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A 14-Day Immersive Study Tour Across Eastern China
Modern China: Urban Transformation & Living Traditions
4 Cities | 14 Days｜Starts from £2,600
Key Details
From Shanghai’s global financial skyline to Hangzhou’s digital economy and tea heritage, this journey reveals how commerce, culture, and innovation intersect in modern China.
Through 5 Academic Workshops and 4 Industry Visits, students move beyond observation into applied analysis. They engage directly with business leaders and innovators, explore platform economies and high-tech industries, and examine how heritage, branding, and urban strategy generate economic value.
Blending finance, entrepreneurship, and cultural economy, the programme connects classroom theory with real-world business practice — equipping students with analytical insight, global perspective, and future-ready skills.
Academic Positioning & Learning Outcomes
Designed for ambitious students aged 16 and above, this pre-university enrichment programme combines structured academic workshops with immersive cultural study. It is ideal for students pursuing A-Level or IB pathways in Art & Design, Politics, History, International Relations, and Business, and for those preparing competitive university applications. The programme develops:
- Cross-cultural analytical thinking
- Understanding of China’s role in global innovation and urban development
- Critical engagement with AI, education, and cultural heritage
- Presentation and discussion skills at university level
- Substantive material for personal statements and interviews
Students participate not as tourists, but as emerging global scholars.
Four Cities. One Cultural Journey.
SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI
One of the world’s top global cities, combining China’s largest financial hub with its most vibrant cultural crossroads.
HANGZHOU
SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI
A UNESCO World Heritage city, renowned for West Lake and as the birthplace of China’s digital economy (home to Alibaba).
SUZHOU
BEIJING
BEIJING
Known as the “Venice of the East,” with UNESCO-listed classical gardens and a 2,500-year-old silk heritage.
BEIJING
BEIJING
BEIJING
China’s political and cultural capital, home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Forbidden City and Great Wall.
SHANGHAI
DAY 1
Welcome Dinner & Free time
A welcome dinner followed by optional evening walk along the Bund
Programme Briefing
Short orientation session outlining the journey, logistics, and experience flow.
DAY 2
Morning - Walking Tour on The Bund & Suzhou Creek
An expert lecture on 'Shanghai and Modern China,' offers a chance to uncover Shanghai’s hidden stories, bringing history to life.
Afternoon - Shanghai Centre
Workshop: A visit to Shanghai Tower showcases sustainable
architecture in action. From its energy-efficient design to record-breaking elevators, students witness how engineering shapes the skyline of the
future. Tracing Pudong’s rise from farmland to a financial hub.
Evening – Dinner in Lujiazui/Riverside Area
End the day with dinner overlooking Shanghai’s lit skyline
Day 3
Morning - Shanghai Museum
Workshop: Immerse yourself in Chinese artistic heritage at the Shanghai Museum. This in-depth journey through bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, classical furniture, and ancient coins unfolds the artistry behind China’s dynastic eras.
Afternoon - Yu Garden Experience
Cultural immersion at Yu Garden: delve into classical poetry, architecture, symbolism, and the importance of heritage conservation.
Workshop: Participate in Traditional craftsmanship
Evening - Dinner at Shanghai Xintiandi
A vibrant district where renovated Shikumen alley houses blend East and West, offering nightlife in a historic setting.
DAY 4
Morning - Former French Concession
A former European residential district known for its tree-lined boulevards and cafés. Explore colonial history, architecture, and everyday life in transition while appreciating the artistic heritage of this unique area.
Afternoon - Jing'an Temple
Free time exploration and shopping at Jing’an Temple and Nanjing East Road.
Evening - West Bund GateM
SUZHOU
DAY 5
Morning - Arrive in Suzhou & Tiger Hill
The legendary first scenic spot of Suzhou. Enjoy a gentle hike up Tiger Hill, the city’s legendary first scenic spot, where history and stories rise with the morning mist.
Afternoon - Free time exploration in Ancient Town
Explore one of Suzhou’s oldest stone-paved pedestrian streets, lined with teahouses, galleries, and local life. Lunch in a riverside restaurant.
Evening - Elegance Stroll under lantern light and enjoy the grace of Kunqu Opera.
DAY 6
Morning - Humble Administrator’s Garden
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top four classical gardens in China.
Workshop: Classical Garden Aesthetics & Architecture Lecture on Jiangnan garden philosophy - how nature, human design, and poetry intertwine.
