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This programme treats Xi'an as a working archaeological site rather than a sightseeing destination. Students keep a field journal from day one, learn the documentation conventions real excavators use, and then apply them: a researcher-led visit to the Terracotta Army, a restoration workshop where broken pottery is reassembled with the same adhesives and ethics the museum lab uses, and a full simulated dig at a field school.
The city itself becomes data. The Ming wall day has student teams physically measuring rampart dimensions and comparing them against the original Ming specifications; the Stele Forest session puts brushes in hands rather than cameras. Each activity feeds the research question the group carries all week.
The programme runs on a 16/20/30-student basis with two accompanying teachers hosted free of charge. Study base accommodation, all workshop materials, entrance fees and insurance are included; the closing ceremony issues certificates and exhibits each group's findings.
Morning — Arrival and Check-in
Fly into Xi'an and transfer by private vehicle to the study base for check-in.
Afternoon — Opening Ceremony and Lecture
Attend the opening ceremony, where instructors set out the structure and learning objectives of the programme, then listen to 'Chang'an: History of a 13-Dynasty Capital' to establish the historical groundwork for the days ahead.
Evening — The Study Journal Workshop
A workshop on keeping a study journal: standard field-research documentation, how to record what you see, and how to turn notes into evidence.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
Accommodation
Study base: standard twin room with private bathroom, air conditioning and hot water
Morning — The Mausoleum with a Researcher
Visit the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, where a museum researcher walks you through Pits 1, 2 and 3 and the Bronze Chariots. The focus is archaeological: the design logic of the mausoleum, the arrangement of the military array, and what the excavation record can and cannot tell us.
Afternoon — Cultural Relic Restoration Workshop
Enter the restoration workshop and work alongside professional conservators: reassemble pottery fragments, clean corrosion from bronze. You learn quickly how much patience heritage preservation takes.
Evening — Seminar: The Significance of Qin's Unification
Group discussion on the historical significance of Qin's unification of China, analysing the rise of the Qin empire and what it left behind, guided by your instructors.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
Accommodation
Study base: standard twin room with private bathroom, air conditioning and hot water
Morning — The Xi'an Museum with Mission Cards
Explore the Xi'an Museum using themed mission cards focused on Silk Road objects and the treasures of Chang'an, then climb the Small Wild Goose Pagoda to study Buddhist architecture and the techniques of ancient high-rise construction.
Afternoon — Simulated Excavation
Work an authentic simulated excavation: lay out test squares, identify stratigraphy, extract and record artefacts. This is where the rigour — and the excitement — of real fieldwork lands.
Evening — Documentary and Discussion
Watch an archaeology documentary and discuss conservation philosophy and the technology changing heritage preservation.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
Accommodation
Study base: standard twin room with private bathroom, air conditioning and hot water
Morning — Surveying the City Wall
Walk the ancient city wall with measuring tools, recording wall thickness, height and the spacing of the watchtowers, then analyse the spatial layout and military logic of the defence system.
Afternoon — The Stele Forest and Calligraphy
Visit the Stele Forest to study masterworks of calligraphy through the ages, then work under a professional calligrapher on traditional rubbing and brush technique.
Evening — Preparing the Final Presentation
Groups compile their research findings and prepare the materials for the closing presentation.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
Accommodation
Study base: standard twin room with private bathroom, air conditioning and hot water
Morning — Presentations and Closing Ceremony
Each research group delivers its presentation and shows its results. Instructors give feedback and distribute the study tour completion certificates.
Afternoon — Transfer to the Airport
Private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport for your departure flight.
Evening — Departure
Fly home with the notes, the rubbings and the certificates.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch included.
| Group Size | Adult(Age:8-80) Price/p.p | Child(Age:4-7) Price/p.p | Infant(Age:0-3) Price/p.p |
| 16 PAX | from $952 | / | / |
| 20 PAX | from $898 | / | / |
| 30 PAX | from $827 | / | / |
Published: 13 September 2026 — prices and itinerary reviewed on this date; later updates are shown in the revision note below.
Please read the notes below before you book. They cover entry formalities, pace, weather and what to bring.
Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour for your own party, with a dedicated English-speaking guide and vehicle.
Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: Yes. Arrival and departure transfers in Xi'an, Shaanxi are included, and your guide meets you with a name sign at the airport or rail station.
Q: Can the itinerary be customised?
A: Yes. Days can be added, removed or swapped, hotel categories upgraded, and business or school visits arranged, all before you confirm.
Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.
