Poetry of Heart
- Suzhou Taihu Dong/Xishan Nature Explore & Tea Picking/Bees Workshop
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Heart creates poetry in our life,
gives a dance to our step,
makes our life a joy, a celebration, a festivity, a laughter.

It gives us a sense of humor.
It makes us capable of love, of sharing.
That is true life. 
 
Fulfils the poetry of heart for us,
Tea offers the life pointing through the devotion in heat,
​and dancing along the poetry of life...

​Length: 2 days, 1 night
Location: Suzhou Taihu Dong/Xishan
For more details about the difficulty, click here
About the retreat

Two days enter an ancient village near Taihu lake, slow down our life to catch the peaceful day and night. Explore nature with lower endurance hike, we will hike up to small hills with the paths in wild, cross village, have a meet to the local culture.
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With the season of green tea - Biluochun, all the farmers are working all day along in the tea hills, silent but just as the most pleasant music at the fingertips.

In Autumn or Winter, or by choice, instead of Tea Workshop, we will conduct the Bees/honey workshop instead. we will have the introductory from both bees and the farmer perspective to understand the life of the bees and the farmer.

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Itinerary

Day 1
07:00  Pick up : School Campus 指定地点集合
          (a break after two hours drive in high-way service area) 
09:30  Arrive at Suzhou Dongshan lakeshore,enter village and have a small walk
          抵达太湖边的小村落，入住后漫步探索村子，了解东山文化
12:00  Lunch together 共同午餐
13:30  Hike into nature, follow the path enter nature            
​          徒步周边，登东山莫里峰，太湖边的独特自然于人文环境
16:30  Pickup at the exit of the mountain, and we will visit a local tea factory:
          Local Non-material Culture Heritage Holder Tea Factory visit
          出山口上车后，一起前往当地著名茶厂参观各个工序。
​          本次我们将参观的是非物质遗产传承人炒茶大师严介龙的御封茶厂
18:00  Back to guesthouse, Dinner together  一起晚餐
           Local dessert workshop 餐后制作传统甜品的共同时光
20:30  Free time 自由时光
22:00  Good sleep 静睡

Day 2
07:00  Good morning! Stretch 早起拉伸
08:00  Everybody gets up, breakfast together 所有人起床，早餐
09:00  Tea workshop & tea knowledge in spring season 春季茶叶工作坊
          Structure：Tea Picking, Tea Leaves Selection, Tea Frying, and Taste
          工作坊通过 采茶，检茶，炒茶，品茶，4个节点展开工作坊          

or at other seasons or by choice,
​we will conduct a bees/honey & honey farmer life workshop
其他季节 蜂文化及蜂蜜工作坊
          关于工作坊的流程：
         1, 到达蜂场后简略的参观下了解场地，大家围站开始工作坊
         2, 关于蜜蜂：   
            - 大致介绍下益虫蜜蜂对于人类生活的重要性    
            - 关于蜜蜂的一生，生活习性，蜂群中不同的蜜蜂及角色
         3, 关于蜂农的工作：   
           - 蜂场的选择：利于蜜蜂群居的场所    
           - 平常的工作 ，割蜜 ，准备来年 等等
           -学生动手实践一些工作，比如割蜜，观察蜜蜂王国成员等级，等等。
11:00  Back to village and have a walk around 回到农家，周边漫步
12:00  Lunch and free time 午餐 自由时光
14:30  Return 返程
17:00  Back to campus 回到集合点


Equipment list 装备清单 :
- Hiking shoes 登山鞋
- Hiking poles  登山杖
- Hiking clothes and waterfroof jacket (3rd layer) 徒步服装，外套最好防水透气，以防下雨，如没有，带个雨披(第三层)
- Fleece (2nd layer)  摇粒绒(第二层)
- Quick dry sports wear (1st layer)  运动快干衣(第一层)
- Small backpack 20L  20升徒步小背包
- Drinking bottle 水壶 (可在当地灌装开水)
- Personal toiletries ans towel 个人洗漱用品及毛巾等
- Weather protection, according to the season (Hat, Scarf, Gloves, Sunglasses, etc..) 季节性的防护用品(帽子，围巾，手套，墨镜等)
(For your info, Bees protection clothes set already purchased by YEJO, no need to prepare)
- An open mind (so good for every step of life)   
开放的心态，天下总有不如意的事，可总有开心的人 !
(For your info, Bees protection clothes set already purchased by YEJO, no need to prepare)


Included:
-Transportation From & Back to Campus
-Insurance
-All meals in the itinerary 
-Local workshop & equipment
-Bees protection clothes set
-Leader & organization fee
-Invoice

Not Included:
-Small bottle water not provided
​  ( need to bring refilling water bottle for responsible travel )
-Other costs not mentioned in the itinerary

Equipment list:
- Hiking shoes
- Hiking Jacket & Pants depends on season/or rain coat
- Quick dry sports gear
- Hiking Poles
- Drinking bottle (no soft plastic, as often refill is with boiled water and it melts)
- Backpack to carry your things during the hike (~20L), waterproof small bag to protect phone, wallet etc
- Personal toiletries and towel
- Weather protection, according to the season, Fleece in cold season, sun glasses, cap for sunshine etc

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​Some Local Experience/Workshops 
(we will choose time during the days to conduct )
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Hiking Workshop

Basic hiking workshop covering:
How to dress hiking jackets,
How to walk with hiking poles,
How to start a hike,
What are the key prevention points during a hike.
Outdoor disciplines 
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Tea Workshop

Get to know making of tea; 
Get to know the category of tea;
​Taste the differences

Honey/Bees Workshop
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Get to know the life of bees
Get to know the importance of bees in our human life
What kind of environment is suitable for bees to stay
What are the works of the farmers

Enjoy your vitality,
devote to the Present and experience nature with serenity…
See you soon!
-> INFORMATION & BOOKING