NOT bring: Cut-offs, short” shorts, mini-skirts, halter or strapless tops, muscle shirts, shirts with large graphics or type, ripped, shredded, or damaged clothing, party clothing or club wear, clothing that is distracting or otherwise of poor/questionable taste.

Do I need to bring spending money?
A common concern is how much spending money a participant should bring with him or her to the program. Tuition covers housing and all three (3) meals per day, so basic needs are covered, and no additional spending money is required. However, you should bring any funds you want to cover your personal expenses such as snacks, bottled water, supplies, and any local shopping (e.g., souvenirs, personal purchases).

 

ATC is located in the heart of Beijing, and there are a variety of restaurants and coffee shops nearby that many participants choose to visit while supervised by program staff. Students will be able to exchange cash at the airport or use the ATM at a nearby bank.

 

Am I allowed to explore Beijing on my own?

No. For security purposes, participants must be accompanied by a YYGS staff member or travel in groups of three (3) or more participants and stay within the set boundaries. Participants should have their cell phones fully charged and set to ring. ATC includes excursions to various locations in and around Beijing, and participants will always be accompanied by YYGS staff during these excursions.

 

Will I be able to attend religious services while I’m in Beijing?

Unfortunately, due to the intensive nature of YYGS, students will not be able to attend religious services during the session in Beijing. If there are any special circumstances, please contact us to see if an exception can be made.

 

Is there a gym I can use?

Yes, students will be able to access the hotel gym if parental/guardian permission is granted through completion of registration materials on CampDoc.com.

 

How is housing assigned?

Yale Young Global Scholars housing is assigned by self-identified gender (i.e., male suites and female suites, all of which also accommodate students who identify as “Other” and/or with “They/Them/Theirs” pronouns). YYGS promotes a diverse and inclusive community committed to the values of respect and dignity. The YYGS Leadership team strives to tailor the residential experience to meet the needs of all participants, and to ensure that each individual has a sense of belonging at YYGS.

 

Am I required to have a working cell phone in China?

Participants should have a working cell phone in China for safety purposes. We understand if this is not possible, and we will work with the participant to ensure they are with someone who has a working cell phone.

 
What happens if I am sick or injured?
Don’t worry! We have a health and residential life coordinator who is available to help address any health concerns. If necessary, there are several local and Western hospitals nearby. As long as you keep taking any medicine you normally do at home, drink and eat right, and get enough sleep every night, you should have nothing to worry about.