Discover China 2026
Detailed Itinerary
June 28 – July 8, 2026
Nanjing & Xinjiang, China
This itinerary is a working plan. Specific sites may shift based on availability, weather, and partner coordination. The overall themes, structure, and learning goals will remain the same.
History + Modern City Life + Youth Exchange
Nanjing
Day 1
Sunday, June 28
Arrival & First Impressions
Arrive in Nanjing around 1:00 PM
Hotel check-in + rest
Welcome orientation: program values, safety, creative freedom
Neighborhood walk + first-night dinner
Icebreaker game + cohort kickoff
🎨 Creative prompt:
First impressions — what surprised you in the first 6 hours?
Day 2
Monday, June 29
History & Context
Morning visit: Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (reflective visit)
Optional guided discussion: documenting sensitive history responsibly
Afternoon: open exploration block
(City Wall / Purple Mountain / museums / neighborhoods)Optional evening reflection circle + writing time
🎨 Creative prompt:
How do cities carry memory while moving forward?
Day 3
Tuesday, June 30
Modern Nanjing + Peer Exchange
University peer-to-peer conversation / small-group seminar
Neighborhood exploration + street-level storytelling
Food culture + night markets / local districts
Evening: variety-show–style team challenge
🎮 Winners choose a perk (room selection, activity order); losing team handles a light group responsibility
🎨 Creative prompt:
“A day in modern Nanjing” — one person, one place, one detail.
Day 4
Wednesday, July 1
Travel to Xinjiang
Flight from Nanjing to Xinjiang
Arrival + rest
Regional orientation: themes, cultural etiquette, fieldwork tips
Light evening walk / local dinner (as time allows)
Modern Life + Sustainability + Green Energy + Reforestation + Culture
Xinjiang
Day 5
Thursday, July 2
Urumqi: Daily Life & City Rhythm
City exploration + everyday life observation
Parks, neighborhoods, cafés, local markets
Evening: night market / food culture
🎨 Creative prompt:
Three scenes that define the city’s rhythm.
Day 6
Friday, July 3
University Exchange + Urban Culture
University peer-to-peer conversation / small-group seminar
Bazaar / cultural district exploration
Optional creative challenge: “1-minute story” (photo/video)
🎮 Quick team scavenger challenge (food / phrases / visual themes)
🎨 Creative prompt:
What’s one assumption you had that changed today?
Day 7
Saturday, July 4
Turpan: Environment & Adaptation
Transfer to Turpan (timing dependent)
Introduction to climate and geography
Agriculture and livelihoods exploration
Sunset filming / photography session
🎨 Creative prompt:
How do people live well in extreme environments?
Day 8
Sunday, July 5
Turpan: Sustainability & Water Systems
Visit: Karez irrigation system (engineering + sustainability lens)
Grape Valley / farms (seasonal)
Evening: editing / writing block
🎨 Creative prompt:
Sustainability isn’t new — what did you learn from old solutions?
Day 9
Monday, July 6
Green Energy & Reforestation Focus
Theme day: green energy / infrastructure / reforestation
Site visit(s) depending on access (wind / solar / ecology / development)
Evening: group discussion + creation time
🎨 Creative prompt:
What does “the future” look like here — and who is building it?
Day 10
Tuesday, July 7
Nature, Camel Culture & Closing
Excursion day (northern area / nature landscapes)
Camel culture; grassland or desert landscapes
Long-form fieldwork: interviews, photo essays, video sequences
Closing ceremony, creative sharing + fun awards
🎮 “Best 30-second story” showcase
🎨 Creative prompt:
Tell a story with no narration — just images.
Day 11
Wednesday, July 8
Program Concludes
Departure / program concludes
Optional guidance for those continuing personal travel