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…
Day 1 – Arrival & Welcome to Ancient China
Arrival in Xi’an and airport transfer to the Hotel
Welcome briefing: Xi’an as an ancient and modern creative city
Introduction to sketchbooks and visual journals
Evening meal and rest
Day 2 – Host School Exchange: Art Then & Now
Full day at partner school
Joint art activities with Chinese students:
Traditional vs modern Chinese art
Fun collaborative drawing tasks
Campus tour and informal cultural exchange
Evening at the Hotel
Day 3 – Sculpture, Clay & Imperial Power
Visit to the Terracotta Army
Focus on:
Sculpture and repetition
Clay, texture and form
Individuality within uniformity
Sketching, rubbing and photography tasks
Evening at the Hotel
Day 4 – Pottery, Ceramics & Decorative Design
Visit to museum or cultural centre focusing on:
Ancient pottery and ceramics
Glazing, pattern and symbolism
Hands-on pottery / ceramics workshop
Evening dumpling-making experience
(food as cultural design)
Day 5 – Host School Creative Project Day
Second day at partner school
Joint project:
Reinterpreting ancient Xi’an art in a modern style
Mixed media or design concepts
Student presentations
Evening at the Hotel
Day 6 – Architecture, Pattern & Street Culture
Walk and cycling on the Xi’an City Wall
Geometry, repetition and urban design
Visit to the Muslim Quarter
Folk art, signage, colour and pattern
Design-focused scavenger hunt
Evening night-market and street-food visit
Day 7 – Contemporary Art & Cultural Celebration
Visit to modern gallery or creative space
Contemporary responses to ancient art
Reflection session:
How old art inspires new ideas
Tang Dynasty music & dance performance
Farewell group dinner
Day 8 – Departure
Final sketchbook review and certificates
Programme close
Transfer to airport