Volunteer in China

A Guide to Volunteering in China

There are so many benefits of applying to volunteer in China including getting to visit spectacular sights like the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors. Placements can be joined in cities like Xi'an, Beijing and more locations like rural villages and towns. In Chengdu there are various wildlife conservation programs running.

Where you go really depends on the program you are interested in - China is a huge country so research all places/projects before applying. Also don't worry if you don't speak Mandarin, most local staff speak English and there are in-country lessons for you to improve your language skills. Applying is a great way to spend an amazing trip or gap year in China!

How You Can Help

You can join placements throughout the country in places like Beijing, Shanghai, X'ian and Chengdu.

Community Programs in China

China is a really popular teaching destination, you can find lots of placements and some of these can be paid. Spending time volunteering in China is an exciting prospect and its easy to see why it is such a popular destination. There are lots of community based projects available compared to other countries and whilst the living standards are very high whilst there are lots of people in need.

You could volunteer and teach English in China, China has a well structured education system and they really appreciate help from internationals. You could apply for placements at schools, colleges and language schools. No previous experience is needed for most unskilled projects and you will also have a lot of fun. Working at orphanages and with disadvantaged people at care centres is also rewarding.

Budding medics and dentists, undergraduate medical students or even skilled professionals can help out in the needy hospitals in China which are welcoming volunteers with open arms to Medicine placements.

Conservation Projects & Volunteering with Animals in China

There are several opportunities to help both the environment and wildlife in China.

What to Expect

You will need to be elgible for a Chinese tourist visa to participant, these will need to be attained in advance of departing. Chinese people are very welcoming and this is a very safe country to spend time in. You will usually be asked to help around 5 hours per day Monday - Friday with weekends off, this can vary depening on the project though. Lots of excursions can be arranged in country, some more highlights include seeing the Terracotta Warriors, walking the Great Wall of China,exploring the Forbidden City, joining a Yangtze river cruise, visiting the ancient Silk Road and going to to beautiful Li River in Guangxi Province.

How to Apply

On our directory you can find structured, low cost and free volunteer opportunities in China. Placements can be joined during summer and every month of the year.

A lot of organisations will require you to be aged 18 and over when you join a program but you will need to check with the individual project first. Some international organisations offers structured placements where you will need to pay a fee. This usually included pre-departure information, placements, 24/7 in-house support, transfer on arrival, accommodation in serviced volunteer house, three quality meals a day, donations to project, and project-related transport/costs. You will need to pay for flights, visas and insurance.

If you need any help arranging a volunteer placement in China please get in touch. You might also like to view all of our volunteering programs in Asia.

Volunteer in China for Free

To volunteer for free in China you will need to apply with a local NGO or charity. Sometimes you will still need to cover your accommodation and food though. Finding free and low cost programs where you can just turn up to can be diffcult.

China Volunteer Reviews

If you have ever volunteered in China and would like to review an organisation/project, share your experience or give any advice for future participants write an article for us.

"I spent a year volunteering in China with Project Trust and I had a wonderful time. I did have some ups and downs but I made some of my best friends and did some amazing things. Overall I would recommend going to China!" - Laura