Destinations: Zhejiang + Anhui
This extended program deepens exploration of China's "living heritage" and rural development, offering students prolonged interactions with intangible cultural heritage (ICH) practitioners and rural communities. From Zhejiang's water towns to Anhui's ancient villages, students will master traditional crafts, immerse in tea culture, and witness how technology and policy drive sustainable rural growth. The itinerary emphasizes hands-on learning, cultural exchange, and ecological awareness, making it suitable for students interested in culture, ecology, and social development.
Day 1 Shanghai → Shaoxing, Zhejiang: Arrival & Water Town Introduction
Morning: Arrive in Shanghai (international flight), transfer to hotel and check in. Brief city tour of Shanghai's Bund (colonial-era architecture) to understand its role as a gateway to China. Take a high-speed train to Shaoxing (1.5 hours).
Afternoon: Check into a riverside hotel in Shaoxing. Guided walk through Shaoxing's ancient water town streets – admire stone bridges, black-tiled houses, and canals. Visit a local folk museum to learn about Shaoxing's history as a cultural hub.
Evening: Dinner at a riverside restaurant, tasting Shaoxing braised fish and stinky tofu (a local specialty). A guide explains the connection between food and water town culture. Optional evening boat tour along Shaoxing's canals, listening to local folk songs sung by the boatman.
Day 2 Shaoxing: Calligraphy & Literary Heritage – Lanting Pavilion
Morning: Breakfast at hotel and visit Lanting Pavilion (birthplace of Chinese calligraphy). Tour the "Qushui Liushang" (stream feasting) site, where the calligrapher Wang Xizhi wrote the Preface to the Lanting Collection (one of China's greatest calligraphic works). A calligraphy master explains the history of the event and guides students in a mini "stream feasting" activity: composing short poems while drinking Shaoxing rice wine.
Afternoon: Lunch at a traditional Shaoxing restaurant, tasting preserved vegetables and rice wine-braised pork. Visit the Lu Xun Memorial Hall (honoring China's famous writer Lu Xun, a Shaoxing native). Explore Lu Xun's former residence and learn about his literary works and their impact on modern China.
Evening: Attend a Shaoxing opera performance (a local art form with unique singing styles and costumes). A cultural guide explains the opera's history and key themes. Dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant, tasting seasonal vegetables and freshwater seafood.
Day 3 Shaoxing: Traditional Craftsmanship – Rice Wine & Bamboo Weaving
Morning: Visit a 300-year-old brewery for a Shaoxing Rice Wine Making Workshop. Tour the fermentation cellars, learn about the traditional brewing process (steaming rice, adding yeast, aging), and participate in bottling and labeling wine. A master brewer explains the cultural significance of rice wine in Chinese festivals and ceremonies.
Afternoon: Lunch at a brewery restaurant, pairing rice wine with local dishes like drunk shrimp and braised duck. Join a Bamboo Weaving Workshop with a local artisan – learn basic techniques to make small items (coasters, pencil cases). The artisan shares the history of bamboo weaving in Shaoxing and its role in rural livelihoods.
Evening: Free time to explore Shaoxing's night markets – browse craft stalls, try sugar candy, and interact with locals. Dinner at a family-run restaurant, experiencing home-cooked Shaoxing cuisine.
Day 4 Shaoxing → Wuyuan, Anhui: Ancient Villages & Huizhou Culture
Morning: Breakfast at hotel and depart for Wuyuan (3-hour drive). En route, a guide gives a lecture on Huizhou culture (architecture, traditions, merchants). Arrive in Wuyuan and check into a village homestay.
Afternoon: Lunch at the homestay, tasting Huizhou-style braised pork and bamboo shoots. A local chef explains Huizhou cuisine's focus on fresh, local ingredients. Guided tour of Hongcun Village (UNESCO Site) – explore the village's water system (man-made canals and ponds), visit ancestral halls with intricate wood and stone carvings, and learn about Huizhou merchants' history and family traditions. Students interview a local elder to understand how the village preserved its heritage while adapting to modern life.
