Shanghai & Hangzhou - Modern Creativity & Classical Aesthetics

The itinerary shown is an example and can be adapted to suit each school’s curriculum, interests and travel preferences.

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Day 1 – Arrival in Shanghai & First Impressions

  • Arrival in Shanghai and airport transfer to the hotel

  • Welcome briefing: Shanghai as China’s creative capital

  • Orientation walk to observe:

    Scale

    Light

    Urban design

  • Group welcome meal and early night in the Hotel

Day 2 – Host School Exchange: Contemporary Creativity

  • Full day at partner school in Shanghai

  • Joint art & design sessions with Chinese students:

    Ice-breaker drawing and design challenges

    Comparing UK and Chinese visual styles

  • Social time and informal collaboration

  • Evening at the Hotel

Day 3 – Contemporary Art, Design & Urban Culture

  • Visit to M50 Art District

    Galleries, studios, street art

  • Visit to the China Art Museum

    Modern and contemporary Chinese art

  • Sketching, photography and visual journaling

  • Evening walk along The Bund
    (iconic skyline, architecture, night photography)

Day 4 – Architecture, Fashion & Visual Identity

  • Walking study through the French Concession

    Art Deco, residential design, street aesthetics

  • Focus on:

    Typography

    Branding

    Fashion and street style

  • Evening at the Hotel

 

Day 5 – High-Speed Train to Hangzhou

  • Travel by high-speed train (a student favourite)

  • Introduction to Hangzhou as a centre of beauty and harmony

  • Evening lakeside walk at West Lake
    (sunset views, reflection, sketching)

Day 6 – Landscape, Nature & Traditional Aesthetics

  • Exploration of West Lake

    Landscape composition

    Balance, framing and symbolism

  • Visit to temple or garden spaces

  • Traditional craft or art workshop
    (e.g. brush painting, seal carving, textile or paper art)

  • Evening cultural performance or music experience

Day 7 – Reflection, Making & Celebration

  • Creative reflection session:

    How modern design and classical aesthetics connect

  • Final sketchbook work and group sharing

  • Return to Shanghai by high speed train and return to hotel

  • Farewell group dinner to celebrate the trip

Day 8 – Departure

  • Final sketchbook review and certificates

  • Transfer to airport