An Itinerary: China-US Water-Focused International Exchange

I've been fortunate enough to be accepted for a Young Professionals Exchange program funded by the US Department of State - Water Here and There: International Fellows. I'll be traveling with eleven other Americans, mostly scientifically and technically-trained water resource professionals. Our goals including (1) better understanding water resource issues in China, where 20% of the world's population works with only 7% of the world's water resources, and (2) developing opportunities for working with Chinese individuals and organizations to address the water resource crisis. I anticipate learning a great deal. Mere mention of China in the US sparks intense reaction - good and bad, but never indifference. I'll try to burrow into the experience of being and traveling in China here.

At the moment I'm just laying out our itinerary, which has been organized through the Association for International Practical Training.

June 6: Arrive in Beijing, Learn about Chinese National Policy, Policy-Making Process, And China's Water Resource Issue and Associated Current Projects

June 7: Meet with US Embassy, Lecture on China Water Issues, Visit Water Diversion Project in South Beijing

June 8: Free Day, Great Wall of China

June 9: Beijing Inner City Water Quality Improvement Project, Beijing Normal University

June 10: Great Rivers Project, Yangtze River Water Protection

June 11: Free Day, Forbidden City and City Tour

June 12: Travel to Alashan, Focus: Desertification and Water in Northwestern China (Check out the National Geographic Scoop on Alashan Here)

June 13: Conservation Project Site, National Park

June 14: Exchange Session with Local Government Agency, Depart for Zhongwei

June 15: China Academy of Sciences, Yellow River Irrigation System for Yinchuan Plane

June 16: Yinchuan City Water Systems Protection and Management

June 17: Travel to Shanghai

June 18: Industrialization of Yangtze River Delta, Visit Shanghai City Planning Center

June 19: Free Day, World Expo

June 20: Presentation: Water, Environmental Change and Health in China

June 21: Visit Wetland Conservation Area in Shanghai

June 22: Shanghai

June 23: Shanghai

June 24: Free Day

June 25: Travel to Beijing

June 26: Return to US