Ancient Architecture & Civilization Research Tour

Destinations: In-depth learning of ancient Chinese urban planning and layout concepts

Tour Features:

Xi'an retains the most complete ancient urban architectural complex in China, which is a precious material for studying ancient Chinese urban planning, architectural aesthetics and structural technology. This 6-day academic research camp is specially designed for students interested in architecture, archaeology and urban history. Combining outdoor field investigation and indoor professional explanation, students will systematically study the structural characteristics of Xi'an ancient city wall, ancient temple buildings and traditional courtyard layouts, understand the wisdom of ancient Chinese urban planning and architectural craftsmanship, and complete simple academic investigation records under the guidance of professional tutors, effectively improving students’ academic research ability and logical thinking. 

Core Highlights

• Professional interpretation of ancient city wall and traditional architectural culture
• On-site outdoor architectural investigation, observation and record training
• In-depth learning of ancient Chinese urban planning and layout concepts
• Architecture-themed targeted Mandarin courses and academic guidance
• Practical investigation report writing and academic thinking training

Who It Fits

Suitable for international students aged 13–18 who love architecture, urban history, archaeology and academic research. Ideal for high school students who plan to apply for architecture, design and humanities majors and need practical academic research experience.

Package Includes

Architecture-themed academic courses and Mandarin teaching fees, all ancient architectural scenic spot tickets and professional research guidance fees, investigation material costs and academic training fees, full local transportation, safe student accommodation and daily meals, 24-hour safety supervision, official academic practice certificate. Excludes international airfare, visa fees, personal insurance and private consumption. 

Itinerary:

Day 1: Camp Arrival, Check‑in & Orientation Training

• Morning：Students arrive in Xi'an; camp tutors and staff greet students at the airport or high‑speed‑rail station. Private group transfer to the secure student accommodation base. Complete check‑in, room allocation and luggage arrangement.
• Afternoon：Camp opening orientation and comprehensive safety training. Cover campus rules, outdoor field‑trip safety codes, emergency response procedures, group discipline and daily schedule introduction. Distribute camp kits including field‑investigation notebooks, sketching tools, measuring worksheets and student handbooks.
• Evening：Welcome dinner for all participants. Ice‑breaking group activity for international students to get familiar with tutors and teammates. Brief preview of the 6‑day architecture research agenda. Overnight at student camp accommodation.

Day 2: Themed Mandarin Courses & Foundational Architecture Knowledge

• Morning：Architecture‑focused Mandarin class. Learn key Chinese vocabulary for ancient buildings, structural components and urban planning; practice listening and dialogue skills linked to local heritage sites. Combine vocabulary drills with image case studies of Xi'an landmarks.
• Afternoon：Indoor academic lecture led by professional architecture tutors. Core topics: characteristics of Chinese ancient timber‑frame architecture, history of Xi'an city development, basic concepts of ancient Chinese urban planning. Students learn standard field‑investigation workflows: site observation, note‑taking, sketching, photographing and evidence‑recording standards. Complete simple practice drills for recording architectural features.
• Evening：Group study session. Students review lecture notes; tutors answer questions about upcoming outdoor fieldwork. Prepare personal supplies for on‑site investigation. Overnight at student camp accommodation.

Day 3: Field Investigation - Xi'an Ancient City Wall (Part 1: Structure & Defence System)

• Morning：Full‑day outdoor field study departs after breakfast. Guided on‑site investigation along Xi'an Ancient City Wall. Professional tutors explain wall construction materials, rammed‑earth foundations, brick‑laying techniques, rampart structures, watch‑towers and ancient military defence layouts. Students conduct on‑site observation, take structured notes and make quick architectural sketches in investigation notebooks.
• Noon：Group lunch near the historic city‑wall zone. Short rest time.
• Afternoon：Continue city‑wall research work. Focus on measurement‑related observation, gate‑tower layout and the relationship between the wall and Xi'an's inner‑city street grid. Organise small‑group discussions: how city‑wall design reflected ancient security and urban management needs. Tutors circulate to guide each team's data recording.
• Evening：Back to camp. Students sort field notes, photos and sketches collected during the day. Short tutor feedback session. Overnight at student camp accommodation.

Day 4: Field Investigation - Ancient Urban Architectural Clusters & Street Layout

• Morning：Visit representative ancient architectural clusters inside Xi'an old town. Tutors demonstrate how to analyse building scale, component features, roof forms and spatial organisation. Students compare different types of traditional buildings, record differences in appearance and function.
• Noon：Group local‑style lunch.
• Afternoon：Walk through historic traditional blocks to study street‑network planning, courtyard‑house distribution and the connection between public spaces and residential architecture. Each small group finishes their group field record sheet, sorting collected first‑hand site materials. Tutors lead group sharing and debate about ancient urban layout logic.
• Evening：Indoor workshop. Teams organise all field data from Day 3‑4, classify photos and sketch outputs, and outline key arguments for their coming practice report. Overnight at student camp accommodation.

Day 5: Ancient Temple Complex Visit, Block Study & Academic Report Completion

• Morning：Field trip to a well‑preserved ancient temple building complex. Observe temple overall layout, hall structures, bracket‑set (dougong) details, sculpture and decorative art. Tutors interpret the integration of religious function, architectural aesthetics and construction technology. Students add temple‑related observation materials to their investigation records.
• Noon：Group lunch.
• Afternoon：Back to the camp classroom. Under one‑on‑one and group guidance from professional tutors, students organise all multi‑source materials: lecture knowledge, on‑site notes, sketches and photos. Students draft and finalise their simple academic practice investigation report, sorting out their understanding of ancient Chinese urban planning and architectural craftsmanship. Tutors give revision suggestions for each student’s work.
• Evening：Final preparation for next‑day achievement‑sharing presentation; students polish slides or hand‑drawn display materials for their report. Overnight at student camp accommodation.

Day 6: Academic Achievement Sharing, Evaluation, Certificate Awarding & Camp Departure

• Morning：Academic achievement‑sharing session. Individual or small‑group presentations of investigation reports and field‑study outputs. Students share research discoveries, observation insights and reflections gained from the architecture camp. Tutors give comprehensive comments and academic evaluation for each participant.
• Mid‑day：Camp closing ceremony. Official academic practice certificates are awarded to every student. Summarise the whole‑camp learning outcomes and experience. Closing group lunch.
• Afternoon：Check‑out from camp accommodation. Group transfer to Xi’an airport or high‑speed‑rail station for students’ onward journeys; the 6‑day Ancient Architecture & Civilization Research Camp concludes.