To deepen students’ appreciation of the complexity, grandeur, and richness of the nation’s history and culture, and enhance their sense of national identity, study trips under various themes and formats will be organized to explore the many facets of China, from modern bustling metropolises to traditional rural villages and from cutting-edge technology development to rich cultural heritage.
2026-27
Click here for details for the upcoming trips (Restricted to CUHK staff and students)
| Date | Trip | Description | |
| 26-29 December 2026 (4 days) | Ganzhou: Long March and Chinese Modernization | The Long March of the Chinese Red Army from the Central Soviet Area in Jiangxi to northern Shaanxi between 1934 and 1936, a journey of 12,500 km, was a great human epic that changed the course of Chinese history. The renowned American journalist Harrison Salisbury, who retraced the route of the Long March in 1983 and wrote The Long March: The Untold Story, called it “the crucible of the Chinese revolution.” The Long March has no parallel in human history, and “its heroism has fired the dreams of a nation of 1.1 billion people.” This study trip will explore the history of the Red Army’s Jiangxi Soviet Area, visiting the departure point of the Red Army’s Long March. It will also visit Gannan Normal University for exchanges with its faculty and students, and examine how the Ganzhou region fosters community governance and rural revitalization in the new Long March of Chinese modernization. |
2025-26
| Date | Trip | Description | |
| 2-6 March 2026 | Chongqing: Salute to the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japanese Aggression | This study trip offers a profound journey into the heart of China’s wartime history. Chongqing, the storied “Mountain City” that served as the nation’s wartime capital, provides a powerful backdrop for exploring resilience and patriotism. Over five days, participants will traverse historic sites, from the poignant Great Tunnel Memorial and the Chongqing War of Resistance Sites Museum to the former National Fudan University campus in Beibei. The itinerary connects key wartime institutions, diplomatic landmarks such as the Stilwell Museum, and negotiation sites, as well as the industrial heritage showcased at the Chongqing Industrial Museum. Through guided exploration and reflection at memorials such as the Zhang Zizhong Martyrs’ Cemetery, this immersive experience fosters a deep, tangible understanding of the sacrifices, strategies, and unity that defined China’s resistance and collective spirit during a pivotal era. | |
| 1-5 March 2026 | Cornered: How Guizhou Transforms Itself | This study trip offers a unique insight into a province that has turned its geographical and historical challenges into engines of development. Located in Southwest China, Guizhou has historically been characterized by its rugged karst mountains, which once posed significant obstacles to connectivity and growth. However, it has since become a national exemplar of poverty alleviation and technological leapfrogging. Over five days, participants will explore the forces behind this transformation, from the monumental engineering achievements such as the Huajiang Canyon Bridge, now the world’s tallest bridge, and the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, FAST, to sites of enduring cultural heritage like Tianlong Tunbao. A visit to the Red Ribbon Digital Art Museum will illuminate the legacy of the historic Long March in contemporary Guizhou, while discussions at Guizhou University of Finance and Economics will reveal the socio-economic vision guiding the province’s progress. The journey also includes iconic natural wonders such as the majestic Huangguoshu Waterfall, the third-largest waterfall in the world. | |
| 29 December 2025 (Monday) 8:00 am – 7:30 pm | Shenzhen: In Pursuit of Justice and Innovation | An invaluable experiential learning opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the legal system and judicial process of the Chinese mainland through visiting China’s judicial institutions and engagement with legal professionals. |  |
2024-25
| Date | Trip | Description | |
| 1-6 March 2025 | At the Heart of China and the Han People: Capitals of the Qin and Han Dynasties | Xi’an, the ancient capital of the Han and Tang dynasties, is a city of world renown for its rich history. The Qin Dynasty, which unified the six kingdoms and established a unified country, built its capital at Xianyang, in the vicinity of today’s Xi’an. The remains of the Qin and Han cultures can be seen in Xianyang and Xi’an. The stories of the Qin and Han dynasties written in Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian and Ban Gu’s Book of the Han may seem remote, but we can reread and relive these historical chronicles by visiting the monuments of the two cities. |  |
| 3-7 March 2025 | Nanjing: Vicissitudes of the Southern Capital | Watching plum blossoms in bloom at Xiao Mausoleum, Tasting the romance of Six Dynasties at Qinhuai River, Recollecting the historical stories of Nanjing in ten dynasties, Changing as usual, like the flows of the Yangtze River. |
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| 4-9 March 2025 | In Search of Chineseness in the Chinese Heartland | How did the Chinese civilisation begin? Legends abound, but it was not until the legendary excavations of Anyang in the 1920s and 30s when the existence of the Shang Dynasty was proven beyond doubt. We will trace the beginnings of Chinese civilisation through visits to some of the most important archaeological sites and museums in the country, and reflect on the essence of Chinese culture in the “Central Plain,” the cradle of Chinese civilisation. |  |
| 19-23 May 2025 | Wuhan: Heroics of a Heroic City | Wuhan is a city with an incredibly rich history. Its cultural foundation dated two millennia plus years ago, when it was the heartland of the Chu State, and it was also where the Wuchang Uprising broke out during the 1911 Revolution. In modern times, Wuhan has established itself as a major center of industry and innovation, a base for scientific and technological development, and a mega transportation hub. And it is bursting with innovative energy in recent years – it is now a major center for car manufacturing and optical technology. Come explore Wuhan’s cultural and historical heritage and discover Wuhan’s cutting edge technological innovations. |
2023-24 Second Term
| Date | Trip | Description | |
