Destinations: Beijing, Luoyang
This 9-day humanities study tour pairs modern China's capital Beijing with ancient cultural root Luoyang. Students start in Beijing to explore Forbidden City, Great Wall and national museum to understand later imperial history. Then they fly south to Luoyang to go deeper to the source of Chinese civilization: Erlitou, Longmen Grottoes and Heluo culture. The journey helps students build a complete timeline of Chinese history from early dynasties to the last imperial era.
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing – International Check-in & Pre-Study Orientation Your international student group arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport. Our professional English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned coach provide exclusive pickup service. Transfer to a secure, student-friendly downtown hotel with complete facilities for check-in and luggage settlement. After a long international flight, students enjoy free resting time to adjust to Beijing’s time zone and northern Chinese climate. In the evening, we hold a detailed study tour opening briefing: introduce the 9-day curriculum arrangement, historical logic of “Beijing-Luoyang dual-capital learning”, safety rules, daily study tasks, and group division arrangements. A warm welcome dinner with authentic northern Chinese dishes is arranged. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 2: Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall – Ancient Military Defense System Study Depart early in the morning by private coach to Mutianyu Great Wall, the most well-preserved and student-friendly Great Wall section. With fewer crowds and gentle hiking routes, it is perfect for international student educational visits. Professional English instructor explains the origin, military function, architectural structure, and strategic significance of the Great Wall in ancient northern border defense. Students observe watchtower structures, wall construction materials, and terrain defense designs on-site. During the visit, students complete field observation worksheets, recording how ancient engineering adapted to natural mountain geography. After descending the wall, return to downtown Beijing. Evening self-study and diary sorting: summarize ancient Chinese military civilization knowledge. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 3: Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City – Ming & Qing Imperial System Study Start the day early to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolic central square of modern China. The guide explains China’s modern national development and historical spatial layout. Then enter the Forbidden City, the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace complex. Students follow the central axis route to explore major halls, imperial courtyards, and auxiliary palaces. Learn the strict ancient imperial ritual system, traditional Chinese architectural feng shui, axis symmetry design philosophy, and hierarchical social culture of Ming and Qing dynasties. During the visit, students compare the functional differences between royal political areas and living areas. In the evening, organize group discussions on “Ancient Chinese Imperial Power and Social Hierarchy”. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 4: National Museum of China – Complete Chinese Civilization Timeline Sorting Full-day in-depth study at the National Museum of China, China’s highest-level comprehensive museum. Following professional English explanation, students view core national treasures spanning ancient pottery, bronze ritual vessels, jade artifacts, calligraphy and paintings. The study focuses on sorting out the complete developmental vein of Chinese civilization from primitive society, slavery society to feudal dynasties. Teachers guide students to summarize the characteristics of cultural inheritance and innovation in different historical periods. This day’s study lays a systematic theoretical foundation for the subsequent Luoyang primitive civilization exploration. Free time in the afternoon for independent viewing and note-taking. Evening knowledge consolidation and preview of Luoyang Heluo culture. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 5: Beijing Departure & Flight to Luoyang – Civilization Origin Journey Morning free leisure time and final Beijing city exploration. Students organize Beijing study materials and sort out imperial culture learning notes. Check out from the hotel, private coach transfer to Beijing airport for domestic flight to Luoyang. Upon arrival in Luoyang, local English guide and vehicle pick up the group and transfer to the city center hotel. After check-in, hold a transition orientation meeting: explain Luoyang’s status as “the root of Chinese civilization”, preview Erlitou Site and Heluo cultural knowledge, and connect the late imperial history learned in Beijing with early ancient civilization in Luoyang. Evening stroll in Luoyang urban area to feel the quiet charm of the ancient capital. Overnight in Luoyang.
Day 6: Erlitou Site Museum & Luoyang Museum – Birth of Early Chinese Civilization Morning visit Erlitou Site Museum, the core birthplace of China’s earliest dynastic civilization. Professional instructors explain the earliest palace ruins, ritual building foundations, bronze casting relics, and ancient capital planning systems. Students learn how ancient people in the Heluo region established early national institutions, forming the embryonic form of “China”. This session helps students understand why Luoyang is recognized as the origin of Chinese civilization. Afternoon visit Luoyang Museum, which collects precious cultural relics from Xia, Shang, Zhou, Northern Wei, Sui and Tang dynasties. Students compare the cultural characteristics of different dynasties, observe the evolution of bronze ware, pottery and stone art, and complete the comparative study form of “Early Civilization vs. Late Imperial Civilization”. Overnight in Luoyang.
Day 7: Longmen Grottoes Full-Day Field Study – UNESCO Buddhist Stone Carving Art Full-day in-depth academic visit to Longmen Grottoes, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the Yi River bank, students visit west mountain caves, east mountain scenic area, and major core caves including Fengxian Temple, Wanfo Cave and Guyang Cave. English professional tutors teach the evolution of Buddhist art from Northern Wei to Tang Dynasty, the integration of foreign Buddhist culture with Chinese local aesthetics, and the historical background of royal Buddhist belief. Students observe the changes in Buddha statue facial features, clothing lines and carving techniques in different periods, and record art style evolution in their study journals. Evening group sharing: how ancient Chinese culture absorbed and integrated foreign cultural elements. Overnight in Luoyang.
Day 8: White Horse Temple & Luoyi Ancient City – Buddhism Spread & Tang Urban Civilization Morning visit White Horse Temple, China’s first official Buddhist temple. Students learn the historical story of Buddhist scriptures traveling eastward along the Silk Road, understand the spread path of ancient Indian Buddhism and its profound influence on Chinese religion, architecture, art and folk customs. Observe ancient temple layouts, ancient pagoda structures and traditional Chinese Buddhist garden design. Afternoon visit Luoyi Ancient City, restored according to the prosperous style of Tang Dynasty Luoyang. Students walk through Tang-style ancient streets, archways and commercial blocks, experience the prosperous urban business, folk life and aesthetic culture of the Tang Dynasty. Students combine field experience to sort out the complete developmental context of Luoyang’s multi-dynasties civilization. Overnight in Luoyang.
Day 9: Final Academic Sharing & Departure from Zhengzhou Airport Morning final study summary and group presentation session. Each group displays learning achievements, compares the cultural differences and historical inheritance relations between Beijing late imperial civilization and Luoyang early Heluo civilization, and shares personal gains from the dual-capital study tour. Our tutor team gives professional comments and academic guidance. After the closing ceremony, students finish all study tasks and organize travel materials. Private coach transfer from Luoyang to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. The 9-day root of Chinese civilization in-depth study tour ends successfully.
