Roots — History & Culture

Day by Day

Full Itinerary

Every day follows the Explore → Reflect → Challenge → Circle learning cycle. Click any day to expand the detail.

Travel Day

Dublin → Beijing

1

Dublin

Dublin → Beijing — Depart

Pre-departure briefing at Dublin Airport — China Quest Taskbook distributed
Overnight flight to Beijing (connection via European hub)
Pre-arrival orientation activities in the Taskbook

Beijing

Days 2–5 · 4 Nights

2

Beijing

Arrive & Hutong Night Food Tour

Arrive Beijing — hotel check-in and orientation walk
Tiananmen Square context briefing — spatial scale, national symbolism and visual analysis
Evening: 3-hour guided hutong night food tour — street food, local vendors, community life
Evening debrief: first impressions of Beijing

Learning Focus: Modern Chinese history, food culture

3

Beijing

Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven

Forbidden City Treasure Hunt — gamified, curriculum-linked exploration of architecture, symbolism and imperial power
Temple of Heaven: geometry, cosmology and social order in Qing China
Tai Chi session in the temple park with local practitioners
Tong Ren Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy — herbs, diagnosis and holistic healthcare philosophy

Learning Focus: LC History, Biology/Chemistry (TCM), PE

4

Beijing

Great Wall & Calligraphy

Jinshanling Great Wall hike (3–4 hours) — less-touristed, unrestored "wild" section with dramatic scenery
Engineering challenge: how was the Wall built, maintained and staffed?
Evening: hutong homestay dinner with a local family — home cooking, conversation, daily life
Calligraphy workshop with local artist — brush technique, character meaning, cultural expression

Learning Focus: Geography (defence architecture), Art (calligraphy)

5

Beijing

Summer Palace & Cultural Arts

Summer Palace — imperial leisure, landscape architecture and Kunming Lake
Student choice activity: Peking Opera mask-painting / Diabolo (Chinese yo-yo) lesson / Hanfu dress experience
Afternoon: hutong cycling tour — navigate Beijing's historic alley network independently
Evening debrief: Beijing wrap-up and Xi'an briefing

Learning Focus: History (Qing Dynasty), Art & Design

Xi'an

Days 6–8 · 3 Nights

6

Beijing → Xi'an

High-Speed Rail & City Wall Cycling

Morning: check-out and transfer to Beijing South station
High-speed rail journey to Xi'an (approx. 4.5 hours) — China's rail infrastructure in action
Hotel check-in and orientation walk in the Muslim Quarter
Evening: sunset cycling on Xi'an City Wall (13.7 km circuit atop the ancient ramparts)

Learning Focus: Geography (military defence), transport networks

7

Xi'an

Terracotta Warriors & Shadow Puppets

Museum of the Terracotta Warriors — archaeological analysis, Qin dynasty, mass production and historical mystery
Hands-on: DIY terracotta figurine workshop — create and take home your own warrior
Afternoon: Xi'an Shadow Puppet Theatre — traditional performance and craft workshop
Evening: Tang Dynasty Dinner Show — imperial court music, dance and banquet

Learning Focus: LC History, Art (sculpture), Performing Arts

8

Xi'an

Silk Road Food & Faiths

Muslim Quarter guided food walk — Hui culture, Silk Road culinary heritage, street food tasting
Hands-on: dumpling making class with local chef (jiaozi, baozi varieties)
Great Mosque of Xi'an — Islamic architecture in a Chinese context; cultural fusion discussion
Big Wild Goose Pagoda — Tang dynasty Buddhism, Xuanzang's pilgrimage and cultural transmission
Evening debrief: religion, identity and the Silk Road

Learning Focus: History (Silk Road), Religious Ed, Home Economics

Shanghai

Days 9–10 · 2 Nights

9

Xi'an → Shanghai

Yu Garden & The Bund

Morning: fly Xi'an → Shanghai (approx. 2.5 hours)
Afternoon: Yu Garden — classical Chinese garden design, Ming dynasty, Old Town bazaar
Evening: The Bund walking tour — colonial architecture, financial history and the Pudong skyline
Hotel check-in and orientation

Learning Focus: History (Treaty Ports), Geography (urbanisation)