| 22-29 May 2024 | Shenyang Congregation: To Brighten the Elite (co-organizer: Student Experience and Development Section, Office of Student Affairs) |
The study trip to Shenyang, the largest city in Northeast China, to be organized from 22 May to 29 May 2024, will offer a unique learning opportunity to understand Shenyang’s history, culture, education, civilization, and economic development. In addition to historical sites and famous enterprises, students will visit local universities, interacting with their teachers and students. They will also visit the live broadcasting zone and create their own video clips documenting the enriching learning journey. |  |
| 14-16 May 2024 | Walk Lingnan: Heritage of Ming-Qing Cantonese Scholars | The best way to enjoy the prime of spring is perhaps to have a good walk with your friends. In this study trip, we will walk through the traditional quarters in Guangzhou, Foshan and Jiangmen to visit the fine residences, ancestral temples, gardens and villages of a selection of great Ming-Qing Cantonese scholars, whose esteem and excellence in learning intertwines with the local architecture and nature, and whose spiritual world and life philosophy remain a true inspiration today. |  |
| 12-16 May 2024 | Tianjin: Where Tradition Confronts Modernity | Tianjin is an important military gate of the nation that witnessed the history of four foreign invasions in the late Qing period. Students will explore Tianjin’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The journey will include stops at Nankai University which stands as one of the beacons of modern Chinese education and intellectual growth; the Five Great Avenues, a living museum illustrating the European architectures and living style of the republican elite class; and the former residences of cultural icons such as Liang Qichao and Master Hong-yi, offering a glimpse into the lives of individuals who shaped modern Chinese thought and education. The study trip will also feature the Yangliuqing Woodblock Paintings and traditional crosstalk, exemplifying the city’s rich artistic heritage. The trip highlights Tianjin’s role as an intersection of Sino-Western exchange, providing students with an opportunity to understand how modernity is infused with tradition in this significant port city of North China. |
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| 3-8 March 2024 | Spiritual Homecoming: The Path of Confucius and Mencius | Distant saints as they might seem, Confucius and Mencius are so interwoven in Chinese learning that almost every student can recite, perhaps have internalized, some passages in their classics. Emblems of the Confucian culture, Confucius and Mencius shape the way we think and act, its long influence awaiting a deep visit to reflect on our morality, intellect, and society today. This study trip will take students to the hometowns of the two saints, where the birth stories of their thoughts will unfold in a vivid, intimate manner. |  |
| 4-7 March 2024 | Hunan: Home to Modern Reformers and Archaeological Treasures | Hunan is renowned as the cradle of modern Chinese reformers, from the Hundred Days Reform martyr Tan Sitong to the commander of the Republican Revolution Huang Xing, from the reformist thinker Liang Qichao (who taught at the School of Current Affairs inside the famed Yuelu Academy) to master scholars like Yang Changji and Li Jinxi (who taught at the Hunan First Normal College), from the revolutionary Cai Hesen (who founded the Society of the New Masses during the May Fourth Movement) to Mao Zedong (who led the founding of the People’s Republic of China). The footsteps of these forerunners, whose influence later extended to the entire country, can all be traced in Changsha—the provincial capital of Hunan.
Rich in archaeological treasures, Hunan boasts of the Changsha Mawangdui Han tomb and the jiandu excavations (bamboo and wooden slips for writing) which account for more than half of such finds in the country, of immense value for our understanding of the historical period spanning from the Warring States all the way to the Three Kingdoms. Let us explore then, this spring, the spectacular city of Changsha, home to modern reformers and archaeological treasures. |
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2023-24 First Term
| Date | Trip | Description | |
| 11-12 November 2023 | Discovering China: Mysteries in Archaeological Excavation in Guangdong | In the heart of the city of Guangzhou rested a king who ruled the southern tip of China two millennia ago, buried in a jade armor suit with his queen, concubines, and slaves, carrying jewels, spices, and weaponry. These archaeological finds are traceable to the history of the Qin and Han dynasties, the earliest maritime Silk Road trade, and the indigenous culture of South China. We will take you through the hidden garden palace, the stoned streets of five dynasties, the tombs of two South Han monarchs, and the splendours of the architecture and the arts and crafts of historic Canton. |  |
| 13-19 November 2023 | Yunnan Cultural Experience Tour (Co-organizer: Student Experience and Development Section, Office of Student Affairs) |
Yunnan is blessed with spectacular natural resources and agriculture. It is also well known for its diverse cultures. Students will gain a first-hand cultural understanding of Yunnan by immersing themselves in the local community, exploring traditional local cuisine, participating in volunteer teaching, visiting local business enterprises, and more! |  |
| 20-23 October 2023 | China, “Modern” and “Old”: Shanghai-Suzhou Study Trip | From the streets of Shanghai to the gardens of Suzhou, students will embark on a journey of discovery of how cities rise into prominence at one historical stage, and become eclipsed by other developments at another.
In Shanghai, students will explore the city’s dynamic past and present by visiting iconic landmarks such as the Bund, the Old City, and the towering skyscrapers of Pudong. Moving on to Suzhou, the journey takes a step back in time as students wander through beautiful gardens, ancient water towns, and historical streets. The purpose of this trip is to offer participants a theme-based cultural and historical experience in both Shanghai and Suzhou. It aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation among students through guided tours and interactive experiences, promoting meaningful exchanges and encouraging reflections on the evolution of twin cities drawing comparisons with Hong Kong. |
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