Location: Xian
Suitable time: 0.5 Day, 1 Day
Shaanxi Normal University, located in the ancient capital of Xi'an, is a key university directly under the Ministry of Education. The university traces its origins to the Shaanxi Provincial Normal College, established in 1944. It was renamed Xi'an Normal College in 1954 and merged with Shaanxi Normal College in 1960, after which it was officially named Shaanxi Normal University. In 1978, it became a teacher's university directly under the Ministry of Education; in 2005, it was selected as a university under the national "Project 211"; in 2008, it was selected as a university for the National "Project 985" Innovation Platform for Disciplines of Excellence in Teacher Education; and in 2017, it was selected as one of the first batch of universities under the national "Double First-Class" initiative, comprehensively embarking on a new journey to build a first-class teacher's university rooted in China.
Over the past eight decades, the university has weathered countless challenges, with the torch of knowledge passed down through generations. The university has consistently upheld its primary mission of teacher education: it has overcome difficulties to save the nation through education, blazed a trail to build the nation through education, stood at the forefront to revitalize the nation through education, and strived tirelessly to make the nation strong through education. With unwavering loyalty and selfless dedication to the nation and its people, it has forged the distinctive spirit of "Two Generations of Exemplary Teachers—the Red Candles of the West". To date, the university has educated more than 510,000 graduates of various disciplines, supplying the western region's basic education system with successive cohorts of high-quality, professional, and innovative teachers, earning it the reputation as the "Cradle of Teachers".
The university is committed to quality-driven development, and the standards of its disciplines and programs continue to rise. As one of the first institutions in the country authorized to confer doctoral and master's degrees, it currently offers 12 disciplinary categories, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, management, arts, and interdisciplinary studies. The university holds authorization for 25 first-level disciplines granting doctoral degrees, 35 first-level disciplines granting master's degrees, 2 professional doctoral degree programs, 25 professional master's degree programs, 69 undergraduate programs, 40 national-level first-class undergraduate program development sites, 6 Shaanxi Provincial first-class undergraduate program development sites, and 20 postdoctoral research stations. The university has one discipline included in the national "Double First-Class" initiative (Chinese Language and Literature) and two disciplines included in the Shaanxi Provincial "Double First-Class" initiative; the School of Marxism has been selected as a National Key School of Marxism. Thirteen disciplines rank in the top 1% globally in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI), with three—Chemistry, Materials Science, and Agricultural Sciences—ranking in the top 2‰ globally.
Step1: Arrive at Shaanxi Normal University & Opening Remarks
Arrive at campus by coach. Participants assemble, receive safety briefing and opening address, launching the pedagogy‑themed exploration.
Step2: Visit Red‑Candle University History Museum
Tour Red‑Candle Museum. Trace the university's development since 1944, learn the "Red Candle Spirit" of rooting in western China and devoting to education, and understand generations of educators' dedication.
Step3: Guided Tour of China Education Museum
Visit four themed exhibition halls inside the museum. Explore the Education Hall for Chinese educational evolution, Women's‑Culture Hall for female‑culture relics, History‑Culture Hall for ancient cultural artifacts, and Calligraphy‑Painting Hall for precious ancient paintings and imperial edicts.
Step4: University Library Visit
Walk into the university library. Access massive literature resources covering pedagogy, humanities and science, and soak in the academic atmosphere of a top‑tier normal university.
Step5: Campus Lunch & Short Break
Enjoy authentic student meals at campus canteen and take a rest to experience real campus daily life.
Step6: "Gratitude‑to‑Teachers" Themed Ritual & Group Photo
Take part in the gratitude‑to‑teachers ritual activity, hold large‑group campus commemorative photos, and appreciate the virtue of respecting teachers.
Step7: Major Introduction & Admissions Briefing Session
Attend freshmen‑orientation sharing. Listen to staff introducing normal‑student policies, advantageous disciplines, training modes and employment prospects, and answer participants' questions on university application.
Step8: Featured Frontier‑Science Lecture
Join special‑topic lecture given by university scholars. Learn about China's education development, teacher‑training system and cultural inheritance.
Step9: Hands‑on Cultural Craft Workshop
Complete hand‑on creation, choose paper‑cutting or clay‑pottery making. Combine cultural knowledge with practical operation to produce personalized cultural souvenirs.
Step10: Review & Departure
Share personal tour insights, wrap‑up all activities, assemble teams and board the coach for return.
Tour Highlights
