School Trips to Anhui-Are you ready for an unforgettable school trip to Anhui, China? Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, explore the rich history, and discover the artistic wonders of this incredible province.
Anhui offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in village immersion and service projects. Imagine working alongside locals, learning about their way of life, and making a positive impact on their community.
But that’s not all! Anhui is also known for its captivating art scene. From traditional Chinese painting to intricate calligraphy, students will have the chance to witness local masters in the process of creation. You may even have the opportunity to try your hand at these ancient art forms under expert guidance.
Anhui is home to some of China’s most significant historical sites. Explore ancient temples, walk along centuries-old streets, and marvel at architectural wonders that have stood the test of time.
So pack your bags and get ready for an educational adventure like no other. Two of our 5-day school trips to Anhui promise an immersive experience filled with art, culture, history, and unforgettable memories.
But first, a little bit about School Trips to Anhui
Much of Anhui’s (安徽, ān huī) local language and art forms were shaped during the Nan (Southern) Song period, which lasted from 1127–1279. The province also has multiple regional subcultures. One of the subcultures you and your students will get to experience during your school trip to China is Huizhou (惠州, huì zhōu) culture.
Anhui is known for its specialty products such as Xuan paper and Huizhou ink sticks, which are both part of the “four treasures of the study.” The other two treasures include Duan ink slabs from Guangdong (广东, guâng dōng) and Huzhou writing brushes produced in Zhejiang (浙江, zhè jiāng).
A fun fact you may not be aware of is that Anhui is one of China’s smallest provinces. It was also the first part of southern China to be settled by the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.). One of the ancient villages you ’ll be visiting on your school trip to China is Xidi, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The houses in Xidi Village (西递村, xī dì cūn) were built by successful officials and merchants upon returning home from other areas of the world. Their work paved the way for the gradual development of conventional Chinese village construction. The stunning village is surrounded by mountains and situated between three rivers, painting a harmonious picture of the unity between humans and nature.
Trip 1—Anhui Village Immersion and Service
This school trip brings you to Anhui ’s unassuming ancient stone villages, where you ’ll be taking a step back in time to see a piece of China ’s history. Our Anhui off-the-beaten-path program combines Service Learning with History & Culture learning objectives.
Program Details
Days 1 to 3
You will be starting your adventure on Tunxi Old Street (屯溪老街, tún xī lâo jiē), which is only a block from the river bank. Lined with Ming-style Huizhou buildings, it will be a pleasant starting point for the days ahead. Students will learn how to make traditional Huizhou snacks from a local master, then have traditional Anhui cuisine for dinner.
As part of the Service Learning aspect of the trip, students will spend two days working on an Ancient Residence Restoration Program in Anmei Village. Students will learn the repairing skills of carpenters, bricklayers, and masons from the craftsmen. By the end of this program, they’ll know how to do this independently.
Days 4 to 5
Still working in Anmei Village, students will be helping out other members of the local community. In addition to taking care of the widowed elderly, they will cut firewood and do some farm work in the fields before having lunch in a local farmer’s home. To learn more about what local life is like, students will have the opportunity to talk to students in a rural school.
An integral part of Chinese culture is tea, which your students will learn about. On this school trip to China, you will pick tea with local farmers and learn how to produce traditional Chinese tea. Tangmo Ancient Village (唐末村, táng mò cūn), another stop on your school trip to China, is shaped like a dragon and is one of the first water gap garden villages in China.
Trip 2—Anhui: Art Inspirations
In ancient times, residents in this area became China ’s most successful imperial merchants, building beautiful towns with incredible regional architecture constructed under the influence of Fengshui and Confucian principles.
Anhui is a great place to step away from the fast-paced city life and inspire your students’ inner artistic drives. This school trip to China combines History & Culture with Outdoor Education learning objectives.
Program Details
Days 1 to 3
On this school trip to China, students also get to learn how to make traditional Huizhou snacks from a local master, then have traditional Anhui cuisine for dinner. Whilst on a bamboo forest hike in Mukeng Village, students will participate in Nature Discovery Games and litter-picking community service.
Xidi Ancient Village, also known as the residence museum, is the village you will end up in to learn how to weave bamboo. Students will also visit the Tea Museum to try some tea and enjoy a Huizhou tea ceremony.
Other activities on your school trip to China include transferring to Tangmo Ancient Village and doing a scavenger hunt, and enjoying a customized Huangmei Opera show (黄梅戏, huáng méi xì).
Days 4 to 5
Students will visit Huizhou Ancient Town, one of the four ancient towns in China. Experience Huizhou paper cutting with teachers in the ancient town, visit Huangshan Huizhou Cultural Museum, and partake in hands-on farming activities in Xuanyuan Farm.
To learn more about the agricultural landscape in Shexian county, students will visit Xuanyuan Agricultural Museum. After a night of BBQ dinners and a bonfire party, students will learn how to make a Chinese ink brush from an ink brush master.
To learn more about our school trip to Anhui programs, feel free to visit the links at the bottom of the page or reach out to our Academic Managers.
Ready for a school trip to China?
We hope to have inspired you to start dreaming about your trip to China! Anhui is clearly filled with so much culture and many interesting things to do. Our academic managers would be happy to help you develop your ideal school trip to China, whatever your goals may be.
From service learning to outdoor education to sustainability, WildChina will work hard to integrate it into your school trip. Our programs are fully risk-assessed, sustainable, and learning-focused. As always, we ’d love to hear from you through an email or a phone call to discuss your program of choice.
