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This 14-day imperial-culture camp journeys through Beijing and Xi'an — China's two greatest dynastic capitals — weaving daily Chinese lessons with UNESCO heritage sites, calligraphy, paper-cutting, and philosophy. It is built for middle and high-school students seeking deep cultural immersion.
In Beijing you explore the Forbidden City (built 1406–1420, a 72-hectare palace and UNESCO site) and the Temple of Heaven (1420); in Xi'an the Terra-cotta Army (1974, UNESCO) and the 13.74-km Ming City Wall. Hands-on sessions cover calligraphy, paper-cutting, Confucianism, and Taoism.
The route runs Beijing → Xi'an by high-speed rail, with on-site coordinators managing lodging and safety. A two-capital base lets students contrast Ming imperial Beijing with Tang–Qin Xi'an across two weeks.
Forbidden City — A 72-hectare Ming palace built 1406–1420 with 980 surviving buildings, now a UNESCO site.
Temple of Heaven — A 1420 imperial altar complex where emperors prayed for harvests, a UNESCO site since 1998.
Tiananmen Square — The large civic square fronting the Forbidden City in central Beijing.
Terra-cotta Army — The 1974-discovered Xi'an UNESCO site guarding Qin Shi Huang with 8,000 warriors.
Xi'an City Wall — A 13.74-km Ming wall of 1370, China's most complete ancient city rampart.
Calligraphy workshop — Learn brush writing and classic characters with a teacher's guidance.
Paper-cutting session — Cut traditional red-paper folk patterns tied to Chinese festivals and luck.
Confucianism class — Discuss Confucian ideas of family, learning, and society in Chinese history.
Taoism session — Explore Taoist balance and nature philosophy through stories and practice.
High-speed rail — Travel Beijing to Xi'an by high-speed rail, comparing two imperial capitals.
Participants arrive in Beijing and complete a seamless hotel check-in with a welcome kit provided by the camp. This day is for settling into the accommodation and adjusting to the new time zone, with free time for personal arrangement. Bilingual staff are on call 24/7 for any assistance, and professional time zone adjustment support is available to ensure a smooth start to the camp.
Morning — Welcome Ceremony & Basic Chinese
Attend the official welcome ceremony with camp organizers and cultural mentors, then receive a detailed program briefing and overview of learning objectives. Take a basic Chinese class focusing on pronunciation, common characters, and daily greetings.
Afternoon — Forbidden City
Join a guided tour of the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1420 to 1912. Your guide explains the ancient palace architecture and the imperial culture of China across its hundreds of surviving buildings.
Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning — Daily Chinese Conversation
Take a practical Chinese conversation class, learning phrases for daily travel, dining, and basic communication scenarios. Practice speaking in a relaxed, supportive setting.
Afternoon — Calligraphy & Paper-cutting Workshop
Participate in a two-hour calligraphy and paper-cutting workshop led by a local master, with all craft materials provided. These traditional Chinese arts date back thousands of years, and your finished works can be kept as personal souvenirs.
Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning — Lecture on Chinese Culture & Philosophy
Attend a special lecture on Chinese culture and traditional philosophy, including Confucianism and Taoism, and their influence on modern China. The session is delivered by a university cultural studies expert.
Afternoon — National Museum of China
Visit the National Museum of China, located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and one of the largest museums in the world, with a collection of over a million artifacts. Explore Chinese history from ancient cultural relics through to modern national development.
Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning — Farewell & check-out
Begin with light morning exercise, then enjoy a warm farewell breakfast together. After check-out, gather for group photos and a farewell gathering to say goodbye to teachers and friends, keeping the memories of the camp.
Afternoon — Airport / station drop-off
Your guide and driver will provide a safe, orderly transfer from the hotel to the airport or railway station, ensuring a smooth start to your journey home.
Morning — High-speed rail to Xi'an
Transfer from Beijing to Xi'an aboard a Fuxing (Harmony) high-speed train, traveling in first-class comfort. The journey crosses the heart of China at speeds up to 300 km/h, offering a smooth introduction to the country's world-class railway network.
Afternoon — Hotel check-in
Arrive at Xi'an North Railway Station and transfer to your Xi'an hotel, where your guide will help you check in and settle in after the trip.
Evening — Local streets & snacks
Enjoy free time to explore Xi'an's local streets and taste authentic Shaanxi snacks — from roujiamo and cold noodles to grilled skewers — as the city lights up for the evening.
Accommodation
Your hotel in Xi'an.
Morning — Chinese for Cultural Description
Take a Chinese language class focusing on vocabulary and sentences for describing Chinese culture and historical sites. Build confidence in narrating what you see on today's excursion.
Afternoon — Xi'an Ming City Wall
Join a guided tour of the Xi'an Ming City Wall, the most complete and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, built in 1370 AD and stretching about 13.7 kilometers around the old city. Choose to explore on foot or by bicycle while learning about ancient city defense architecture.
Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning — Festival culture lecture
Attend an expert lecture on Chinese traditional festivals — including Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival — exploring their origins, customs, and cultural meaning. You will learn how these celebrations reflect Chinese values of family, reunion, and seasonal rhythm.
Afternoon — Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta), one of China's most important Buddhist landmarks. First built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang, the 64-meter pagoda stands in a spacious square with musical fountains. It is a key site on the Silk Road and a symbol of the cultural exchange between China and the wider Buddhist world.
Evening — At your leisure
The evening is free for you to relax or explore the surroundings of the pagoda at your own pace.
Morning — Chinese for Historical Sites
Take a practical Chinese class focused on specialized language for describing historical sites and cultural artifacts. Practice the vocabulary you'll use when touring museums and ancient monuments.
Afternoon — Terracotta Warriors Museum
Join a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site guarding the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Discovered by local farmers in 1974, the site contains thousands of life-sized warriors, each with unique facial features, alongside horses and chariots.
Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning — Philosophy lecture
Attend a lecture on how traditional Chinese philosophy — including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism — continues to shape modern Chinese society, values, and daily life. The session connects ancient ideas to contemporary issues in an accessible way.
Afternoon — Tang Paradise
Visit Tang Paradise (Datang Furong Yuan), a large Tang-style cultural theme park that reconstructs the royal Furong Garden of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) around a scenic lake. Covering roughly 165 acres, it features replica Tang architecture, gardens, and regular performances of ancient music, dance, and court rituals that bring the prosperity of the Tang era to life.
Evening — At your leisure
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure after a full day of culture and history.
Morning — Chinese expression practice
Practice comprehensive Chinese expression through interactive exercises such as role-plays and group discussions, building confidence for real-life communication. You will also begin preparing for the final cultural project presentation to be delivered later in the camp.
Afternoon — Xi'an High-Tech Zone
Visit the Xi'an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, a major national innovation hub established in 1991 in the south of the city. Here you can see how Xi'an blends its deep historical heritage with modern technology, from aerospace and software to new-energy industries.
Evening — At your leisure
The evening is free for you to review your Chinese studies and finalize ideas for the project presentation.
Morning — Cultural association exchange
Join a collaborative exchange seminar or a joint cultural exhibition together with local Chinese cultural associations. It is a chance to discuss traditions, arts, and daily life with Chinese peers and to experience grassroots cultural exchange first-hand.
Afternoon — Free exploration of Xi'an
Spend the afternoon exploring Xi'an on your own. The Muslim Quarter near the Drum Tower is highly recommended for its lively street food and local culture — try specialties such as roujiamo (Chinese burger), biangbiang noodles, and yangrou paomo (mutton stew with bread). Alternatively, join an optional cross-cultural debrief with fellow camp participants to reflect on the experience.
Evening — At your leisure
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure, whether that means more wandering through Xi'an's night streets or relaxing at the hotel.
• Morning: Deliver the formal "China through My Eyes" Cultural Project Report & Presentation (group or individual options available, with bilingual judges and audience).
• Afternoon: Attend the official closing ceremony, including completion certificate presentation, cultural performances, and a souvenir exchange activity.
Morning — Flexible departure
This is the final day of the Cultural Theme camp. After breakfast at your own pace, you are free to depart Xi'an at a time that suits your onward travel plans.
Afternoon — Optional transfer
Complimentary private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport or the railway station is provided by the camp, so you can reach your departure point without worry.
Evening — At your leisure
No scheduled activities are arranged on this day, leaving the evening entirely free for rest or last-minute packing before your journey home.
| Adult(Age:8-80) Price/p.p | Child(Age:4-7) Price/p.p | Infant(Age:0-3) Price/p.p |
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Most participants need a Chinese visa; short study visits often use an L or F visa, so confirm the right type with the Chinese embassy. Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada, Australia, and the UK (through 31 Dec 2026) get short visa-free stays, and 57 countries qualify for 240-hour transit visa-free with an onward ticket.
Best seasons are spring and autumn. The pace is light to moderate: classroom time plus site walks at heritage parks; comfortable casual dress. Coordinators manage safety, lodging, and schedule in both cities.
Dress — Casual comfortable clothing and good walking shoes for sites.
Payment — Cash or international card for personal extras.
Booking — Reserve 4 weeks ahead for group lodging and tickets.
Who — Suitable for middle and high-school students; supervision provided throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this camp for?
A: It is designed for middle and high-school students wanting deep Chinese cultural immersion. No prior Chinese is needed.
Q: Do students need Chinese?
A: No prior Chinese is needed. Daily lessons start from beginner level and build gradually.
Q: How do we travel between Beijing and Xi'an?
A: The group takes China's high-speed rail. Coordinators manage the transfer and on-site safety.
Q: Do students need a visa?
A: Most need a Chinese visa; short study often uses an L or F visa. Confirm the type with the embassy.
