MIC calligraphy class gives students a chance for artistic exploration. 

MIC calligraphy class gives students a chance for artistic exploration. 

Local students from CNU gather to play pickup soccer next to the dorm. 

Great Wall jumping at Jinshanling. 

Students make a springtime excursion to the Temple of Heaven. 

As a part of Experience Beijing, students meet with American diplomats to discuss US-China foreign relations and policy. 

Students present content to Chinese classmates at the weekly MIC Salon. 

Sunset at Beijing's Summer Palace. 

All MIC Beijing students take a language pledge for the duration of the semester. 

Scaling the Great Wall at Jinshanling. 

Posing atop the Great Wall at Jinshanling. 

The smoke of incense rises as students study Beijing's Lama Temple. 

Students turn to leave the Lama Temple, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside of Tibet, following an afternoon excursion. 

Peking Opera face painting is not as easy as it looks. 

Students learn Chinese yo-yo skills from the pros themselves--elderly Chinese folks. 

Learning about Peking Opera includes the chance to look the part as well. Above, students paint their faces under the guidance of a Peking Opera instructor. 

Beijing students discuss hot topics in contemporary Chinese culture at the weekly MIC Salon. 

Each spring, Beijing holds a variety of live music festivals including this one which MIC students and staff visited, the Strawberry Music Festival. 

Students visit the 798 Art District with their Experience Beijing project-based class. 

CNU's North No. 1 campus, where MIC Beijing is located, has a much smaller and cozier feel than the sprawling main campus just down the road. The library, pictured above, forms the centerpiece and is surrounded by a quaint courtyard. 

The six story library offers a number of seating areas to study alongside local students. 

Even with the international amenities of the ICP, certain buildings on campus remind students they're still in China. 

Behind the library, students swat a birdie back and forth on the sprinting track. 

Guards watch the school gate as students come and go. 

Soccer and basketball facilities lie adjacent to the dormitory, offering an opportunity for MIC students to play pick-up games with CNU students. 

Interested students are able to supplement their classwork with Chinese magazines and books. 

Inside the library, students jockey for open seats in the library's study area. 

Students walk along this tree-lined lane from the dorm to the school cafeteria. 

Local CNU students volunteer collecting used clothing in front of the library.

In addition to the main two cafeterias on campus, students who don't eat pork have the option of dining at the Halal kitchen just down this road. 

A circular auditorium forms the centerpiece of the ICP, where occasional lectures and performances are held.

Students live in Capital Normal University's International Culture Plaza, located on the North No. 1 campus. The ICP is the newest addition to campus and offers a wide range of amenities, including restaurants and exercise facilities. 

Just beyond the walls of campus, office towers, banks, and other buildings fill the horizon. 

The west view from the International Culture Plaza. The ICP is located on CNU's north campus, near the humanities building, library and cafeteria. In the distance, mountains mark the edge of the city.

The north view from an MIC Beijing dorm room. Next to the ICP, students have access to soccer, basketball and tennis courts as well as a short sprinting track.

All rooms have windows and students enjoy the inflow of sunlight.

MIC Beijing students live in state-of-the-art double occupancy rooms at Capital Normal University's International Culture Plaza. Less than a decade old, the ICP is marked by a cozy and clean interior, attentive room service and a convenient locale in the city.

Each MIC Beijing dorm room is equipped with a private bathroom and shower.

Students share rooms with local students from Capital Normal University, and both students are provided with their own desk space and lamp. Many students make a habit of studying alongside their Chinese roommate or watching Chinese television programs with them to improve listening comprehension.

Rooms provide a comfortable living space for two people, including ample clothing storage space, bookshelves, and adjustable heating and air conditioning.