Destinations: Xi'an, Pingyao, Luoyang
This signature winter program offers international students a rare chance to live inside a real Chinese New Year celebration in ancient northern towns. Unlike ordinary tourist trips, students join local families to prepare festive goods, learn traditional rituals, and experience the complete Spring Festival process before, during, and after New Year’s Eve. This tour focuses on folk culture, family reunion values, and intangible heritage experiences that can only be encountered during winter vacation.
Day 1: Arrival in Xi'an - Winter Festival Orientation Arrive at Xi'an airport, check into hotel. Evening winter camp opening briefing: introduction to Chinese New Year customs, winter festival etiquette, and safety guidelines. Students receive winter camp study manuals.
Day 2: Xi'an - Pre-New Year Traditional Preparation Workshop Morning: Visit local traditional New Year market to observe festive goods, dried fruits, Spring Festival decorations, and local winter food culture. Afternoon: Hands-on workshops: Fu character paper cutting, Spring Festival couplet writing with traditional brushes. Evening: Learn the custom of “sweeping dust” to eliminate bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Day 3: Xi'an → Pingyao Ancient City - Ancient Town Winter Festival Atmosphere Take high-speed train to Pingyao. Check into ancient courtyard boutique hotel. Walk through red lantern-decorated ancient streets. Visit old merchant museums and learn northern Chinese New Year traditions in ancient towns. Evening free time to experience quiet winter night scenery of the ancient city.
Day 4: Pingyao - Local Family Immersion & New Year Eve Preparation Morning: Visit local family homes, help families clean courtyards and paste self-made couplets. Afternoon: Learn to make traditional dumplings and Spring Festival dishes with local residents. Evening: Authentic family reunion dinner, experience Shou Sui custom and New Year countdown atmosphere.
Day 5: Pingyao - Lunar New Year's Day Folk Celebration Experience traditional New Year greeting rituals. Learn Hongbao cultural meaning and receive commemorative blessing red envelopes. Watch grand street folk parades including lion dances, dragon dances, and stilt performances. Join festive group games with local teenagers.
Day 6: Pingyao → Luoyang - Winter Ancient Capital Culture High-speed train to Luoyang. Visit Longmen Grottoes in quiet winter scenery. Professional English guide explains ancient Chinese religious and artistic culture. Evening winter city walking tour.
Day 7: Luoyang - Traditional Folk Custom Deep Study Visit Luoyang ancient museum to explore festival evolution history. Hands-on intangible heritage craft experience. Evening Spring Festival cultural sharing session, students summarize their festival experience.
Day 8: Departure - Closing Ceremony & Certificate Awarding Closing study sharing, award official winter camp certificates. Transfer to airport for departure.
