8-Day Xi’an Mandarin Immersion Study Tour

Destinations: Xi’an

Tour Features:

This signature 8-day Xi'an-only Mandarin immersion programme is built for international student groups aiming to build practical Mandarin while exploring Shaanxi's rich heritage. Students stay on campus dormitories for authentic boarding life. Each morning features themed Mandarin lessons directly matched to afternoon inquiry activities: Terracotta Army archaeology, Qinling Four Treasures conservation study, Hanfu etiquette, hand-pulled noodle craft and stone rubbing. The tour wraps up with a Guanzhong rural field visit to Zhangjia Village and Yuanjia Village, exploring folk economy and living heritage. All learning follows inquiry-based tasks supported by a dedicated lead educator.

Cost: 12560RMB/person

Highlights

1. Signature sequenced Mandarin immersion as the core focus Daily themed Mandarin lessons are tightly aligned with afternoon excursions. Students learn topic-based vocabulary and immediately practise new language during workshops and site visits, turning language study into real communication.
2. Full campus dormitory stay for deep cultural immersion Students live in Xi'an school dormitories throughout the trip, experiencing authentic Chinese student boarding life, far beyond standard hotel-based tourist trips.
3. Iconic archaeology + rare wildlife conservation learning Students visit the Terracotta Army for Qin Dynasty archaeology, and Qinling Four Treasures Science Park to observe giant pandas (including the brown panda Qi Zai), golden snub-nosed monkeys, crested ibis and takin with expert conservation briefings.
4. Multiple take-home intangible heritage hands-on workshops Hands-on sessions include Shaanxi hand-pulled noodle making, Tang Hanfu etiquette experience and traditional stone rubbing. Students create their own cultural keepsakes guided by local artisans.
5. Guanzhong rural folk anthropology field study Full-day village fieldwork at Zhangjia Village and Yuanjia Village lets students observe rural governance, living folk workshops and discuss how local communities preserve heritage while developing sustainable livelihoods.
6. Cross-curricular learning covering language, archaeology, biology, folk culture and sociology Well suited for international school groups, supporting Mandarin, humanities, environmental science and social studies curriculum goals.
7. Structured inquiry framework with dedicated educational leadership The programme starts with orientation, safety agreement and learning journal setup. A lead educator guides discussions, reflection tasks and group management for the whole stay.

What is Included

• Three balanced meals daily (Chinese-Western mixed; vegetarian, halal and allergy-friendly meals by advance request)
• All entrance tickets, museum guided sessions and workshop materials
• Private coach for all local visits
• Full-time qualified English & Chinese speaking guide
• Specialist Mandarin teacher for Xi'an campus sessions
• Group travel insurance
• Student learning journal, workshop supplies and official study certificate

• International return air tickets
• Visa and passport processing fees
• Independent shopping, extra snacks, drinks and personal spending
• Supplementary overseas insurance required by the home school
• Additional costs caused by weather disruption, museum closure or force majeure

Itinerary:

Day 1 | 18 July | Sun | Arrival in Xian

Educational focus: Orientation, intercultural awareness, group agreement and safety protocols.

Students arrive at Xian international airport or railway station and transfer by private coach to school dormitory. The lead educator delivers a detailed program briefing, introduces learning goals, journal expectations and group responsibilities. Students receive their study journal and prepare for the inquiry journey ahead. Check into the school dormitory, settle into boarding life. Evening: Guided walking exploration of Datang Everbright City, a recreation of Tang-era Chang'an inviting students to visualize the cosmopolitan Silk Road hub. Welcome dinner supports casual cross-cultural conversation.

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 2 | 19 July | Mon | Themed Mandarin Class + Hand-Pulled Noodle Workshop

Educational focus: Applied food vocabulary, functional Mandarin conversation, folk foodways, artisan skill transmission.

09:00–11:00 Themed Mandarin lesson (food, ordering, greetings, self-introduction), content-aligned with the afternoon activity. Afternoon: Intangible heritage noodle workshop led by a local master artisan. Students learn the science of gluten development, kneading, stretching and cooking Shaanxi pulled noodles, following instructions using the Mandarin phrases they have just learned. Learning task: prepare a short Mandarin sentence describing the noodle-making process.

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 3 | 20 July | Tue | Themed Mandarin Class + Hanfu Cultural & Etiquette Workshop

Educational focus: Vocabulary for colour, textiles, clothing and ritual; Tang-Dynasty material culture, symbolic design and social etiquette.

09:00–11:00 Themed Mandarin lesson (colours, patterns, garments, polite etiquette expressions). Afternoon: Hanfu immersive workshop. Students study silk weaving motifs, rank symbolism and Tang fashion history. They dress in authentic Tang-style Hanfu, learn traditional greeting rituals and pose for documentation. Discussion explores how clothing communicates identity, status and cultural memory.

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 4 | 21 July | Wed | Themed Mandarin Class + Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors

Educational focus: Historical vocabulary, numerals, archaeology, statecraft of the Qin Dynasty, funerary culture and heritage preservation.

09:00–11:00 Themed Mandarin lesson (numbers, terms for relics and materials). Afternoon: Guided  visit to the Terracotta Army. Students explore Pit 1, Pit 2 and the Bronze Chariot exhibit. The guide leads inquiry into the unification of China under the Qin emperor, large-scale state labour, artistic standardisation and modern archaeological excavation ethics. Guided discussion: What can funerary art tell us about a ruler's worldview?

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 5 | 22 July | Thu | Themed Mandarin Class + Qinling Four Treasures Science Park

Educational focus: Nature vocabulary, animal names, environmental conservation, zoology, habitat restoration and biodiversity stewardship.

09:00–11:00 Themed Mandarin lesson (wildlife, forests, habitats, conservation actions). Afternoon: visit to Qinling Four Treasures Science Park. Students observe giant pandas (including the famous brown panda Qi Zai), golden snub-nosed monkeys, crested ibis and takin. A conservation educator delivers a presentation on captive breeding, habitat protection and threats facing endemic Qinling species.

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 6 | 23 July | Fri | Themed Mandarin Class + Forest of Stone Steles & Stone Rubbing Workshop

Educational focus: Chinese character history, calligraphy, epigraphy, museum literacy, traditional documentation technology.

09:00–11:00 Themed Mandarin lesson (origin and evolution of Chinese characters, museum vocabulary). Afternoon: Forest of Stone Steles Museum, one of the greatest collections of ancient stone calligraphy in China. Students trace stylistic shifts in Chinese script across dynasties. This is followed by a hands-on stone rubbing workshop. Students learn the traditional transfer technique and create their own rubbing artwork to keep.

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 7 | 24 July | Sat |  Guanzhong Folk Immersion: Zhangjia Village & Yuanjia Village

Educational focus: Rural sociology, contemporary Chinese village transformation, folk craft economies, food heritage and community life.

Full-day field study in the Guanzhong countryside. First, Zhangjia Village, where students observe modern rural governance, residential renewal and everyday rural life. Then Yuanjia Village, a living folk heritage site. Students visit working traditional workshops for cold-pressed oil, vinegar and chilli paste, meet local artisans and taste regional snacks. Guided discussion: How do communities preserve heritage while building sustainable livelihoods?

Accommodation: Xi'an campus student dormitory

Day 8 | 25 July | Sun | Departure from Xian

Educational focus: Camp closing

Private transfer to Xian airport or railway station for the return journey. No scheduled activities.

Accommodation: Departure