Hangzhou — West Lake
Multi-City Camp · Destination
Hangzhou
Poetic Jiangnan · Digital Future
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Destination
Hangzhou, China
Age Range
12 – 18 years old
Duration
7 Days · 6 Nights
Room & Board
Hotel

About Hangzhou Camp

Hangzhou is one of China's most celebrated cities — Marco Polo described it as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world." Centred around the legendary West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city blends centuries of literary and artistic tradition with a bold identity as a global technology powerhouse. Home to Alibaba, Hikvision, and a thriving startup ecosystem, Hangzhou embodies China's vision for the future.

Our Hangzhou Camp takes students on a journey through both dimensions. They walk the ancient Poetic Road along West Lake's causeways, carve seals at the prestigious China Academy of Art, and sip tea in a centuries-old Longjing garden. The very next day they tour Alibaba's campus and join a Smart Life Design Thinking workshop — experiencing firsthand how a city rooted in classical beauty is also leading the charge into the digital age.

The camp culminates in the "Future City Innovators Conference," where students present their own proposals for how technology and heritage can coexist in tomorrow's cities — a fitting final act in a city that has been answering that question for a thousand years.

Hangzhou

Camp Schedules

Schedule 1
August 2
– August 8
7 Days · 6 Nights

Camp Highlights

01
West Lake Cultural Immersion
Walk the historic Poetic Road along Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, and Gushan. Try seal engraving at the China Academy of Art, and capture your impressions of the lake through painting, photography, or poetry.
02
Tea Culture & Eastern Philosophy
Visit Lingyin Temple to explore how Buddhism blended with China's natural landscape, then experience a traditional Longjing Tea Garden and participate in a Chinese-foreign tea ceremony exchange.
03
Digital Innovation at Alibaba
Tour Alibaba's Xixi Campus and leading tech firms to see China's digital economy in action. Follow up with a Smart Life Design Thinking Workshop and a Startup Stories Salon featuring local young entrepreneurs.
04
Future City Innovators Conference
The camp's signature finale — students present their "Hangzhou Smart Future Life Proposals" to a panel of entrepreneurs and designers, earning the Hangzhou Innovation Thinking Certificate.

7-Day Itinerary

Hangzhou Camp · Poetic Jiangnan · Digital Future (Age: 12–18)

Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
All Day Airport/station pick-up and check-in at the campsite. Opening ceremony — teams form the "Hangzhou Exploration Group" and receive the core task: the "Hangzhou Smart Future Life Proposal". Welcome Dinner: Hangzhou Cuisine Experience.
Day 2
West Lake Cultural Walk
Morning With the "Poetic Road" as the main line, visit Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, and Gushan to interpret the landscape aesthetics of West Lake through its borrowing scenery, inscriptions, and poems.
Afternoon China Academy of Art or Xiling Seal Engravers' Society — seal engraving workshop to experience Chinese painting, calligraphy, and epigraphic art firsthand.
Evening "Impressions of West Lake" Sharing Session — share the lake in your heart through a painting, a photograph, a poem, or a piece of music.
Day 3
Tea Culture · Eastern Philosophy
Morning Visit Lingyin Temple to learn about the Sinicization of Buddhism and experience ancient temple architecture integrated with natural mountains and forests.
Afternoon Longjing Tea Garden Experience — walk the tea terraces and learn traditional harvesting and preparation.
Evening Chinese and Foreign Tea Parties — a cross-cultural evening of tea, conversation, and exchange.
Day 4
Digital · The Future is Here
Morning Visit Alibaba Xixi Campus and Hikvision to learn about cutting-edge applications of China's digital economy — cloud computing, city brain, and artificial intelligence.
Afternoon Smart Life Design Thinking Workshop — Chinese and foreign groups brainstorm to design a prototype digital solution for a real urban pain point.
Evening Hangzhou Startup Stories Salon — local young entrepreneurs share their journeys and answer questions from campers.
Day 5
Heritage · Blending Past & Present
Morning Visit the Hangzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal — Qiaoxi Historical District and Arts and Crafts Museum — exploring the protection and utilization of living heritage.
Afternoon Intangible Cultural Heritage Co-creation Workshop — work with local craftspeople to creatively redesign a traditional craft such as oil-paper umbrellas or Tianzhu chopsticks.
Evening Project Proposal Polishing — each group refines their "Hangzhou Smart Future Life Proposal" in preparation for the next day's conference.
Day 6
Integration · Proposal Competition
Morning Final rehearsal and venue preparation for the "Future City Innovators Conference".
Afternoon "Future City Innovators Conference" — each group presents their proposal and receives feedback from a panel of entrepreneurs and designers.
Evening Closing dinner and farewell party — awarding of the "Hangzhou Innovation Thinking Certificate".
Day 7
Departure · Memories of Jiangnan
Morning Closing ceremony — write "A Letter to Future Hangzhou" and drop it into the "Time Mailbox". See off by flight or train, concluding your journey through Jiangnan.

Comprehensive Service Assurance

🏨
Accommodation
  • Four-star hotel near West Lake, double rooms
  • All rooms include private ensuite bathrooms
  • Scenic lakeside location within walking distance of key sites
🍽️
Food & Beverage
  • Balanced, nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
  • Specialty meal: Longjing tea shrimp & West Lake vinegar fish dinner
  • Special dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice
🚌
Transportation
  • Airport pickup and drop-off on arrival / departure days
  • All city transport: private tour buses with full insurance
  • West Lake boat cruise included
🛡️
Safety & Medical
  • 1 teacher / guide per 10 students at all times
  • First aid kits and established hospital partnerships
  • Comprehensive travel accident insurance included
  • 24-hour emergency contact line for parents
🌐
Language Support
  • Full-time bilingual guide throughout the program
  • Bilingual printed materials for all cultural workshops
  • Multilingual guides at major historical sites
🎨
Activities & Workshops
  • All venue entrance fees included (West Lake, Lingyin Temple, China National Tea Museum)
  • All workshop materials (tea ceremony, silk weaving, paper fan painting) included
  • Study tour completion certificate for every student

Ready to Join the Hangzhou Camp?

One session available · Ages 12–18 · 7 Days & 6 Nights · August 2 – August 8

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