10

Shanghai

School Exchange & French Concession

Morning: secondary school exchange — pre-trip homework exchanged with partner class, campus tour
Shared activities: cooking, sports and peer dialogue on education, culture and aspirations
Afternoon: French Concession walking tour — colonial legacy, art deco architecture, creative quarter
Evening: Shanghai programme debrief — comparing Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai; reflective writing

Learning Focus: LC Chinese, Intercultural communication

Travel Days

Days 11–12

11

Shanghai → Dublin

Closing Reflection & Depart

Morning: group closing reflection circle — key learning moments, changed perceptions, post-trip commitments
Taskbook final entry: "What will you bring home that you didn't pack?"
Transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport — depart for Dublin

12

Dublin

Arrive Dublin

Arrive Dublin Airport — met by school / parents
Post-trip impact report sent to school within 10 working days
Parent information evening materials and TY portfolio certificate dispatched

Academic Alignment

Curriculum Links

Every activity is mapped to specific Irish LC and JC learning outcomes. A full Curriculum Mapping document is provided to your school before departure.

Subject	Curriculum Strand	How This Programme Connects
LC History	Asia & the Wider World	Ancient civilisations, Silk Road, colonialism — Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall
LC Chinese	Real-world conversation	School exchange, calligraphy, food market interaction — authentic Mandarin in context
LC Art & Design	Craft & Design	Calligraphy, terracotta sculpture, Opera masks — hands-on making and critical analysis
Politics & Society	Cultural identity	Globalisation, intercultural dialogue — Tiananmen, Muslim Quarter, peer exchange
Religious Education	World religions	Buddhism, Islam in China, Confucianism — Great Mosque, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Temple of Heaven
LC Geography	Urbanisation	Shanghai, defence architecture, transport networks — HSR, urban planning, Silk Road trade routes

Transparent Pricing

Programme Pricing

All prices are per person, all-inclusive of accommodation, meals, internal transport, entrance fees, insurance and leader services. International flights quoted separately.

Standard

€3,190/pp

20 students + 2 free teachers

3-star group hotels throughout
All meals and transport included
Full education leader team
2 free teacher places

Enquire Now

Standard

€3,090/pp

25 students + 2 free teachers

3-star group hotels throughout
All meals and transport included
Full education leader team
2 free teacher places
Best per-person value

Enquire Now

Premium

€4,490/pp

Small group: 12–15 students

4–5 star hotels throughout
Private guiding and bespoke add-ons
Maximum 1:6 leader ratio
Enhanced service at every venue

Enquire Now

Most price-efficient package — ideal entry-level for schools new to China trips.
Early-bird: €300 off when booked 9+ months ahead. 20% deposit to secure dates.

Package Detail

What's Included

Included in Your Package

Garda-vetted Irish leader travels with every group
Bilingual education leader (English + Mandarin, youth-trained)
Full safeguarding policy (Irish DES compliant)
Travel insurance — TOPP-compliant, full cover
China Quest Taskbook (pre-trip, in-trip, post-trip reflection)
Curriculum Mapping document tied to LC/JC specifications
All accommodation (3-star or above, per tier)
All meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
All internal transport (HSR, domestic flights, coaches, metro)
All entrance fees and activity costs
24/7 emergency contact line
Pre-trip parent information evening (virtual)
Post-trip impact report for school records
2 free teacher places per 15 students

Not Included

International flights (Dublin ↔ China — available as all-in price, quoted separately)
Chinese visa fees (~€125 per person — we provide full visa support documentation)
Personal spending money (suggested: €150–200 for souvenirs)
Travel to/from Dublin Airport

Our Team on the Ground

4-on-1 Education Team

Every China Quest group travels with four dedicated professionals — not one overworked tour guide.

1

Curriculum Designer

Maps every activity to Irish LC/JC specifications. Produces the Curriculum Mapping document and Taskbook debrief guides used before, during and after the trip.

2

Bilingual Education Mentor

Fluent English + Mandarin, trained in youth engagement. Facilitates school exchanges, live translation and cultural interpretation throughout the programme.

3

Safety & Logistics Officer

Manages risk assessments, medical co-ordination and crisis protocols. On-call throughout the trip with escalation procedures aligned to your school's DES requirements.

4

24/7 School–Family Liaison

Real-time updates to school and parents via a dedicated channel. Primary emergency coordination and pastoral escalation point from departure to arrival.

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