Afternoon - Suzhou Silk Museum
China’s first professional silk museum showcases 4,000 years of silk production, weaving techniques, and the global Silk Road trade.
Workshop: Suzhou Embroidery Cultural Practice traditional stitching and complete your own unique Suzhou embroidery piece.
Evening - Suzhou Ancient Town
Enjoy dinner in Suzhou’s Shantang Street, followed by free time to explore the historic streets.
Day 7
All Day - Nanxun Ancient Water Town
Nanxun Ancient Town offers insight into China’s early globalisation during the late Qing dynasty, when silk merchants built grand residences that combined traditional Jiangnan design with Western architectural influences. The town reflects the economic networks and cultural exchange that shaped China’s engagement with the wider world.
Workshop: Su Fan Heritage Artisan Studio to experience traditional craftsmanship through Suzhou silk fan making.
Evening – Reflection Session & Arrival in Hangzhou
Mid-programme guided reflection and discussion, followed by arrival and hotel check-in in Hangzhou.
HANGZHOU
DAY 8
Morning - North Peak, Lingyin Temple & Faxi Temple
A hike up North Peak introduces Hangzhou’s landscape and temple culture. Visits to Lingyin and Faxi Temple explore Buddhist influence on regional identity and architecture, concluding with a Zen (Chan) immersion and traditional monastic vegetarian meal at Faxi Temple.
Afternoon - Longjing Tea Hills Experience
Travel to the Longjing tea-growing area to walk through tea terraces, learn about traditional tea culture, and experience the landscape that has
shaped Hangzhou’s identity for centuries.
Workshop: Take part in Song dynasty rituals and experience how Zen philosophy infused Song-era tea ceremonies - where silence, slowness, and spirit steep together.
Evening - Dinner by the lake
Dinner with peaceful view near West Lake and evening stroll.
DAY 9
Morning - West Lake Leisure & Cultural Observation
Walk the classic route and take a hand-rowed boat to immerse yourself in the landscape. Light cultural activities around West Lake allow participants to observe lifestyle consumption, tourism patterns,
and Hangzhou’s blend of heritage with modern branding.
Workshop: Taiji Philosophy & Movement
Afternoon - Immerse in West Lake cultural walk, stroll from Broken Bridge to Su Causeway, passing poetic landmarks like Autumn Moon over Calm Lake and Breeze-ruffled Lotus Pavilion.
Dinner - Free time at Hubin Intime
Enjoy dinner and free time in the high-end commercial district of Hubin Pedestrian Street, located near West Lake.
DAY 10
Morning - Zhejiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum
Visit the first large-scale intelligent Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in China. A unique chance to see how China uses digital technology - AR, AI, and immersive design to transform traditional craftsmanship into modern creativity, cultural IP, and new economic value.
Afternoon - Legacy of the Southern Song
Visiting Southern Song Imperial Street, Hefang Street, and the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, exploring the historical memory and urban legacy of the Southern Song period.
Evening - Qianjiang New City Light Show & Dinner
Visit Qianjiang New City for Hangzhou’s modern skyline and riverside light
show, followed by dinner - a fitting contrast between classical beauty and
contemporary urban life.
BEIJING
DAY 11
Morning - Arrive in Beijing.
Afternoon - Hutong Visit
Workshop: Stroll through Shichahai’s scenic lakes and ride a rickshaw through Beijing’s hidden alleyways. Enjoy a Hutong Discovery walk.
Evening - Dinner at Shichahai
Experiencing one of the capital’s most vibrant historic lake districts. Free time exploration near the lake.
DAY 12
All day - The Great Wall
A hike to Mutianyu Great Wall: the best-preserved sections of the Ming-era Great Wall.
Evening - Dinner on Ghost Street
Enjoy historic architecture, lively street scenes, and the unique blend of traditional culture and modern energy.
DAY 13
Morning - Forbidden City
Step into the Forbidden City for a deep-dive exploration of its architectural marvels and the rhythms of royal life.
Afternoon - Jingshan Park
Workshop: Climb the Jingshan Park, once the imperial garden, for a rare panoramic view of the entire Forbidden City. Continue discussion of Forbidden City and its significance in culture and history.
Evening - Cultural immersion in Beijing’s modern pulse in Sanlitun.
DAY 14
Morning - Temple of Heaven
The Ming–Qing imperial altar where emperors performed rituals to pray for a prosperous harvest.
Afternoon - Free Time Exploration
Free time city stroll for final shopping.
Tea & Closure - Gather for a tea ceremony and closing reflections. Flight back home.