Woman stands next to statues in China

Shandan Bailie Vocational College entrance to commemorate Rewi Alley.

The Selwyn Sister Cities Committee and the Malvern Community Board are pleased to announce exciting opportunities to explore Sister Cities in Shandan, Gansu Province in China, and Yubetsu in Hokkaido, in northern Japan.

In June, if you are selected as a delegate, you can join other delegates from Selwyn and explore the legacy of Rewi Alley in Selwyn’s Sister City in Shandan in Gansu Province, northwest China. Shandan borders the Gobi Desert and is on the ancient Silk Route. Rewi Alley was born in Springfield and spent 60 years in China working alongside the local communities to develop schools and cooperatives.

Gansu Province’s itinerary includes visits to Dunhuang in the Gobi Desert, Magao Buddhist caves, Zhangye Geological Park, Shandan, Lanzhou on the Yellow River and the Gannan Tibetian Autonomous Prefecture.

This will be followed by a visit to Yubetsu in northern Hokkaido which has a sister city connection to the Malvern Community Board. Yubetsu is an agricultural hub for dairying, flower production, and fishing.

A field of flowers with people scatttered in distance and windmill

Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park

This is an excellent opportunity to experience the culture, history, language and food in Shandan and Yubetsu, and stay in local homes in Yubetsu. These areas are off the main tourist routes meaning you will really get to experience what it is like to live in these largely rural areas in Asia.

You can join the delegation to both areas or pick one. All international, and domestic airfares, and insurance will need to be paid for at your own cost.

In Gansu Province there will be an extra cost of approximately $2,000 for hotels, transport, and tourist activities for seven days.

For more information and to fill out an application form, email selwynsistercities@gmail.com.

Applications close on 3 March.

Last modified: 10 Feb 2025 2:27pm