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China study programmes

Explore the heart of China

Learning journeys that help students encounter China through culture, cities, schools, history, innovation and everyday life.

For schools

Futures China Study Programmes are designed for schools that want students to experience China with context, care and curiosity.

Each journey combines cultural discovery, city observation, school or community exchange, practical travel support and guided reflection. Students do not only visit China from the outside. They encounter the country through people, places, daily life and real-world themes.

Programmes are shaped around year level, curriculum focus, travel dates, group size and school priorities. Routes may include major gateway cities, historical capitals, innovation hubs, regional landscapes and local communities.

Programme objectives

What students take home.

Knowledge

Students gain a richer understanding of China's history, culture, cities and contemporary society. Through guided visits, observation, journals and reflection, they explore how ancient civilisation, modern development, technology, commerce and daily life connect across different regions.

Skills

Students practise cross-cultural communication, collaboration and problem-solving in real travel settings. Depending on the programme, this may include school exchange, group inquiry, visual documentation, interviews, presentations, creative projects or guided research tasks.

Mindset

Students encounter new languages, perspectives and ways of living. Through supported cross-cultural experiences, they develop openness, adaptability, empathy and respect for cultural diversity.

What students experience

Six ways to read a country.

Living history

Ancient capitals, museums, architecture, heritage sites and local stories help students understand China's long historical continuity.

Modern China

High-speed rail, metro systems, digital payments, e-commerce, innovation districts and urban life reveal the speed and scale of contemporary China.

School and community exchange

Where available, students connect with local peers through campus visits, shared activities, dialogue and cultural exchange.

Food and daily life

Markets, shared meals, regional cuisines, neighbourhood walks and everyday routines help students experience China as lived culture.

Nature and regional culture

Mountains, rivers, villages, gardens, crafts and regional landscapes create space for reflection and a slower understanding of place.

Reflection and output

Students can complete journals, presentations, photo essays, short films or group reflections to show what they have learned.

Featured programme routes

Three ways into China.

Each route family is a different learning journey. Programmes are built to your group, so these are starting points, not fixed packages.

The illuminated towers of Shanghai's Pudong skyline framed at dusk 01

Modern China, science and living heritage

Shanghai - Hefei - Huangshan / Huizhou

Students begin in China's most international metropolis, then move into Hefei, a fast-developing technology city with opportunities for school immersion and innovation learning. The journey concludes among Huangshan's world heritage landscapes and the traditional villages of Huizhou.

What students discover

  • Shanghai's skyline, urban energy and modern city planning
  • The contrast between historic neighbourhoods and future-facing districts
  • High-speed rail as a window into China's infrastructure and scale
  • School immersion and peer connection in Hefei
  • AI, electric vehicles and science-led innovation
  • Huizhou villages, ink culture, craft, architecture and rural heritage
  • Huangshan's mountain landscapes as a place for reflection

Signature moments

  • Cruise the Huangpu River past the lights of the Bund
  • Join an exchange programme with a local school
  • Visit AI companies or an electric vehicle innovation centre
  • Take part in a Chinese cuisine workshop
  • Try Huizhou crafts such as lacquer fan making or ink painting
  • Explore Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Best for Students interested in modern China, STEM, school exchange, cultural heritage, nature and reflective learning.

The red walls and golden roofs of an imperial gateway in the Forbidden City, Beijing 02

History, civilisation and living culture

Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu

This journey moves from China's imperial centre to the ancient Silk Road and then into the poetic life of western China. Through Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu, students experience history, architecture, archaeology, food, conservation and cross-cultural exchange.

What students discover

  • Beijing's imperial architecture, national symbols and traditional neighbourhoods
  • The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and old Beijing family culture
  • Xi'an as the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and the start of the Silk Road
  • Terracotta Warriors, calligraphy, Hanfu etiquette and ancient city walls
  • Chengdu's panda conservation, Sichuan cuisine and teahouse life
  • Sanxingdui's Bronze Age civilisation and Sichuan Opera face-changing

Signature moments

  • Walk the Forbidden City and read the order of imperial architecture
  • Stand on the Great Wall, one of China's most powerful symbols
  • Explore hutongs and make dumplings with a local family
  • Create a mini terracotta warrior inspired by Xi'an
  • Wear Hanfu and walk the ancient streets of Chang'an
  • Join a panda conservation experience in Chengdu

Best for First-time China study programmes, history, culture, language, food, living traditions and student reflection.

Electric scooters and a modern electric car charging on a clean, tree-lined Chinese street 03

Innovation, trade and future cities

Greater Bay Area Future Route

A future-facing study theme, introduced while the detailed itinerary is still in development. It can connect Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, helping senior students understand trade, technology, manufacturing, finance, entrepreneurship and the speed of modern urban China.

Best for Senior students, business studies, entrepreneurship, STEM, technology, innovation and Greater Bay Area learning.

Sample study themes

Shape the focus to your curriculum.

01

Ancient civilisation & living culture

Explore history, architecture, rituals, food, craft and community life.

02

Modern cities & future China

Observe infrastructure, technology, digital life, innovation and urban change.

03

Language & intercultural understanding

Practise communication, cultural awareness and respectful exchange in real settings.

04

School immersion & peer connection

Learn through campus visits, shared activities and student-to-student interaction.

05

Nature, heritage & reflection

Balance major cities with mountains, villages, rivers and regional cultural landscapes.

A sample eight-day flow

From Shanghai's skyline to a Huizhou village.

One example of how a programme can unfold, blending a modern metropolis, school immersion, AI and innovation, world heritage landscapes and living rural traditions.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival · Shanghai city walk

    Arrive in Shanghai and begin with a guided city walk, exploring the spirit of openness behind the city through interactive challenges, ending with a lacquer fan heritage workshop in a historic villa.

  2. Day 2

    Shanghai · past, present and future

    Ascend Shanghai Tower, decode the Shanghai Museum on a discovery challenge, then cruise the Huangpu River as the Bund meets the Pudong skyline.

  3. Day 3

    Travel to Hefei · the innovation hub

    Take the high-speed train to Hefei and visit an electric vehicle manufacturing facility, then check in to on-campus accommodation at the partner school.

  4. Day 4

    Hefei · school immersion

    Follow the host school's daily timetable alongside local students, joining classes, morning exercises and specially designed cultural exchange activities.

  5. Day 5

    Hefei to Huangshan · innovation to tradition

    Visit a leading artificial intelligence company, then travel by high-speed rail to Huangshan and take on a 'food ambassador' challenge on Tunxi Old Street.

  6. Day 6

    Yellow Mountain · a hike you must do

    Spend a full day among the mist, granite peaks and ancient pines of Huangshan, then experience regional opera through costume, movement and storytelling.

  7. Day 7

    Huizhou heritage & craft

    Explore the UNESCO village of Hongcun, learn ink-making heritage at a historic workshop, and walk Huizhou Ancient City among evening lantern traditions.

  8. Day 8

    Huizhou rural life & conclusion

    Take part in countryside life and traditional cooking, then close with a reflection ceremony and certificates before the return journey to Shanghai.

See a fully detailed day-by-day example

Safety and support, start to finish.

Every school journey is backed by clear preparation and on-ground coordination: programme information, travel guidance, safety summaries, parent communication support, student preparation notes and local hosting. During the journey, our team manages transport, timing, accommodation, meals, group movement, daily coordination and emergency escalation if needed.

Read about safety and operations

Help students meet China with context and confidence.

Talk to Futures about a study programme designed around your school's learning goals, group profile and duty-of-care needs.

Start your enquiry Call 029 0451 1099