Evening: Dinner at the homestay, with the host family cooking traditional Huizhou dishes. Students can help prepare vegetables or make dumplings, experiencing rural family life. Stargazing in the village square – a local guide talks about rural astronomy traditions and modern ecological protection efforts in Wuyuan.
Day 5 Wuyuan: Rural Revitalization & Ecological Tourism
Morning: Visit a tea plantation in Wuyuan's Wuli Village. Learn about organic tea farming, pick tea leaves (following the "one bud and two leaves" rule), and participate in tea processing (withering, rolling). A tea farmer shares how tea cultivation supports rural revitalization.
Afternoon: Lunch at a tea house, tasting tea-infused dishes like tea-smoked chicken and tea leaf tofu. Visit a bamboo handicraft cooperative – see how local women turn bamboo into high-quality products (baskets, furniture) for domestic and international markets. A cooperative leader explains how the initiative empowers rural women and boosts the local economy.
Evening: Attend a rural folk music performance, featuring traditional instruments like the erhu and bamboo flute. Dinner at a village restaurant, with dishes made from ingredients sourced from local farms.
Day 6 Wuyuan → Huangshan: Natural Wonders & Mountain Culture
Morning: Breakfast at homestay and depart for Huangshan Mountain (1.5-hour drive). Take a guided hike on Huangshan Mountain (UNESCO Site) – visit iconic spots like the "Welcome Pine" and "Sea of Clouds" (depending on weather). A geologist explains the formation of Huangshan's granite peaks and pine trees, and a cultural guide shares poems and paintings inspired by Huangshan.
Afternoon: Lunch at a mountain restaurant, tasting Huangshan wild mushrooms and bamboo shoot soup. A guide explains how local communities rely on tourism and agriculture. Visit a mountain village near Huangshan – interact with villagers, learn about their daily life (farming, handicrafts), and see how they balance traditional practices with tourism.
Evening: Check into a mountain hotel. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant, featuring Huangshan specialties like braised stone frog and bamboo shoot stew. Optional stargazing on the hotel's terrace, with a guide pointing out constellations and sharing local myths.
Day 7 Huangshan: Tea Culture Deep Dive – Longjing Tea Ceremony
Morning: Breakfast at hotel and visit a Longjing Tea Plantation near Huangshan. A tea master teaches the art of Chinese tea ceremony, explaining the importance of water temperature, brewing time, and tea etiquette. Students practice brewing and tasting different grades of Longjing tea.
Afternoon: Lunch at a tea-themed restaurant, enjoying dishes cooked with tea leaves (tea-infused rice, tea-poached shrimp). Visit a tea museum to learn about the history of Chinese tea, from ancient times to modern international trade. Participate in a tea blending workshop, creating a custom tea blend to take home.
Evening: Return to Huangshan city. Dinner at a local restaurant, with a farewell feast featuring Anhui's famous dishes. A cultural guide summarizes the tour's highlights, and students share their experiences of rural China and intangible cultural heritage.
Day 8 Huangshan → Hangzhou → Departure: Canal Civilization & Modern Agriculture
Morning: Breakfast at hotel and depart for Hangzhou (2-hour drive). Visit the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum – learn about the world's longest artificial canal (2,500 years old), its role in ancient transportation and trade, and modern restoration efforts. Students simulate loading and unloading goods using model ships, understanding the canal's economic impact.
Afternoon: Lunch at a canal-side restaurant in Hangzhou, tasting Hangzhou vinegar fish and beggar's chicken. A guide explains the connection between the canal and regional cuisine. Visit a smart agricultural park in Hangzhou – tour greenhouses with hydroponic vegetables and fruit, learn about AI-driven irrigation and pest control systems, and talk to agronomists about China's rural revitalization policy. Students pick fresh vegetables and taste them on-site.
Evening: Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport for international departure.
