Destinations: Shanghai, Nanjing
This history-focused winter camp links Shanghai's modern revolutionary and port history with Nanjing's grand ancient imperial heritage, perfect for students learning global and Chinese modern history. Nanjing, one of China's great ancient capitals, preserves magnificent Ming dynasty city walls, imperial relics and world-famous museum collections, while Shanghai records China's opening to the modern world. Winter's mild cool weather and fewer tourists make long walking history field study comfortable and immersive. Students begin in Shanghai, exploring modern historical sites and museum exhibits that tell the story of China's 19th and 20th century transformation. Taking high-speed train to Nanjing, students walk the intact ancient Ming City Wall, explore Nanjing Museum, visit the ancient Imperial Examination Museum and Qinhuai River historic district. The program uses on-site lectures, artifact analysis, history worksheets and group debates to help students connect ancient imperial civilization with China's modern transformation, building multi-dimensional understanding of Chinese history beyond simple textbook knowledge.
Day 1: Shanghai Arrival & History Camp Opening Briefing Airport pickup and hotel check-in. Winter safety briefing and opening lecture introducing the Shanghai-Nanjing historical narrative framework. Distribute history workbooks, map materials and field journal guides.
Day 2: Shanghai Modern History Museum & Bund Historical Study Morning guided tour of Shanghai modern history museum, learn about Shanghai's opening as a treaty port and social changes in modern China. Afternoon Bund walking study, analyze the historical background of the international architectural complex. Students complete timeline mapping tasks for modern Shanghai history.
Day 3: Bullet Train to Nanjing & Qinhuai River Cultural Tour Take high-speed train to Nanjing. Afternoon visit Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River historic district. Learn about ancient imperial examination culture, southern literati life and traditional Jiangnan education systems. Evening check-in at Nanjing hotel.
Day 4: Ming City Wall & Nanjing Museum Full-Day Academic Visit Morning walk the preserved Ming Dynasty City Wall, study ancient military engineering and city defense design. Afternoon in-depth guided tour of Nanjing Museum, one of China's top museums, analyzing ancient bronze, jade and painting relics. Students finish artifact analysis worksheets.
Day 5: Imperial Examination Museum & Return to Shanghai Morning visit China Imperial Examination Museum, explore the ancient Chinese civil examination system and compare it with modern global education evaluation systems. Take bullet train back to Shanghai in the afternoon. Evening group preparation for final history presentation.
Day 6: History Presentation, Closing Ceremony & Departure Student group presentations covering ancient and modern Chinese history discoveries. Award official winter camp certificates and complete camp closing. Private airport transfer for departure.
