Medical practice in China isn't divided into conventional practices and the ‘alternative’ or ‘complimentary’. What makes medical work experience in China so unique is that traditional forms of Chinese medicine are combined with more conventional western techniques and a more holistic approach to patient care and health is adopted.

Like our other medical placements how much you can do is dependent on your previous experience. You will be assigned a supervisor who will discuss which areas of medicine you are interested in, arrange a programme for you and be on hand to offer any support needed.

The structure of your programme will depend on your past experience, areas of interest and language skills but many of our volunteers start their projects in a hospital for disabled children, where our physiotherapy volunteers are also based. This gives you the opportunity to get ‘hands-on’ and also gain first hand experience of how treatements such as massage therapy are used alongside more conventional techniques. You will then move on to a larger community hospital which will provide the opportunity to spend time with doctors and nurses in a variety of different medical fields.

This is perhaps the most unique programme that we can offer the budding medic at Global Volunteer Projects. Whereas the clinics you will spend time in will be modern, many of the techniques and practices will date back down the ages and this really will be the opportunity to see medicine in a completely new and fascinating way.

This project is not just for budding medical students, this programme may also be suitable for those about to study:

• Nursing
• Physiotherapy
• Dentistry

Accommodation

During your time with us in China, you will be staying in hostel type accommodation in Beijing. Whether you are teaching, on the journalism placement or working in hospitals, all the volunteers stay together in the same accommodation which means that you are never far away from someone to socialise with in the evenings or travel with at weekends. Two people share a comfortable twin bedroom. The standard of the accommodation will basic and not be what you are used to at home so please don’t expect all mod cons, but it will be clean and tidy.

The accommodation is centrally located for all our placements and for sightseeing in Beijing. Tiananmen Square, The Beijing Theatre House, The Forbidden City and many of Beijing’s attractions are within easy commuting distance. In fact you may pass some of them on your way to your placement or project! You will be able to travel around easily and cheaply on Beijing’s very efficient underground metro. All the stops are listed in Chinese script but you’ll soon get the hang of it and our staff will give you an introduction on how to use the system and what to look out for. The Great Wall of China is only a short bus ride away too!

Our staff will be on hand during office hours if you have any general queries and only a phone call away outside office hours if there’s something much more urgent.

The cost of our programmes includes 10 basic Chinese lessons and these will be conducted during free time in the evenings. Not only is learning some Chinese incredibly useful, we also feel that it is important in understanding a bit more about Chinese culture.

If you are interested in learning a bit more about Chinese culture we can also arrange the following course for you during your time with us. These courses cost extra but we believe are well worth the money and a must for anyone who is keen to learn a bit more about there host country, or maybe just a new skill!

• Calligraphy & Chinese painting :: 10 classes (2 classes/day) incl. stationery :: £120
• Beijing Opera :: 5 classes :: £80
• Chinese Ancient Poetry appreciation :: 10 classes (2 classes/day) :: £60
• Chinese Kongfu :: 12 classes (3 classes/day) :: £120
• Chinese Tea Arts :: 10 classes (2 classes/day) :: £60
• Chinese Paper-cutting :: 8 classes (2 classes/day) :: £60
• Chinese traditional Dough Figure Sculpting :: 8 classes (2 classes/day) :: £75
• Chinese Folk Music :: 10 classes (2 classes/day) :: £60

Weekends

Weekends are free and, depending on how many volunteers are overseas with you, you are based in the same accommodation which means that you can easily go travelling at weekends. However, you are ideally placed to visit some of China’s most important monuments. Historic Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and many other interesting sites are only a short commute away. Additionally, The Great Wall of China is only a short bus ride away. If you are interested in taking an organised trip, our partners overseas can arrange the following excursions:

• Great Wall
• The Ming Tombs
• Forbidden City
• Wangfujing
• Ceremony of Raising the National flag
• Great Hall of the People
• Summer Royal Palace
• Royal Courtyard house
• Temple of Heaven
• Yonghegong (The Lama Temple)

0845 344 7627

Joining Global Volunteer Projects is as much about learning as it is about giving. As well as gaining work experience on journalism and medical projects, you'll learn the local language and immerse in the local culture - maybe drumming in Ghana, or yoga in India. Teaching, conservation, orphanage placements also available.