Xi’an - Ancient Craft & Contemporary Expression

The itinerary shown is purely an example. All of our trips can be built around your school’s needs, with so many wonderful things going on in these Chinese cities, there’s so much to see and do…

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Day 1 – Arrival & Welcome to Ancient China

  • Arrival in Xi'an and airport transfer to hotel

  • Welcome briefing: Xi’an as an ancient and modern creative city

  • Introduction to sketchbooks and visual journals

  • First impressions walk in the local area

  • Evening meal and rest

Day 2 – Art, Craft & Everyday Design

  • Exploration of the historic centre of Xi'an

  • Focus on:

    • Everyday design, pattern and materials

    • How art appears in daily life

  • Sketching, photography and observation tasks

  • Interactive creative activities inspired by surroundings discovering art and design in everyday Xi’an

  • Evening visit to the Muslim Quarter

  • Street food experience and cultural exploration

  • Group dinner in a lively market setting getting to experience Xi’an’s colours, textures and street culture at night

Day 3 – Sculpture, Clay & Imperial Power

  • Visit to the Terracotta Army getting to see one of the world’s most iconic sculptural discoveries

  • Focus on:

    Sculpture, repetition and form

    Clay, texture and craftsmanship

    Individuality within uniformity

  • Sketching, rubbing and photography tasks

  • Creative response activity

  • Evening at the hotel

Day 4 – Pottery, Ceramics & Decorative Design

  • Visit to a cultural centre or museum focusing on:

    Ancient pottery and ceramics

    Glazing, pattern and symbolism

  • Hands-on pottery or ceramics workshop

  • Focus on:

    Materials, texture and design techniques

  • Evening dumpling-making experience

  • Group meal as part of the workshop

 

Day 5 – Creative Project Day: Ancient Meets Modern

  • Visit to a cultural or open creative space in Xi'an

  • Creative project:

    Reinterpret ancient Xi’an art in a modern style

  • Students work in teams to:

    Combine traditional motifs with contemporary design

    Experiment with mixed media or visual concepts

  • Sketching, design and concept development

  • Informal student presentations and sharing their creations and original artwork inspired by one of China’s oldest cities

  • Evening visit to Datang Everbright City

  • watching light displays, performances and being immersed in the street atmosphere experiencing history brought to life through light and performance

  • Group dinner in one of the vibrant restaurants

Day 6 – Architecture, Pattern & Street Culture

  • Walk and cycling on the Xi'an City Wall

  • Focus on:

    Geometry, repetition and urban design

    Defensive architecture and layout

  • Visit to the Muslim Quarter

  • Focus on:

    Folk art, signage, colour and pattern

  • Design-focused scavenger hunt

  • Evening night market and street-food visit

  • Group dinner in a local restaurant

Day 7 – Contemporary Art & Cultural Celebration

  • Visit to a modern gallery or creative space

  • Focus on:

    Contemporary responses to ancient art

    How tradition influences modern creativity

  • Reflection session:

    Favourite styles and inspirations

  • Tang Dynasty music and dance performance watching ancient culture through performance and celebration

  • Farewell celebratory group dinner in a traditional setting

Day 8 – Departure

  • Final sketchbook review and certificates

  • Programme close

  • Transfer to airport